“Not as important as you.”
Micah broke down, his sobs ragged. Kai hated himself for being so far away. He wasn’t home. Home was where Micah and Spike were, home was where he should’ve been.
“Send—Send me a picture,” Kai said through his too-tight throat. “You and Spike. Please.”
“Now?” Micah sniffled.
“Yeah. I’ll call you back.”
“O-okay.” Micah took a while to end the call. Kai pictured him shaky and fumbling. He imagined Micah’s terror. And something animal clawed inside his chest. He needed his alpha and omega back in his arms, like he needed air to breathe. It wasn’t a question anymore.
He bulldozed his way through the bar. Stopped by the table where his team was. Kai leaned close to shout into Charlie’s ear, “Family emergency. I gotta go home. California.”
Charlie frowned. “We need you here.”
“My brother’s hurt. And my omega.” As much as it pained him to say those words, it felt right to call them his. “I’ll be back soon.”
He met Charlie’s stare—Charlie, who ran his team with a tight rein. Charlie, who allowed absolutely no one to slack off. At length, Charlie nodded, shrewd eyes pinned on Kai. “You’d better be back before the game starts Thursday.”
Kai clapped him on the shoulder, and then he was out of the bar, calling a cab.
His phone buzzed. Micah had sent three pictures. The first was so shaky, that there seemed to be only gray cement, and someone’s blurry shape. The second was Spike lying on the ground, blood smeared across his face, his eye swelling up.
If Kai didn’t know better, he might’ve thought Spike was dead. And that thought—it froze his mind, it sent a jolt of horror through Kai’s body, and suddenly Kai couldn’t breathe.
He shouldn’t have left Spike. Spike was his. Spike didn’t know how much Kai fucking cared about him, and Kai should’ve told him. Should’ve given Spike that mark he always wanted.
Because if he ever lost Spike like that, if Spike never woke up... Gods. Kai would forever regret not bonding with him.
His hands shook. Kai stared at his phone, his eyes burning. I’m sorry, he thought. I shouldn’t have left you. Should’ve stayed.
Kai could lose his basketball career, and the world would keep on turning. But if he lost Spike, if he never told Spike that Spike was the most important alpha he ever had...
If Kai didn’t have his brother by his side, he would turn into an animal. Spike was the one who kept Kai sane, he was the one who calmed Kai down, he was the one Kai turned to, to exchange in-jokes. Spike was everything, woven into the fibers of Kai’s heart.
Kai swallowed, his throat raw like he’d eaten shards of glass.
The phone buzzed with another picture. Micah’s face—pale and greenish under the fluorescent lights. His eyes were haunted, his mouth pulled in a taut line. Wetness gleamed on his cheek. But Micah’s gaze—he looked regretful, frightened. And Kai’s stomach jolted.
How had he let things get to this point?
If he ever lost Micah, Kai would’ve lost the fierce, strong omega who had stood up for him and Spike. He would’ve lost the person he’d wanted so much to protect. He would’ve lost the reason why he was an alpha, the reason why he was needed in this world.
I should’ve been there. I’ve been a shit alpha who hasn’t been around for them.
Kai’s teeth ached with need. His eyes burned.
So maybe he was crying, but he didn’t care anymore.
If staying by Micah’s side meant that Kai did his part in child-raising, if it meant that he gave up his career, if it meant that he barreled his way up to Micah and Spike, instead of sitting outside the circle of their warmth... maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. Because anything was better than not having his alpha and omega in his life.
The cab pulled up next to him. Kai scrubbed his face dry, got in, and gave the driver directions. Then he dialed Micah, his heart pounding so hard it almost burst through his ribs.
His hands trembling, Kai held the phone to his ear.
“Kai,” Micah croaked through the phone. “Spike’s awake.”
A noise escaped Kai. All he knew was the waves of relief that crashed through his chest, the burn in his eyes that trickled down his cheeks. “Fuck. I’m so glad.”
“Me, too. The—The EMT’s checking him over now. I think they’re going to take him to the hospital. He needs observation.”
Kai closed his eyes. He’d take that any day, as long as it meant he’d still have an alpha to return to. “I’ll be there.”
“Where are you?” Micah sniffled.
“On my way to the airport. Tell Spike—” Kai swallowed. “Tell him I’m sorry. And that I’m coming home.”
“Will do,” Micah said softly. “Be safe.”
“You be safe,” Kai muttered. “And... and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left.”
Micah huffed, his voice thick. “I’m sorry, too. I love you, Kai. I shouldn’t have tried to break up with you or Spike. But I still think you should’ve joined the team. It’s been good for you.”
Was it, really? Kai closed his eyes, his arms too empty. Micah’s voice was soothing in his ear. Kai had missed their phone calls—when he could pretend that Spike or Micah was right next to him, just a kiss away. “Love you, too.”
When Micah spoke again, there was the tiniest smile in his voice. “We’re waiting. Come home to us.”
38
Micah
The moment Micah ended the call, uncertainty crept up on him. Had it been too forward of him, telling Kai that Spike wanted him home, too?
He made his way over to the ambulance, where the EMTs had strapped Spike onto the stretcher. Micah followed Spike into the back of the ambulance, his heart squeezing when Spike sought his gaze.
“Feeling better?” Micah croaked. His eyes still burned. His throat felt raw, and there was no sight in the world better than Spike cracking a smile up at him. Except it would’ve been better if Kai were here, too.
“Yeah,”
