Page 17 of No Honor Amongst Shifters
“LOOK, NO ONE’S SAYINGyou weren’t an idiot,” Misha said.
Alcott huffed.“Thanks.I love you, too.”
“I’m not trying to be mean.I’m just saying that you shouldn’t have trusted Damien, but I understand why you did.You need to stop blaming yourself.”
But if Alcott didn’t blame himself, who should he blame?He’dput the clan in danger.No matter what he’d been trying to do, he couldn’t change that.Did his reasons really matter?It didn’t feel like they did.Only the results did, and he still didn’t know what to do about any of it.
Misha wanted him to stay.He wanted to stay.How could he, though?
“Besides, maybe what you’re looking for is much closer than you think,” Misha continued.
Alcott frowned.“What are you talking about?”
“You said you fell for Damien’s lies because you were looking for love.”
“I panicked because I felt I was losing you after you started seeing Olsen.”
“You’ll never lose me.It doesn’t matter how long I’m with Olsen, you’ll always be my brother.I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d follow you if you left.”
Alcott knew that he hadn’t been.“Olsen wouldn’t let you.”
“Olsen would come with me, which means the rest of his family would probably leave the clan, too.You don’t want to be responsible for that, do you?”
Alcott scowled.“I wouldn’t be responsible for what a bunch of other people decided to do with their lives.”
Misha ignored Alcott’s words.“Besides, I’m pretty sure Roslin would be the first in line to leave if you did.”
Alcott didn’t want to do this.He had nothing to say to Misha about Roslin.At the same time, he had too much to say, and he didn’t want to blurt all of it out.He and Misha were having a serious conversation, or at least, they had been until Misha started teasing him.“Roslin is a family guy.He’s being nice to me because I’m related to you,” he grumbled.
“Sure he is.It didn’t even occur to me that someone we trust should be bringing you food, but it did to him.What does that tell you?”
“That I was lucky he happened to be in the kitchen when my food was being prepared.”
Misha rolled his eyes.“You can argue as much as you want, but we both know the truth.”
“We do.The truth is that there’s nothing between me and Roslin.”
“Yet.”
“I’m not staying, Misha.There can’t ever be anything between us.”Alcott thought Misha would get sad or angry because he was mentioning leaving again, but he didn’t.He just acted as if Alcott hadn’t just reaffirmed that he was leaving the clan.
“Do you think it’s weird that we’ll end up dating brothers?I’m sure Donahue will have something to say about that.”
“Misha, please.”
“No.I refuse to consider the possibility of you leaving.You’re not, not without me.You have too much here to leave.”
“I only have you.”
“You don’t.You have a home, and there’s Olsen’s family.You have Roslin, and many people here like you.Elijah certainly does.”
Alcott suspected that his brother was blinded by how much he loved him.All these people were being nice to Alcott because he was related to Misha, and they lovedhim.It didn’t have anything to do with Alcott.People didn’t love him, like Damien had shown.
So how could Roslin?He was nice, but Alcott was ready to bet that he’d decided to talk to him as a favor to Misha, even though Misha wasn’t aware of it.
And that was okay.Alcott didn’t need to be loved by anyone but Misha.He wouldn’t be happy to leave the clan because he’d leave his brother behind as well as safety, but he’d survive.As long as he kept his heart safe, he could do it.
He hadn’t changed his mind, and he wouldn’t.If Misha insisted on coming with him, Alcott would have to find a way around that.He would.He wouldn’t let anyone ruin what Misha was building—not himself, and definitely not Misha.
