Page 26 of His Forsaken Alpha

Wilder sighed, shaking his head. “Avery’s right. You should stay. We have plenty of room.”

“You’re dealing with a big loss, and you don’t need me underfoot right now.” Cav wanted nothing more than to stay and get to know them better, but he wouldn’t add that stress to Wilder’s already overburdened shoulders.

“I insist,” Wilder said, lifting a brow—as if challenging Cav to refuse.

I remember that look well. Just like his papa’s.“Well, then… if you insist.”

Wilder eyed Avery before returning to look at Cav. “Excuse me a moment. I’ll go ask our housekeeper to set up a room for you.” He strode out, broad-shouldered and self-possessed, a bearing Cav hadn’t had at that age. Not that he recalled, anyway.

He turned to see Avery watching him closely. Awkward silence filled the space between, but luckily his son’s omega soon focused on the baby again and took the heat off. Avery lifted the babe from under the blanket and to his shoulder, patting the infant’s back.

Cav couldn’t hold back a question. “What’s his name?”

“Emory,” Avery replied, smiling brightly once more.

“Emory Jaymes.” He grinned. “It’s a good name.”

EmoryCavanaughhad a better ring to it.

“EmoryGileadJaymes.” Avery continued patting gently. “Emory was the name of the judge who let me off the hook, so to speak. Gilead is my father’s name.”

“I bet your parents are ecstatic you’re home… and that they have a beautiful little grandson, to boot.”

The joy in Avery’s eyed faded slightly, and Cav sensed he’d just stepped in it.

“They’re deceased.”

Damn.“My apologies.”

Avery’s smile never wavered. “No need to apologize. You weren’t wrong. I’m sure theyareglad I was released and that they’re able to look down and see me happy with Wilder and our son.”

The two omegas who’d been eating in the kitchen appeared in the room, soon flanking Avery on either side as they stared at Cav with mild curiosity.

“You look like Wilder,” the older of the pair said. “Are you one of the Jaymeses?”

“Not exactly,” Avery interjected. “This is Wil—” Avery grimaced, turning his attention to Cav. “This is Mr. Cavanaugh. Mr. Cavanaugh, these are my younger brothers, Lake and August. They stayed here during Warden’s…” He omitted the last word, as if incapable of uttering it.

“Auggie,”the younger one corrected. “Don’t call me August.”

Cavanaugh offered a hand. “You can call me Cav, Auggie.”

“Calf?” Auggie asked, giggling.

“Cavvvvv,you idiot,” Lake snapped.

Avery sighed. “Why don’t you and Auggie head upstairs and pack your things? Uncle Gray should be here soon to pick you up.”

“I wanna stay here,” Auggie said, kneeling at Avery’s side to allow his nephew’s tiny hand to curl over one finger. “I can help.”

“Avery’s got his hands full with one baby. He doesn’t need two,” Lake snapped at Auggie.

“I’m not a baby!”

“Oh, come now. I bet Auggie’s a lot of help for Avery,” Cavanaugh said, grinning at the youngest.

Auggie brightened. His teenaged brother, the opposite.

“I’m not a pretentious dickhead like you are, Lake,” Auggie said.

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