“Please, just tell me if he’s alright.”

The nurse looked absolutely exhausted, and Charles knew he was probably the main reason, but it didn’t matter. Myron’s brother had ordered him to be kept away from the hospital room, and Charles couldn’t blame them. Myron had been shot protecting him, and while the hospital was secure, there was no telling when someone would try again. The last thing he wanted was to endanger the omega, but he had to know if he’d come out of surgery alright, at the very least, and they would tell him nothing on the phone.

“Charles?” Avery’s familiar voice caught his attention. He turned to find the omega walking toward him, his eyes full of concern.

“Avery,” Charles cried, running to join him. “How is he? Is he alright?”

“He’s fine. He’s up, even if he shouldn’t be,” Avery muttered. “The surgeon said the bullet went right through and only did some tissue damage. He got lucky.”

Charles gasped in relief, feeling like he had just come down off a mountain made of his own terror. “Thank God.” That was a phrase he couldn’t remember using before. Avery seemed equally surprised.

“I’m sorry about Nicholas,” Avery said softly. “We’ve all been so worried, and he’s just trying to protect his brother.”

“As he should,” Charles murmured. Being an inadequate Alpha had never bothered him as much as it did knowing that Myron had almost died protecting him. No matter how unconventional they were, he would never forgive himself.

“Would you like to see him?”

Charles’ eyes widened. “I… I shouldn’t be here. I just needed to know that he was going to be okay.”

Avery frowned. “You don’t look okay. Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“I’m fine,” Charles insisted, spotting an older omega approaching them. She didn’t look anything like Myron or Nicholas, except for the eyes.

“You,” she huffed, scowling at Charles. “You’re the one my son almost died trying to protect! What kind of operation are you running, exactly?”

“Bev, please,” Avery muttered.

“It’s alright,” said Charles. “She has every right to be angry. Mrs. Myer, I’m truly sorry. I still have no idea how that person got through security, and if I’d had any idea Myron would —“

“Would you stop harassing my boss?” Myron’s voice came from right behind Charles, but he couldn’t bring himself to turn around. How could he face him after that?

“What are you doing out of bed?” Beverly scolded. “And what happened to your arm?”

By the time Charles finally got the courage to look, Myron was dressed normally even if his arm was in a sling.

“I overextended it,” the omega said flatly, keeping his eyes on Charles.

It took all of Charles’ willpower to keep from throwing his arms around Myron. Not only was the omega hurt, but any kind of public display of affection around his family would most certainly be unwelcome. “Myron,” Charles whispered. “Are you —?”

“I’m fine,” Myron said, taking a step closer even though he kept his good hand at his side. He clenched his fist, like it was killing him as much as it was Charles. “Probably not even gonna get a cool scar out of it. Are you okay?”

“Of course I am,” Charles said, bewildered by the question. He’d thought of what he would say to Myron if he got the chance, but the presence of his family was making it difficult. “Why did you do that?”

Myron smirked. “You know, most people would just say thank you.”

“I’m not going to thank you for endangering your life to save mine,” Charles snapped. “Do you have any idea how I —“ He cut himself off when he realized Beverly and Avery were both watching them and listening to every word. He swallowed hard. “I would rather have died.”

“Put it in my performance report,” Myron scoffed. “Did they catch the guy?”

“About an hour ago,” Charles murmured. “They don’t know if he was working alone yet.”

“Either way, we’re getting out of here. Call someone to bring your shit from the hotel, the flight leaves in an hour.”

“Flight?” Charles echoed.

Beverly seemed just as confused. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m coming home, and so is Charles,” Myron said firmly. “Take it up with Nicholas if you have a problem. Charles, walk with me.”

The Alpha stayed frozen for a moment before finally following Myron down the hall. “You shouldn’t be out of bed!”

“I’m not healing any faster lying down. Besides, I need to stretch my legs while they work on my discharge papers,” he muttered. “Mom can fret as easily in Southbend as she can here.”

“I’m glad you’re going back, but I’m not coming with you.” Charles stopped walking and Myron was forced to do the same. The look in the omega’s eyes was pure frustration and exhaustion.

“Yes, you are. No telling how many others that freak was working with. No one will find you in Southbend.”

“And if they do, they’ll find you,” Charles seethed. “I’m not letting you get hurt because of me again.”

“And I’m not leaving you.” Myron spoke calmly, but he’d taken on a demeanor Charles didn’t recognize. “Your security’s shit, and I don’t trust any of them.”

“You think someone in the company let that happen?” he asked doubtfully.

“I think it’s possible, and so do you, or you wouldn’t keep your research locked up in your room with surveillance cameras everywhere.”

“It’s not fair to use my paranoia against me,” Charles muttered.

Myron smirked, backing him up against the wall. It was a relatively private corridor, but Charles was still aware of how easy it would be for someone to catch them. Doing what was the question. “You’re coming home with me. End of story. If kidnapping you is what it takes to keep you safe and force you to talk, I’m good with that.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“You just figuring that out?” Myron taunted, pushing his forehead against Charles’ as his good hand cupped the Alpha’s jaw. “I would do it again, for the record.”

“Please don’t say that,” Charles murmured. Another question that had been weighing on his mind surfaced with the memory of the shooting. “Are we going to talk about your wolf form? Because that was…”

“Freaky. So I’ve heard.”

“I wouldn’t put it like that,” said Charles. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen, but it was beautiful. I just don’t understand how it happened.”

“Me either.” Myron shrugged. “I mean, it’s pretty typical for an omega to only be able to shift after meeting his destined mate. Maybe I just waited so long it overbaked.”

“Overbaked?” Charles asked dryly. “It’s a wolf, not a cake.”

“I’m not sure it’s either, considering the way that nurse and my family is looking at me,” he scoffed. “But we’ve got time to figure it out. Southbend’s got plenty of woods so I can experiment.”

“Myron—“

“I won’t take no for an answer, and if you refuse to come with me, I’ll just stay here and we’ll both be in danger.”

Charles let out a startled breath. Myron’s lips were close. He could almost taste them. “Your family is never going to go for that.”

“It’s already settled with Nicholas. How do you think I hurt my arm?”

“You fought?” Charles cried.

“No, fighting would imply he actually stood a chance. We came to an understanding.”

“You know, you’re pretty bad at this whole omega thing,” Charles grumbled.

The grin that spread across Myron’s face reminded him of just how bad he was at being an Alpha. “Now that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said.”