Wyatt’s guilt expanded in his lungs, squeezing out his breath. He swayed on his feet, trying to find the right words for an apology. I didn’t trust you to keep this secret wasn’t enough.
Raph squeezed his hand, stepping closer so their shoulders bumped. “Exactly why we never told you, Pen,” he said. “If you’re going to freak out, we don’t need it.”
Penny flinched. Wyatt grimaced; it was hardly her fault.
“This is insane,” she said eventually, looking away. “I can’t believe you did this. A baby, Wyatt?”
“I don’t believe it, either,” Wyatt said. “It just happened.”
“It didn’t just happen.” Raph slanted a look at him, his jaw tight. “It happened nine years ago, Wy. We picked up where we left off.”
Maybe that was what really happened. At that party a month ago, he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Raph. And his heat had compounded the lust and longing, had made Raph impossible to refuse. Especially when Wyatt had thought about him over the years, wishing he’d had his stepbrother closer.
Penny met Wyatt’s eyes. “Nine years ago? Wasn’t that...”
“When I left, yeah.” Wyatt leaned into Raph, pressing his face into Raph’s shoulder. Raph squeezed his hand. “I don’t know if you ever noticed it, Penny. Grandma hates me.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. “Actually, now that you mention it... Yes. She was always scolding you.”
“And she never punished you.” Wyatt tried to smile, except it was difficult to. Not when Grandma’s eyes had blazed, and she’d snarled, You aren’t my grandson. I don’t want to see your face here. Get out of my house. He looked at his feet, wishing he could scrub her voice out of his mind. “She walked in on us. I had to leave.”
“Fuck, stop talking about that bitch.” Raph released Wyatt’s hand, turning him around to pull him closer. “Wy’s had enough of her.”
Not in front of Penny. Wyatt tensed, resisting Raph’s arms. He ended up stumbling between his siblings, his cheeks burning. He didn’t want Penny to see them hugging. No need to freak her out even more.
Raph caught him, his eyes contemplative. Then he leaned in, pressing a kiss to Wyatt’s temple. “Pen, all you need to know is that Grandma drove him out of the house. She found us together.”
Penny blinked several times. “I can’t believe this,” she said slowly. “Gods, it’s worse than the time I found Dr. Kinney with Greg.”
Wyatt cringed. Who else had Penny walked in on? He didn’t envy them, but their situation probably paled in comparison to this. “I understand if you’d like to leave. I won’t expect you to babysit Hazel anymore.”
Penny pursed her lips. Wyatt looked past her shoulder, at the framed photos of him and Hazel in the dim hallway. Raph had stopped holding on to him, and Wyatt missed that. Missed having the solid comfort of Raph’s body against his own. So he stepped back to Raph’s side, lacing their fingers together. Raph gave him a squeeze.
“Still feel like puking?” he asked.
Wyatt shook his head. His stomach had settled, thankfully, and he wanted some food. “Breakfast would be nice.”
“Do you have anything for the morning sickness?”
“Yeah. I bought some ginger drops—those seemed to work when I had Hazel. I’ve left a couple everywhere.” In fact, he’d tucked some away in the bathroom, too. Wyatt’s spirits lifted. He turned to the medicine cupboard, snagging one of the ginger drops he’d dropped into a plastic cup.
The candy wrapper crinkled loudly in the bathroom. Wyatt popped the ginger drop into his mouth, painfully aware of both Raph and Penny watching him.
“How long did the morning sickness last with Hazel?” Raph asked, his fingertips stroking Wyatt’s back.
“About two months. It varies between pregnancies, though.” Wyatt sighed, leaning against him. Raph’s touch was comforting, a quiet reassurance: I’m here.
“You’ve told Hazel about this,” Penny said dubiously. Raph clenched his teeth.
“You have a problem with it?” He eased in front of Wyatt, shielding him. And Wyatt was grateful for his presence. Raph was... everything an alpha should be. Unlike Max.
“And she just accepted it? Her dad and uncle sleeping together?” Penny grimaced.
“Who we sleep with is none of her business.” Raph tensed. “And it’s none of yours, either. If you can’t accept that, fine. But quit giving Wy bullshit in his own home.”
Wyatt’s throat tightened. He hadn’t expected Raph to speak up on his behalf. “We don’t have to talk about this now.”
“I’m just making it clear,” Raph growled, holding Wyatt’s hand. “You’re my bondmate. You’re carrying my child. I won’t leave you just because someone says this is wrong.”
“You aren’t... aren’t aborting it?” Penny winced.
“Fuck, no.” Raph glared. “That’s our baby, Pen. If you can’t deal with it, leave.”
Penny flinched, as though Raph had slapped her.
Wyatt looked down at his flat belly. I hope that there’ll be a lot less hate around when you’re born. Your dad and I love you.
It was comforting, knowing that Raph wanted this child just as much as he did.
Penny backed away, glancing at the rest of the apartment. “I was just here to talk about the auditions. That’s all.”
She looked down at her hands, then at the toilet, and Wyatt. Wyatt’s heart sank at the hurt on her face. He thought he might feel the same, if it had been Raph and Penny who were having a baby instead. But that would’ve been so much simpler, wouldn’t it? He wouldn’t have to worry about being ostracized.
“Sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how else to break the news to you. But for what it’s worth, Raph brought his violin. He hasn’t played in two years, but he said he’d try for my sake.”
Penny looked at Raph, her expression hesitant.
“I’ll be here on the weekends.” Raph shrugged. “Probably the rest of this week, too.”
Wyatt turned to him. “You are?”
Raph’s lips pulled into a crooked smile. “You looked like you were gonna fall over last night. If you’re gonna put yourself through that, I’ll come pick you up.”
“It’s an
