Page 51 of His Reluctant Omega

“So find another job.”

Avery glanced at Wilder. “I could, but then my uncle would lose his shit. He thinks me being under the same work roof as Rohan would be safer for me.”

“Explain about this alpha. That you don’t want to be close.”

“The minute I do that, he’s going to want me to submit and marry Wilder.”

Brett moved in closer and whispered in his ear. “You’d get to have wild monkey sex with that big guy. Pop out a baby or two.”

Avery glared at Brett. “I’d lose years of education and forward progress. I shouldn’t have to choose one or the other. That’s the whole point of me doing all this.”

“I thought the point had been for you to provide for yourself and your brothers in case you didn’t find your alpha in time? Now you’ve found him.”

Avery knew that was the truth. Or the reasoning he’d used to sell his uncle on his scheme, but things had changed. He’d gotten a taste of freedom and wasn’t ready to give it up. Maybe his uncle was right. Perhaps he was being selfish.

Then selfish he was. No one else would stand up for him but him. So be it.

He glanced back at Wilder, the urge to submit swamping him.

Why did they have to invite him?

Hopefully he got the hint.

From the look on Wilder’s face, he did not.

A shiver raced down Avery’s spine.

8

The last time Wilder had been at Rohan and Gray’s home had been for the twins’ birthday party. Once again, balloons festooned the outer door, this time in green and gold versus the primary shades from before. The front door was sitting ajar. He tucked Abraham’s gift under one arm and followed two others in through the door and on into the house. Following the muffled sounds and light music, Wilder entered. Searching the room, he didn’t see Abraham.

Avery.

Just the whisper of that name sent chills through him. Electric sparks equipped to ignite the building embers within.

Wilder wasn’t sure who all the people within the room were. He didn’t recognize any of the faces. Many were young. Perhaps Abe’s classmates or friends.

More friends?

His thoughts drifted to Brett and the intimacy the guy had shared with Abe. The green monster of envy had all but devoured him as he’d driven the curving slopes into Rohan and Gray’s neighborhood.

“Wilder! There you are.” Rohan called out from across the next room. “I thought maybe you’d decided not to come.”

Wilder had taken the long way, in hopes he could get his head on straight. “I wouldn’t miss it,” Wilder murmured, his stare finally landing on Abe. “Not for the world.”

There, once again, was Brett.

Glued to Abe’s side.

He watched the pair, the little green fiend within scratching to come out once more. Wilder did his best to crush it—what right did he have to Abe?—but it was harder than it should’ve been. When Abe let out a peel of raucous laughter, his palm landing on Brett’s chest, a growl came to Wilder’s throat, but he held it back.

Or so he thought.

When several people turned to eye him and a quiet fell over the small crowd, he realized that growl had escaped unbidden. Lifting his gaze, he met Abe’s dazed stare.

Need consumed Wilder.

Hunger shone in Abe’s eyes.

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