Page 218 of Bliss & Her Idols

Even Rory dares to chuckle.

When Torin snarls, tightening his grip on my hair, Rory looks suddenly furious. He’s only held back from diving at the much larger Alpha by Immortal’s hold on him.

“He’s not hurting her,” Immortal whispers, petting Rory like he’s an Omega and not an Alpha. “She’s not in danger.”

“Maybe youarea white knight.” Torin turns a bewildered gaze on his brother, loosening his hold on my hair. “Why did you become the Idols’ protector after I was sent to Ireland? Why did you try to care for me?”

“My parents died too.” Rory grits his teeth, keeping himself tightly controlled. How many years has he had to hold himself together like this in order to survive? My chest is tight with sympathy. I’m an orphan as well. I know the wound that it leaves behind. “Then I’m meant to be happy about being adopted into the one pack that my Beta Mom was terrified of, which she hated more than any other.”

Shit.

Lionzio has spoken about how horrifying it was to be forcibly adopted as a kid into a mafia pack. Like Rory, he was beaten by the Head Alpha and forced into taking a role in the business, until he literally had blood on his hands.

Lionzio struggles with that now. I wonder if he’ll ever be able to get over his past and find real peace.

“She was an Idol,” Immortal says, quietly.

My eyes widen.

I wonder if she was one of the Idols who was forced into a bond.

What would she have felt to know that her son ended up back on the Idol Estate?

Torin blanches.

Did their parents keep it a secret?

His distress is like a stabbing icicle through the bond.

He is sitting as still as a statue. “I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t ask,” Rory growls. “You didn’t care. In fact, all my new brothers and sisters acted like youhatedme.”

Immortal gently rubs up and down Rory’s arm.

Torin looks like he’s going to be sick. “I didn’t.”

“I wanted to love you.” Rory’s tightly controlled voice wavers with tears. “I couldn’t bear to see anyone else die. To lose them, especially my little brother. And after what happened in the woods, I was desperate to guard you as best I could. Maybe it makes me less of an Alpha than the twins or Mena, but if I could save you, then I would, even from yourself.”

“What?”

Rory’s gaze is unflinching, when he raises it to Torin’s. “You’re like the Idols here. You can be impulsive.”

I assess Rory under this new light.

He’s not weak or a coward. He’s as strong as any of my men in his own way.

“So, you’ve been doing the best for the Idols because you’re the son of an Idol,” I say.

Rory nods. “Mom hated her time here. It gave her nightmares. I want to make her proud of me by standing up for the Idols however I can.”

And hell do I understand being driven by the motivation to please a dead parent.

If we rescue the Idols, then we’ll be freeing Rory from this crushing obligation as well.

“I’m sorry.” Torin meets his brother’s startled gaze. “I’ve spent so long believing that I was alone in this struggle that I never stopped to talk to you. I’ve always known how badly you were treated. I shut myself off from all Alphas, however, after I was left to die in the woods, only feeling safe with Betas. I do love you, Rory. You’ll always be my brother. Together, we’re going to topple Mena. We can convince Una to our side. Then you won’t ever be abused again and nor will the Idols.”

I tense, watching Rory closely.

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