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Humiliation dumps ice into my bloodstream. How much of that did he hear?

“Yeah?” I clear my throat because I sound as pathetic as I feel. I walk to the door, sidestepping Niall, who dons a knowing smirk.

Tyler opens the door before I get there. His scent reaches me first, the same ocean scent, but with an edge. Spicy, like a flash of ozone when lightning strikes. He’s in rut, or about to be. He scans me quickly, then focuses on Niall. “It’s time to go.”

Niall laughs. “Are you serious, Alden? If Tyler’s going to fight your battles for you, can he fuck me for you too?”

Ouch. He’s suggested this before, asked if we could invite Tyler as a third, just to help me keep up during his heat.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Tyler says, then turns on his heel, and leaves. But not for long. He stomps back seconds later with a trash bag in his hands.

“I’m sorry Alden, but this is bullshit.” He pushes past me into the room. “I’m done watching him treat you like this.” He whips the trash bag open, then disappears inside the bathroom. I follow. Without preamble, Tyler sweeps all of the toiletries on the counter into the bag with an avalanche of bottles, perfume, and face creams.

“Some of those are mine,” I say.

“You can buy more.”

Niall’s reflection appears behind me in the mirror over the sink, mouth open in a scandalized O, manicured eyebrows twisted in shock. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you pack.” He strides past Niall to the walk-in closet, then starts pulling out clothing at random, correctly identifying Niall’s clothes on scent alone. Anything that doesn’t smell like me.

Niall is as stunned as I am, and he doesn’t have a chance against the command of an alpha in rut, so he just stands there supervising.

“And for the record,” Tyler says, charging back into the bedroom. “I’ve known Alden through every relationship he’s ever had, and he’s never left an omega wanting. Maybe the problem is you.”

Niall flinches.

“Tyler…” I warn.

He wrenches out the drawer from the bedside table on Niall’s side, and empties the contents into the bag. “You lost a goddamn catch.” He unplugs Niall’s phone and drops it into the bag, then holds the charger out to me. “Is this yours?”

“He can have it,” I say.

“No.” He drops it onto the bed. Trust Tyler to take pettiness to the level of a cell phone charger.

Tyler stalks out of the room with Niall and me on his heels, then he swings the front door open. Fog hovers over the street, blurring the glow of windows and streetlights. A car idles at the curb. How long ago did he decide he was going to evict Niall?

Niall and I are silent for a beat. The ocean murmurs. A car passes on PCH.

“Alden, I’m sorry,” Niall says, genuine contrition in his tone.

“Me too. I’m going to miss you.”

He sniffs and nudges the tip of his nose with the back of his hand, then nods. “Can I hug you?”

“Of course.” I hold him against me and rub his back, taking one last whiff of the lily scent I’ve loved for over a year. He smiles, shy and vulnerable, so much like when we first met.

Tyler opens the car door and tosses Niall’s trash bag of belongings inside. Then he stomps back up toward us.

“Time to go, Niall. Do not come back unless you are invited. Alden will Venmo you…” He looks at me expectantly.

“A few months’ rent to help you get back on your feet.”

“Alden will Venmo you one month’s rent,” Tyler tells Niall.

I roll my eyes. I’ll send Niall three. I’ve been helping with his rent to avoid asking him to move in. Hopefully that’ll buy him time to get a roommate or something.

“Thank you,” Niall says to me, nose pink.