Chapter 149

Ramon POV

“I won’t let that happen,” I promised, even though I had no idea if I could keep that promise.

We stood there in the alcove for a while, just holding each other, neither of us speaking. I breathed in Lake’s scent—vanilla and omega and something uniquely him—and tried to memorize this moment. Before everything changed. Before the truth came out and potentially destroyed everything we’d built.

“I love you,” I said against his hair. “Lake, I love you so much. Please don’t ever doubt that.”

“I love you too,” Lake whispered back. “And I trust you, Ramon. Whatever you’re dealing with—I trust that you’ll handle it. That we’ll handle it together.”

That trust felt like a knife in my chest. Because I didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve his faith or his love or his willingness to wait for answers I didn’t know how to give.

We eventually made our way back to Ollie’s room. Lake settled onto his cot while I returned to my chair, both of us watchi