a throw pillow and hugged it tight to his abdomen as old hurts and terror swamped him.
“That son of a fucker,” Dorian snapped. “To use your love for Symon against you, the same way Edgar used Rebel’s love for you both against him? Monstrous. My goddess, Hyatt, why didn’t you tell the authorities?”
“There was no point.” Hyatt swallowed back a shamed sob. “It would only hurt Symon and make Rebel madder. Back then, I needed my brothers more than I needed oxygen, and Edgar was dead. Telling wouldn’t help any of us, especially not Symon.”
“Did you tell anyone? Or have you carried this all these years?”
“I told my therapist.” All his energy fled, and Hyatt didn’t object when Dorian tugged him against his chest, into a loose hug. He relaxed against his bondmate, so grateful for the support when all Hyatt felt was disgust. “He encouraged me to be honest but I never could. It’s the very distant past now. But that’s why yesterday means so much to me, Dorian. You showed me something profound and wonderful, and you weren’t even in the same room as me, so thank you.”
“No, my dear, thank you.” Dorian briefly held him tighter, before pulling back. Looking Hyatt right in the eyes. “You trusted me with a very private secret, and I hate what happened to you with my entire soul. But I am so proud of you for your strength in surviving what you did. And not just the rapes but your entire childhood. I know what was in the papers and what you’ve chosen to share, and I cannot imagine the strength it takes to become the amazing man you are after such difficulty.”
“I’m the man I am because of the difficulty and abuse. We are all products of our circumstances, but we are also products of our genetics. And I like to think my omegin was an amazing, generous, spirited person who loved with his whole heart. That I inherited it all from him and he helped me survive my childhood.”
“If you believe it, then I believe it.” Dorian brushed soft kisses to his forehead and both cheeks. “Goddess, Hyatt, I want to avenge your pain somehow.”
“I know. You can’t, but that you want to means the world to me.” Hyatt tucked his head beneath Dorian’s chin, and they sat together for a while. Doing nothing more taxing than breathing and holding each other. Existing in this private moment, while Hyatt tried to let go of years of shame. Undeserved shame, since Hyatt had done nothing wrong. All he’d ever done was try to protect his family.
They sat in silence until Hyatt’s stomach gave an unhappy growl for food.
“You’d think I was twice my size for as much as I eat,” Hyatt said on a bark of laughter.
Dorian looked at his wristwatch. “It’s far past lunch. How about we order in? What do you fancy?”
“Hmm. A big, juicy burger with all the toppings.”
“I think I know just the place.”
Proving even formerly-rich alphas had a junk drawer full of odds-and-ends and takeout menus, Dorian produced one and handed it to Hyatt. Not too far and reasonably priced. Hyatt insisted Dorian use Hyatt’s credit card to pay, though, and Dorian didn’t argue. The food would take about forty minutes, so they settled in to cuddle for a while longer. No more conversations or confessions. Just them. Together.
Please give us forever. I want this so much. I deserve this.
When the food arrived, they moved to the kitchen table to eat. Hyatt’s burger was juicy, delicious, and exactly what he needed. Fat and carbs to settle his internal turmoil. The fries were a bit soggy, but Dorian stuck them into his toaster oven for a few minutes and they crisped right back up. Symon texted him once to check in, and Hyatt sent back a message that he was amazing and having the best day in a long time.
He loved that his brothers still checked in on him, however needlessly. They probably would for months to come, no matter what he told them about Dorian. Symon and Rebel were nothing if not protective and loyal.
Once lunch was washed down with cold cola and the table cleaned up, they returned to the couch to find a movie. But as they were searching, Hyatt couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Will you tell me more about your brothers who died?”
Dorian tensed, his profile going stony, but he didn’t say no right away. The hand holding the remote dropped