Chapter 2 An old friend

Ryder’s POV

“Don't worry about it! He's stable. He might not be able to get out of bed, but he's strong enough to cop a feel on us,” Michael said, trying to reassure me, but it didn't help. I felt awful that I couldn't find her books yet. There's just so much stuff to go through. My brain is fuzzy, and I can't remember exactly where I put them.

“Yeah, listen to Michael. He's okay. If Noah is stable enough to try to get laid, you have plenty of time. Don't stress; you just got here, and you have a lot of unpacking to do. Besides, there might be nothing in there about his condition. You'll be stressing yourself over nothing,” Asher said. 

I laughed and shook my head as I pictured that darn little Omega on death's door, still trying to get laid by his Alphas. It doesn't surprise me in the least bit to hear he's doing that.

I waved to Asher as he left my apartment. I tried to ignore Michael, but I could feel his eyes boring holes in my skull. 

“Will you knock it off! I can feel your eyes on me! I'm okay!” I snapped at the Alpha, and he laughed. I looked back and glared at Michael, and he pushed away from the wall before walking toward me. I turned my head away and tried to ignore him, but his freakish height loomed over me, and I groaned as I turned to face him. 

My arms folded across my chest as I huffed out a breath. 

“What? Spit it out!”

“You know what. You didn't just shut your friends out after her death; you shut family out, you shut me out. We're not blood, but we have always been Brothers,” Michael said, and I snapped at him. 

“Don't you say that! Don't fucking bring her up! Don't you dare talk about her!” I yelled, my eyes immediately filling with tears, but my voice was firm and strong. 

Instead of getting angry, Michael's eyes softened, which only made me angrier. I didn't want that! I didn't want whatever bullshit this was he was trying to give me. I wanted to be left the fuck alone like I've been the last two years. I don't want pity, I don't want them to grieve with me, I want to grieve alone! 

“No! I won't stop because you're my brother; she was like a sister to me.” Michael said that I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the wall. 

“I'm fucking warning you!”

“I won't try to pretend I know what it feels like to lose my mate. Just saying it is unbearable. But you're trying to die with her, and I won't let you,” Michael said, and I screamed as I pulled my right arm back, my hand curled into a fist. I roared as I threw my fist forward. Michael didn't even flinch when my hand flew past his face and pierced a hole in the wall. 

“I'm here for you; I always have been,” Michael said as he wrapped his arms around my neck and pulled me into a hug. 

I growled as I pushed against him, but the asshole only held on tighter. I yelled, and the tears fell from my eyes. I screamed her name and begged her to come back before my knees gave out. My Alpha gently allowed us to drop to the floor, and he held me tighter as I cried out her name over and over again. 

                            ~

I slid a glass of bourbon across the counter to Michael before taking a sip of my own. I forgot what it was like to have a friend. I pushed everyone away after her death. I knew it was none of their fault, but I hated everyone. I didn't want anyone around me but my daughter and my mate's cute little cottage. 

I forgot what it was like to lean on someone and share my pain with them. I tried not to do that with my daughter. It wasn't her responsibility to hold me up. It was my responsibility to hold her up. 

Sitting here with Michael, I realize how wrong I was. By shutting myself and my daughter out from the world, I only made things worse for ourselves. 

“Thank you!” I said quietly, and Michael reached across the counter and squeezed my hand. 

“I'm always here for you! Always! I was just waiting for you to let me back in,” Michael said, squeezing my hand a little harder before releasing it and taking a sip of his bourbon. 

We both look up when red hair bounces into the kitchen. A smile beams on her face, and a basket of flowers she cut this morning hangs from her arm. 

She pulls on my arm, pulling my face down to plant a kiss on my cheek. 

“I love you, Daddy! I'll be back. I'm going to visit Vivian and Ivy,” Azalea said before she happily bounced away. 

“Wow! The older she gets, the more she looks like her.” Michael said, and I smiled. 

“She does. She looks just like her mother. She's just like her. Sweet and innocent.”

“Her birthday is in ten days; she'll be 18, right?”

“Yes, don't remind me. I'm not ready for all that. I'm not ready for her to be 18 and find a mate,” I said, and Michael laughed. 

“You're never ready. I wasn't, not even when the last one turned 18. Heck, Noah still gives Nadja hell if he gets too handsy in front of him. I had to pry that little stinker off the Elder just a few days before he fell sick.” Michael said with a chuckle. 

