Page 65 of Bound to the Guard

His steps quicken when he spots us standing outside the music room. “Oh, good, I was hoping you’d come by today, Damien. Caleb called and wants me to go to the townhouse tonight, so Phoenix can go home with you, and I can go straight to Caleb.”

Oliver had also volunteered at the center, teaching a journalism class for high school students. I think part of his reason is to keep an eye on his little brother, which I appreciate. I had been worried about what would happen if Phoenix was here alone and had a panic attack.

Phoenix takes my hand as he faces his older brother. “Do you still want to have dinner together? We can eat around here before heading out.”

I squeeze Phoenix’s hand, proud of how far he’s come. After Phoenix’s kidnapping, their relationship fractured, both sides carrying too much guilt for something neither of them had control over. But they’ve been finding their way back to each other.

Volunteering here is a way to create something new that doesn’t revolve around their past.

“No, but thank you. Caleb has something planned for tonight.” Oliver’s focus shifts to the music room. “How are your classes going? Papa would be proud to see you embracing the piano again.”

“They’re going well. I wish…” His gaze turns wistful. “I wish he had lived long enough to visit the Omega Outreach Center. He would have loved to visit a place made for Omegas. Our childhood community center was…” He grimaces. “Well, you remember.”

I release Phoenix’s hand to wrap my arm around his shoulders. I wish I could have met the men who raised two such strong Omegas. Their neighborhood had been dangerous, filled with predators who saw Omegas as easy targets.

We’ve been working to fix that, though, starting with knocking down the apartment complex where Phoenix had been kidnapped from and bringing an Omega Center into their neighborhood. Slowly, we’ve been buying up properties, keeping low-income living available while creating a safer place. And it’sthanks to Omegas like Oliver, Phoenix, and the other Omegas in our family that we took those steps.

Oliver pulls out his phone to check the screen and flushes. “I better head out. I’m supposed to be home in twenty minutes.”

My brows shoot up. Their townhouse is at least twenty-five minutes from here with good traffic. “You’re not going to make it.”

Oliver’s flush deepens. “No. I’m not.”

With a wave at us, he heads for the exit, though he doesn’t rush.

Phoenix nibbles on his bottom lip. “He’s going to be late on purpose, isn’t he? So he’ll get punished?”

“We’re not going to speculate on what our brothers get up to.” I tilt my head toward the music room. “Do you need to do anything before we head out?”

He goes back into the room to straighten some instruments and turn off the lights before returning to my side and lacing our fingers together. “Ready.”

The drive back to the Rockford manor passes in comfortable silence, the hum of the engine and the soft strains of music from the radio a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. Phoenix stares out the window, his gaze pensive, and I study his profile in the warm glow of the setting sun.

He’s beautiful like this, all sharp angles and soft curves, strength and vulnerability intertwined. The urge to reach out and touch him, to reassure myself that he’s real, that he’s here, is a constant ache in my chest.

We pull into the underground garage at Rockford Manor, and I cut the engine.

Phoenix turns to me, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Home sweet home.”

I reach out to brush a stray lock of black hair from his forehead, my fingers lingering on his skin. “Welcome home, sweetheart.”

We take the elevator straight up to our suite. Once inside, I draw him into my arms, burying my nose in the crook of his neck and breathing him in.

He melts into me, his body a perfect fit, as if we were made for each other. And perhaps we were. How else can the way we met be explained? Given the circumstances of our birth, our paths never should have crossed, yet fate brought us together at exactly the time we needed each other.

“I love you,” I whisper against his skin. “More than anything in this world, Phoenix. More than my life.”

His hand lifts to cup my cheek. “I love you, too. Always and forever.”

As our lips meet in a tender kiss, my hands drop to cup his stomach, where a slight roundness thickens his slender waist.

Soon, he’ll be too big to hide the pregnancy from our nosey family, throwing our lives into chaos.

For now, in the sanctuary of our home, we guard our peace, marveling at the growing spark that came from this new life we share.

The End.

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