“I know, but I can’t help how I feel, and it’s better to feel it and move through it than let it fester. And you’re allowed to deal with this however you want. But don’t forget that Palani said he wanted to apologize to us both.”
“But, Lucan…” Sando’s voice had dropped to a whisper. “I don’t understand why he’s apologizing.”
He didn’t even think he was worthy of an apology. The thought hit Lucan hard. Sando thought so little of himself, of the horrible situation he’d been in, that he didn’t even think anyone should’ve stepped in.
“He should apologize because you’re a pack member, kitten, and they failed to protect you. Maz reported it, I reported it, and nobody did a damn thing.”
His volume had risen at the end as bitter anger welled up inside him all over again. He couldn’t help but look at his brother and Palani, who were standing there quietly, allowing Lucan to express his rage.
“If they had acted when we first brought this up, your father would never have gotten the chance to hurt you as much as he did. We could’ve been happy and together all this time.”
“Lucan…” Sando croaked, and Lucan focused his attention back on him. “I don’t want them to hate me. Don’t be mad at them. I’m sure they didn’t mean it… And I should’ve said something to you and Maz. I should’ve spoken up sooner and told you what was going on. I wanted to be a good son and take care of him because I felt like I owed him, and that’s my fault. If I had… If I hadn’t been so stupid and proud, none of this would’ve happened. And I should’ve known he was medicating me. The signs were all there, and I completely missed them. I was stupid, Lucan. Not them.”
Lucan was too furious to even speak, his insides burning so hot and fierce he feared he’d say all the wrong things. How could Sando even think this, let alone say it? How could he blame himself after all that? That, too, was on Palani and Bray…and on Maz. They’d all failed him. None of them had stepped up the way they should have.
As if he knew Lucan had been thinking about him, Maz entered the room. “What’s going on?” He walked over to Lucan and Sando. “Why are Palani and Bray here?”
Something of his inner turmoil must have shown because Maz didn’t touch him, didn’t kiss him like he normally would have. Or maybe he didn’t because he hated confrontations and fights, and he was smart enough to realize he’d just walked into one.
Sando trembled in Lucan’s arms. No matter how angry Lucan was, he couldn’t transfer his fury onto Sando. The omega was allowed his own emotions and process in his own way. “Go kiss Maz, kitten,” he said as he released him. Sando looked at him uncertainly, but Lucan managed a smile. “It’s okay. I’m not angry with you. Never with you.”
Sando seemed reassured and took a few quick steps toward Maz, who pulled him in a gentle embrace and kissed him sweetly. “I’m a little sweaty, kitten.”
Sando didn’t seem to mind, since he sought Maz’s arms anyway and held on tight.
“Palani and Bray were here to apologize,” Lucan said when he was sure he had his emotions under control. “For not acting when we told them about Sando.”
Lucan didn’t miss the slight wince passing over Maz’s face, and in a way, it made him feel good. He didn’t want Maz to experience guilt all over again. He’d apologized, and Lucan had forgiven him. But it was hard not to feel resentment all over again when faced with the evidence that everyone he’d gone to for help had failed him. He knew Maz was sensitive to disagreements, but he couldn’t allow that to hold him back here.
“You asked why I didn’t do anything…” Palani said. “The truth is that you’re right. I didn’t believe you at first. I couldn’t fathom that Professor Melloni could be like that because to me, the man was a hero. Enar and I had met him. Talked to him. Sure, he was quirky and a little underdeveloped in the social skills, but I figured that was par for the course, what with him being super smart. A nerd. And he was so proud of Sando, introducing him to us. I couldn’t reconcile my own experiences with him with what you were saying.”