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 right across from the elevator lobby, a large square space with opaque white walls, and blinds closed over its windows. As they approached it, Raph’s heart pattered.
“You’re sure about this,” he murmured, glancing sidelong at Wyatt.
Wyatt winced. “It’s... probably not a good idea. Maybe we should wait for Dad to cool off first.”
And maybe they should leave, and Raph should move in with Wyatt, get settled before they mentioned their bonding to Dad again.
Raph was about to voice it, when one of the meeting room doors opened.
Several officers filed out, a number striding toward the lift lobby, some returning to their desks. At the end of the line, Stan Fleming stepped out of the room, deep in conversation with his subordinate.
Wyatt stepped closer to Raph, his throat working. And their father glanced over, his eyes locking onto them. His lips thinned; his eyes narrowed.
It felt like the time when Raph crashed his bicycle into his dad’s new car, except the stakes were a lot higher now. Dad ended the conversation with his officer, striding toward them.
Wyatt’s hand found its way into Raph’s, his fingers tacky with sweat.
“Things will be fine,” Raph said.
Wyatt cracked a tiny smile. “You told Hazel you wouldn’t lie.”
Well, there was that. Raph sighed, squeezing Wyatt’s hand. “I’m not failing you again.”
They stepped to the side when Chief Fleming approached, pulling out the key to his office. With a frown, Dad glanced at Wyatt’s belly, then their clasped hands. Raph straightened his shoulders. If there was something his dad had taught him, it was that he should stand up for what he thought was right.
Dad opened the office door, leaving it open when he stepped in. So they followed, Raph first, then Wyatt, and Wyatt shut the door behind them.
The office smelled like stale coffee and spruce. It was just like Ted had described—framed photos of their family on the walls, photos on the desk by Dad’s computer. There were pictures of Raph and his siblings, pictures of Wyatt and Hazel, pictures of Stan and Tanya, and a yellowing one from a decade ago—their parents, and Raph, Penny and Wyatt. Before Wyatt left.
They’d looked so young, back then.
“I thought you’d be at work today,” Dad said, looking hard at Raph. He set his files on the desk, sitting carefully down in his chair.
“I took a day off,” Raph said. “I’m quitting Alpha Associates.”
“Your grandma’s going to be so damn pissed.”
“Better she be pissed, than me walking out on my baby.” Raph straightened his shoulders, meeting Dad’s eyes. “Wy hasn’t had an easy life, Dad. Our baby’s my responsibility, too. I’m not going to sit back and have him raise the child as a single father.”
Dad pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “Why even Wyatt, Raph? There are so many omegas out there. Not saying you’re terrible, Wy. Just... explain this to me. You know what the whole town is going to think.”
And by relation, the whole police station, too. With Stan Fleming caught in the scandal.
Raph exchanged a look with Wyatt. There wasn’t anyone else he’d ever wanted, not really. “It’s not like we’re planning a big wedding, or anything. I don’t care if the people outside think I’m stepping in as Wyatt’s replacement alpha. Hell, you thought the same thing at first. We just figured... you should know the truth.”
“I’ve loved Raph since I was fourteen,” Wyatt said quietly. “As an omega. I don’t think anyone really noticed, except Mom and Grandma.”
“We aren’t blood brothers,” Raph said.
Dad nodded, his lips a
