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Had he been able to move much, that was.
“I’m better, thanks.”
“Good!” Tensen offered a smile. “Okay if I come in and we talk a bit?”
“Sure,” Avery murmured. He grasped the control for the hospital bed and raised his head some. A hint of pain blossomed in his stomach when he moved.
“You don’t have to move on my account. Stay comfortable.” Tensen took the empty chair across from Lake.
“Tensen, you’ve met my younger brother Lake, haven’t you?”
Tensen extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, Lake.”
Lake gave the man a look over. “You’re the guy who helped Uncle Gray meet Jamie and Rohan, right?”
Tensen nodded. “I am.”
“Now you’ve helped free my brother.”
“Well, he’s not exactly free.”
Avery frowned, his gaze flipping to Tensen. “I’m not?”
“We pled for your bond and release with the Tribunal, explaining that you were in danger remaining there. The Tribunal approved the bond, given that you remained under Wilder’s care.” Tensen glanced around. “Where is he, by the way?”
“He had to go into the office,” Avery replied. “Work emergency. He just called and said he should be back soon.”
“Good.” Tensen drew a file from the leather satchel he’d rested against the chair leg. “He needs to stick close until the Tribunal.” He opened the file and flipped through a few pages.
“Question? If they said I was under Wilder’s care… does that mean they wanted thislittle weak omegataken care of by his alpha?”
Tensen hedged. “Something like that.” He lifted a hand to bar any argument. “I'm aware that you didn’t wish to be treated like an object, but given the circumstances, we worried about your safety. Wilder wanted you in a hospital to be cared for properly—and he wanted you to get the help you needed. Any therapy, physical or otherwise. He made an executive decision out of concern for you and the baby.”
Avery understood it was a decision made out of love. It still chafed a bit. He chose to let it go, all things considered. It was nice not being inside those concrete walls, even if he was confined to a bed. Shifting slightly, a stab of pain hit and he winced through it. “I still have to go before the Tribunal; I believe Wilder said when I first woke up. I was a bit hazy then, so I’m not sure.”
“We’ve postponed your hearing until you’re better, but as soon as you’re capable, we’ll get it re-scheduled.”
Avery nodded. “The attack…”
“Yes?”
“I seem to have blacked out most of it. I remember flashes, but it’s all disordered in my mind. Do you have anything to fill in the gaps?”
Tensen lifted a page from his file. “I received this just this morning. Your cellmate Vero climbed atop you in your bunk. From what they’re gathering, he’d gone over the edge. Vero thought he could remove your child and put it into his own body, or something of that nature.”
Avery gasped. Vero had been attempting to steal the baby from his very womb. He laid a gentle hand over his abdomen, swallowing that news. “I sensed he was mentally unstable, but…”
“He’ll pay for his crime, don’t you worry. They’ve got him in solitary,” Tensen replied.
“No,” Avery said. “That would only make things worse.”
Tensen frowned. “This man could’ve killed you and/or the baby. He needs to pay for his sins.”
“His sins were produced by an unfair system that slowly destroyed his mental health. He’s a victim of the Omega Quadrant and the lack of freedom we omegas have.”
Tensen eyed him quietly.
“I wasn’t only fighting for myownrights, Tensen. I’ve met men inside who didn’t deserve to be locked up. Vero has had multiple miscarriages over his years incarcerated… with no live births. He sees no light at the end of the tunnel… no way out. I’m sure that warped his mind. He doesn’t need reprisal. He needshelp.”
