Page 78 of His Surrogate Omega

He looked back out the window, icy patterns spread across the window, barely lit by the moon and stars. Sadness made him breathless again.How can I tell him?

Jamie had left the doctor’s office that afternoon, shaken to his core. The news hadn’t truly cemented in his mind—not yet. Saying it out loud… telling his alpha… would make it real. He wanted to live a little while longer in limbo. But then, if he wasn’t quite dying, he wasn’t quite alive, either.

He lifted his hand and carefully wiped away the tear that had spilled over his lid and drew in a shuddering breath.

No… he couldn’t tell Rohan. Not yet. Not when all his plans weren’t quite in place.

Soon after their silent car ride was over, they sat at Jamie’s parents’ table—side by side—yet miles apart.

Crystal goblets were filled with wine, the overhead chandelier giving the large dining room an amber glow. Fine silver and china graced the table. His parents’ butler and manservant served dinner, as usual. The cook would likely make an appearance before the end of the night, too.

From the outside, everything looked perfect and elegant.

Elegant, perhaps, but nothing there was perfect, no matter how hard his papa tried to force flawlessness into submission.

Across the table, Jamie saw pure rage in Wilder’s eyes. His brother remained silent, but Jamie worried it wouldn’t last through the night. It was mostly directed at Rohan, of course. Jamie’s denials at lunch had apparently been ignored.

I’m not in the mood for this fight again.

His papa seemed quite interested in what was going on, but hadn’t yet been able to ferret anything out with his probing questions. Much to his chagrin. Jamie could almost feel his papa’s irritation coming from one end of the table. Father was across from papa, oblivious as he always seemed at home. If it wasn’t about business, sporting, or bourbon, it might as well not exist.

Vaughn was even uncharacteristically quiet. He’d barely said two words to anyone and hadn’t fought with his favorite sparring partner—papa. Usually the two of them tossed barb after barb at one another, seeing who could land the best blows, but not that evening. Jamie cast a look down the table at his youngest brother, seeking something.

He wasn’t sure what.

Vaughn knew their secret. Perhaps Jamie wanted one of his brothers to understand his choice—since it was apparent he wouldn’t get that approval from Wilder. He cast his glance back to Wilder, only to get a narrowed glare before the alpha looked away.

Oh what he wouldn’t have given to have been seated at Gray’s kitchen table, sipping tea and sharing secrets. It was one of the only places he felt peace anymore. There were no expectations there. No drama. No demands.

Just friendship.

With his and Rohan’s tensions and the lifelong familial drama he’d endured, nowhere else was safe for him any longer.

Especially now.

Papa lifted his wine goblet to his lips and spied Jamie over the rim. As he was placing it back on the table, he lifted his regal chin and stared down his elegant nose. “Enough withwhateverthis is… Talk!”

“There’snothingto talk about,” Jamie answered, forcing a forkful of venison into his mouth. He chewed it, not wanting to eat at all, but it gave him time for precious silence.

Papa looked to Wilder. “What’s going on between you and your brother? I can see there’s something.”

Wilder looked between Jamie and Rohan, anger sparking in his eyes. He then glanced down at the table at papa. “Nothing. As Jamie said.”

“Lies,” Papa said before taking another drink and glancing at Vaughn. “Doyouknow?”

“What’s it worth to you?” Vaughn asked.

“Vaughn,” Rohan growled under his breath.

Papa leaned forward, smiling. “So youdoknow. Tell me.”

“You don’t think I’d give it upthateasily, do you?” Vaughn asked, smiling wickedly before winking at their papa.

Papa sighed. “I demand to know what’s going on!”

“It’s none of your business,” Jamie spat.

Instantly, his eyes grew almost as wide as papa’s. While he often disagreed with his papa, he tried to remain civil. Apparently, his desire for civility was gone.

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