Page 1 of Castaway Heat

Seven years ago…

R onin Drake stood out in the cold, open garage to cool off, wishing he’d never allowed his father to guilt him into coming to the family Christmas party.

He’d avoided all holiday gatherings for nearly two years, with good reason—but there was no way he could explain to anyone what that reason was without potentially sounding like a terrible human being.

Shame ate at him as it was. He scanned the long row of vehicles in the driveway and contemplated an escape.

The door swung open, and his father appeared in the doorway. “There you are.” He closed the door, marched down the steps, and closed the gap between them. Narrowing his eyes, he frowned. “What’re you doing out here? You’re missing the party.”

“I just needed some fresh air.”

His father’s frown remained. “What’s going on?”

Ronin shrugged. “Nothing.”

“It hasn’t escaped my notice that you’ve avoided every family get-together for a while now. There’s always an excuse and never a good one. If someone’s said or done something, son, tell me. I can help smooth whatever it is out.”

“I said it was nothing,” Ronin snapped.

“Ronin…”

Ronin clenched his teeth. “You can’t always fix all my problems. Some things I have to handle myself.”

His father grew quiet.

Outside, Ronin heard footsteps and the jangle of keys. Two of his uncles and his cousin Sage appeared in the opening of the garage—and he stiffened. That meant cousin’s friend Shiloh was likely with… and seconds later Ronin was proved right when he appeared, trailing behind Sage.

Shiloh’s gaze flew straight to Ronin’s. The omega stopped in his tracks, a bright, silly smile stretching over his handsome face.

Ronin clenched his fists, fighting the need to take what was his.

“Are you guys heading home?” Ronin’s father asked his uncles, oblivious to his struggle.

He attempted to look at anything but Shiloh. The battle took every ounce of restraint he had. If they didn’t leave soon, he wouldn’t last.

“Yeah, we’ve got a busy day of last-minute shopping tomorrow,” Uncle Bastian said. He walked into the garage and hugged his brother, Ronin’s dad, while his husband followed to do the same. “Merry Christmas.”

He turned to Ronin for another hug. Ronin carefully side-hugged him to hide the growing evidence of his shame.

“Merry Christmas,” Bastian said, giving him a slightly odd look. He smiled and washed it away. “I hope you guys get everything you’ve asked Santa for.”

“Sure, you, too,” Ronin muttered.

His uncle frowned.

Ronin adored his Uncle Bastian, but he didn’t need anyone witnessing what might happen if they didn’t go. He already feared it was too late. Sweat beaded at his forehead and the nape of his neck. I should’ve stayed home.

After shaking Uncle Palmer’s hand, Ronin wished them all a safe trip home and silently begged them to leave… and take Shiloh away from him before he stepped across the line.

“Bye, Ronin,” Sage called out, his tone way too smug. His smile was, too. He sensed his cousin had seen too much and realized what might be happening.

Ronin narrowed his eyes at the little shit… and couldn’t stop his gaze from beelining to Shiloh again. Those beautiful, hazel eyes held his gaze, innocently welcoming him in. His little pink tongue peeked out, wetting his lips. “Merry Christmas, Ronin. I was so happy you came.”

“I wish I hadn’t,” Ronin snapped, harsher than he’d intended, but after the sound of Shiloh’s voice had sent shivers up his spine, his control was ready to snap.

The wounded look on Shiloh’s face cut deep. Sage glowered at him and dragged Shiloh toward where his parents were headed without another word.

“That was rude,” his father admonished once Shiloh was out of earshot.

Ronin barely heard his father. He fought the need to follow his little omega and stake his claim. He struggled for air, the garage somehow filled with Shiloh’s scent. His cock grew hard as he inhaled deep, and he almost sprinted out of the garage then and there.

“Dear gods, Ronin. That boy is yours… isn’t he?”

Ronin closed his eyes, shame burning in his cheeks.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I’d have understood why you were keeping your distance—or found a way to ensure they didn’t bring him.”

“That wouldn’t have been fair to Sage,” Ronin said, barely recognizing his own voice. “Or Shiloh.”

Supposedly Shiloh’s parents had gone through a particularly ugly divorce two Thanksgivings before, so Sage had invited him to join the family feast. And then the Christmas party the following month, too.

Shiloh had followed Ronin around like an obsessed little puppy, making it even harder for him to control himself, but he couldn’t allow the need to win.

Not when Shiloh had only been fourteen.

