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“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
Guilt plagued Wilder. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t intend on my gift sending you running.”
“I know. Though, I should yell at you for being so insensitive. I believe my uncle told you not to use that name.”
“Yell away,” Wilder whispered. Anger would be better than a crying, upset Abe. “I can take it.”
Abe glanced his way and chuckled, which quickly receded into a frown.
“Should I leave? I probably shouldn’t have come here in the first place, but I—”
Abe scrutinized him, clearly hanging on for the end of his comment. “But you,what?”
Jaw clenched, he hesitated with the truth on his tongue. Would that only add more stress to the beta? Abe was already distraught. “Nothing.”
“No. You have something to say. Say it.”
Wilder met Abe’s gaze. “I think we both feel the attraction. We’ve been fighting it for years, some days better than others.”
“That’swhy you came?”
“Well, yeah.” He attempted a smile, but sensed it was more lopsided than anything. “I can’t seem to stop being pulled in your direction.”
Abe nodded. “Yeah. I understand the feeling.”
“We both likely know that nothing can ever come of a relationship between an alpha and a beta, nothing that would last forever… and I don’t want to cause discomfort between you and your uncles. I know they consider me part of the family… and I appreciate that they allow me to spend time with their children. Even though my brother wasn’t biologically their father… theywerehis in a way.”
“They were his, too,” Abe replied. “And for me to suggest otherwise was cruel. I’m sorry. I’d say I’m having a stressful day, but there’s no excuse for what I said earlier.”
Wilder frowned. “When did you suggest otherwise?”
“When I implied you weren’t really Silver and Jaymes’ uncle.”
Wilder’s chest tightened. “Technically, I’m not.”
“Those boys love you regardless of technicalities. You’reUnkka Wile.”
Wilder grinned, enjoying the hint of the same on Abe’s lips.
“Jamie was the sole reason my uncle found a love of his own and escaped the OQ. Rohan has been the kind of partner he deserved. A good role model for my little brothers. A good provider.” Abe looked through the railing. “Everything an omega could want.” He tilted his head, focusing on Wilder. “You’d be a good one, too, I suspect.”
“I’m in no rush to start a family. That’s the best part about Silver and Jaymes. I can hand them back when I’m done.”
“Agreed,” Abe said, his smile widening.
Wilder leaned back against the half wall at the edge of the railing, his gaze searching over Abe’s face. “The pens…?”
“It’s not a big deal, I swear.”
“Honestly, it was a bit of a joke. All I know is that I never want to cause that look on your face ever again.”
Abe met his stare. “It wasn’t just the pens. They were the straw that broke the camel’s back.” He sighed. “I’m coming to the end of this huge journey. Scared of what comes next. Scared I won’t make it. Scared for my brothers and their futures.” He shook his head. “I’ve spent the last few years being strong for them. My brothers. I pushed a lot of my grief over our parents to the back of my mind. Pushing forward.” Tears shone in his eyes. “They should be here right now. Celebrating this moment with us. But they’re gone and I’ve been dealing with the aftermath of that for too long without facing it head on.”
“Ah, Gray told me Avery was the name your parents used. How thoughtless of me. I’m so very sorry.”
“No… Ilikethe pens. I do. It was actually nice seeing that part of me again, I guess. I feel like such a pretender these days…”
