“No.” There were any number of reasons he didn’t want to go down that path, but the biggest was his concern for Caleb’s social standing and reputation. A diagnosis of interminable heat would be a death knell in society. It didn’t matter what name was used—nymphomania, interminable heat—everyone knew it meant your omega was a slut who couldn’t get enough, and the diagnosis was tantamount to social ridicule and ruin for everyone involved.
Besides, what would his father say if he found out? Never mind that it wasn’t eventrue!
Caleb tapped his lower lip thoughtfully. “We have a few months to come up with another solution, but let the record show that I wouldn’t be opposed to this one.”
Xan frowned, a spark of frustration threatening to burst into flames. “I have a connection, someone with access to medication that might provide me with the necessary stamina to make it through this time.” That this connection was again Urho was a thorn in his side he didn’t share.
Caleb’s expression softened, and he approached Xan, taking the makeup from him and applying it to Xan’s cheek with the most tender of touches. “You can’t be something you aren’t, darling. And, truth be told, I wouldn’t want you to be.”
“Iaman alpha,” Xan said, closing his eyes as Caleb worked on his face, finishing with the gooey paste makeup and then adding some powder on top that tickled his nose.
“Physically, perhaps, but in your heart, you’re an omega, and that’s part of what makes us such a beautiful match.” Xan opened his eyes to Caleb’s sharp smile and gentle eyes. “We’re a good family, darling, never doubt that. But heats are a problem and neither of us wants a repeat of last time.”
Xan shuddered. “No.” He rose and pulled Caleb close, tucking his face against Caleb’s long neck, holding him tightly. “I’m sorry.”
Caleb stroked his back. “It was our first together. We didn’t know how it would go. We both expected my heat pheromones to produce a stronger response in you, the way the hormones produce such a strong need in me. Now we understand the way it will be and can plan ahead. But it’s time to start planning, alpha mine. We can’t leave it for the last minute.”
Xan kissed Caleb’s cheek. “You’re right of course. I’ll find out more about the stamina medication today.”
Caleb’s forehead creased into a frown, but he didn’t say more while Xan finished dressing. He even helped with his green and gold plaid bowtie and then kissed his mouth with a smack. “You can do this. Whatever he throws at you, whatever words your father says, know that you have me here at home and I believe in you.”
“You’re too good to me.”
“No better than you are to me.”
Xan huffed. That was a lie but he appreciated that Caleb seemed to believe it anyway.
His family’s corporate offices on the uppermost side of Blue Vein took up the top four floors of the newest tower built there. The amenities were marvelous, with a full kitchen, executive washrooms, and an elevator to take instead of steps, but Xan loathed the place all the same. It was, again and again, the site of some of his most humiliating moments outside of Wilbet Monhundy’s grasp.
The hush that fell over the main office floor as he marched toward his father’s conference room proved that the makeup hadn’t done a sufficient job of hiding the latest evidence of his dark addiction. His stomach burned anxiously as whispers reached his ears, far too blurred by the rustle of papers and clack of typewriters to decipher, but the tone was undeniable: Xan was in trouble again.
Just as he was about to turn the corner toward the door of the conference room, he was grabbed and yanked into his older, beta brother Ray’s office instead.
“There you are,” Ray said, his sand-colored hair flopping over his broad forehead and his wide, hazel eyes peering anxiously into Xan’s own. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Father said—”
“Father’s left you to me this time,” Ray interrupted gently, his thick, golden eyebrows winnowing down in concern. His suit was pressed, but he went without a tie, preferring a more casual, open-throated look. “And thank wolf-god for that. He was ready to…” Ray closed his eyes and took a slow breath.
“Ready to what?”
Ray’s expression gentled as he looked down into Xan’s face. “It doesn’t matter. I convinced him to let me deal with you. He’s in with the Monhundys discussing their latest demands. Which, no thanks to you, from what I gather anyway, aren’t exactly allowing for much in our favor.”
Xan swallowed dryly. “The Monhundys are here?”
“Yes, the florid father and the prickly pater.” He rolled his eyes. “At least the brutish brat has stayed home to deal with his omega. The poor thing came home sick after visiting his pater with the flu apparently, which is rough going this year.” Ray’s eyes turned thoughtful. “My doctor friend, Lils, says it will be an epidemic this season, and a deadly one at that.”
“Oh.” Xan’s stomach churned.
“Regardless, Wilbet Monhundy’s omega is down with it.”
“That’s…terrible.” Yet sweet relief flowed through him. He couldn’t have born the humiliation of seeing Monhundy’s handsome, knowing face in the office while he still wore the bruises from their last encounter. He wished Kerry good health, of course, but he couldn’t help but be glad that the young man was too ill for Monhundy to leave him alone. Just more evidence of Xan’s own depravity as a human being, he supposed.
Ray tugged him deeper into the office, closer to the broad windows that reflected the sun’s rays as they bounced off the windows of the other tall buildings going up all around them. He touched Xan’s chin. “Wolf-god, your face,” he murmured, shaking his head. “Baby brother, what are we going to do with you?”
“It’s nothing. A bar brawl.”
Ray’s expression showed how little he believed him, though he only said, “You and these bar brawls. They have to stop.” He looked so like their pater in that moment, so affectionate and loving that Xan’s heart ached.
