Page 65 of Drown My Sorrow

I think for a moment he’s talking about Keagan, Beau, and Aspyn, but then I realise it’s not us. It’s Kelly and Gael. I don’t even know what to say to him.

He squeezes his eyes closed and holds his breath. I poke his shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“I just need a second.”

“Right. Well, get your ass together, Ezy, boy. You’re going to have all the fun of protecting our omega from all your rabid fans.”

His eyes snap open, and he wheezes. “What?”

“You three didn’t think about that? Your ravenous fans are going to go just about insane when they realise that you’ve decided to get an omega.”

“She’s not my omega.”

I react without thinking, slamming two palms to his chest and throwing him back up against the wall. I lean into him, my fury driving me to press until he’s still, his chin lifts in submission. His scent is slightly sour with fear.

“She’s your omega and your responsibility.”

“Can you have a single conversation with someone without threatening them?” Ezy hisses.

“No.”

Ezy rolls his eyes, plants his hands on my chest, and pushes, but I refuse to yield, instead holding my ground and leaning further into him until our chests almost touch.

Ezy’s fear evaporates, and that crazy anger I keep sensing in him returns.

“What is that?”

“What?

“That anger that lives inside you all the time?”

Ezy looks away from me. “Can you get off me, please?”

I shrug and step back. “Sure. But you protect her or I’ll destroy you.” I don’t wait for him but walk out of the cave and walk back to our house. It will take me five minutes to pack, but I need some time alone, so I may as well do it now.

My bedroom has black walls. The ceiling is black. My furniture is black. It’s my personal void where I can come when I need to decompress from the world.

It’s not easy being the kind of alpha I am. The rage that lives inside me, the aggression is a constant battle. If nothing else, Aspyn has taught me to control myself and find ways to get rid of that frustration in creative ways.

I lay on my bed and throw an arm over my eyes. The click, click, click of her cane approaching my room has my body on high alert. She taps on my door tentatively.

“Come in, beautiful.”

She turns the doorknob and limps into the room, coming to sit on the edge of my bed. I grab her shoulders and drag her back until she’s nestled against my chest.

“Talk to me.”

“Do you think this is smart?”

“Yes, and no. I think if you want to go, it’s smart, but if you’re doing this just for money, then, no, it’s not.”

She sighs. “I don’t know why I’m doing it. Because…”

“Because they are your scent matches, and you can’t bear the thought of losing them. And because you desperately want to get off this island and away from all the bigoted assholes who live here.”

“Yeah.”

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