“You know, maybe I should get to unpacking so I can find those books.” 

Michael reached out and grabbed my hand to stop me as I began to stand. 

“No! I'm sorry, I didn't mention that to make you think you had to find the book. Don't worry about that book. You'll find it when you find it. Like I said, there might not be anything in there about this. 

When the group gets back from their trip, I'm sure one of them will be able to figure out what's wrong with him.” Michael said.

Nadja and Evelyn went somewhere exotic. It was a surprise, no one knew where they were going. The Elder refused to tell anyone until they got there. 

The only thing everyone knew was it was a place so remote they wouldn't have cell phone communication, and he was right. Since he teleported them away, no one has had cell phone communication with them since.

Ryder and Michael look toward the door, and when it opens, Azalea comes bouncing in. 

“What happened? I thought you were going to visit Ivy and Vivian?” I asked.

“I was, but they're down at the lake swimming. I was going to have them take me to the hospital so I could visit Noah. Would one of you take me?” 

“Sure,” Michael and I said at the same time. Michael chuckles before downing the last of his bourbon and sliding the glass across the counter. 

“Why don't we all go? I wouldn't mind seeing that little munchkin,” I said as I put our glasses in the sink.

Azalea's smile widened as she hooked her arms with ours. 

As we walked down the stairs, she let go of my arm and continued to hold on to Michael's. She told him all about her wings. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face if I tried. She was so adorable; everything about her screamed innocence. 

The smile fell from my face when I realized she would turn 18 in ten days. I never thought about what kind of mate she would get until recently. Now, it terrifies me. 

What if she got someone like me who didn't want anything to do with her mother when I first met her? That would crush her and break her little heart. The thought of anyone hurting her angered me. It made me want to take her back to that little cottage and shelter her from the world… but I knew I couldn't do that. I've been doing that for the past two years.

“Mama said my wings are just like hers and can become hard like a shield and protect me or anyone else I wrap them around. I've been trying but haven't been able to do it yet. Daddy said it would take time to master all of my abilities. I haven't figured out how to teleport yet, either. I'm kind of scared to do that. What if I end up on the other side of the world? When Grandpa comes home, he's going to teach me! I can't wait!” Azalea said, the words flowing from her mouth so fast I was surprised she could breathe. 

Michael chuckles and roughs his fingers through her hair as they reach the bottom of the stairs. 

“Lucian is a great teacher. You'll Master your abilities in no time with your pops teaching you,” Michael said as he opened the door and held it open for Azalea. 

Her eyes twinkled with excitement as she walked out the door. She came to a stop in front of Coal and a stranger with handcuffs wrapped around his wrists. The man was large, with tattoos covering his body. He was obviously a prisoner and was being led to the Alpha's office by the Beta. 

“Ah, hold on, step back and let them through,” Coal said as he tugged on the prisoner's arm. 

“Hi! My name is Azalea!” My way too innocent and naive daughter said to a prisoner who could crush her with his pinky.

He raised an eyebrow as he looked her up and down. 

“You're way too happy to be saying hi to a prisoner! Move along, short stuff,” the guard said, and my little girl frowned. She glared at the guard, and he began laughing. 

“She's cute when she's angry,” he said, and I growled as I pushed past Michael and stepped toward the guard. I didn't stop until my chest touched his, and my face was inches away from his. 

“Don't even look at my daughter, or I will break your fucking neck!” I growled in his face. I felt my daughter tugging on my arm. 

“Daddy, be nice!” 

“Yeah, Daddy, be nice,” He said with a smirk. I grabbed his shirt and growled as I jerked him toward me. 

Coal tried prying us apart and finally succeeded. 

“Damn it, Maverick! Will you knock it off! I didn't save you just to have another member of my pack kill you,” Coal said as he pushed the prisoner back further away from me. 

“Someone has a death wish,” Michael laughed as he looked at the prisoner. 

The prisoner's lips tugged, and he nodded his head. Before he could speak, Coal slapped his hand over his mouth. 

“Damn it, you guys! Can I just get him into the Alpha's office!” 

“Come on, Daddy, let's go visit Noah,” Azalea said as she tugged on my arm. 

I gave the asshole one last glare before my eye softened as I turned to look at my daughter. 

“Come on, sweetheart,” I said as I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. I wrapped my arm around Azalea and led her away from the prick, who was seconds away from being killed.