Page 62 of His Surrogate Omega

“What if I forget them?”

“I can honestly say that will never happen. Your father and papa live on in you three. They will be there every moment, looking down on you and seeing the good you do in this world. You don’t want to disappoint them, do you?”

Lake lifted his head off Gray’s shoulder and wiped his face with both hands. “No. I don’t.”

Gray missed the weight of his nephew leaning on him. He stared at the boy’s profile and saw a little of Silver in the tilt to the boy’s head.

“I’m sorry I said those things,” Lake whispered before turning to eye Gray.

“It’s okay.”

Lake’s eyes shone a little more, and he swallowed. “You look like papa.”

Gray clenched his teeth and held on to his own emotions, not willing to lose it in front of the boy. He needed to be strong right now. It wasn’t something he was good at, but he needed practice. The road ahead was going to have a lot of potholes and speed bumps, and for more than one reason.

“You look a little like him, too,” Gray whispered back, lifting a hand to caress Lake’s cheek.

“No. I look like father.”

Gray shook his head. “You’ve got Silver’s eyes. And the same arrogant tilt to the head. Your smile is his, though I can’t remember the last time I saw it.”

Lake smiled slightly, but wasn’t quite yet capable of a full one, it seemed. He brushed his face and eyes again with both hands and walked over to his desk. “I’ve got homework I need to do.”

The boy sat down, his back to Gray. Their moment over, Gray rose and crossed the room. He paused at the door and looked over at Lake—who was working away. He opened the bedroom door and exited.

Avery stood in the hallway across from him, his eyes looking a bit rimmed in red.

Gray cupped one of Avery’s cheeks before heading to his bedroom before he lost it himself. Dropping to his bed once the door was closed, the floodgates opened and he mourned the brother he’d adored.

And the future he’d always imagined for himself.

Now he had a new future.

Caressing his stomach, he knew this was the good side of the coin.

It had to be.

Chapter Eighteen

Anti-climactic…

Gray stared through the window from his spot in the backseat. Outside, the heat wasn’t letting up and continued on into the fall. The air conditioning was on inside the car—it was almost nippy. He rested back against the padded leather and wrapped his arms about himself to warm up.

His trip back to Jamie and Rohan’s home was much different this time around.

He’d been so lost to the heat plaguing him, he’d barely seen anything he’d gazed at. Gone was the lust. He felt no overpowering desire to mate and felt quite sure his suspicions were confirmed. Once they arrived, he’d know for sure. If Rohan didn’t go into rut upon seeing him, there would be no doubt left.

Until then, he enjoyed the views as they drove through the Family Quadrant. They passed landmarks he remembered from his youth, things he hadn’t seen in decades. A smile came to his lips as they drove down Main Street and saw the families together.

His smile faded as he realized he would never have that.

They came to a stop at a corner just outside the park from his paintings—the ones Jamie now owned. A part of him regretted handing them over. Those had been his last links to his past life outside the O Quad. He let his stare roam over the park. Maybe he’d paint a new one.

He only wished he could paint itinthe park.

That was a dream he’d never see come true. He’d live and die in the O Quad.

And that thought nearly made him choke. The ride to and from Jamie’s home might be his last trip outside those walls.

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