“Look, if Raph isn’t going to be your alpha, at some point... you’d want to tell your parents you’re pregnant. I’m sure they’d want to know.”
Wyatt groaned. “No, I don’t think they will.”
But even as he said that, he imagined his mom’s delighted smile, his dad reaching out to carry his grandchild like he did with Hazel.
“You don’t have to mention Raph,” Sam said. “Your parents can just know you’re expecting.”
Wyatt imagined standing on his parents’ doorstep, surprise on his father’s face. Chief Fleming would want to know who his alpha was, so he could do a surreptitious background check.
“You know my dad,” Wyatt said. “You had to pass security clearance when I told him you’re my best friend.”
Sam made a face. “You know they’re going to want to know, at some point.”
He was right. Wyatt leaned back into his seat, trying not to think about his parents. His thoughts drifted to Max, and his heart thudded again.
Maybe visiting his mom wouldn’t be a bad idea. If Grandma wasn’t home, seeing his parents would soothe his anxiety. Maybe. “I... I suppose I could visit. Right now.”
Sam glanced over. “Are you sure?”
Wyatt twisted his fingers together. No, he wasn’t sure. But if there was a good reason to visit... It would probably be now. And maybe Mom would send him and Hazel home after they were done. He breathed in, then out. “I guess I am. I just have to... see if my Grandma’s around.”
“Good plan.”
They were quiet through the drive. Wyatt’s heart thudded when they approached the tall iron gates, Grandma’s carefully-crafted lawns sweeping around the mansion. The butler answered the intercom, and they began the winding ascent up the driveway.
“Gods, I never liked this place,” Wyatt mumbled, hugging himself. And he was still out of milk, and cereal. Damn it.
“You don’t have to stay for long,” Sam said. “I’m sure your mom and dad would appreciate a visit.”
They really would. “I’d talked about this with Raph. We’d agreed to tell Dad the news together.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “Where’s Raph when you needed him, then?”
I don’t know. Wyatt glanced down at his phone. No text message, or calls from Raph. For someone who had promised to be around... Raph wasn’t, not anymore. And it stung.
“You need someone better than him, Wy. Someone who treats you better. Or I’ll help with the baby—it’s practice for me, anyway.”
“I thought you don’t want children.”
Sam shrugged, looking away. He rarely talked about his past, but Wyatt had never seen him with an alpha, either. “Experience is always good,” Sam said. “I helped with Hazel, remember?”
“Yeah. I’m forever in your debt for that.”
“Pfft. Count it as a gift. It’s not like I had money to buy you something for your baby shower.”
“I’ve never even had a baby shower.” Wyatt looked down at his belly, his heart aching. With Raph, he’d hoped to have a better home for his newborn. A father who was more present, a permanent place they could call home.
Had Raph been serious about staying? Or was he slowly leaving Wyatt, like Max had promised every alpha would?
Wyatt watched as the foreboding mansion drew closer, the front door opening. He held his breath, heart thumping. Then his mom stepped out, and Wyatt sagged into the seat. “I’ll ask Mom if my grandma’s here,” Wyatt said. “Maybe... if Grandma isn’t here, maybe Hazel and I can stay for a while longer.”
Sam slanted him a dubious look. “If you’re sure. I do have to get back to the drive-in.”
Wyatt sighed. There was that. “I don’t think I can come in today. Have you checked the roster?”
“Yeah. We’ll survive without your help, Wy. It’s not like you’ll have much time there when the baby’s born.”
“I can help!” Hazel said from the back seat.
Wyatt met her eyes in the mirror. He’d talked with Raph briefly about her skating out to take orders—risky, when it wasn’t legal for her to work yet. “There’s no need for you to, hon.”
“Leave it to the big guys,” Sam said, winking at her. “The Drive-In’s gonna be all fine.”
“Fine,” Hazel said, pouting.
Wyatt reached over, squeezing Sam’s hand. “I owe you so much.”
“You can pay me back some other time.” Sam grinned lopsidedly, and Wyatt hoped Sam would find more stability in his life, too, instead of working at the college bookstore in the day, and the drive-in at night.
Mom hurried down the front steps as they pulled up. Wyatt squirmed. He hadn’t told her about the pregnancy. Whatever she knew, it had been through Raph. And maybe she was still angry with him, after he’d kept quiet about both his children. Heavens knew how much he’d disappointed his parents.
He opened the car door carefully, not daring to breathe when she approached. Hazel flung open the back door and jumped out. “Grandma!”
Mom stooped to hug Hazel. “How are you doing, Big Girl?”
“I’m great,” Hazel said. “I got full marks for art class in school.”
“That’s fantastic! I’m proud of you.” Mom kissed Hazel’s forehead, before looking over Hazel’s shoulder at Wyatt, her eyebrows raised. Wyatt’s pulse pattered. And now he felt like a child again, doing all the things he wasn’t supposed to.
Wyatt pushed the car door fully open, stepping out. Mom’s gaze fell promptly to his belly, and he felt huge, being studied like that. Even if he was only six months pregnant. His cheeks heated. “Hi, Mom.”
She stepped over and pulled him into a hug, smelling like chrysanthemum and cookies and Mom. Wyatt’s throat tightened. “I’ve missed seeing you,” Mom said quietly, rubbing his back. “Raph told me.”
Well, Raph wasn’t around right now. This wasn’t what they’d planned, and Wyatt felt a twinge of guilt for keeping his pregnancy secret. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be.”
