Page 107

“Mine,” Bruiser growled again.

“You’re starting to sound like those cave-alphas in the movies,” Uriel gasped. “‘Mine, mine, mine.’”

“Now that I have an omega of my own, I never want to let you go,” Bruiser agreed. “Mine.”

Uriel huffed, but deep down, he couldn’t deny that it felt good to be wanted this badly.

“I should mention that I want this baby too,” Bruiser said, sliding his palm down to cup Uriel’s belly. Gods, there was a baby in there again. “I don’t think I’d be a good dad if I only wanted you, and not our babies.”

Uriel’s heart warmed. “I guess you have a point.”

Bruiser released him with a lazy smile. Then he sank to his knees and tugged up Uriel’s shirt, pressing his lips to Uriel’s belly. Uriel froze.

“Hey, little one,” Bruiser murmured, his voice vibrating through Uriel’s body. “I’m your other dad, but you probably can’t hear me yet. That’s okay, I’ll talk to you again soon. Just wanted to say hi. We just found out about you today, and we can’t wait to meet you. You have a big sister out here too, her name is Cassie.”

Uriel swallowed hard. “You’re speaking on my behalf?”

Bruiser grinned. “Should I not? Besides, I’m speaking on my behalf, you can tell our child whatever you want.”

Uriel immediately thought of several things he could say.

Bruiser made a face. “You’re not allowed to tell our child terrible things about me.”

“Embarrassing childhood stories are an exception,” Hunner yelled.

Uriel was still getting used to that constant eavesdropping. “Hunner might have a point. Childhood stories are still true things about you.”

Hunner cackled. Bruiser frowned but he didn’t look mad, so Uriel wasn’t worried.

“Later,” Uriel decided. “I wanted the childhood stories as my favor, remember?”

“Damn it,” Bruiser said.

In the distance, Hunner cheered.

“Doc,” Uriel said nervously when they had settled in Doc and Ottis’ living room. Doc was an alpha dragon, so it made sense that his mansion was just as spacious as Bruiser’s. “Some time back, you said I could come to you for help with my... biology.”

Doc nodded, glancing briefly at Bruiser, but returning his full attention to Uriel. “Yes. What would you like to do?”

“Hormone therapy,” Uriel said. “Maybe... reduce some of my alpha hormones and increase the omega ones?”

“I’m in favor of that,” Doc said. “It won’t be a sharp change, like if you were to stop the alpha hormones completely. We can transition you to higher doses of omega hormones, and I’ll check in with you every so often to see how you’re feeling about it.”

Uriel’s heart thumped. This was something he’d long hoped for, and was nervous about, because it would mean a huge change in his life. How he saw himself.

Bruiser squeezed his hand to check in with him.

“Let’s do it,” Uriel said.

Doc smiled. “Very well. I’ll write up some prescriptions for you.” Then he glanced at their linked hands and smiled wider. “Congrats.”

“You’re not surprised?” Uriel asked.

“You may not be aware, but Telos and Mav were butting heads for a long time before they finally got together,” Doc said. “And they’re an alpha-alpha couple. It’s not a big surprise that the two of you paired up.”

“Yeah, there’s a betting pool,” Bruiser muttered.

Doc had the grace to look sheepish.