“Then what is—”
“I can’t be with her,” Michael said stubbornly. “And I didn’t sleep with her…at least, it didn’t happen yet. I left her.” But the man’s tone indicated that something did happen, rousing Nico’s suspicion.
“Left her where?”
“The party we went to. Not together. So, nothing happened with her.” A pause. “But I did sleep with someone else, and I told her now. So she won’t have expectations.”
His temple was throbbing, and it wasn’t even his problem. But Peachy was his friend, had liked Michael for ages, and was probably heartbroken over whatever had happened and her recent discovery. He shook his head and held up his hands, frowning in disapproval.
“You mean you hooked up with someone,” he corrected. “Straight from her into the arms of someone without any feelings involved. Because you are all about the fun and never about the feelings, aren’t you? Even if it means telling her straight up instead of running like a coward.”
Dark eyes flared. “I told her now.”
“Too late.”
“Nico—”
“Whatever, man. You do you. I heard enough.”
“It’s not just that.”
“You take this shift,” Nico continued. “I’m going to look for her and tell her she can come anytime she wants—even if it means avoiding you.”
“The woman I hooked up with was Daniella.”
The words stopped him in his tracks. A roaring started in his ears even as his stomach dropped, and he turned around as the world slowed in motion and realization slammed in that he hadn’t heard enough, after all.
Then Nico’s vision was blurring, and his fist was swinging forward while Michael stood still to take it.
***
Three days later, his clan leader, Angelo Bennett, looked Nico in the eye and assessed him.
“Are you and your brother on good terms now?”
They were seated in the bear shifter’s office, located in the heart of their forest territory, where a mansion was hidden from plain view. The sleek, modern furniture mixed with the worn-out rug and the old marble floors, indicating how old and new were getting along now—in this case, the old clan leader’s prejudiced ways no longer dominating as their new, younger clan leader nudged them in a fairer, less judgmental direction.
Nico knew that Michael had been called earlier, too, so he shrugged and tried to keep it casual.
“If you want to know if we are talking, then no. If you want to make sure that we aren’t going to punch each other in the face anymore, then we are not.”
Michael had tried. If he had tried harder, the man would have gotten more punches in and pummeled Nico to the ground, but Nico understood now that guilt had a lot to do with him being able to throw more punches in.
“How can I be sure?” Angelo asked.
Understanding their clan leader wasn’t going to relent until the answers were clear, Nico leaned forward and maintained eye contact.
“He was drunk at a party. He didn’t know he hooked up with the woman I was dating until the lights were turned on, and it was too late. I’m no longer with her. End of story.”
Silence. Angelo continued assessing him, then relaxed.
“Good. That’s good. Anyway, I assigned Michael to the furthest end of our territory so he could be out of sight. I also told the clan that Peachy’s welcome here if she decides to visit again, considering she’s been our frequent guest for so long and doesn’t need to be treated differently. We will keep this little…misunderstanding to ourselves, and all will be back to normal.”
“Cool.”
“You, in the meantime, will be assigned to North Bear.”
He expected to be dismissed and gaped at the words, particularly at the last part.