Page 17 of His Surrogate Omega

“You want to eat? You can help make the food,” Gray grated. “You’rethirteen, not three. Start acting like it.”

Lake glowered at him.

“I can make a sandwich,” Auggie said, playing peacemaker. “I’ll make lunch today, Lake.”

Lake grabbed the milk from the fridge as Auggie poured his own cereal. “And have your dirty, grubby hands all over my food? No thanks.”

“I’m fairly sure your little brother knows to wash his hands before making food,” Gray replied.

“I do now,” Auggie said with a smile before taking the milk from Lake.

“We really need to get them more involved with cooking around here, so they don’t burn the house down,” Gray said. “You know…afterthe next few days are over.”

Avery nodded, watching as Lake poured milk onto the cereal he’d poured before heading out with his bowl. “You can’t even spend a few minutes in the morning with us?”

The only answer they got was to hear Lake’s feet stomping up the stairs.

Avery sighed, shaking his head.

“He’ll calm down. In time,” Gray murmured softly. Lake was lashing out at everything and everyone, but more often he and Avery.

More oftenhim. Gray was an outsider to Lake—that weird uncle they came to visit every so often. The middle boy had always been distant with him for some reason, and Gray had always wondered why.

“I’m not so sure you’re right,” Avery said before lifting his cup to his lips.

“What’s it like?” Auggie said after munching a few bites of his cereal.

“What’s what like?” Avery asked absentmindedly.

“Heat.”

Avery’s stare went to Gray’s. It appeared neither of them was ready for this conversation with the boys.

“Haven’t you discussed it some in school?” Gray asked, hopeful.

“They just say that we go into heat around sixteen or seventeen… and then it comes on the full moon for a few days… and that alphas make us pregnant then, but I’m not exactly sure how.” Auggie stuffed another spoonful into his mouth as he watched for Avery’s explanation.

What the hell do I say? How much is too much at his age?Damn you, Silver!He turned to look at his nephew, searching for answers.

Avery looked away, apparently unwilling to help.

“All that talk of them beingyourresponsibility?” Gray snapped. “I see what happens when the tough questions come.”

“Oh no, you were quite adamant that you wanted to help,” Avery said with a wide grin. “So help.”

Gray sighed and looked over at Auggie. “What you’ve learned is correct. You’ll be ready to know more when you’re older. Just know that we feel…sick… for a few days. We… rest… upstairs through those days.”

“We resta whole lot,” Avery mumbled before Gray shot him a glare.

“Is that why you don’t eat much? Because you’re sick?” Auggie asked before stuffing another spoonful in.

“Yeah,” Avery answered. “Pretty much.”

“Do you feel hot?” Auggie answered. “Is that why they call it heat?”

Avery lifted the cup to his lips, avoiding the question.

“In a manner of speaking,” Gray answered.

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