Page 154 of His Surrogate Omega

“To be honest, I don’t think I want to work with your father any longer. I waited as long as I could, hoping you were in line for his chair, but it’s been too long.”

Wilder grinned. “What you don’t know is… my father wants to retire. Papa has travel plans and wants to tour the world before he grows too old to enjoy it. If I leave, my papa doesn’t get what he wants… and we both know my papa always gets what he wants.” His smile grew. “Stay? I promise to protect you until I’m running the show.”

Rohan sighed. “You’re already nearly running the show.”

“In theory, yes.” Wilder tilted his head. “Stay?”

“I will. For you,” Rohan said.

“Wait… they were planning to travel? Wouldn’t two infants have gotten in the way?” Gray asked.

“Mannies raised my brothers and I. My parents either would’ve left the twins in the care of mannies or dragged the whole show along with them on parade through Eurasia and the Golden Isles, I’m sure.”

“But what would’ve been the point?” Gray asked. “If they didn’twantthe children?”

“Who knows?” Wilder said. “My best guess? Appearances. My papa would’ve made himself out to be some kind of martyr to his friends and acquaintances more than likely. Everything is about what people think of them… hell, even the fact they attempted to fight will be a long story Papa tells over drinks. I can almost hear him now. How the legal system destroyed his chances at raising Jamie’s poor, papaless children.”

“Your parents are a piece of work,” Gray said to Wilder.

Wilder nodded. “They are.”

“Our children won’t be papaless.” Rohan turned to Gray, offering a hand. “You ready to make this thing official?”

Gray laced his fingers through Rohan’s and nodded.

Wilder looked between them. “Official?”

Rohan turned to the lawyer. “Anyone in your office able to broker a claiming?”

Wilder slapped his hands together. “Wooo! Perfect timing.” He grinned. “I can be the witness.”

Terizano smiled. “I’m happy to do it… but I think perhaps someone else might want to play a role in this union.”

Rohan frowned and looked down at Gray, who shrugged.

Who else is there?

* * * *

A beginning at the end…

Gray’s heart beat a mile a minute. He’d called Avery and begged his nephew to leave work early and pick up the boys—and the bottles he’d neglected to bring. He wanted his family there when he was bound to Rohan. And they arrived just in time.

All three stood behind them. Avery watched over the babies so Gray could focus on his alpha. Wilder stood to Rohan’s left, seeming a bit anxious himself.

“We’re gathered here to witness the claiming of Gray Calais Tomlinson by Rohan Williamson Parker,” Tensen said, a broad smile on his face. He looked down on the scrap of paper Rohan had dug up on the internet, an ancient set of vows. “Rohan, do you promise to protect, comfort, love, and honor Gray, in sickness and in health, from this day forth… until the day of your death?”

Rohan turned to Gray and smiled. “I do.”

“Do you, Gray, promise to protect, comfort, love, and honor Rohan, in sickness and in health, from this day forth until the day of your death?”

Gray smiled up at him. “I do.”

“Rohan, place the ring on Gray’s finger.” Tensen paused and lifted his head from the printed piece of paper. “Sorry, do you have a ring? I’m not familiar with this old ceremony.”

Rohan reached into his pocket, smiling. He’d apparently come prepared. “I do.”

Gray gasped, wide-eyed.

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