Page 38 of Bully for Sale

“Why?” Da said, suspiciously, taking both and trying to make sense of his full hands.

“Because he’s sorry that he’s been so cruel. His pride was hurt, and he was wrong.” Ezer wished that was all there was to it, but his da would put the pieces together soon enough.

Da’s eyes narrowed. “That can’t be all. I know him, Ezer.”

Ezer went on staring at the smoking building, watching the wind take the dark ash into the spotless blue sky. He shivered. “Other alphas have been giving him the cold shoulder for what he did to you. They say it’s unseemly. They’ve been cutting him off—”

“Socially or in business?”

“Both,” Ezer went on, lying through his teeth. Though many alphas thought George’s treatment of Amos was reprehensible, most of them had taken it as a sign that George could not be moved and had no shame, so they didn’t risk their business deals by pushing for better terms with him. “He’s got to make it up with you to save face for himself.”

Da still examined Ezer skeptically, and then shifted his focus to the smoking building. “No one I knew inside was killed or injured at least,” he said. “Except the rats.”

“That was lucky.”

“I’d grown rather fond of those rats.”

“Da.”

“George really said I can have the apartment by the lake?” In that moment Da sounded so young, like a hopeful child.

Ezer nodded.

“When?”

“Tonight.”

“Ah.” Da huffed a laugh. “I see. You’ve signed the papers in exchange for getting me into the apartment. You agreed to be bred.”

“And wed. If the alpha wants that.” Or so Ezer assumed. He hadn’t read the details of the contract after all. He couldn’t. It made Ezer’s hair stand on end think of becoming a baby-making machine for some unknown alpha, but he’d do anything for his da.

“Oh, Ez,” Da murmured. “As much as I think this is the right thing for you, I know you didn’t want it. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say thank you.”

“That seems wrong given your initial resistance to this plan.”

Ezer shrugged. He couldn’t help but agree.

“For what it’s worth, I think you could be happy with this boy.”

“So you’ve said. And Father, too.”

Again Ezer didn’t ask who the boy might be. He was too afraid to know. The decision was made. He’d have to learn to live with it. But for now, ignorance seemed closer to bliss.

“I suppose I need to thank George for this generosity,” Amos said. “Last night, for the first time since George forced me to leave, I was scared, Ezer. This apartment wasn’t much, but it was all I had. This and you.”

“It’s okay, Da,” Ezer said, wrapping his arms around Amos.

He was still full of questions about his biological father, Finn, and about why Amos had risked so much for so little. But he held it all back. What did it matter now?

Ezer was going to be bred and as good as married, and his entire life as he knew it was over. He concentrated on comforting his da instead. “You’re going to be safe. I promise.”

Amos shivered in his arms and turned into his hug. His cheek was wet with tears when he pressed it against Ezer’s.

Yes, Ezer thought,I’d do anything at all. With anyone.

For Da.