Page 53 of Broken Ice
They stared at each other, the distance insurmountable. Emilio couldn’t touch him again—Beau’s heat scent would linger.
With a scratchy, wet noise, Emilio turned and walked out of the room.
It took a full minute for the front door to open and close.
Beau closed his eyes as his body caved in.
***
It was bad.
Right after Emilio left, Beau almost convinced himself that it would be okay. He had some of Emilio’s clothes, and the nest smelt vaguely like him.
But it was as though his body realised its Alpha was gone.
And it wasnothappy.
Beau was afraid he’d crack a tooth, he was gritting his jaw so tightly. There were moments he was so lost in the pain thathe couldn’t understand why Emilio had gone. Why Emilio had abandoned him.
All things, though—even bad ones—came to an end.
Beau didn’t know what was happening at first. His body was going haywire, bones sore from being tense for so long, joints screaming. There was someone there trying to make Beau straighten out his arms and legs.
Emilio.
Beau opened his eyes, vision blurred. “Why’d you do that?” he sobbed.
“Beau—”
“Why’d you leave? You promised, youpromised—” his mouth was sticky with tears, throat raw.
“I’m sorry. Baby, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Beau finally let go enough for Emilio to scoop him up, pressing them together, Beau’s nose in Emilio’s neck, hands fisting his clothes wildly.
He struggled to stop crying, opened-mouthed like a kid, body exhausted and scared and hurt.
Even that, too, ended. The tears petered out, leaving him empty and clinging to Emilio.
His senses returned to him. He frowned.
“Hey.”
Emilio jolted. His heart was thundering so loud Beau couldfeelit.
“Emilio,” Beau said, worry creeping up. The Alpha was shaking violently, not letting go of the tight hold he had on Beau.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Emilio begged, voice distorted by his chattering teeth.
Beau managed to wiggle enough space between them to see his face, gut clenching at the sight.
Even though it didn’t appear he’d been crying, Emilio was deathly pale, eyes wide and red-rimmed, glazed over and not quite there.
Beau cupped Emilio’s cheeks in his hands.
“Hey. Hey, hey, Emilio. It’s okay. I’m okay.”
Emilio shook his head. “I’m…I’m…” His breath quickened into panic.
