Page 96 of Silas's Sweetheart

Alphaholes

Kodi:Is this shit catching?

Kari:What shit would you be referring to?

Kodi:This romantic crap that seems to be spreading like shit on a stick.

Laken:Ever the romantic Kodi!

Kodi:How is it romantic to blubber all over the damn place? Silas… fucksake, when does he blubber like a baby? WHEN? In what universe does my big brother turn into a crybaby?

Silas:Popi was upset. I got upset. Simple as that, you asshole.

Kodi:Those tears had fuck all to do with Popi. So don’t go blamin’ him. You’re as bad as Taylin. Only you haven’t been daft enough to mate Ziggy, so there is that.

Dad:Are you saying I was daft to mate with your popi?

Silas:Sits back with the popcorn and pats the damn fucking seat in the peanut gallery!

Kodi:I wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout you and Popi, Dad. Jeez, I was just making a generalisation.

Laken:I’d stop digging now if I were you, Kodi.

Rue:Come on, Silas lost his shit and was cryin’ louder than Emmy. I mean doesn’t he deserve a little ribbing for that, Dad? We’re brothers, it’s our job to keep it real.

Dad:Just remember all this when the shoe is on the other foot. The kicking back will be your own fault.

Rue:Ain’t gonna happen.

Silas:I said the same, and so did Booker. Love is a sneaky fucker and captures you better than a lasso you didn’t see coming. Once it’s around your heart, there ain’t nothing that removes it.

Dad:I couldn’t have put it better myself, Silas.

Rue:Then I better get eyes in the back of my head, cause if it turns grown alphas into crybabies, I want no part in it!

Jupiter:Preaching to the converted.

Dad:There is nothing wrong with tears. They aren’t weakness. They show strength of character and your Popi has cried with all of you. For you. Think on this, do you believe him to be weak or strong?

Kodi:Ah fuck, Dad.

Silas:You’re cryin’ aren’t you…

Chapter Forty-Four

Silas

A month later

Silas ran into his office clutching the box that had just arrived and came to an abrupt stop at finding Popi lounging in his seat. “Did I miss something in my calendar?”

“No.” Popi rose, all elegance in the cream sweater and tailored slacks, as he paid attention to what Silas was holding. “I had word from Vincent that he had sent you the lingerie.”

His thoughts running, trying to catch each other with how excited he was, it took a second to register why Popi had shown up. It had been an emotional roller coaster since they’d returned from the ranch. He’d packed his things to move into Ziggy’s place temporarily, while they looked for a place to buy together. Popi had cried and Silas blocked out his own reaction to that when his brothers—the fuckers—had been present and tormented him over it.

“You came to see what I had made for Ziggy?” Silas stated the obvious, when Popi was coming towards him, hands outstretched.

Silas cringed inwardly when he felt he couldn’t refuse, when this had been Popi’s idea. He just hadn’t considered he’d be sharing what was in the box with anyone but Ziggy. Inside was basically what turned him on and sharing that with a parent?

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