Page 129 of His Forsaken Alpha

“Perhaps we should get out of their hair and give them some family time,” Gray said to Rohan.

Rohan nodded.

Wynter clutched at Gray’s hand. “Before you go… I need to apologize for thinking the worst of you. I said some cruel things at Jamie’s funeral, and I’m sorry. I was heartbroken… and angry at Warden. I think I misplaced some of that anger in your direction. You made for an easy target, and that wasn’t fair.”

“You’d just lost your son… and I wasn’t exactly nice to you, either. I didn’t know Warden had kept you from Jamie and assumed the worst, too,” Gray said. “I’m sorry for that.”

“Your boys,” Wynter said. “The fact you consider them Jamie’s as well… It means a lot to me. I know it means a lot to him, too, when he’s looking down on you and your family.” He turned to face Rohan. “I wasn’t easy on you either. That last time I visited Jamie, I said some awful things to you, and I’m sorry.”

“Knowing it came from a place of love for Jamie? I think I can find a way to forgive that,” Rohan said.

Yet it was clear he struggled. His shoulders and jaw were tight. His face was unreadable. Wynter couldn’t expect miracles. He’d need to work to build a bridge. For Jamie’s sake, he would.

“Thank you,”Wynter murmured.

“You—and Cavanaugh, if he wants—will have to come over for dinner with the boys one night soon. They need to meet their grandpapa,” Gray said.

Wynter inwardly gasped, his heart swelling. “You’d… let me come? See the boys?”

“You want to make things right by Jamie?” Gray asked. “Then love his boys. Be the grandpapa they need. My parents are gone and so are Rohan’s. They don’t have a grandpapa in their lives.”

Wynter glanced at Rohan. He needed his son-in-law’s permission almost more so than Gray’s. He wouldn’t push his way into their lives.

Rohan shrugged. “The vacancy is there if you want it, I suppose.”

“I want it,” Wynter said, lurching forward. “I do, but I won’t force you to welcome me into your home, either, Rohan. I’m okay if you need a little time with this.”

Rohan held his gaze a moment, silent. “I can’t say all will be well from the minute you walk in the door, but I’m willing to give this a try.Ifyou play nice.”

“I’ll do my best,” Wynter whispered.

Gray paused in front of Wynter. “I say this with all the love in my heart—if you hurt my boys, I will hurt you.”

Cavanaugh growled slightly. Wynter squeezed his hand to get him to calm.

“Noted,”Wynter replied to Gray.

“As long as you’re good to them, we’ll be okay,” Gray said.

“I’m not perfect, and there’s a high probability I might fuck up—but, you have my word that I want that chance. Iwantto things to be different.”

Gray smiled. “I’m not asking for perfection. Just your promise you want things to be better and that you’ll try. If you stumble,own it and fix it.”Grayleaned in a little closer and whispered. “I waited too long to have a family, and I won’t allow anyone to take away our happiness. You’ve waited a long time to get your chance at a real family, too. Don’t throw this opportunity away.”

There was a glimmer in Gray’s eyes, and Wynter suddenly felt Jamie’s presence with them. He fought a sob and wrapped both arms around Gray’s neck. “I won’t,” Wynter said before wrapping his arms around Gray’s neck and squeezed tight. Gray returned the hug and when Wynter leaned back, he pressed his hand over the omega’s heart. “He really is in there, isn’t he?”

“Always.” Tears shone in Gray’s eyes before he blinked them away and moved to Rohan’s side. “I’ll be in touch. I’ll forewarnyou that you’re in for chaos. Between four boys under fiveandmy nephews, it can be a madhouse at times.”

“I’ll take madhouse over the empty mausoleum where I live,” Wynter said. “And I’ll try my best not to look like I’m judging, but I fear that’s my usual face at this point.”

“Oh, we’ll beat that out of you,” Gray murmured with a grin. But the grin faded quickly. “Oh, fuck… that was a really poor choice of words. I amsosorry.”

“Welcome to my world,” Wynter joked. “Open mouth, insert foot. Things pop into my head and spill directly from my lips—and then I kick myself in the ass for them later.”

“You did pretty good today,” Avery said.

Wynter grinned at his son-in-law. “First time I’ve not been playing a part in nearly forty years. It’s a lot easier when you can drop the pretense.”

“Well, grandpapa, keep it up. I think I might end up liking the real you,” Gray said.

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