Page 9 of Angel Boy (Pack It In #2)

Xavier

I stare down at the precious bundle in my arms, watching Angel's face in sleep.

It's the most peaceful he's looked in months—no tension around his eyes, no forced smile, just soft breathing against my chest. It took him a few hours to truly calm down, the tears finally stopping as exhaustion won out over everything else.

The doorbell had rung when the wings arrived, but I couldn't bring myself to disturb him. Angel needed this more than we needed food. So, I let it ring, let the delivery guy probably curse my name, and just held the most important person in my world while he finally got some rest.

It's past eight now, Angel still curled against me. Both our phones have been vibrating on and off for the past hour or so, lighting up with calls and messages that I've been steadfastly ignoring.

But I know I can't avoid reality forever. Angel's missed most of his evening activities by now, and Carter's probably having an aneurysm over the schedule disruption. Ryker... well, Ryker's going to be furious that his perfectly managed Omega didn't show up to be displayed like a prize.

I let out a deep breath and carefully lift Angel, carrying him to his nest and settling him among the soft pillows and blankets.

He stirs slightly but doesn't wake as I press a gentle kiss to his forehead before forcing myself to walk away.

Just a few months ago, I would have curled up around his back and held him through the night.

And if he was up for it…

“Fuck,” I mutter to myself, dashing those memories before they become a problem.

I close his door and set my gaze on the disaster of a living room—Angel's discarded clothes everywhere, melted ice cream on the coffee table, the general chaos of an emotional breakdown covering the usually empty space.

I start cleaning up, needing something to do with my hands while I work up the courage to face the shit storm waiting on my phone.

Finally, I pick up and dial back the most recent missed call.

Ryker's voice explodes through the speaker before I can even say hello, spewing curses and threats that make my jaw clench. The line goes dead abruptly, and then it's ringing again.

"Xavier, I hope you have a good fucking reason as to why Angel wasn't there after the board meeting." Carter's voice bellows through the speaker.

I keep my tone level, not wanting to deal with the additional shitstorm that will come with my disrespect.

"Angel wasn't feeling well, and I'm not his boss—just his security detail, as I've been reminded several times recently.

He'd already called a car by the time we got outside, and rather than dragging him back into headquarters, we left. He's been at the penthouse ever since."

There's a pause, and then Ryker's voice cuts in, which means they are together. "You must be enjoying this."

"Actually, I'm not," I say, and I mean it. Watching Angel fall apart isn't some victory for me. "It pains me to see Angel hurting like this."

Ryker snorts, the sound dripping with disdain. "Brother, I would say you'd better not be at the house when we get there, but actually, I think this calls for a face-to-face conversation."

Nothing good ever comes from face-to-face conversations with Ryker, especially when Angel's involved. But I'm not going anywhere—not when Angel's vulnerable and needs someone in his corner.

I hang up, not affording either of them a goodbye before I finish cleaning up the living room.

I manage to find a can of scent neutralizer to clear up the space and erase Angel’s heat scent, knowing full well that three Alphas in this space might very well end in disaster.

Hell, even without his scent, it might end in disaster.

I go to check on Angel one last time, finding the Omega stirring in his nest. He lets out a little moan of contentment when he sees me, something in my chest clenching at the sound.

"Ryker and Carter will be here in a little bit, babe," I tell him gently.

Angel frowns, pushing himself up on his elbows. The blanket slips down, and I have to force myself to keep my eyes on his face. “The fuck why?”

"You did leave in the middle of the day, babe," I continue. "I'm sure when they get here, I'll take off. Do you need anything?"

"Ryker has never even set foot in here before.”

That stops me cold. "That can't be true."

"It is. He sent movers to bring everything in when we got together. All that extra furniture is his. I've been to his house once, but that's it."

Jesus Christ. Two months of dating, and Ryker's never even been to Angel's home? That’s all sorts of wrong, but I’m too tired to comment on it.

"Well, he's coming here now," I say, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

"I cleaned up the living room a bit and sprayed some neutralizer.

Do you need anything else? More ice cream? I put the wings in the fridge."

Angel shakes his head, sinking back into his pillows. "The one thing I want, I can't have. So no, I don't need anything."

I throw him an apologetic smile before closing the door. I barely make it to the living room before the front door opens, Ryker stalking up to me without a word and socking me right in the face.

The punch snaps my head to the side, pain exploding across my cheekbone, but I don't move. I just stand there and take it because fighting back would only make things worse for Angel. Ryker throws another jab, this time at my shoulder, but it’s much lighter.

I gesture toward the living room, tasting blood where my teeth cut the inside of my cheek, waiting for my brother to do as I say.

Carter stands a few feet away, sheepishly throwing me a wave like he didn’t fucking curse me out over the phone. It isn’t until we get away from Angel’s door that my brother starts talking again. "You just don't want your lover boy to hear me rake you over the coals, that it?"

"No, that's not it." I keep my voice as professional as I can, even though I want to return that punch with interest. "I wasn't lying when I told you that Angel wasn't feeling well.

He's running a fever at the moment. But also, I wanted to move over here because if he overhears the shit you want to throw at me, it's only going to drive a bigger wedge between you two. "

Carter lets out an exasperated sigh as he steps between us, putting a hand on both our arms to break up the brewing fight. "Sit down, both of you, and let's talk this out."

There’s no doubt in my mind that this conversation is going to go south and definitely not in my favor, but I take a seat anyway, my brother making sure to perch in the armchair a few feet away.

Carter takes up a seat in the middle, weathering a smile that tells me that this intervention of sorts has to do with more than Angel leaving headquarters early.

"I want you out. Done, gone, whatever it takes," Ryker starts without hesitating.

