Page 21 of His Surrogate Omega

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At the chemo clinic…

“What’re you doing here?” Jamie asked as he lifted his stare and smiled. He rested in one of the recliners in the clinic, getting his weekly dose of poison into his veins.

“I missed a chance to catch up at dinner last week,” Wilder said with a grin. He took a seat in the empty chair beside the recliner typically reserved for family. “And Rohan called me. He said he was stuck in a meeting with father and couldn’t make today’s treatment—so I thought I could come spend a few minutes with you if you don’t mind.”

Jamie rested his hand on Wilder’s and smiled. Rohan hated leaving him alone during chemo and had been at his side for nearly every one. He’d likely asked Wilder to be there so Jamie wasn’t alone. A smile came to his lips, thinking how wonderful his alpha was. “I would never mind seeing more of your handsome, smiling face. Especially when it’s not at the circus papa calls dinner.”

“Well, you have to put part of the blame on our wayward brother for that,” Wilder said. “I’m not sure who’s the better ringmaster—papa or Vaughn.”

“I’d once say papa, but it is definitely Vaughn these days,” Jamie said with a smile. He loved his family, but they could be a handful when all together.

Wilder was more like their quiet, staid father and was the apple of Jamie’s eye. A few years younger than Jamie, Wilder had been a sweet boy who’d followed him around as a babe. Jamie had helped papa care for both his brothers, but Wilder had been the first, and therefore, a little more special to him. It had been just the two of them for a few years before Vaughn had arrived, kicking and screaming.

Both Wilder and Vaughn were alphas, leaving him as the sole omega child. While Vaughn and he had grown apart some over the years, he and Wilder had always remained close, no matter if they were of two different classes.

“So, any news about these chemo visits? Or more to the point—when they’re to end?” Wilder said, taking Jamie’s hand in his big, strong grasp.

“This is the last one. Hopefully there won’t be another round.”

Wilder lifted Jamie’s hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the knuckles. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“My doctor is very optimistic. The last two rounds of tests werepromising, from what I’m told.”

“That’s wonderful news. I knew you had enough fight in you to conquer this dragon,” Wilder murmured. “Any day now and that precious R-word will get flung about. I won’t jinx it by saying it too early.”

“There’s no jinxinganything,” Jamie said. “Remission. Remission, remission, remission. I’m going to will it into existence.”

Wilder laughed, his wide, open smile good for Jamie’s heart.

“So what news do you bring from the Alpha Quadrant? Has our father finally given you one of the big offices yet?”

“Not quite yet,” Wilder said. “Although, father did just announce my promotion a few days ago.”

“Congratulations!” Jamie cried, pulling his hand away so he could lean over to hug his brother. “Is papa planning a party?”

“You know he is,” Wilder said with a sigh.

Jamie chuckled under his breath. “You don’t sound thrilled.”

“I’m not,” Wilder admitted.

“It’sgoodto celebrate your accomplishment.”

“Accomplishment? You mean nepotism.”

“Stop,” Jamie said, patting Wilder’s hand. “You work harder than father does anymore. I’ve barely seen you these last couple of years—you’re always at the office. Father crows on about your efforts and hard work… and so does papa. Not that you’re ever around to hear their praise.”

“There are others in the office who work just as hard as I do and haven’t flown up the totem pole. I sometimes feel like a pretender.”

“Yes, perhaps you have had opportunities others haven’t… but take note of those men who work just as hard as you do and once you’re in a position of power, you lift those men up with you. If you do that and continue to work as hard as you have—no one willeversee you as a pretender. They’ll see you for the strong leader you are.”

Wilder smiled. “I don’t know where I would be without you some days, big brother.”

Jamie eyed Wilder. “I long ago stopped being thebigbrother, alpha. I’m just the older and wiser one now.”

Wilder smiled, his eyes bright… but the smile faded a little. “I need you to be here to tell me whenever I’m being an idiot. For the rest of my life.”

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