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“And tell him I’m okay. Iwill beokay. No matter what.”
“Have you really thought this through?” Rohan asked.
“No, but then… yes. I think I’ve had this plan in the back of my mind the entire time. Hiding somewhere at the outer fringes of my mind.” He glanced over one shoulder at Wilder, who suddenly looked as tired as Avery felt. “I need to do this, as selfish as it sounds.”
He’d been called selfish before. So be it.
Wilder pressed his hands on Avery’s shoulders. “It’s not selfish. I’m the selfish one—frightened for you and looking for the easy way out.”
The guard didn’t seem to notice Wilder’s hands on him. Avery closed his eyes, reveling in the heat of that touch. It warmed the ice-cold dread within. Lifting one hand, ever so slowly, he caressed the back of Wilder’s hand. Wilder lifted a finger, hooking it through one of Avery’s.
It wasn’t much… yet it was everything.
“Any idea how the Guard found me?” Avery asked. “Is there anything in the report?”
Tensen eyed the document. “Anonymous call is all that’s said. They reported an omega in heat in the AQ, specifically at Jaymes Tower.”
“I think it was my brother,” Wilder murmured. “Who reported it, that is.”
Avery glanced over his shoulder. “Vaughn? Do youreallythink he’d do that?”
“My brother views me as competition. Always has,” Wilder replied. “He was the only other person there that night, and he knew you were going into heat. Chaos is his weapon of choice—and he sure as hell got it with this one.”
“There was also the security guard… and your driver,” Avery added.
“No. It was Vaughn. I can feel it soul deep,” Wilder said.
“I’m sorry,” Avery whispered.
“I should be the one saying that.”
“Back to business,” Tensen said. “I suppose we could use a defense stating that omega reproductive laws are imposing and disregard your rights as a human being. The only problem with that is the lower courts would likely refuse to rule on it and indict you on the charges anyway. We would then have to challenge it to a higher court or a Tribunal… and then there’s still no guarantee that any change would come.”
“Meaning he could be sentenced to give birth to another alpha’s child… or children…have them taken away… before he’d ever return to you,” Rohan said, eyeing Wilder. “If he returned at all.”
Avery felt Wilder tense against him. The low growl that came after caused his stomach to clench. He dropped his hand from Wilder’s—yet the alpha refused to let go.
“No touching!” the guard shouted, finally noticing.
Wilder turned to the guard. “This ismy mate. I will not be told by you or anyone else what I can or cannot do with him. Do I make myself clear?”
“We have rules,” the guard shot back. “You could pass a weapon between you.”
Wilder dragged his sweatshirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. He dug into his pockets and turned them out—empty. “I have nothing to pass to him but what little strength I can in a caress. Stop being a heartless bastard.”
“We have rules,” the guard muttered, looking away.
Wilder snatched his sweatshirt before all but falling into the chair beside Avery. Their eyes met, and Avery could sense the frustration filling his alpha.
“I understand… if you don’t want to accept our mating. I understand if it would be too hard for you…after.I can’t expect you to stick around through all this.” The words felt like knives, stabbing into his gut. Wilder was all he could’ve hoped for in an alpha… he was being selfish enough as it was. He wouldn’t hold the man back. He deserved happiness, and Avery felt quite certain that wouldn’t be found sticking by an incarcerated omega.
Wilder cocked his head to the side. “And where do you think I’d go?” He paused, searching Avery’s face. “Nowhere. Not without you.”
Avery held back tears, his eyes shining. Chest tight, he knew Wilder deserved better. “It’s asking too much of you.”
“No. It’s not.” Wilder caressed Avery’s cheek…and the guard said nothing.
“So, is that the course of action you want us to take?” Tensen asked. “A civil rights case?”
