We all experience fear and doubt.”
“Not me. I was taught not to show those emotions. Ever. They’re embarrassing in an alpha.”
“Hey, that’s your sire talking. You’re allowed to show any emotion you want, especially with me. I love you, Dorian, and I’m here for whatever you need.”
He looked into Hyatt’s dark, shiny eyes and saw the truth of those words. “You love me?”
“I do. You have been so strong this past week. You have shown me the spirit of a man I would be proud to share my life with. To have children with. To walk into any event on his arm with joy in my heart.” Hyatt bent his neck and brushed gentle, warm lips over Dorian’s. “I’ll take the day off. Even if you need me to wait in the car while you take your meetings, I’ll do it.”
“You can’t just take off your job. The Realtor relies on you.”
“He can get along without me for a day.”
“What about rent?” Dorian’s bad mood was frying his brain-to-mouth censor, allowing out all the wrong things. He knew better than anyone Hyatt didn’t need—
“I could not work another day for the next ten years and still pay my rent.” Hyatt’s face flushed scarlet, while Dorian’s heart beat double-time. “Um.”
What do I say? I can’t ignore such a statement or blow it off, but if he answers, can I lie? I never want to lie to him.
Dorian sat up, unsurprised when Hyatt shifted to the other side of the bed, the covers between them. Hyatt stared at his folded fingers, shoulders hunched, and it was all Dorian’s fault for not coming clean about the credit transfers weeks ago. He couldn’t stand seeing his bondmate so unsure and confused. “I know,” Dorian said.
Hyatt’s head snapped up, expression pinched. “You know what?”
“That you can afford not to work but you choose to.”
“How? Did Rebel or Symon tell you? We agreed to keep it to ourselves for now, the jerks.”
“They didn’t tell me.” Dorian wanted to take Hyatt’s hands but resisted the urge. His insides turned to jelly. “I know because I sent the credit transfers.”
Hyatt looked at him like Dorian had said the sky was yellow and the sun was blue. “You what?”
“About two months ago, as I was finalizing the dissolution of my sire’s business, I sent credit transfers to you, Symon and Rebel. Anonymously. I think it was my attempt at financial restitution for everything my family put you three through. I never imagined I would discover you were my bondmate, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
Hyatt gaped at him, cheeks stained red, his expression both shocked and furious. “You sent it?”
“Yes.”
“To do what? Shut us up?”
“No. Absolutely not. The trial was over. Everyone knew what my family had done. I just…wanted some of the money to help the people we’d hurt most. The three of you more than deserved it. Not just because of Symon’s burns, but for all the things you’d suffered your entire lives because of that infernal fight ring. You deserve all the luxury in the world, Hyatt, and I believed that even before I got to know you.”
“The whole time.” Hyatt’s eyes narrowed, and Dorian scented the force of his anger. “I’ve had that credit the entire time we’ve known each other, and you never said anything until now. Why?”
“The credit was never about me; it was about you. I never wanted you to look at me the way you’re looking at me now. Like I tried to buy your affection or influence you in some way. That was never my intention, I swear to you.”
“But you lied to me, Dorian. Maybe not to my face, but lies of omission are still lies, and they still hurt. You should have told me sooner.”
“I know.”
“My brothers and I have been sitting on that money, scared someone would come along and take it away from us, and make us pay back anything we spent.”
Dorian blinked, surprised by that. He’d ensured the transfers were legitimate and non-reversible. “But the bank should have told you—”
“I know what the bank told me.” Hyatt rolled off the bed and stood on the other side, arms folded. Defensive, and Dorian didn’t like that. He hated seeing his omega so upset. And not just upset but upset at him. “I should have known. Should have guessed. No one else in the territory had any reason to send that much credit to my family but you. And I did suspect but I told