Page 61 of Alpha’s Conquest

“You don’t have to say anything. We can share the blame for this, if you’d like. It doesn’t change what you did. But then again, it doesn’t change what I did either. I should’ve talked to you, and tried to understand instead of assuming you were pulling away out of fear.” Pausing, he fiddled with his thumbs for a minute as he chose his next words. “I love you, Casey.” I couldn’t say it back, not in the way he meant it. “Do you love him? My dad.”

My heart flew to my throat, and I struggled to take a full breath. “W-what?”

“Do you love Adam Wilson?”

How could I not love him? Every day I spent by his side had changed me. Every moment in his arms was bliss. Every touch, every kiss. But I hadn’t said it out loud yet. It had remained a silent pledge deep inside my heart.

“I… I do. I love him.” The words released a shackle around my heart, the last remaining chains of my past.

Marshall nodded, his eyes darting away. “Good. I can let you go, then. I know you’ll treat my dad right. And he’ll be good to you. He seems tough, but he’s a teddy bear when he’s in love.” A teddy bear that gets off on spanking me. “Will you move here?”

I’d just confessed my true feelings, but now there were a million other things to consider. “I uhh… I haven’t thought about it.”

“You should. You’ve got the baby to think about now.” With his jaw clenched, he took another long pause before continuing. “I’ll go back home and have someone pack your stuff. Let David know when you’ve decided on your plans, and he’ll tell me where to send everything.” It was so clinical. But I knew that’s what he needed, and didn’t argue. “I don’t really want to say this, but… I’ll regret it if I don’t. I’m… happy. For you. You’ve kept yourself closed off for far too long, and let’s face it, I wasn’t your forever partner. I’m happy you’ve finally found something real.”

I expected him to yell at me. Taking it all in stride was almost worse. Maybe I wasn’t the one he was mad at. “Are you angry with him?”

“Oh, yes. I’m furious. You were halfway out the door when you met him, but as far as my dad was concerned, you were mine. It will take me longer to forgive him. I just need time before I can see you together.”

“Of course.”

Giving his legs a quick slap, he stood, and I did the same. “Go to an OB. I want my little brother to be healthy.”

“We don’t know it’s a boy.”

“It’s a boy. My family is good at one thing, and it’s making boys.” I followed him to the front door, and he slipped his shoes back on. He still couldn’t meet my eyes despite the smile on his face. “Take care, Casey.” Not Case. Just Casey. And then he was gone.

THIRTY-THREE

Adam

Adam

This was taking too long. What was Marshall saying to him? His anger was justified, though I would’ve preferred to shoulder all of it and leave Casey out of our feud. My son had always had problems with me, even before we involved an omega in our relationship. Omegas always made everything more complicated for Alphas, and this time was no different.

“Calm down, Pops,” David cautioned. “Marshall won’t hurt him. You know that.”

That wasn’t the issue. Casey had just started to regain his confidence, and my son was going to destroy it completely while I stood at the gas station down the street. Casey was insistent that we stay away until Marshall left. I did as he asked solely out of respect for my omega, but every instinct in my body was screaming at me to ignore his wishes. I’d paced the parking lot long enough to leave boot prints on the pavement before David forced me to stop.

“Jesus, Pops. You’re acting like he’s about to be murdered. Casey and the baby will be fine. It’s only half an hour, and we’ve got six minutes left.”

Six minutes of hell.

The madness almost consumed me before I saw Casey approaching the gas station. I raced across the parking lot, almost tripping over my feet before I got to him. He folded into my arms, right where he belonged. I bent to kiss his forehead, his cheeks, kissing every part of his face I could reach‌.

He was surprisingly calm. He even smiled up at me. “It went okay. He’s going back to Hanford right now.”

Marshall left without speaking to me. I’d expected as much. Whatever conversation was waiting for us, it would be on his terms.

But now, finally, finally, Casey was free, and I had every intention of taking full advantage of that. Tomorrow we would go to the doctor and make sure our baby was healthy. But today, I would do everything I had dreamed of for weeks.

I took Casey’s hand in mine and held it in front of everyone at the gas station. I hadn’t imagined our first public display of affection to be like this, holding hands at the Quick Stop, but standing here with him was everything I had longed for. I could touch him and not worry about someone seeing. Everyone could see now.

“We’ll be at home,” I tossed over my shoulder as we left David’s truck behind. “Call first,” I added, just to be sure he knew not to barge in. I had very specific intentions to keep Casey naked all day long, and in every part of my house.

“Gross,” David called out before we disappeared around the corner.

Casey chuckled, our clasped hands swinging between us. “You don’t have to torment him. I’m sure he knows better than to walk in unannounced now that his father has a boyfriend.”