Urho pushed aside the urge to kiss Vale’s temple as he might have done if they were alone, knowing Jason wouldn’t take kindly to the friendly gesture. Vale’s “baby alpha” had long ago made peace with the fact that Urho and Vale had been lovers, but he still didn’t like them to be openly physically affectionate.
Instead, Urho smiled warmly down at Vale, cozy and coddled on the sofa, and said, “I’ll be back next week. If you need me before that, just ring.”
As he and Jason stepped outside, the orange leaves of the great oak in front of the house sifting down around them, Urho spoke sternly. “If you allow your doubts to infect him, his outcome could be compromised.”
“Maybe if he understands my fear, he’ll change his mind.”
“He does understand and he won’t,” Urho said, gripping Jason’s arm and forcing the young man to face him. “But even if he did, do you really want him to abort the child because you made him? Wouldn’t he hold that against you?”
Jason’s jaw tightened and released, but he nodded sharply once. “You know him too well.”
“And so do you.”
“Yes.” Jason’s resignation was clear. “How do I shake this, though? How do I move on like I don’t think that every second that child grows inside of him is one more second closer to me losing him?”
“First, you must stop calling it ‘that child’ and think of it as your son. As the son you made together in love.”
Jason wiped a hand over his face.
“Second, do you have so little trust in me? If I didn’t believe he could make it through this, I’d advise an abortion immediately, illegal as it may be, and at considerable risk to all of us. And you know if I gave that advice, he’d go through with it.”
Jason’s cheeks flushed. “And how should I feel aboutthat? I’m his alpha but he trusts your opinion over mine.”
“My medical opinion, yes. He doesn’t trust my love over yours. He doesn’t share himself with anyone else the way he does with you. Surely you know that.”
Jason crossed his arms over his chest, a stubborn flash in his eyes, but he said nothing.
“Consider what I’m saying, Jason. Youmustfind a way to get past this, to find joy with him in this miracle. Make him believe thatyoubelieve.” Urho sighed, trying to find the right words. “If you don’t have faith in him, should there come a bad turn, he won’t have faith in himself to pull through it.”
Jason chewed on his bottom lip, brow lowered in thought.
“Omegas always believe in their alphas more than anyone else, especially during the trials of birth. How many times have I seen an omega turn to his alpha for encouragement in the delivery process and gain strength from his faith? Give Vale every reason to believe hewilllive, and that you want him and this child as much as he does.”
Jason took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right.”
Urho almost laughed. He knew what it cost Jason to admit that, but he only put his hand on Jason’s shoulder and squeezed, trying to impart all the paternal affection he rather surprisingly felt for the young alpha who’d stolen his lover.
“Wolf-god be with you both,” Urho said solemnly before turning to walk down the sidewalk to where he’d parked his car away from the falling leaves of Vale’s old oak tree.
It wasn’t a long drive home, but he was eager to get there. He planned to listen to some music on the radio and sip a nice glass of wine. Perhaps he’d read a book, one of Riki’s old favorite fairy tales. Something fantastical that would sweep him away from his worry for Jason and Vale.
And, more importantly, stamp out all thoughts of that annoying alpha pup Xan Heelies and his beautiful, impertinent mouth.
CHAPTER THREE
“Did you come?”
Wilbet Monhundy’s voice was rough in Xan’s ear—and his hands around his throat even rougher. Xan squeezed his asshole around Monhundy’s throbbing cock, hoping to distract him from the evidence of his climax cooling on the floor between his carpet-burned knees.
“I saiddid you come?” Monhundy growled, squeezing Xan’s throat hard enough that his vision swam. The roughness of Monhundy’s pants against Xan’s buttocks and the rasp of his still-buttoned shirt over Xan’s naked back was a visceral reminder of how vulnerable Xan was—exposed, penetrated, and at Monhundy’s mercy.
“Yes,” he confessed, choking out the word. He broke into a cold sweat as his body shook under the violent onslaught of Monhundy’s cruel thrusts. “I came.”
Monhundy growled, fucked into him harder, and shoved Xan’s face down against the colorful carpet as he emptied his load into Xan’s spasming ass. As soon as he’d caught his breath, he hissed, “You know what that means.” Monhundy jerked his cock free, leaving Xan gaping open—used, worthless, and dissatisfied.
Worse,dissatisfying.
Xan wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand, his legs shaking as Monhundy rose up behind him and jerked him to his feet. Unsteadily, he stared around at the richly decorated receiving room, the choices undoubtedly those of Monhundy’s contracted omega.
