Page 7 of His Surrogate Omega

“I can manage it. With your help.”

“What you plan isillegal.” Gray pointed toward the second floor. “What happens to those boys if you end up sent away?Forced surrogacy.Because that’s what’s going to happen when you’re caught. Notif. When. Whenyou’re caught, Avery.”

Avery wouldn’t look him in the eye. “They’ll still have you if something bad happens to me. Which won’t happen. I know I can manage all this.”

Gray fought back the lump forming in his throat. “I need you as much as you need me, Avery. Please, reconsider this. You can’t go through with it.”

“I have to.” Avery turned to leave.

“Please, Avery.Don’tdo this.” Gray spoke to Avery’s retreating back, sensing his nephew’s mind was made up.

Alone again, he reached for his cup but saw Lake’s tablet lying on the kitchen island—making him reach for that instead. Swiping his fingers over the screen, he searched for a browser. Once he opened it, he typed in his search.

Surrogacy solicitors.

A few listings came up before he saw an ad for one of the centers he knew catered to the wealthiest of clients—or so he’d heard. The only way he was going to get Avery out of this mess would be to come up with the money they needed to survive himself. Once he’d had a moment to breathe, he lifted the phone from the receiver on the wall and dialed the number.

“Hello? I’d like to make an appointment.”

A warm male voice answered him. “Yes, I can take care of that for you. Are you looking for a surrogate?”

“No. I wish to become one.”

Chapter Three

A few days later…

“Where in the hell have you been?” Gray asked Avery as his nephew rested against the door, winded. Gray had been pacing for hours. Avery had ignored his calls and texts and sent Gray into a total panic. It was nearly midnight and well past curfew for an omega. His mind had gone to the worst places.

A handsome omega, out alone at night—there had been stories of males being scooped up and sold on the black market. Breeding houses where alphas had their way with omegas in heat.

Avery lifted his stare to meet his uncle’s. Gray saw the glint of something in Avery’s eyes and sensed his nephew had been up to no good.

“I took the long way home… so I could test this.”

Gray let out a slow breath as he looked at the ID in his nephew’s hand. Bile rose up in his throat. “Please tell me that isn’t what I think it is.”

Avery drew down his hoodie, and Gray gasped. Gray crossed the foyer and ran a hand through his nephew’s shorn locks. Gone was the long, silky hair Avery had been growing since his birth. Gray’s knees grew weak as he stared at the ID.Abraham Norcross. “My gods.Whathave you done?”

“You knew it would have to happen.”

Gray lifted his stare to his nephew. “I told you this plan of yours is insane. You’re going to be caught.” Tears lined Gray’s eyes as he looked at Avery’s hair. “I told you I was going to meet with the solicitor about the surrogacy option. That you didn’t have to go through with this. Why couldn’t you listen?”

“I won’t have you carrying others’ children just for us. We aren’t legally your responsibility.”

“We’refamily, Avery. Family takes care of one another. No matter what.”

“What if your alpha’s out there?” Avery asked. “I won’t let you throw away your future for us.”

“But you’ll risk your own?” Gray sighed, leaning up against the closet door across from him. “We’ve been through all this. I have no skills. I don’t have a head for numbers like you do. Idohave a womb. I could make a fine surrogate and support the family.Legally.”

“I love you for being willing to make that sacrifice, but I just can’t let you do that,” Avery said. “My brothers aremyresponsibility.”

“Ourresponsibility,” Gray said. “One I don’t take lightly. I know I’ve never been the responsible type… but we’re a family… and we take care of one another.”

Heavy footfalls on the stairs above announced those younger brothers were storming down.

“Ave!” Auggie said as he made it to the bottom and wrapped his arms around Avery’s waist. The ten-year-old lifted his head… and then his eyes and mouth grew wide.

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