Page 36 of Free Me

“I get it. You’ll be able to think better after some sleep?”

“I hope so. I guess part of me, too, has just assumed they’d give the shop to Peyton, because he’s the oldest and alpha.”

“You know your parents better than that. And if you aren’t sure, talk to them. I bet you a neck and shoulder massage that they’ve already got both you and Peyton in their will as inheriting joint control of Perks if anything happens to them.”

“A massage, huh?” He could hear the smile in Miko’s voice. “Deal. But I’m not going to ask them right away. We all need time after the car accident, you know? I bet they were stupid-worried about us both, and I don’t want them to think I’ve got death on the brain. Especially after our fight.”

“Totally understandable. So you vented to them about feeling like the forgotten child?”

“Pretty much, yeah. Omi said he hated seeing how torn up I was about, um, your accident, and that I always seemed so stable and well-adjusted, so he never really worried about me, and I just blew up on him. Accused him of not having any energy left to worry about me because he spent it all on Peyton.”

“Do you still feel that way?”

“Yes. I do feel bad for how I yelled at them but it is how I feel. I can’t turn that off.”

“And you shouldn’t have to. It kind of sounds like you and your parents need to sit down and have a really serious conversation about this, maybe with a neutral party present.”

“Like a family counselor?”

“Maybe. Or ask Tarius. He knows how to mediate and be fair.”

“True. I’ll think about it.”

“I’m glad. Now what about punching a teenage alpha?”

Miko blew out a loud breath. “I’m not sure if I’m proud or mortified, and it wasn’t much of a thing. The bus wasn’t very crowded, and he decided he needed to be in my space, I guess because of my scent change, I don’t know. I tried to ignore him but I was already pissed about the fight with my parents, so when he followed me off the bus and walked so close hepractically stepped on my heels, I lost it. I stopped, let him run into me from behind, turned around, and decked him.”

“Damn, dude.” Linus was furious on Miko’s behalf, but his insides vibrated with pride over Miko’s actions. He hadn’t allowed himself to be bullied by a teenage idiot. “Did you knock him down?”

“I did. He was so stunned he just stared at me, so I walked away.” He let out a sound that wasn’t quite a squeak. “Now that I’m half-an-hour past it, I’m lucky he didn’t call a constable on me. I did kind of punch him unprovoked.”

“Maybe, maybe not. His pride probably wouldn’t let him admit he got sucker-punched by an omega.”

Miko chuckled. “Probably. Thank you, Linus, for listening to all this. I’d planned on venting some of it to Morgyn, but I’m really glad we talked.”

“You’re welcome. I actually feel a lot better, too, after talking to you. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and I’m scared to death.” He hated how his voice cracked, but he also knew Miko wouldn’t chide him for it.

“You’re allowed to be scared. We’re all scared, Linus, but it’s our fear and love that make us stronger, because we’ll fight for each other. I’ll fight for you. You will walk again. I promise, my al—friend.”

The slight word stumble was endearing as hell, and part of Linus wished Miko had called him his alpha, the way Linus thought of Miko as his omega. There was something to these new feelings, something he couldn’t put his finger on. He was too tired and stressed and angry and terrified of the next days, weeks and months. But Miko was right. They would fight for each other. Linus had dozens of people in his corner, rooting for him to walk again.

And Linus planned to walk again one day. It wouldn’t be with two real feet or two real calves, but by goddess he would walk.

There was no other choice.

NINE

Miko didn’t apologizeto his parents that night. After their big talk, he and Linus chatted about nonsense until they were both loudly yawning into their mobiles, and then Jaxson knocked on the door, wanting his room back. Miko hated saying goodnight, but he was drooping, so he reluctantly wished Linus a good night and ended the call. He felt better knowing Linus had been glad to hear his voice. Linus had been the one to reach out.

It meant something.

He opened the door to a sleepy-eyed Jaxson. “Sorry and thank you again.”

“No problem, dude,” Jaxson replied. “I texted your folks that you were crashing here tonight and you were unharmed.”

“Oh good, thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Hey, we’ve all been there with our parents, right? Good talk with Linus?”

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