Page 9 of His Surrogate Omega

“Sold it?” Auggie asked. “You can sell hair?”

“There are omegas who have lost their hair… through old age or sickness… and they want to hide that loss. Wigmakers will pay for strong, long hair,” Gray answered, trying to strengthen Avery’s account. He sensed there was more to the story with that cutting, though. A story he planned to get once the boys were gone.

Auggie slid a hand down the braid lying over his shoulder. “I’ll sell mine, too.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Avery said, reaching out and drawing his baby brother into his arms. Avery settled Auggie beside him on the loveseat and gave him another squeeze. “One shorn head is enough in this house. But I love that you’re willing to contribute. There are other ways you can do that without giving up your hair.”

“How?” Auggie asked.

“No more music downloads… no more game downloads… no movies… no more new clothes… no more dinners out… no moreanything,” Lake muttered. “It might as well be prison.”

“Stopbeing a spoiled brat,” Gray said to Lake.

“Stop telling me what to do,” Lake spat in response.

Gray turned to his middle nephew, his hands clenched. “I’ve had about enough of your mouth.”

Lake turned to argue, but Avery intervened. “Stop this!”

The teenager clenched his jaw, glaring at Gray.

Avery continued his speech. “Notnone… we’ll just have to hold off on new things for special occasions. We’ll have to consider second-hand shops for clothing and items we need. And you both could help around the house… if we can find ways to save here, we might have a little more to spend on things that aren’t necessities.”

“Maybe you’ll find a rich alpha,” Auggie said, smiling up to Avery. That smile faded. “But will he want you with short hair?”

“If I find my alpha, I’m sure he’ll accept me, short hair and all. It’s not like it won’t grow back, Auggie,” Avery answered, though Gray wasn’t completely sure what an alpha would think of his nephew’s new style. “But we can’t rest on the hope I’ll find an alpha to support us. We need to take strides to do what we can now.” He looked at Lake and then to Auggie. “I’m going to get a job to help out. I need the two of you to listen to your uncle when I’m gone… do your homework without argument… and help with chores.”

“What kind of job?” Lake asked, his eyes narrowing.

“I don’t know yet,” Avery murmured.

“He’s going to pretend to be a beta so he can go work on the other side of the wall,” Lake said. “That’s why he cut his hair off.”

Auggie spun to face him. “You are?”

Avery sighed and met Gray’s stare.

Damn him.Lake was too close for comfort. There was no way Avery was going to be able to hide four years of college and a job in the Beta Quadrant from his brothers, particularly Lake.

“No,” Avery said, lying through his teeth. “I’mnotdoing that. I told you Isoldmy hair.”

Lake was silent, his narrowed gaze telling everyone that he wasn’t completely convinced.

“He couldn’t get away with passing as a beta. If he crossed paths with an alpha, he’d be scented in an instant,” Gray added, trying to help Avery’s lies. It had been all of five minutes and he was spouting them left and right.I won’t be able to keep up.

“I hope you get a fun job. Father always came home grumpy. I don’t think he liked his job,” Auggie said.

Avery leaned over and smiled at his baby brother. “I hope so, too.”

“It’s not easy to find a job as an omega,” Lake said, narrowing his eyes.

Avery gazed at the teen, a challenge in his stare. “I’ll make do.”

Lake rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He rose from the couch and headed for the stairs.

“You understand what’s expected of you, right?” Avery called down the hall.

“Yes!” Lake cried angrily before footsteps stomped up the stairs.

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