So he’d excused himself. If things weren’t good at home, Shiloh might need nights like those more than he did. He wasn’t going to take that away from his omega, especially when he couldn’t help Shiloh himself.

He stared in the direction they’d disappeared in, heart racing, still fighting the innate urge—and he felt sickened by it.

He knew it was only nature taking its course, but it still felt wrong.

“I can’t control myself when he’s near. It was safer for us both for me to stay away.

” He glanced his father’s way. “I’d called Uncle Bastian a couple of weeks ago and he’d mentioned Sage wasn’t coming tonight.

He was going to some friend’s party on the same night.

I’d assumed Shiloh wouldn’t be here, either.

It’s the only reason I agreed to come.” He drew in a shaky breath. “But there they were when I walked in.”

“You should’ve told me,” his father repeated.

“I was ashamed,” Ronin whispered.

“Why?”

“He’s so young. It’s wrong.”

“Taking him would be wrong,” his father said. “The need itself is hardwired into your system. There’s nothing you can do about that but avoid him until he comes of age.” His father sighed. “He’s what… seventeen?”

“Sixteen, I think.”

“Well, in two more years he’s eighteen and an adult,” his father murmured. “It’s not long to wait.”

Ronin had thought himself an adult at eighteen, but he’d been still very much a child. He wasn’t sure Shiloh would be ready for him even then, though the thought of waiting longer sounded like hell.

“I can run interference now that I know and keep the two of you apart,” his father said, clamping a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m going back inside. Calm yourself down and join us now that he’s gone.

You might miss more of these in the future, so take advantage of tonight to see everyone you want to see. ”

He reached for his keys in his pocket, thinking escape might be better. He nodded, not informing his father of his plan. “Okay.”

His father squeezed his shoulder and smiled. “I know it’s going to be hard, but you’ve found him. That’s good news.”

It sure didn’t feel like it. He agreed with his father anyway, just to get the man to leave.

Once his father had climbed the stairs and rejoined the festivities, Ronin walked out of the garage and slipped behind the wheel of his car.

As soon as he revved the engine, the thought of finding Shiloh immediately crossing his mind.

Closing his eyes, he fought the urge. After a few seconds, he shut off his car, and once calmer, got out and forced himself inside the house.

If he was home, he’d be alone with his racing thoughts which wouldn’t end well in his state of mind.

He needed distraction and plenty of it. Where better to find a myriad of distractions than a Drake family Christmas party?

As they traveled home from the party, Shiloh Anderson turned his face toward the back window and wiped a tear from his cheek, trying to hide his sorrow from Sage.

“Are you okay?” Sage asked him, voice barely above a whisper.

“Uh-huh,” Shiloh lied, forcing a smile when he spun his face to eye Sage. He knew he was silly to have a crush on an alpha like Ronin, but he couldn’t help himself.

He’d never understood the expression of butterflies flying in someone’s stomach until he’d met Ronin.

After Thanksgiving two years before, he’d filled up a leftover notebook writing the names Shiloh Drake, Mr. Shiloh Drake, and Ronin and Shiloh Drake, all of them with little hearts over the i’s.

He’d daydreamed of a life where he and Ronin were mates and loved one another.

He’d have Ronin’s babies and they’d be so happy.

He almost cringed at how silly he’d been back then.

His seventeenth birthday was drawing near, and he’d thought himself so much more mature than the first time they’d met. Maybe enough for Ronin to really notice him but clearly he was still that stupid little kid in the alpha’s eyes. He wished he’d never come.

The Drakes had continued to invite him to Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations every year since that first. Shiloh appreciated their generosity, but in all honesty, he’d only continued coming in hopes of seeing Ronin—though being anywhere was better than either of his parents’ unfestive apartments, listening to them complain about the other while eating a bucket of fast-food chicken or microwaved pizza.

His papa had finally broken down and gotten a mini tree for them that year, but it was clear none of them felt like celebrating much, even two years after the destruction of their family.

The second year Shiloh had been invited, Ronin hadn’t come to either event—and he’d skipped Thanksgiving the next.

When he’d overheard that Ronin was going to the family Christmas party, he’d convinced Sage to skip their other plans and let him tag along so he could spend a few hours seeing the man of his dreams. All night, he’d attempted to talk to Ronin, but the alpha had slipped away each and every time he’d gotten close.