Easy enough. "I already put in my resignation and will be gone by the end of the week," I tell him. "I can't watch Angel suffer like he has when his Alpha has absolutely no regard for his well-being."

Ryker's eyes flash with fury. "You've just been waiting for a moment to swoop in and be the hero, haven't you? That's not how this works. You work for me, and you signed a fucking contract that you'd keep your fucking hands off. But you just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

Years of hate from this man has anger bubbling up beneath the surface. There are so many things I want to say to my brother, to let him know how I truly feel, but it wouldn’t get me anywhere and this isn’t about me. It’s about my beautiful little Omega, currently suffering a few feet away.

"Rich, coming from the Alpha who waited three fucking years to tell his scent match he existed."

There's a sharp gasp from behind us, and we all turn to see Angel standing in the doorway. He's wrapped in a sheet, exhaustion clear on his face, the Omega seconds from falling over. Every instinct I have screams at me to go check on him, but I force myself to stay seated.

"What are you talking about?" Angel's voice is barely above a whisper, confusion lacing his words. "You knew? Ryker, you knew that you were my scent match?"

The silence stretches between us, tension thickening in the air. Carter stands, reaching toward Angel. "Angel, why don't you—"

Angel holds up a hand, stopping him cold. "No, don't try and brush this off. Ryker, answer the question."

Ryker straightens in his chair, his expression becoming blank. "Yes, I knew. But I wanted you to get established first."

"Don't fucking bullshit me." Angel's voice cracks with emotion. His eyes swing to me, and I can see the betrayal there. "And Xavier, you knew too?"

"I only found out yesterday." The words tumble out quickly as I try to explain myself. "Fuck, Angel, don't get mad at him. He's your scent match. You may never get another one."

Angel frowns at me, then looks back at Ryker, and I can practically see his world reshaping itself around this new information. "If I'm going to be treated like I have been, then maybe I don't want a fucking scent match."

Those words aren’t new to me. In fact, they are words I’ve been waiting for Angel to say with conviction. The moment he tells me that he doesn’t want my brother, I will step up, but not before then. I won’t ruin the chance fate has given Angel.

Ryker recovers first, his voice sharp with that Alpha authority he wields like a weapon. "You won't speak like that to me, Angel."

Angel snorts, tightening his arms around his chest to keep the sheet wrapped around him.

"I didn't even fucking want this," Angel spits out.

"I was fine just as I was, but scent matches are all the rage, and they're rare, but you know what?

You won't fucking touch me. You won't fuck me.

You don't even give me the time of day unless it's a scheduled event or you decide to be jealous of Xavier. "

The words pour out of him like he's been holding them back for months, years maybe. I want to go to him and wrap him in my arms and tell him he doesn't have to do this, but I know he needs to say it.

"The few times I've gotten sick, you've sent flowers I'm allergic to," Angel continues, his voice getting stronger with each accusation. "And the candy I like so much? It's not the mango. I fucking hate the mango ones."

Ryker shifts uncomfortably in his chair, probably realizing for the first time just how badly he's fucked this up. "So, I'll do better."

Angel just shakes his head. "No, you won't. I already know that biologically, a scent match doesn’t mean as much to an Alpha, that I’m more prone to emotionally charged reactions around you while you stand there oblivious.

However, if you wanted this, you would show some ounce of caring.

I'm a PR stunt to you, and you've made it very clear that when we're mated, I'm going to be stuck in the house doing catwalks or whatever suits your fancy. But I'm more than just Angel-Boy."

Angel lets out an involuntary, distressed sound, all three of us immediately on alert.

The sound cuts through every rational thought I have, bypassing my brain and going straight to the primitive part of me that exists only to protect and care for this incredible man.

But Angel shakes his head, backing toward his bedroom like he can sense our sudden focus on him.

"I want all of you out." Angel huffs out a bitter laugh when we don't respond, when we just sit there like idiots staring at him. "Fine."

He marches back to his nest with as much dignity as someone wearing only a sheet can muster, and slams the door behind him. The sound of the lock clicking echoes through the sudden quiet, realization settling in that he just kicked us out in his own little way.

Ryker turns on me immediately, his face twisted with rage like this is somehow all my fault. "You will never fucking work in this goddamn business again."

The threat rolls off me because, honestly, I don't give a shit about my career anymore. Not when Angel's locked in his room crying because the people who are supposed to care about him have failed him so spectacularly. Somehow, I manage to get these fuckers out of Angel’s penthouse and down the elevator, Ryker still snarling at me like I’m going to fold.

I never folded when we were kids, and I have no idea why he thinks I’m going to fold now. "I know where I'm not wanted," I push out, already calling a cab because staying here any longer will only make things worse.

Carter's voice stops me before I can escape. "I've watched you with Angel, and I can tell you're in love with him. But you've never once stepped up to Ryker. Why?"

Ryker snarls at that, too, like a fucking animal , but I turn to face Angel's manager anyway. He deserves an answer, especially after everything he's witnessed over the past few months. Carter might see dollar signs first, but he genuinely cares about Angel's well-being in his own way.

"Scent matches are once in a lifetime," I tell him.

"And I am Angel's friend first, before I'm an Alpha.

I will not stand in the way of what he believes is his happiness.

But the moment he tells me this isn't the life he wants, I will be right there.

I will not disrespect his bond with his Alpha, no matter how much my heart tells me to do otherwise. "

Carter frowns. “But Ryker is your brother.”

I shake my head, a harsh chuckle falling from my lips.

“Carter, Ryker, and I haven’t been brothers for a very long time.

” My gaze shifts to Ryker, making sure that he hears these words loud and clear.

“An Alpha who won’t cater to their Omega even when he whines for help is no brother of mine.

He might be my boss and fuck, he might be holding my career in his hands, but he’ll never be my brother again. ”