Page 57 of One Wild Omega

Bellamy’s smile faded. He stared at Tanner for a moment, blinking. “You know it was an accident. I had no intention of being with Fitz.”

“Thefirsttime was an accident. What about the five or six months that followed?” Tanner asked, feeling his ire rise.

Bellamy put his sandwich down. “Fitz was the only alternative I had, and you know it. He was safe… and protected me until you let me use the lake house. Otherwise, I might have been taken byanyalpha and you know it.”

“You could’ve let me send you to the resort, like I offered.”

“And you’d already given me more than I could’ve ever repaid. I wasn’t taking anything else from you. It was too much.”

Tanner didn’t answer him. He would’ve gladly paid for that trip and let Bellamy cycle offHeatexthe right way.

It would’ve kept Fitz out of Bellamy’s bed.

Bellamy’s eyes narrowed a little. “What are you trying to say?IsFitz yours?”

Tanner shook his head, the lie coming so naturally now. “No. He’s not.”

Bellamy’s frown only grew. “So why the comments? I did nothing wrong.”

He hadn’t. Bellamy was completely innocent. If anything, Tanner was the one to blame for never telling anyone. “I’m sorry,” he said, feeling a sting come to the backs of his eyes. “I’m just in a mood.”

Bellamy relaxed some, but there was still a lingering distress in the air around them.

Tanner remained quiet a few heartbeats. “I wouldn’t have wanted my secret to come between you and Quinn.” He reached out and grabbed Bellamy’s hand, trying to unruffle the feathers he’d ruffled. He loved having Bellamy as his brother-in-law, and saw how good they were together. Nothing was going to ruin that. Nothing. “Not when I see how happy you both are now.”

Bellamy lifted his stare some, looking hopeful.

“I’m still angry,” Tanner blasted. He took breath. “But I’ll get over it. You just keep your husband in line. If he says one word… I’ll lose my shit.”

“Understood.” Bellamy smiled. “So… are we ever going to find out who itreallyis?”

“After seeing how poorly you do with secrets? Heck no,” Tanner said with a wry smile.

“Touché,” Bellamy replied. “I’ll just have to suffer, which I deserve.”

“Yes. You do.” Tanner reached out. “Now let me hold my nephew again.”

Bellamy soon slid Carter back into Tanner’s arms.

“Well, well… isn’t this cute?”

Tanner raised his stare to see Charles Macklin standing on the sidewalk eyeing them both, his arm thrust through that of a much older, but still somewhat handsome, alpha. Charles’ gaze went to the baby, his lips curling into a slight sneer.

“Hiya, Upchuck,” Tanner cried before turning to glance down at Carter. “Have you met Bellamy and Quinn’s son yet? He’s utterlyadorable.”

Charles narrowed his stare. The beta had been in a relationship with Quinn for a few years prior to his brother meeting Bellamy. A cheating Charles had ended up sending Quinn into Bellamy’s arms, actually, but the beta had tried to force his brother into a relationship with the help of their ailing grandfather.

Tanner was still trying to forgive their grandfather for that—the manwassuffering from the early stages of dementia, so his actions could be explained. As far as Charles? Definitely not. The fact he might’ve possibly tried to ruin Bellamy’s business only added to his crimes.

“No. I haven’t had the pleasure,” Charles muttered, forcing a cringeworthy smile. “But then, I have no time to do so today, either. I’m quite busy. Have you heard? Ijustgot engaged myself.” Charles turned to smile at the handsome older man he was clinging to. “Adam and I were heading to sample some wedding cake at the bakery across the street.”

“Congratulations,” Tanner cried, feigning excitement. “Oh, Upchuck, my only wish is for all the happiness youdeserve. Which is very,verylittle, I might add.” Tanner turned to the older alpha. “And where did he dig you up from?”

Charles’ smile fled. He glared at both Tanner and Bellamy before lifting his snooty nose. “Stupid breeders,” he snapped before dragging the alpha across the street.

“Did he really just call us stupid breeders?” Bellamy asked. “That’s rich, especially since he offered to buy Carter from me so he and Quinn could raise him as their own.”

“He didn’t!” Tanner said. “Did he?”

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