If Raph was no longer Wyatt’s alpha, he’d be free to pay off the loan at his own pace. He wouldn’t be saddled with two children and Wyatt. He could find a more deserving omega, not an omega who was helpless, who curled up and cried in grocery stores.
“Look, Elizabeth,” Mom said, stepping forward. Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t cast your judgment on Wyatt. He and Raph go a long ways back. They’re stepbrothers. Marriage is legal between them.”
Grandma glanced at her, lips curling. “Are you getting smart now, Tanya? Don’t forget—you still have a loan with Alpha Associates. Half-paid. You’re starting to take my charity for granted, aren’t you? Have you gotten tired of a roof over your head?”
Mom paled. Wyatt gulped, taking a step back. And Grandma looked hard at him. “Carry on with Raph, and I’ll make sure your restaurant closes before the end of next year.”
Wyatt’s stomach dropped. Not the drive-in. Not when he’d spent so much time building it up, seeking comfort in Hazel and his own business, so he wouldn’t have to depend on another alpha again. He needed to keep his job, so he could feed Hazel and the new baby.
And between Raph and Wyatt’s children... Wyatt would choose his children. Raph didn’t need him.
He swallowed hard, stepping back. “I’ll leave,” Wyatt said. “I’ll forfeit my bond with Raph.”
Raph’s gaze snapped to him, horror flickering through his eyes. “Wy—”
In that moment, all Wyatt could feel was Raph’s disappointment, his shock. He couldn’t breathe. Maybe he was always going to let his alpha down, like Grandma and Max had said he would.
Wyatt backed further, putting distance between himself and Raph. He needed an escape. Needed to hide from Grandma’s accusing eyes, and Dad’s disbelieving stare. He carried Raph’s baby. If he left Meadowfall, and no one knew who he was... that would be for the best.
“Starting today, I’m no longer Raphael Fleming’s omega,” he said. “This severs our bond.”
Raph paled, his eyes growing wide. In a few strides, he rounded the car door, crossing the space between them. His shoes clicked on the driveway, and his eyes... Wyatt couldn’t look away from those sea-blue eyes, their breathtaking beauty, and the pain in them.
“Don’t go,” Raph said, stopping in front of him. He smelled like teak, like Raph.
And the world stopped turning, when Raph cradled his face, leaning in, his mouth catching against Wyatt’s.
Raph kissed him hard, stole his breath. Wyatt swayed on his feet. He loved Raph. And if he really wanted Raph to live a better life, he would have to step away. Return Raph his wings so he could fly.
Wyatt flattened his hands against Raph’s chest, and shoved. Raph broke the kiss, his chest heaving, his lips red with a sheen of damp.
“I’m sorry,” Wyatt said, his chest squeezing tight. “This can’t happen. I’m sorry for waiting so long to say it.”
Raph’s gaze fell to his belly. “But the baby—”
“It’s not yours.” Wyatt looked away. “It’s—it’s someone else’s.”
Raph looked at him, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. “You—you said it’s mine.”
“I was lying,” Wyatt croaked, hating every word that left his mouth. “I was using you.”
“I always knew he was a conniving little bastard,” Grandma said, her voice grating in the silence. “He knows I have a weak heart, and what does he do? He tries to give me a heart attack.”
Wyatt ducked his head. He didn’t want to know how Raph saw him, now.
Raph caught his hand, his grip warm, firm, like all the nights he’d held Wyatt in his sleep.
Wyatt swallowed hard, tugging his hand away. Where was Hazel? They needed to go. Maybe he’d need to move his restaurant elsewhere, too. Start afresh so his children wouldn’t be the victims of shame.
“I don’t understand,” Dad said to the side, his voice faint. “Where did we go wrong?”
Wyatt strode down the driveway, looking at the shimmer of asphalt, his family’s gazes heavy on his back. He was almost to the front door when shoes clicked behind him. Raph.
“Wy,” Raph said, snagging his hand. “Look, we can work things out.”
“No, we can’t.” Not if Raph wanted the rest of his family intact, and his parents with a roof over their heads.
“We’ll move. Anything.”
“The baby isn’t yours, Raph.”
Raph’s footsteps faltered. When Wyatt glanced at him, he found Raph’s eyes dark, the corners of his mouth turned down. He would be a terrific alpha for someone else. Wyatt could see him walking down the aisle with a faceless omega, their family smiling all around, proud of Raph, the prized son of the Fleming family.
Raph deserved so much more than him.
Wyatt untangled their fingers, turning away. “You can’t solve this. Don’t screw things up even more.”
Raph flinched. “I got your text,” he said. “From earlier. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“You promised you’d be there for me.”
Raph looked down, silent.
Hazel was waiting by the front door. When she saw them, she hurried down the stairs, her forehead crinkling. “What’s wrong?”
“Raph won’t be your dad,” Wyatt said. “I’m not marrying him.”
Raph sucked in a breath.
Hazel looked between them, frowning. Then a car rumbled, and the front gates swung open again. Sam’s Cadillac pulled in, roaring down the driveway. Wyatt closed his eyes, breathing out.
“I guess this is goodbye,” he said. “I’ll have Penny return your things.”
He strode away before he could second-guess himself, pretending he didn’t care. “Hazel! Come on, we’re leaving.”
“Dad loves you,” Hazel said somewhere behind.
“Tell him I love him, too,” Raph said.
Wyatt’s heart cracked. He didn’t deserve Raph’s love.
When Sam pulled up beside them, Wyatt had no words to explain himself. Hazel hopped into the backseat, and Sam glanced at Wyatt, his eyes knowing.
They drove away from the Fleming mansion, Wyatt with his babies, and his heart aching for his alpha.
27
Wyatt
“Why won’t Uncle Raph be my dad anymore?” Hazel asked when they paused by the front door of their apartment.
Wyatt’s key missed the keyhole. “I decided
