Page 79 of The Feral Alpha

“Rex.” Olson’s voice stuck in his throat. Did Rex... remember that? “Do you know who gave me that ring?”

Rex met his eyes. “Me.”

“H-how much do you remember?”

Rex shrugged. “Kitchen,” he said, rubbing the ring with his thumb. Then he smacked his forehead. “Mom.”

A laugh bubbled out of Olson’s chest. “She did that. She texted my dads, and they shook their heads when they saw the ring.” When Rex didn’t volunteer any more information, Olson wet his lips, suddenly nervous. “Do you... Do you remember why you gave me this ring?”

Rex’s gaze softened. “Marry.”

Olson swallowed hard. “Yeah,” he whispered.

At that, Rex looked uncertain. He touched the ring and looked into Olson’s eyes. “Marry?”

You’re asking me again?

Olson’s heart thumped. He opened his mouth, his answer on his tongue.

The doorbell rang and shattered the moment.

Rex stiffened immediately. He cut his gaze in the direction of the front door, and left the bedroom.

Olson scrambled to follow him.

“Stay,” Rex growled.

“You’re naked,” Olson said. “At least put on some clothes.”

Olson had noticed Rex growing wary, ever since he’d first begun feeling fatigued.

Rex scowled but followed Olson back to the bedroom, pulling on his pants. Olson struggled with his own; Rex helped him into it. He helped Olson put on a shirt, too. “Stay,” Rex growled.

“No, I need to know who’s at the door. This is also my home.”

Rex frowned. After a staring contest where they both refused to back down, Olson took Rex’s hand and walked with him through the apartment.

Rex looked through the peephole first. Then he pushed the chair aside, and opened the door.

Olson’s dads stood expectantly in the doorway, smiles on their faces.

“Dad! Papa,” Olson squeaked. He’d completely forgotten about introducing them to Rex—it had to be such a shock for them to see Rex’s face. “Uh, this is—”

“Rex, yes.” Dad laughed, stepping in and pulling Olson into a hug. Dad was small and slight, like Olson, whereas Papa was broad-shouldered and muscular like Rex. “We’ve met.”

“You’ve met? When?” Olson opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He ushered his parents in and shut the door, trying to imagine how that meeting must’ve gone. “I mean, aside from twenty-one years ago.”

“We visited last week with Emmy and Varrick,” Papa rumbled, pulling Rex into a quick hug. “We wanted to come just by ourselves, but you weren’t answering your phone. Varrick said he should tag along or Rex wouldn’t let us through.”

“Rex answered the door wearing only suds,” Dad said, trying not to laugh.

Olson hid his face in his hands. “Oh, gods.”

“He was in the middle of giving you a shower,” Papa added approvingly. “We offered to help, but he didn’t let us.”

Olson vaguely remembered sitting alone in the shower for a while, dozing until Rex returned. “Oh.”

“Anyway, we brought you both food.” Papa lifted some bags—Olson only noticed them now. “Varrick said he and Emmy were making you casseroles, and we wanted to help. We taught Rex how to make tea and cook simple things on the stove. How to clean up. Tell the time.”

---