Page 46 of Rejected By the Alpha

Franco revved his engine as I pulled my bike out of the garage, and I followed him as he sped down the street. He had never worn a helmet when he rode. Fear of death hadn’t stopped him from riding recklessly.

We continued out of town, driving for a few hours until Franco finally pulled off onto a secluded spot to take a break.

“I almost lost you back there,” he teased.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I jibed back. “I kept up just fine.”

Franco punched my arm amiably and laughed. “I’ve missed this,” he said.

“So have I,” I admitted.

Even though I had needed to part ways with him, Franco was still my brother. Aside from Jasper, no one had endured asmuch by my side as he had. And no one was more deserving of an apology from me.

“I need to say something, and I need you to not act like a dick about it,” I said.

“No promises,” Franco replied with a grin. “What’s on your mind?”

“I’m sorry,” I said earnestly. “I’m sorry for not being the brother you needed, and for all the pain and hurt you’ve gone through because I wasn’t there to protect you. I wish I had been strong enough to take care of you the way you deserved when we were kids.”

Franco didn’t react to my apology, remaining stoic and cold as I continued.

“I know that nothing I can say or do will make up for what happened, but I want you to know I’m here for you now. If you need any support, I hope you come to me,” I said.

It was doubtful that Franco would accept any help from me—or admit if he needed it—but it felt like the right thing to do. I had gotten used to solving problems with violence, but I wanted to prove to Leah, Jasper, and Nile that I wasn’t that man anymore. I wanted to be an alpha worthy of the name.

“That was really heartfelt but unnecessary,” Franco said. “I didn’t come here for your apology, and I don’t need it. I’ve done just fine on my own so far.”

I nodded, expecting his response. “Whether you needed it or not, the apology is there,” I said.

“Noted,” Franco replied. “But I actually wanted to bring you out here to let you know I’m leaving town. No offense, but Pinedale is boring. I need to go where there’s more excitement.”

His statement was unexpected, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me at hearing the words.

“Will you be back?” I asked.

Franco shrugged. “Someday, probably. But for now, I got everything that I came for.”

“Next time, call first,” I joked.

Franco flashed me an evil grin as he remounted his bike. “What’s the fun in that?”

For the third time in our lives, my brother and I parted ways without a goodbye. But this time, it was Franco leaving, and I was left behind. I smiled faintly as he passed into the distance, excited to go home to my mate.

***

“He didn’t say why he left?” Leah asked as I told her about Franco’s abrupt departure.

“Just that he was bored,” I said with a shrug. “But it was for the best. Men like Franco aren’t built for places like this. He’s got a lot of work to do before he’s fit to be around anyone but other rogues.”

Leah looked at me with concern, and I knew she was wishing that Franco had made a different choice, been a different person.

“What happens now?” she asked.

“Now we get to go back to that happy bubble we were in before our families came and popped it,” I replied.

I wrapped her in a hug, breathing in her sweet scent as I relished the peace of being at home with her.

It was at that moment that I remembered what I was doing before Franco had suddenly appeared and distracted me.

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