Chapter 10 #2
How did you tell someone the potential father of their child had died a horrible death, alone, and treated like trash?
All of those other corpses outside were just bodies, but Lane had been a person to Kian. He’d met him, spoken with him—wanted to bash his skull in a few times. But this alpha wasn’t under his protection, had stubbornly wanted to go it alone.
Right now, staring down at the decaying corpse of a man his brother had loved, Kian had to agree with Sarang’s take.
Lane had discussed it with him before. Had listed all of the reasons he’d put off claiming Shiloh.
They’d made sense at the time, but now, standing here, it became clear that list had been ridiculous.
He’d squandered his chance at happiness because he’d been too stubborn.
Too insistent that he could provide better.
Lane had been waiting until he had the white picket fence and the fancy job. He’d thought those were all things Shiloh would want, and had wanted to provide them for him to make Shiloh more comfortable. They’d planned on separating themselves from the Eumia. Distancing from danger.
He’d claimed it was all for the sake of their future together.
Now there was no future.
Kian peered into the glassy eyes of the dead alpha.
That couldn’t be him.
If one day he did die, he wouldn’t go out a fool who’d been too busy pretending to be the good guy to claim his omega.
If Lane had given Shiloh the bite, none of this would have even happened. Shiloh wouldn’t have been taken, they wouldn’t have been separated, and Lane wouldn’t be lying in a pool of his own decaying filth.
Kian had tried being patient. He’d wanted to ease Sky into the idea of them, show him his world before dragging him into things.
But maybe that was the same mistake Lane had made.
Maybe there was no such thing as a perfect moment; there was only the perfect person and what you did to ensure they ended up being yours.
The bite would take Sky off the table for everyone else. No more outings with other alphas to coffee shops on cutesy little dates. No more keeping Kian at arm's length or hiding his heats or his feelings. Sky would be forced to share all of that, all of himself.
He’d take Kian’s knot then. Eventually have his babies.
Sky would be angry, but if only one of them could be happy at the start?
Kian was selfish.
Maybe this wasn’t love.
But it was definitely obsession, and he wasn’t willing to let it go.
“Book me a flight back to Glyph,” he ordered, retreating from the room and heading the way he’d come.
“What about Altair? He wanted to meet with you,” Sarang said, though he was already typing on his multi-slate, no doubt following Kian’s command despite his reservations.
“We can video chat while I’m in space.” He wasn’t putting this off any longer. Kian pressed against the spot over his heart and frowned. “I’m anxious. I don’t have time to coddle Synastry’s next in line.”
“Anxious? About Shiloh? Boss, if you’d allow it, I can—”
“No,” he cut him off. “No one mentions a damn thing to my brother. It’s got to come from me.” Kian would probably mess it up, but he knew he wouldn’t make it worse. “Shiloh deserves to hear it from the Dominus.”
Sarang sighed. “You’re his big brother first, Kian.”
“I know that.”
He was silent until they made it to the car, then asked, “Allow me to come with you. I don’t want him to be alone at a time like this.”
“He won’t be alone,” Kian said. “He’s got me and Sloane.”
Sarang opened the back door for him. “That’s not what I mean.”
“What do you mean then?”
“He’s with child.”
“I’m aware.”
“He needs the attention of an alpha.”
Kian settled in his seat and then paused. That was something he’d overlooked. With Lane gone, there weren’t many—or any—alphas Shiloh felt comfortable enough with to allow close to him. As a blood relative, Kian’s pheromones wouldn’t work.
“He’s traumatized after what happened to him,” Sarang continued, no doubt seeing Kian’s hesitation as an in. “If you try to set him up with a stranger, it could make things worse. He’s decided he wants to keep the baby no matter who the father ends up being. Do you want to risk him losing it?”
Kian’s eyes narrowed. “Careful, it’s starting to sound like you’re threatening me.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Lecturing me then.”
Sarang’s mouth shut.
He clicked his tongue. “Who would lead in your stead?”
“I’d ask for Pike to be brought back.”
“No, he’s busy.”
“Once you’ve returned to Glyph, you can stalk your omega yourself.”
“It’s not stalking.” Pike was looking out for Sky. Making sure he didn’t get into any trouble. Kian had enemies, the kind that would love to pick apart an unmated omega like Sky, the same why they’d destroyed his little brother. “Have you heard anything about Levi?”
“The Leviathan is still hiding.”
That was good. He blew out a breath. “Put Dio in charge while we’re gone. But if anything happens under his watch, you’re the one who will pay the price for his mistakes, understood?”
“Yes, Dominus.”
Kian snapped his fingers and pointed at the driver who’d remained silent this whole time. “Go. It’s time I claim my mate.”
His brother’s fate would not be Sky’s.