“Threats to law enforcement count as an offense,” the officer informed him.
If Bernard and Saxon both went to jail... then who would take over the chemistry department? And the college?
“He’s getting his just desserts now,” Spike said, wriggling. He nudged someone else out of the way, so he could stand at the receptionist’s counter—Kai, too. Kai wrapped his arm around Micah’s back, and Spike did the same from Micah’s other side, both of them forming a protective shield around him. Micah’s heart fluttered.
“Let me through,” a woman said behind them. “I’m Bernard’s wife. Let me through, I say!”
Micah glanced over his shoulder, finding a plump, shorter woman making her way through the crowd. Behind her, a younger alpha followed—a man who had the same shrewd eyes and strong jaw Kai did, and... the same full lips. Features that Bernard Hastings also shared.
Kai turned to follow Micah’s gaze, and froze.
Paces away, Henrietta Hastings and her son paused, too. Micah saw the recognition in Henrietta’s eyes, the doubt.
“I thought I recognized you when you were playing basketball for the college,” Henrietta said slowly. “What’s your name?”
“Kai Ventura,” Kai said, wary. Micah reached up to hold Kai’s hand, the one that had squeezed tight against Micah’s waist.
“And... your parents?” Henrietta asked, her forehead creasing. “Who are they?”
The procession of police officers began down the department office aisle. Micah turned back, his breath snagging in his throat when Bernard Hastings met his stare. Even with police officers next to him, Bernard glanced between Kai, Spike, and Micah, his lip curling in contempt. That brought back terrible memories.
His heart thumping, Micah pushed away Bernard’s judgment. He stood straighter. Kai and Spike weren’t secrets to be swept under the carpet, as much as Bernard had treated him like they were.
Bernard glanced at Kai, then Micah. “You certainly are perverse,” Bernard remarked to Micah. “Is there something about my blood that intrigues you?”
Then Bernard looked pointedly at Kai, and a gasp came from the crowd.
“Bernard,” Henrietta said, wobbling on her feet. “What did you mean, your blood?”
The college president glanced at her, and paled. “Henrietta,” he said, struggling against his handcuffs. “You misunderstood—”
“No, you didn’t,” Kai said coldly. “That bastard slept with some omega, and I’m the result. He has the DNA tests to prove it.”
Bernard grew very still. Henrietta swayed, her chest heaving. She stared incredulously at Bernard, and her son held her up.
“Bernard,” Henrietta said shakily. “I’d suspected, but... How could you?”
The college president pursed his lips. “It means nothing.”
“It doesn’t mean nothing,” Henrietta snapped. “You cheated on me!”
The office grew very silent. Bernard looked away, his face red.
Deep down, Micah’s heart thumped. He’d never been able to get even with Bernard for all the insults and humiliation. Because Micah was omega, and because Micah’s job had relied on Bernard’s mercy.
But today, watching Bernard being stripped of his dignity before his staff and family, watching Bernard’s wife condemning him... a sense of justice bloomed in Micah’s chest.
Whatever Bernard had dealt Micah... this was payback enough. He bowed his head, hiding his smile.
“Take that,” Spike whispered, his eyes gleaming. “‘Bout time someone handed him his ass. I love that Kai helped.”
Kai smiled, squeezing Micah’s waist.
The police officers shoved Bernard forward, out of the department office. Henrietta and her son did not follow.
Students murmured around them, until they eventually dispersed. And Micah turned, sighing. “I suppose I should thank June for the heads-up,” he said. “Although I don’t see much point in hanging around after that—”
“Wait.” Henrietta stepped up to them, looking at Kai, Spike, then Micah. She seemed full of words, but she took a breath, and deflated. “Have we met before?” she asked Micah. “I wanted to ask how you were related to Bernard, but that would be presumptuous of me.”
“I’ve been to the staff dinners.” Micah smiled wryly. “We might have met there. As for Bernard... We dated, a long time ago. I didn’t stick around.”
“Ew, I’d think not,” Spike said, scrunching up his face. “He’s like a bad smell.” Then he glanced at Henrietta and her son. “Sorry. That bastard’s been giving my omega shit.”
“I’m Greg,” Henrietta’s son said, extending his hand. Ever since the confrontation, he’d been glancing between Spike, Kai, and Micah. “My dad threw a fit when I married my professor. ‘Course, he’d fired Dale before that, so I was pretty damn pissed.”
Micah froze; this was a surprise. “Wait, you’re Dale’s alpha?”
He’d heard the rumors, but he’d never poked his head out of his work to listen for more.
“And you must be Micah Davis.” Greg grinned. “June told Dale and I about you. Congrats.”
“Thanks.” Micah blushed. Well wishes from non-family? He’d take it. But Greg wasn’t quite non-family, was he?
He found Greg and Kai exchanging a long stare.
“Before today,” Greg said slowly, “I didn’t know I had a brother.”
“Half-brother,” Kai said, cracking a smile. “Me, neither. And this is Spike, my stepbrother. I guess he could kind of be your brother, too.”
Greg’s eyebrows crawled up as he looked between Spike, Kai, and Micah, as though realizing then that they were all bonded. But then he shrugged, and smiled. “Sure. Mom could use with some friendly faces around. Can’t you, Mom?”
Henrietta sighed, smiling sadly. For finding out that terrible news about her husband, she was surprisingly calm. “I guess I could.”
“You might like to meet our mom,” Spike said brightly. “Single moms for the win. Well, technically, Mom’s going to divorce our dad soon, but that’s close enough. You’ll like her. She likes making friends.”
Henrietta cheered up a little at that.
“What about coffee?” Greg asked. “I’d like to get to know my half-brother better. And the rest of your family. Pretty sure Dale wouldn’t mind having a dinner date, either.”
“Sounds good,” Micah said, wrapping his arms around Kai and Spike. They both nodded, but there was a promise in their eyes: Dinner, and as soon as we’re done, we’re heading home to mark you again.
Micah shivered. “Before that, I’ll have to go thank June,” he said. “You guys
