The silence is so loud, Rowan hears the last of Nix’s words ringing in his ears.
Can he really be just like Hayes?
The thought makes him sick.
But it doesn’t matter that it’s out of love, not hate. A prison is still a prison—whether the bars are gilded with gold or forged from the coldest iron.
Nix rubs a hand over Rowan’s head and crouches down, tilting his chin up with a finger.
“I need you to be with me in this. Please. I can’t worry about you doing stupid shit while I’m trying not to wet my fucking pants on the witness stand—or the field.
“Can you do that? Can you help Jamie hold up that roof that keeps me warm and dry? Can you be a pillar for me, too?”
Rowan hears Luca whisper,I want to be a pillar, from the balcony—because of course, they all hadn’t gone far.
Can he be the support Nix needs?
Rowan decides hecan’tbe like Dawson Hayes. That’s for fucking sure. Whether he can hold anything up is anyone’s guess, but he knows one thing—he can try.
“I’ll try. Sorry. I’m so sorry,” Rowan whispers.
Nix sits down again, pulling Ro close to his bond bite, whispering so low it’s barely a breath.“I know.”
They sit like that for a while, Rowan letting his breathing even out as he noses at his bond bite. Despite everything today, hehatesconflict. Hates when things feel wrong between them. He’s always been the first to ask—can’t we just get along?
Rowan-the-man hates it when his alpha is pissed, especially athim.
“Sorry, Jay,” Rowan murmurs.
“I know you are.”You always aregoes unsaid. “Look at me, Rowan.”
The voice is sharp—unyielding. When Rowan meets Jay’s gaze, he sees the wolf there, burning in those flashing red eyes.
“I am done, though. Do you understand?” Jay’s tone is final, as heavy as a slammed door. “You’re grown now, and if you come for this pack again, I will show you exactly why I am Pack Alpha and you arenot.”
Rowan feels like it’shisturn to be worried about peeing his pants. He’ll never admit it—but it’s a near thing. Instead, he swallows hard, bares his neck, and whimpers.
Take that, you dumbass,Rowan tells his wolf.
For once, there isn’t even a grumble. Rowan has seen more than enough of Jay’s wolf today. Hopefully, forever.
“…I understand,” he whispers. “Thank you.”
There’s the scratch of dog claws on the stairs, and Rowan hopes she’s safe—those steps are slippery without carpet.
Nix opens his arms, and the puppy scrambles into his lap, licking at the three mates still sprawled on the floor. If Rowan looks up—which heabsolutelywill not be doing—he’s sure he’d see their other mates peering over the railing.
“What a pretty girl,” Jay coos, voice dipped in ridiculous baby-talk.
Gideon coughs from above becausesurelythat is the lie-ing-est lie to everleave Jay’s lips. And that’s saying something because Jay has eaten Leo’s cooking and claimed to like it.
But the thought reminds Rowan of the last thing he needs to do.
“Hey, Nix. There’s this, too.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a magenta-colored collar with a dog tag. Engraved in delicate script on the front of a silvery crescent moon is the name of their newest pack member:
Tsuki.
