“I didn’t say that,” Bruiser retorted. “I meant that I hadn’t seenyoufight, so I’m not sure I trust you enough to help with the rescue.”
“Stand down and watch, then,” Uriel growled.
“Why should I? You’re the new guy on the block,” Bruiser replied.
Uriel’s eyes flashed. He gestured at Raptor and Crush. “I’ve been on rescues withthem.They’ll back me up.”
“You should quit while you’re ahead, Bruiser,” Raptor said dryly. “The way I see it, you keep digging a deeper hole for yourself.”
“I don’t see any hole,” Bruiser muttered.
“With an attitude like that,no onewould show you their hole,” Uriel said.
Bruiser flipped him off. “If you must know, I get more than my fair share of holes.”
Uriel rolled his eyes. “But obviously yours is the biggest, because you’re a giant fucking asshole.”
Bruiser pretended to clutch his chest. “For someone who’s so insistent on proving what a big bad alpha you are, you sure fight like an omega.”
Uriel stared at him for a moment too long, his expression unreadable. “I don’t need to prove myself. You’re the one who wanted it. Find someone else to stroke your big alpha ego; it’s growing a little limp.”
“Fuck off,” Bruiser said.
Uriel snorted and turned to Duke. “I was in the area and decided to stop by. No assistance needed?”
Duke shook his head. “None needed, but thank you for coming down. I’m sure there are other things you could be doing.”
Uriel gave a small nod. “How’s the intruder at your restaurant, Raptor?”
Raptor jerked around to look at Uriel so quickly, his joints popped. “How did you know about that? I told no one.”
Uriel smiled mysteriously. “Just a lucky guess.”
He glanced at Nat, smiled again, then walked away.
“What intruder?” Bruiser asked Raptor.
Raptor spun around to face Nat. “What do you know about it?”
Nat shook his head in bewilderment. Raptor frowned.
As Uriel headed down the street, he plucked at his shirt, dislodging the wet spots that had stuck to his nipples. Those spots hadn’t been obvious on the dark grey fabric; it wasn’t a secret that he nursed his child.
Not that any of them could explain how that was possible; Uriel wasn’t a shapeshifter. He couldn’t spontaneously grow omega parts.
Duke rearranged Nat, supporting his weight with one arm so he could trail his knuckles over Nat’s belly.
“Well, I’m leaving,” Bruiser muttered. “I don’t get how you keep taking his side.”
“Hedidhelp us, you know,” Crush said dryly. “His spells helped a lot with keeping the omegas safe, when we rescued Nat and his friends.”
“We just kept our mouths shut because Uriel roasts you perfectly all by himself.” Raptor snickered. “Probably more effectively than the rest of us combined.”
Bruiser scowled, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and stalked off.
“I feel a little bad for him,” Nat said.
Bruiser’s shoulders tensed even more.
