All Raph smelled was the sour tang of puke. He filled the mug when Wyatt emptied it, handing it back. “I’m standing in the bathroom with him. ‘Course we’re gonna smell like each other.”
“No, it’s more than that,” Penny said, tapping her fingers on her arm. She had that narrow-eyed look about her, when she was figuring things out. And she was usually right.
Raph wished he could shut the door on her, but it would solve nothing.
Penny’s gaze flickered between them, lingering on Raph’s hand on Wyatt’s back. Then her eyes widened, and she looked at Raph. Really looked at him. Raph held his breath.
“Oh, hell no,” Penny said. “Wyatt smelled like you that day. When his scent changed.”
What could he say? It wasn’t like he would hide their bond.
Wyatt took a deep breath, then straightened, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. He flushed the toilet. When he turned, his eyes were determined, his fingers curling into Raph’s.
This is my omega, Raph thought, a surge of pride welling up in his chest.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Wyatt said, looking straight at Penny. “The baby is Raph’s. He’s my alpha.”
15
Wyatt
The silence that followed hung between them, impenetrable as ice. Wyatt wanted to crawl into a hole and never show his face again.
On the other side of the bathroom, Penny stared, her mouth hanging open.
She could reject them. She could call them sick bastards, and never return. She could tell Mom and Dad, and they would shake their heads, asking Why did you do this, Wyatt?
It had been one hell of an omission, when Penny had taken out days and weeks of her life, caring for Hazel when Wyatt was busy or ill. She’d brought him food when he’d been too busy between jobs to care for himself. She’d been seventeen when Wyatt first handed his daughter to her, afraid of passing his cold to his baby.
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
