Page 140 of His Forsaken Alpha

“Good,” Avery said.

Emory let out a howl, and Avery was quick to jump into action. “There’s that cry.” He lifted Emory and smiled at Wynter. “Thanks for letting me get some rest. It’s appreciated.”

“Any time,” Wynter murmured.“Please.”

Avery nodded with a soft smile before turning to Wilder. “I think I’m going to take him up so I can get him ready for bed after I nurse him.”

“I’ll follow you in a minute,” Wilder said. “Tomorrow’s going to be an early one, but it’s the only slot they had open given the late notice.”

Avery stole a kiss, offered them a goodnight, and quickly disappeared with Emory.

Wilder eyed the pair of them. “I know you both slept in, but we’ve got an early morning. You might not want to stay up all night again.” He rose from his chair with a grin. “Do you want me to walk you out to the guest house before I go up, Papa?”

“I can walk him out,” Cav replied before Wynter could.

Wilder looked between them before his gaze landed on Wynter. When Wynter nodded his silent approval, Wilder nodded. “Okay then. Goodnight, you two.”

“Goodnight, son,” Wynter murmured.

“Night,” Cav added. He didn’t add the second part he wanted to use.

Once they were alone, Cav eyed his omega, suddenly nervous to be alone for some reason. Could it be that bed was in their future? Did he invite Wynter upstairs? Was it too soon? They’d already waited thirty plus years—and he didn’t want to wait another second. But Wynter had been through the wringer in the past two days. He couldn’t make demands that might make things worse. “Hi,” he said, parroting Avery and Wilder’s sweet little tender moment.

Wynter chuckled.“Hi.”

Cav slowly moved his hand across the table toward Wynter and laced his fingers through his omega’s.

Wynter’s hand trembled slightly.

“What’s the matter?”

“We haven’t been alone in a long time,” Wynter whispered.

“We were alone last night. And earlier in the den while Wilder was in the kitchen.”

Wynter chuckled. “True, but you can hardly count those. I was a mess last night… and Wilder was in the very next room earlier. Now…” He released a breath. “We’re really alone.”

Cav lifted their joined hands toward his lips and pressed a kiss on the back of Wynter’s. “You can relax. We don’t have to put pressure on ourselves. You’ve been through a lot.” He scooted his chair a bit closer and turned Wynter’s askew to better face him. He brushed back his omega’s bangs and smiled, leaning in. “You lead the way.”

“What are we doing, Cavanaugh?”

“I don’t know. What are we doing?”

“After last night, you said you weren’t sure you could believe it all and couldn’t be with me—and I understood that. What I told you was a lot. But then tonight you say you do believe me and offer to take me on a trip around the world with you. The swing was wide. Maybe too wide. I know I’ve wronged you. I allowed all this to happen. I kept Wilder from you. I don’t understand how you’re okay with this.”

“I’mnotokay with what happened. Not at all.”

“A poor choice of words,” Wynter said. “I… how are you not still angry with me? Or are you? I just…” Wynter trembled. “I deserve to be punished, and I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“I think you’ve been punished enough.”

Wynter held his gaze, silent.

Cav leaned closer. “Your papa is the one to blame,not you.You did what you thought was best for me, and while I wish you’d told me and trusted that I could find us a way out—you were afraid. After a lifetime of being abused by that man, I can see why you would be afraid of him and what he might be capable of.”

Wynter lowered his head.

Cav lifted Wynter’s chin. “Before I knew the truth, I still loved you. There were moments when I hated myself for it, but I couldn’t turn it off. No matter how hard I tried. Now I know. Did you make choices I wish you hadn’t?Yes.But I think I understand why you made them. You made them because you loved me.”

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