Page 31 of His Surrogate Omega

“Well, technically,” Gray added, his face growing hot. “I’ve helped myself.”

“Understandably!” Jamie leaned forward. “Perhaps that’s your answer. A beta to help soothe you during your heats. I mean, I know they don’t have the power to impregnate… but the real thing versus some toy should help take a bit of the edge off.”

“I suppose,” Gray answered. “But then surrogacy helps me provide for my nephews… so it seems the better choice. For now. After? Who knows…”

“You’ve saved yourself for a long time,” Jamie said. “Now you’ll lose it to someone other than your alpha.” He sighed. “That can’t be easy.”

Gray opened his mouth to argue and realized there was some truth to that.

“For someone so sure he has no alpha, I would’ve thought you’d let go of that a long time ago,” Jamie added after a moment of silence.

Had there been a glimmer of hope he’d held on to for all these years? “I guess… I don’t know… we have so many ideals shoved into our heads starting at a young age. I suppose the thought of offering myself up to someone not my alpha just hadn’t even come to mind.”

Jamie took a sip from his cup, looking over the rim at Gray. There was something in that look that made Gray feel as if the man could see through him.

“I understand. It’s just like this fervent need I feel to give my alpha a child—in any way possible.” Jamie lowered his cup, the fine porcelain clinking delicately together. “No matter how many times he tells me he doesn’t need a child, I know he can’t mean it. We were all raised with the expectation.”

“And you still persist.”

Jamie nodded. “I do. For good reason.”

Gray had already heard Jamie’s tales of Rohan and how amazing he thought his alpha was. Soon, Gray would get the chance to see how well Jamie had described the alpha and if the picture inside his mind was anything close to the real thing.

Jamie took another sip before his eyes went wide. “Oh, I forgot to tell you about the dinner party my papa put on recently. My brother, Wilder, was just promoted at work—and they had this huge celebration. Of course, my papa demanded full dress. You should’ve seen my alpha and my brothers in their tuxes—so handsome. Why they’re unattached at this point, I donotunderstand.”

“Neitherare mated?” Gray asked.

“No… and I don’t think Wild is interested in mating at all. At least right now. He’ssofocused on his career…”

Avery suddenly rushed into the kitchen, carrying a letter, and Jamie’s words faded in his ears. There was a mixture of panic and excitement in his nephew’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Gray asked, his chest tightening.

“Nothing,” Avery murmured.

Gray sensed Avery pushing the envelope closer to him, as if he wanted someone else to open it.

Jamie looked between them and obviously sensed Avery’s hesitance. He rose from his seat. “I’ll get out of your hair and let you share your news.”

“I can wait,” Avery said, eyeing Jamie. “I didn’t mean to rush you off. Stay, enjoy your tea.”

Gray had only just introduced the two—and he sensed whatever Avery had to share might have something to do with illegal activities. Had Avery already been caught? Panic truly slammed into him then and there.

Thankfully, Jamie lifted a bag from the back of the chair. “No, no… you didn’t rush me off. My alpha is likely waiting for me to return with news of my own.” A smile crossed his face as he stepped closer to Gray and offered a hug.

Gray wrapped Jamie in a tight embrace. “Congratulations again.”

“Thank you,” Jamie said before he kissed Gray’s cheek.

Accompanying Jamie to the door, Gray waved the man off before closing the door and spinning to see an anxious Avery waiting for him.

“What have you gotten yourself into now?”

Avery handed over the envelope.

Gray looked it over, his eyes growing wider.The College of Waltyn & Marris.

The prestigious college was Avery’s first choice—not that there were many to choose from in the city. He knew Avery didn’t intend to go far from the boys. They were lucky to have one of the oldest and best colleges in their province a trolley ride away.

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