They pulled up at the drive-in sometime later, by the back entrance. When Hazel opened her door, Raph caught a whiff of savory broth and grilled meat. Hazel rounded the hood, stopping by Wyatt’s door. Wyatt pulled her into a hug.
“Now, don’t skate out for orders today,” Wyatt said. “It’s Wednesday. We’ve got plenty of staff around to handle that.”
Hazel pouted. “But you’ve always let me take the Wednesday orders.”
“I shouldn’t be letting you work.” Wyatt glanced at Raph from the corner of his eye. Raph smiled—Wyatt was taking his concerns seriously.
Hazel followed Wyatt’s gaze. “Are you just saying that because of Uncle Raph?”
Wyatt paused, his mouth open. Raph slipped out of the car, and into Hazel’s seat. Hazel frowned at him.
“For your own good, princess,” Raph said. “Keep your dad out of trouble.”
“I never get into trouble.” Hazel kissed Wyatt’s cheek, then turned away, stomping through the back door.
They watched until she disappeared into the kitchen, before driving away.
Wyatt sighed. “I don’t know what to do, sometimes. How strict to be with her when she’s such a good child.”
Raph didn’t know, either. He’d seen Wyatt go through a near-meltdown. Hazel had seen worse, and she’d grown up differently because of that.
He saw Wyatt’s regret sometimes, when Wyatt looked at Hazel. The wistful, contemplative frown on Wyatt’s face, as though he wished he could’ve given Hazel a better childhood.
So Raph reached over, squeezing Wyatt’s hand. “You’re doing good with her.”
Wyatt cracked a smile. “How do you even judge that?”
“Hazel loves you. That counts.”
Wyatt breathed out. “I guess it does.”
They wove through the streets, passing through the downtown area, before the police station loomed up behind the town square. They pulled into a quieter parking lot at the back, where there were a few parked police bikes, and some nondescript cars. Raph spotted their dad’s Chevy in the corner; his pulse quickened.
He met Wyatt by the hood of his car, catching Wyatt’s hand. “Do I hang on to you?”
Wyatt thought for a moment, then shook his head. “People recognize us. Remember Uncle Ben? He’s still there. And Uncle Tom, too.”
In their younger days, Chief Fleming had brought Wyatt, Penny and Raph to the police station, and they’d met the policemen Dad called his friends. Right now, it would be best for them to talk to their father first, before revealing their secret to anyone else. Or maybe it would remain a secret by the end of today.
The station was busy when they stepped in. There was a queue at the receptionist’s desk, and people sat in plastic chairs, waiting to file their complaints at the counter. To the side, some policemen waited in the elevator lobby—alphas in navy uniforms with silver buttons. Wyatt’s eyes lingered on them, appreciative.
“See something you like?” Raph growled, something snarling in his chest.
Wyatt’s lips curved into a smile. “I like the uniforms. Why? Are you jealous?”
“No.”
But Wyatt smiled wider, his fingertips snagging on Raph’s wrist, smoothing over where he’d left his bonding mark. And maybe Raph didn’t need to be jealous, after all.
With the dregs of his memory guiding him, Raph turned toward the elevator lobby, stopping with Wyatt near the cluster of officers. The officers glanced over, gazes dropping to their chests—no identifying lanyards.
“The public service desk is over there,” one of the younger alphas said, pointing.
An alpha with graying curls snorted, his wrinkles deepening when he grinned. “Shush, cadet. You don’t tell Fleming’s kids to go to the public service desk.”
The cadet blinked, looking between the alpha, Raph, and Wyatt. He blushed. All the other officers looked over, too. Raph smiled awkwardly, glad that he and Wyatt had sprayed on the scent suppressants before they’d left Wyatt’s place. Otherwise, he’d be smelling like Wyatt and sex.
A chorus of Hey and Good to see you guys rumbled from the other officers.
“Sorry,” the cadet said, his face beet-red.
“It’s fine,” Raph said, feeling like he’d accidentally become famous.
“How are you kids doing?” the alpha asked. His lanyard said he was Ted McDines. Ted glanced between them, then at Wyatt’s belly. “Last I saw you, you were a lot younger!”
And a lot more naive than they were now. Raph shrugged, itching to slide his arm around Wyatt, pull him close so the alphas knew who Wyatt belonged to. “We’re doing fine. I’m moving back to Meadowfall soon.”
“Are you?” Ted grinned. “I’m sure Fleming will be thrilled. Sons like you—anyone would be proud. He talks a lot about you kids, you know. Has pictures in his office, and all that. Everyone at the station knows who you are. ‘Cept for guys like Pip.”
Ted nudged Pip, who looked like he wished he were somewhere else. Raph felt the same. Next to him, Wyatt paled.
“Didn’t know you were expecting, Wyatt.” Ted reached out. “Congrats!”
Wyatt shook his hand, his smile strained. Raph was painfully aware that the older folk in Meadowfall knew who exactly they were. For them to know Chief Fleming’s sons had a baby... well. It would look terrible for the police chief. And Dad had to face these guys every day.
The elevator doors opened. Raph filed in with Wyatt, touching the small of his back. Wyatt didn’t look at him. They’d just made up, and maybe... they shouldn’t have.
The officers murmured among themselves in the elevator. Ted glanced between them. “So, you’re here to visit your dad?”
“Yeah,” Raph said. “Do you know if he’s busy?”
Ted glanced at his watch. “He might be in a meeting with the department heads. You’ll catch him just before lunch, though.”
“Thanks.”
The elevator opened on each floor, letting out some officers, while others entered. At the highest floor, Ted held the doors open for them, nodding at the far wall. “There’s your dad’s office. You might have to wait around.”
Raph nodded, stepping out. Ted turned down a corridor. Raph and Wyatt were left alone, watching as some officers typed into computers, others talking over their cubicle dividers. A few looked over when they walked through the room, waving.
Chief Fleming’s office was a room