When he’d finally had his chance to wish Ronin a nice holiday, he’d seen nothing but disgust in the man’s eyes. It had shattered any silly illusions he’d had and made him sick to his stomach.

He’d been such a fool.

Ronin was… perfect. Handsome. Smart. Funny. Everything Shiloh dreamed of in an alpha.

Shiloh wasn’t gorgeous. He was plain and boring, so of course Ronin wouldn’t want him.

Ronin could have any omega he wanted.

And that wouldn’t be him.

“My cousin’s a jerk. Don’t let him make you sad,” Sage whispered.

“I’m not sad,” Shiloh lied. Sage hadn’t understood his crush on Ronin and had told him to find someone else to focus his attentions, but for him, there was no one else.

Ronin was his one.

“You know, the other day I heard that Harvey Ellis has a thing for you,” Sage said, grinning. “He doesn’t seem like a bad guy. Cute enough. Tall. He has nice shoulders, though maybe a little skinny everywhere else.”

“I don’t know,” Shiloh mumbled. The only problem with Harvey was he wasn’t Ronin, but he’d need to get over that problem. “Maybe I’ll go say hi once the term starts again.”

“And if not Harvey, there are plenty of other alphas out in the world. You’ll find someone nice one day.

Not a jerk like Ronin.” Sage threaded an arm through Shiloh’s.

“So, guess what? Ace McNamara is having a New Years party. We need to get an invite somehow. He’s going to be my boyfriend whether he likes it or not. ”

Shiloh chuckled, though he didn’t feel much humor. “Speaking of jerks.”

“Hey… Ace can be nice.”

“He’s terrible,” Shiloh whispered. “And you know it. You only want him because his daddy bought him a Porsche for his birthday.”

Sage grinned. “Okay, maybe… but he is hot, and I would look amazing in the passenger seat with the top down. If I have to blow him to sit there, so be it.”

Shiloh eyed Sage’s parents in the front seat, terrified they’d overheard that, but when they both seemed to be deep in their own conversation, he relaxed. “Mean guys aren’t hot in my opinion. And haven’t you gotten into enough trouble by blowing guys?”

“Shy!” Sage whispered hotly. “You say Ace is mean? That was harsh.”

“But is it the truth?”

Sage shrugged, though it appeared he was fighting a smile. “Hey, it lead me to meeting you and Riley, so I’d say it was good trouble.”

Shiloh sometimes wondered how they had ever become friends.

They were worlds apart in so many ways. Sage was a wild child, sexually promiscuous, and had trouble with authority of any kind on top of being from a wealthy family.

Shiloh was pretty much an exact opposite.

Had it not been for Sage’s wild streak, they’d never have met, but fate had thrust them together.

Sage had been kicked out of prestigious Willowhaven Academy in the middle of 9 th grade for blowing three senior members of the football team under the bleachers—during halftime at the Homecoming game with the packed crowd cheering above.

After that, he’d been forced to attend public school after that.

On his first day, he’d plopped down at Riley and Shiloh’s table at lunch and all but demanded their friendship.

Shiloh had sensed Sage’s loneliness under all that bravado.

He’d seen worry in Sage’s eyes when they didn’t respond at first, too.

After one look at Riley, they’d accepted him without much fight.

While he wasn’t always the best influence on them, he had moments where he was incredibly generous and kind—like when he’d invited Shiloh to that Thanksgiving dinner with his family when things were bleak at home, though some of that was likely to give him some cover from extended family after being kicked out of the Academy.

Sage and his parents had offered him a safe space whenever he’d needed it since. They’d made him feel like a member of their family, too. Sometimes he wished Sage’s parents were his. How two seemingly wonderful men had raised such a wild child like Sage, he wasn’t sure.

“It’s not like I let guys do anything else,” Sage whispered. He got a sad look. “If you don’t do something for an alpha, he’s just going to leave. You have to keep him happy… or else he’s gone.”

Shiloh frowned, thinking about his own parents relationship. Had that been the reason for their divorce? Had his papa not done enough? What lengths would he have to go to in order to keep his alpha satisfied?

Relationships seemed like too much work. There was too much heartache involved. Too much fear. Too much everything. Maybe he should just give up on love. If one mean look was enough to break his heart, anything more might shatter him.

Alphas weren’t worth losing himself over.

Sage drew out his phone. “I’m going to text Eirin. Maybe he can find us an invite to the party. You wanna come?”

Shiloh shrugged. “I guess.”