Reed’s refusal. He covered his reaction quickly and smiled tightly. “Okay, I’ll see you later.”
Reed gave an equally tight smile in response.
What the hell is going on between these two?
Myles walked off without another word, his hands fisted at his sides.
Stone followed him.
Reed glanced over his shoulder at them, a spectrum of emotion crossing his face before he began walking again. We walked in silence for a few minutes. I glanced up at his tight face, not missing that his movements were stiffer than normal.
“Hey.” I bumped his shoulder with mine. “You okay?”
He sighed, not looking at me.“Yeah.”
“What do you think Myles wanted?” There were obviously some major unresolved issues between them, and knowing what was coming up in two weeks, I thought that was a sad way to be. People you loved could be ripped away so quickly.
“I have no idea.” He avoided looking at me.
“Yeah, you do. Is that why you wouldn’t go with him? Don’t you want him as a lover? Because it was obvious to me he wants you—badly.”
Reed’s footsteps faltered, and he pulled me to one side. His face fell. “It’s not that. I do want him, but I don’t show it, or try not to, for the same reason Stone would harm you.”
I frowned. “What on earth are you on about?”
“Myles is my brother, we can’t become lovers, it would compromise our position as protectors of the Prime. People would know we are a weakness to each other and use that to get to Connor.”
I snorted and placed a hand on his arm. He looked so crestfallen that I just wanted to cheer him up. “But you wouldn’t allow that to happen, would you? Besides, Connor is a big boy...” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively. “I should know.”
He grinned. “Yeah, you should.”
“He’s the most powerful shifter in this prison, and he can take care of himself. I’ve also known him for a long time and he would not want either of you to be unhappy because of him.”
Reed blew a breath from his nose and leaned against the wall watching the guards pace above. “Yeah, you’re right, I know you are. I guess if we both agree we won’t allow our feelings for each other to be used against us, it wouldn’t matter…”
I chewed on the inside of my lower lip sensing his reticence. He wouldn’t meet my gaze. “But…?”
Silence.
“Reed, it’s okay. I won’t break your confidence.” But I stayed quiet, letting him make up his own mind if he could trust me or not. Alphas were like just about every other man on the planet. Feelings were something women talked about, not tough men whose sole purpose in this place was to dole out pain and punishment when needed. Alphas, even one as polite as Reed, had to be in control and deemed powerful at all times or risk a challenge.
His gaze slid to mine. My stomach tightened at the turmoil in his eyes. Whatever was going on in his head was something that had been stewing in there for a long time. I didn’t know Reed all that well, but he seemed like a nice guy and he deserved to be happy.
“I’m not saying I can do anything about it. But it might help just to tell someone, and I’m not in the business of judging.” I shrugged one shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile.
“I’m scared,” he said quietly, looking away.
“Of what?”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “Have you seen Myles? He’s like a force of nature. He’s full on alpha.”
“So are you.”
“Not like him and Stone—or Owen. They all have enough power to take on Connor if they want.”
I gave a sharp intake of breath.
He shook his head. “Not that they would. They all worship him, and he has their undying loyalty, just as he has mine.”
I gave him a reassuring smile, though I wasn’t so sure about Stone. “What’s that got to do with having a relationship with Myles?”
“Nothing...except, I don’t think Myles wants a relationship. He just does what most males do in here. He uses his lovers until he’s bored with them and then moves on.” He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “I don’t just like him, Ember, I feel far more than like, or lust, I have for years; and every time I see him with another lover, male or female, it cuts me up inside. If I let him in and he discards me, it would break me. And that kind of distraction in a