Page 23 of Laken's longing

“You threw me off with this hobo look you got going this morning.”

“Drop it,” he said sharply, then sighed dejectedly, hating the look of hurt Rue wasn’t quick enough to hide. “Ignore me. I’m happy for you, genuinely.”

He was. Rue deserved all the happiness after his biological parents were killed. Unlike him, Rue’s family didn’t reject him.

“I know you are.” Rue gave him a rueful grin. “And that’s why you were my first call.”

The hand he was dragging through his disheveled hair, stopped.

“You haven’t rung Dad and Popi?” he questioned in shock. Popi would have Rue’s hide for not telling him first.

“Didn’t I just tell you I wanted you to be the first person I shared the news with?”

Laken’s throat thickened with emotions. “Right. I’m honored, but you know I’m gonna gloat about this, right?”

He needed to stuff the icky emotions back where they belonged, out of sight and his mind.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else. So, if you wanna drop that nugget in the group chat, go for it.”

For the first time since he answered, Laken grinned widely. “Hang on.”

Laken came out of the screen and opened up the alphahole group chat, so named by Jupiter, the wind-up merchant that he was. Laken secretly agreed it was a perfect name for them with how they all moaned and complained in there.

“Is Kendrick planning on moving to Hazardville?” Laken questioned while his phone blew up with notifications.

“I’m moving to Bayfield permanently.”

Bayfield was the town closest to Silas’s ranch. Rue had returned recently to Bayfield with several omegas that came from a factory they’d purchased in Drinkwater. Laken didn’t dwell too hard on why the omegas had needed a safe place to stay. It was a sad story that made his past seem wonderful and sunny, if he discounted some fucker messing with him.

Laken had thought he was missing something when Rue had eagerly volunteered to head back to the ranch, but now it all made sense.

Laken switched back into the call. “How’s that gonna work? Dad and Popi will not be happy to hear that news.”

They’d all come home to Hazardville when summoned after Dad and Popi decided to step down from Starling Enterprises, the fashion company they’d built together.

“I spoke to Dad about the potential when he came up for their spying ‘anniversary’ visit.”

Laken wasn’t surprised by this when Popi was up in all their business. “I figured that might be what they were doing. How did he take it?”

“They’re okay with it.”

Laken checked the group, laughing. “You need to go read the chat.”

“Will do. Are we good?” Rue’s question was hesitant.

“We are. I’ll see if I can wangle a trip out your way to meet my future brother-in-laws.” Rue's gawping response gave Laken time to end the call quickly. “Bye.”

Laken stared at the group chat for long minutes, reading the comments once more when he didn’t want to think too hard about why he suddenly felt lonely.

Alphaholes

Laken:Another one bites the dust!

Kodi:What are you talking about? And where the fuck are you? We had a meeting at nine am!

Laken:I asked Charlotte to reschedule it.

Shit. Shit. Shit. He’d totally responded without thinking. He couldn’t go back and question if Isley had said differently. Heread through the rest of the group chat to make sure he didn’t have to come up with some other excuse.