Grayson closed his eyes, willing himself to find a scrap of tranquility. “I need your help.”
Chapter 34
Keld
The swatch of gauze still covered Grayson’s left cheek, and the sight hit Keld like a punch to the gut.
“Help with what?” His voice was raspy from disuse. He’d called out of work today, opting for self-flagellation in the darkness of his apartment,
“Just let me in,” Grayson snapped. “If you want me to leave when I’m done, I will.”
Why would I want him to leave? He’s the one who should want to get away fromme.
He stepped back, allowing Grayson to enter the dark room.
“Jesus, Keld.” Grayson flicked a light switch, flooding the space with artificial light. “What the hell have you been doing other than ignoring my messages?”
“I didn’t ignore it,” Keld said. “I read it.” He just hadn’t been able to bring himself to answer.
“Oh, great, that makes things so much better.” Grayson inhaled sharply through his narrow nose. “I heard Ikatere Desalination employs non-Omega humans.”
Keld blinked, completely thrown off kilter. “What?”
“Ikatere, the place you work,” Grayson said impatiently. “There are humans at the company who aren’t Omegas, right?”
“Yes, there are, but… Why?”
Grayson went to sit on the aquaconductive sofa, then seemed to think better of it. “My brothers. I need to get them to Miami.”
Keld’s brain scrambled to catch up. “Your brothers… But I thought… Didn’t they—”
“Yes, we haven’t spoken since I ran away from home,” Grayson interrupted. “I thought they wouldn’t understand, or that they would tell our parents where I went, but I was wrong. They found me, and they need to get off the mainland. My youngest brother, Dawson…” Grayson’s voice caught. “Our dad hurt him pretty bad. Jameson took him and ran. He’s trying to get custody, but he needs a job and a place to live.”
A slow simmer of rage crept back through Keld’s blood. He’d spent the past few days in a state of numb self-loathing, but the idea that someone hurt his Omega’s family…
“You want to try and get him a job at the plant?” Keld asked, straightening up.
“Do you think it could work?”
“I’ll talk to Loriun first thing tomorrow. Or I can go right now. I know where he lives, I can just—” Keld was halfway to the door when Grayson caught him by the arm.
“Don’t bother him at home. Tomorrow’s fine. I really appreciate it.” There was relief in his tone, but it was undercut by a layer of ice.
Keld looked down at him and slumped again.Right. He must hate that he needs me for this.
Grayson lifted his chin, blue eyes blazing. “Are you going to kick me out now?”
Keld’s head jerked backward. “No. You can stay here if you want, but I don’t know why you’d want to.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Grayson exploded.
Keld took a step back, alarmed. He’d never seen Grayson like this—actually angry—but he deserved it.
“I’m sorry,” he said, eyes on the floor.
“For what? For ghosting your new boyfriend? For refusing to touch me ever since I got hurt? For acting like you don’t want me anymore? You’re going to have to be more specific than that.”
Keld shook his head. “I didn’t protect you. That’s my job—I’m your Alpha. But I couldn’t save you from my own mother. I don’t deserve to be around you”
