Deep down, Raph wanted to turn down the help. He was alpha. He’d gone to the best college in Highton, and he was a damn regional manager. If he had more time... If he and Wyatt had gotten involved later... he could’ve cleared the debt, and walked away from his grandmother’s shackles with fewer repercussions.
“I’m not sure why she’s holding this against you,” Wyatt murmured, burying his face in Raph’s shoulder. “I thought she liked you when we were kids.”
“She also likes having control over everyone.” Raph narrowed his eyes. “Remember when we were there? And she said she’d kick Mom and Dad out if they tried to help?”
Wyatt groaned. “Gods, I don’t want to get them involved.”
“Me neither.”
“We’re old enough not to ask them for help, Raph.” Wyatt buried his face in Raph’s chest, his breath warm on Raph’s skin. “We’ll... we’ll find a way. I’ve got some savings I set aside for Hazel—”
“No, don’t touch that,” Raph said, squeezing his hand. “I don’t want to use the money you saved for the children.”
Wyatt tipped his head back to meet Raph’s eyes, his mouth curving into a fond grin. “Gods, you’re the best, Raph.”
Since when? “I’m far from the best.”
“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.” Wyatt pushed himself up, then swung his leg over Raph’s hips, and straddled him.
Wyatt was beautiful in the sunlight. Raph followed the gold of his tousled hair, his fine lashes, the gleam of his mouth. Then he touched his fingers to Wyatt’s throat, and the teeth marks he’d left on Wyatt’s shoulder. Minutes ago, Wyatt had cried out against him, digging his nails into Raph’s back. Raph had bitten him and filled him with seed.
He admired his marks on Wyatt now, his back prickling with Wyatt’s scratches. “I’m not perfect, Wy. I’ve let you down.”
Wyatt looked down at him, his belly round, his legs pale. “I never asked you for help with Max, Raph. That wasn’t your fault.”
Just the sound of that name sent his limbs tensing. Raph growled. Wyatt had been so damn close to that bastard at the store. Raph wanted to punch Max senseless, leave him somewhere to rot. “If I ever see that guy again...”
“I hope there won’t be a reason for you to. I don’t want to think about him.” Wyatt shivered. “Do you think... we should visit Dad? Maybe after he’s cooled off?”
There was that, too. Raph shoved aside his anger, sitting up. Wyatt squirmed to make space for his belly. It was still kind of surreal, watching Wyatt with his belly so round. Growing up, Raph had been used to seeing Wyatt all slender and pale. When they’d met again at the party, Wy had been sleek, graceful. And now his belly pushed against Raph, harboring their baby.
Wyatt wasn’t just his stepbrother, he was Raph’s omega.
Raph ran his wrist over Wyatt’s belly, then along his neck. Over the bonding scar he’d left months ago. “Mine,” he whispered.
Wyatt blushed prettily, looking down. And Raph caught his jaw, pressing a kiss to his lips.
“I’m not leaving you again,” Raph said. “I promise.”
Wyatt’s eyes filled with uncertainty. “Then... do we keep this a secret? Or do we tell someone? Hazel has to know. She’ll smell you here when she gets home.”
Raph stroked Wyatt’s belly, pressing their foreheads together. “I’m gonna apologize to Hazel. See what I need to do before she forgives me. And... is it okay if I move in?”
Wyatt sucked in a sharp breath. Raph hadn’t mentioned this before, hadn’t been able to commit fully. “What about your job?”
“I’m quitting. I’ll find a job in Meadowfall, and I’ll take on more than one if I have to.”
“What about your other jobs? The ones Grandma mentioned?”
Raph’s cheeks burned. “I quit the chauffeuring. The other one fired me.”
“You were fired?” Wyatt’s eyes grew wide. “I can’t see anyone firing you.”
“I flaked on them.” Raph looked away, his skin crawling. Some alpha he was. “Was drinking.”
Wyatt narrowed his eyes. “You know that’s terrible.”
Looking back on it, it was. “Swear I stay off booze if I get upset.”
Wyatt studied him suspiciously. “Really?”
“Really.” When Wyatt didn’t seem convinced, Raph slipped his fingers into Wyatt’s hand. “I didn’t think I was gonna get you back, Wy. Didn’t see a reason why I shouldn’t fuck things up anymore. Stupid-ass reason, I know. But I—I’m gonna try harder now. Got two children to care for. Got you, too. It isn’t worth getting drunk if I’ve got all that to lose.”
Wyatt pursed his lips. At length, he touched his fingertips to Raph’s cheek. “I believe you. And I believe you’ll do that for our children.”
Raph’s chest squeezed tight. Our children. “Yeah.”
“You’ll be a great dad, you know,” Wyatt said softly.
Raph blushed, perking up. “You think so?”
“I know so. You’re so precious, Raph. You’re adorable when you blush.”
“I’m just trying my best,” Raph said.
“And that’s important.” Wyatt’s eyes gleamed, full of pride. “I like seeing that in my alpha.”
Raph’s cheeks burned hotter. He clicked his tongue, shrugging. “So, we talk to Dad? Where would he be right now?”
“At the station, I think.” Wyatt set his hand on Raph’s shoulder, squeezing him lightly. “Do you think... we should wait?”
But waiting didn’t suit Raph. Not when he’d already made his decision. “It changes nothing. I’ll tell him how I feel about you.”
“I don’t know if that’s enough.” Wyatt squirmed, some of the light fading from his eyes. “To be honest, I’d be fine not seeing Mom and Dad for another few months.”
Raph had promised Mom he’d get Wyatt to visit, though. “Mom would want to see you. You saw how she was on Saturday.”
Wyatt sagged. “I did. I just... don’t want to bring them any more trouble. If Grandma evicts them, I have no space for them to stay.”
They really didn’t. Raph wasn’t about to sacrifice the privacy they had in this apartment, not when Wyatt sometimes moaned out loud, his voice
