Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
But he was more than his instincts. He liked Anthony as a person. Liked him enough to push back against his own nature. Their camaraderie ran deeper than the occasional clash. Over the past five years, they’d grown tight. Closer than most would expect from two alphas. Was it sad that Anthony was probably his closest friend these days? Maybe.
In Michael’s defense, loneliness had always followed him. He’d inherited the title of Earl of Terlaine at fifteen, and with it, a heavy isolation that shattered what childhood friendships he had. Being an only child hadn’t helped, nor had the fact that his mother was the only other member of his pack.
Maybe that was why he’d latched onto Anthony when the other alpha had reached out to him. In many ways, Anthony understood him: although he was just a viscount, he was a rich and influential one with ties to the royal family, and he had a bit of empty nest syndrome after all his siblings got married and left home.
There was one thing Michael couldn’t relate to Anthony on: his love for danger. After years in the military, Ant was clearly still struggling to adjust to civilian life. Truth be told, Michael privately thought Anthony was a bit of an adrenaline junkie. That was why he’d hesitated when his friend invited him to come along to Planet Belith. While Michael enjoyed hunting as much as any alpha, he didn’t share Anthony’s passion for chasing game in dangerous, wild places.
But he had grown tired of the social season, tired of attending endless balls and smiling politely at omegas batting their eyes at him. He’d have to choose one soon enough; his mother was losing patience and wasn’t impressed that he’d been dragging his feet ever since his failed courtship of Liam Blake. Michael understood her reasoning and fully intended to select a mate this year. Still, he needed a break from the ceaseless parties. Sometimes it felt like he was prey, hunted by ambitious omegas and their scheming parents. Not that it was new—he was one of the richest, most powerful alphas in the country. Of course he was a prize; he’d always known that. But fuck, he was exhausted by it all. A break had seemed like a good idea, so he’d accepted Anthony’s invitation.
It hadn’t been a good idea. Putting it mildly.
But then again, if he hadn’t been there, his best friend would have died alone.
He won’t die, Michael snapped, irritated by his own thoughts, but the knot in his gut only tightened. No matter what he told himself, he didn’t really believe it. Medical droids rarely made mistakes.
“You’ll have to sedate me,” Anthony said, breaking the strained silence.
Michael frowned at his back. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m serious. You’ll need to sedate me while I’m still rational enough to allow it.” He breathed in deeply. “I’m close to losing it. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. I’m an alpha, too. I can handle you, no matter how aggressive you become.”
Anthony laughed harshly. “We both know I could kill you before you even noticed it.”
Michael bristled, his alpha pride rearing its ugly head again, but rationally, he knew his friend was right. Anthony had been in the military for years. They might be the same height and build—both tall, well-built alphas—but Anthony’s training made Michael seem like a privileged, idle aristocrat in comparison, no matter how fit he was.
“All right,” he relented, heading back to the ship for the sedatives he’d spotted in the small medbay.
By the time he returned to his friend, Anthony’s condition had worsened. He was hunched over, breathing heavily, and his foul, aggressive scent sent Michael’s anxiety skyrocketing.
“Hurry up,” Anthony said without looking at him.
Michael uncapped an injector and approached him. Not allowing himself to think about it too much, he pressed the injector against Anthony’s neck and activated it.
Anthony shuddered, his body rigid with tension. But he didn’t attack. Michael took that as a win.
After a long few minutes, some of the tension left Anthony’s body. He began to slump over. Michael helped him lean against a thick tree trunk.
“You okay?” he said quietly.
Anthony nodded, his eyes glazed and unfocused. “Thank you,” he said roughly, clearly struggling to keep his gaze on Michael’s face. “I’m glad you’re here—that it’s you. You’re a good friend.”
Michael swallowed. Anthony was talking as though he was saying goodbye.
“You’ll be okay, man,” he said hoarsely.
Anthony gave him a wry smile and shook his head. “Tell my brothers I’m sorry they had to lose me too. I...” He trailed off, his eyes closing.
He was out.
Michael inhaled shakily, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach as he scanned their surroundings. The orange rays of the planet’s sun bathed their camp in warm light, but the silence was deafening.
He was stranded on an uninhabited world with his unconscious, dying friend—and there was nothing he could do.