Page 91 of One Wild Omega

“I amsosorry. Family dinner is usually just my brothers and their families. Not the cousins, grandparents, and uncles. They only come on holidays, for the most part. I had no idea my parents invited thewholefamily. I would’ve warned you ahead of time.”

Tanner smiled. “I lost my parents when I was a baby. While technically I have a lot of cousins and uncles… they’re all kind of focused on their own, if you get my drift. My brothers and grandfather are workaholics, though Quinn is getting better. Anyway… I didn’t have anything like this. And I was always jealous of those who did.” He smiled wider. “I guess I get it by default now. Thanks to you.”

Fitz sat on the edge of his brother’s bed and pulled Tanner into the circle of his thighs. “You were jealous of big, noisy families?”

Tanner nodded.

“I guess I never imagined people living in those big, fancy houses ever being jealous of anything.”

Tanner ran a hand through his alpha’s hair. “There’s a price one pays to live like that. I would’ve given anything to grow up like you did, Fitz. Instead of being raised by a cold manny before being shipped off to boarding school. Money can’t buy love. It can’t buy the kind of warmth I see between your brothers and you. Between your parents. That’s what I’ve always longed for. To be loved like that.”

Fitz cupped Tanner’s cheek. “It’s the only love I’ve ever seen… the only way I know how to give it. Wholeheartedly.” Fitz looked away. “And knowing how much I hurt you over the years…”

Tanner lifted Fitz’s chin. “You couldn’t help it… it was a reaction, and you’re a different man without it. I love you, Fitz Walker. And I don’t want our future haunted by that past.”

He pressed his lips to his alpha’s longing for that connection to be reforged.

A knock came to the door before it swung open.

Harrison peeked inside. “Pop’s looking for you both. You get to sit beside him at the table.”

Fitz sighed. “If my papa brings up grandbabies, just steer him away. I’ll help, okay?”

Tanner’s smile faded. Did his alpha not want children? Fearful of bringing up the topic considering where they were, he dropped it. “Okay.”

The question got tucked away…

Not to be brought up again…

Not until…

Chapter Twenty

Five weeks later…

Emergency. I need help. Please come.

Tanner sat up straighter as he looked at the text message from Fitz. His alpha had been working on a huge project the last few weeks and had put in a ton of hours, even on the weekends. He was supposed to be at work then.You okay?

No. Come quick.Fitz then listed an address that wasn’t far from where his studio had been. Blocks away from where he was supposed to be.

What is it?

Just come.

Tanner turned off the movie he’d been watching and grabbed his keys. After racing down the stairs, he jumped behind the wheel and made his way a few blocks over to the address listed on the text. As he approached, he saw people were getting out of limos and fancy cars and entering the front of the building, dressed to the nines.

And Fitz stood near the entrance with a huge bouquet of flowers.

Wearing a gorgeous suit.

Oh gods no.Tanner’s heart leapt when he saw Fitz, but if what was happening was happening, he wasn’t having it. He climbed out of the car and walked over, shaking his head.

“I need a date for this fancy gallery opening I got invited to. You mind? I couldn’t imagine anyone else who might dig these kinds of things.”

As soon as he scented his alpha—fully scented the man without the benefit of Scentex masking some of it—he felt his body tense and slick coat him. It had been like that for weeks now, the instinct roaring within. All he wanted to go was lie under his alpha all day and night. He fought back the growl rising up his throat and looked everywherebutat Fitz. “As if you’d invite anyone else but me to anything, right?”

“Is that a little jealousy I hear?” Fitz asked, waggling his eyebrows.

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