Page 24 of Labor of Love

“That’s my cart’s name. It has an awkward bum wheel. I don’t know how to fix it.”

“I’ll see what I can do when I come over tomorrow,” Zenith murmured.

Emre’s heart skipped. “Okay.”

“For now, I should be going.” But Zenith didn’t release Emre immediately, and Emre so badly wanted to ask him to stay.

Zenith probably had other things to do; he was busy writing a book! And he’d already cooked Emre dinner and comforted him tonight.

Emre tried not to notice the generous bulge pressed against his thigh. Or Zenith’s hand cupping his ass to support his weight.

“I should go,” Zenith said again, looking into Emre’s eyes for a long moment.

Then he squeezed Emre’s ass, and Emre grew wet so fast, he had to get Zenith out of the apartment before he tented his pants. “G-good night,” Emre croaked. “I hope you have a good night in bed.”

He clapped his hands over his mouth the next second, rocking back and forth in humiliation.

“I didn’t mean to say that. You have to believe me!”

“I’ll have averygood night in my bed,” Zenith whispered in his ear, his breath hot.

Then he patted Emre’s ass and stood, his bulgeverypronounced in his pants.

Emre’s slick soaked through his clothes to the mattress. He could only stare as Zenith tipped an imaginary hat, and smoothly left his apartment.

3

BROTHERLY ADVICE

Zenith paced for a long time in his apartment, torn between following his instincts, and his brain.

He had a book to finish.

He had a hoard to amass.

And yet he’d stayed up half the night listening to Emre trying to pleasure himself, his thoughts tumbling through all that Emre had shared with him over dinner.

Emre was dark-haired, with pretty blue eyes and full lips that Zenith wanted to taste.

He was noticeably pregnant. He was an omega wolf, and omega wolves relied on their pack to feel safe. More importantly, they needed an alpha to provide, especially when they had pups to care for.

Emre had neither.

What hedidhave, were several silvery scars all over his body.

Zenith clenched his fists. When he’d arrived at Emre’s apartment with dinner, the sight of Emre’s scars had nearly sent him into a rage. It had taken all his self-control to force his anger down; he suspected that Emre didn’t do well with angry alphas, even if their fury wasn’t directed at him.

Who had hurt that omega? Zenith could guess.

Emre’s pulse had spiked this morning when Zenith stopped outside his apartment with breakfast. It was only after Zenith had identified himself, that Emre calmed down.

Was Emre’s abuser still out there? How was he going to find out, without sending Emre into a panic attack?

He mulled over several ideas for a while. Then he listened to Emre’s breathing patterns to make sure he was sleeping, before calling one of his older brothers.

Ace answered in two rings. “Heyyy, Lil Sunshine.”

Zenith growled. “Don’t call me that. It makes me sound like a puppy.”

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