Raph growled, pressing his nose into Wyatt’s back, breathing him in. Wyatt was his. He’d never thought this would happen, Wyatt allowing Raph to mark him as his own. Wyatt squirmed on his lap, a coil of musk wafting from his skin. “Raph...”
Hazel was at the stove, humming to herself. She wasn’t paying attention to them. So Raph slipped his hand under Wyatt’s shirt, between his legs, stroking the growing length of his cock. Wyatt’s breath rushed out of him.
“Do you want toast as well?” Hazel asked, turning.
And Wyatt clapped a hand over his mouth, bolting out of the kitchen.
Raph stared. So did Hazel.
The hallway bathroom door bounced shut. From the kitchen, Raph caught the faint sounds of retching. He flew to his feet, striding to the bathroom, Hazel on his heels.
“Stove still on?” Raph asked.
“Crap,” Hazel said, turning back.
At the door, Raph knocked. Then he pushed it open slightly, and found Wyatt by the toilet, bent over, one arm pressed against his stomach. “You okay?”
“What does it look like to you?” Wyatt winced, heaving again. “Fuck, I don’t miss this part.”
“This part?” It hit Raph then, that this was the start of Wyatt’s morning sickness. That his omega was absolutely pregnant, and there was a baby in his belly. A real, live baby who would grow, and whom they’d teach and cuddle and laugh with. He froze, breathing in, then out. I’m really going to be a dad. He didn’t feel ready yet.
He stopped by Wyatt, rubbing his back. “Anything I can get you?”
“Water.”
Raph filled a tomato-print mug—Hazel’s, probably—and handed it over. Wyatt leaned against him, his skin damp with sweat.
“Sorry,” Raph said, touching his forehead. “For getting you into this mess.”
Wyatt snorted. “There’s no need for you to apologize.”
“But I—”
Wyatt heaved again.
“Dad, are you okay?” Hazel peered through the gap in the door.
“I’m fine,” Wyatt said. “I’ll just be in here for a bit longer.”
“Do you need to see the doctor?” Hazel winced. Wyatt missed it, because his back was turned, but Raph saw. And he wanted to hug them both. There would be bills with this pregnancy; Raph would be there to catch them, loan or no loan.
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, hon.” Wyatt spat into the toilet, rinsed his mouth into it, and flushed. And promptly bent over it again, groaning. “Gods.”
The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Hazel said, frowning. She left the bathroom door ajar, her feet pattering away.
“When are you gonna tell her?” Raph asked. “She’s sharp. You can’t hide the puking from her.”
Wyatt sighed. “I don’t know. It’s a lot to keep quiet about. I’ve put her through a bunch, Raph, and I don’t want to give her more—she already feels responsible for me.”
The way Hazel bossed her dad around sometimes, it seemed as though she might present as alpha. And Raph couldn’t fault her for wanting to keep her dad safe—he felt the same.
They stood in the bathroom, staring at each other. Wyatt heaved again. He bent over the toilet, mug tipping, water sloshing over the edge. So Raph held his hand to steady the mug, rubbing Wyatt’s back.
He didn’t notice the voices until the door opened.
“I can send him to the doctor if it’s bad,” Penny said, her voice trailing off.
Raph looked up. And met her eyes, feeling like the older brother who’d fallen on his ass, after laughing at his sister for the exact same thing.
“Raph?” she spluttered. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” he said. Because, shit, he’d told her he hadn’t seen Wyatt for years. And now this.
“I asked first,” Penny said. She looked between Hazel, Raph, and Wyatt, her forehead furrowing. “I thought you guys weren’t talking.”
“I’m puking,” Wyatt said. “Go away and leave me alone.”
Penny planted herself firmly in the doorway. “No, Wy. We’re your siblings. We’re entitled to watch you puke.”
But her gaze roved over Raph’s hands, where they held Wyatt’s fingers, and his back. And Raph kept his touch steady, didn’t pull away.
“Wait,” Penny said, her eyes darting between them. “You know about Wyatt.”
She meant Wyatt’s pregnancy, and of course Raph knew. He didn’t think she’d been aware.
“Yeah,” he said. “I know.”
Penny sagged. “I feel so betrayed. I thought you had a falling out. Why did you lie to me?”
Then she looked at Hazel, who pursed her lips, pinched her fingers together, and dragged them across her mouth. “Sworn to secrecy.”
Raph tried not to smile. Hazel was funny. “Yeah, it was a secret.”
“Why the hell should it be a secret? Wyatt, I’ve been babysitting Hazel for years. You’ve been keeping secrets from me?” Penny’s voice raised by an octave, and Raph felt a tiny bit sorry for her. Just a little.
“Look, it isn’t your business,” he said, his stomach flipping. She was his sister. They had commiserated with each other through Wyatt leaving home, even if Penny was a loudmouth.
She glared at him, pushing her glasses up her nose. “You’re just setting aside your differences like actual adults. Why does it have to be a damn secret?”
Maybe Raph should ask her to leave. Wyatt’s neck was red, the tips of his ears pink. He gurgled some water, pointedly ignoring her eyes.
“Wait,” Penny said, breathing in.
Raph didn’t know how obvious their scents were, mingled like that. Shouldn’t have marked him. Please don’t be your usual smartass self, Pen. Please.
“I’m puking,” Wyatt said. “Go away.”
“Are you feeling better, Dad?” Hazel asked.
And maybe Hazel had the most decency of them all. Raph swore inwardly, scanning Wyatt’s face to make sure he was okay. But Wyatt looked embarrassed. He wanted them to be a secret. And even though Raph agreed with his reasons, having to hide their relationship rankled.
“I’m feeling better,” Wyatt said, slanting a grin at Hazel. “You don’t have to worry, okay?”
Hazel beamed. “Can I make breakfast since you’re sick?”
“Sure thing.”
Hazel cheered and skipped away to the kitchen. Raph relaxed slightly; they didn’t have to dance around the subject now.
“You
