Page 38 of Bonds of Fate

His horny little kitten perks up, scent shifting in an instant. “Me? Why do they want to see me? Do I know them? It’s not…him…right?” His fear is tangible and persistent, even though he knows Hayes is incarcerated, but they’ll gladly reassure him every time.

Jay’s arms tighten around him, and his pine scent gets fiery. “Never. He’s in prison, baby, and you’ll never see him again.”

“This is a lawyer we hired to represent your interests in the legal proceedings. We wanted to be sure that someone would be thinking about protecting you before anything else, someone who also knows about the court case.”

“Do they know about me? About what happened?” Nix wrings his hands, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. “Oh god. Do they know I’m an omega? You said no one should find out yet.” He exhales sharply, his voice unsteady. “I don’t understand.”

“Erin is bound by her oath to make sure she protects your confidentiality, and I think she’s honorable that way. She works at Leo’s father’s firm, and even though he’s our family and her boss, she still couldn’t–wouldn’t–tell him.”

Nix looks thoughtful. “I trust you, butwhyis she coming?”

A crash echoes from the kitchen, jolting Leo awake as he fumbles for his water bottle. Blinking away sleep, he makes his way from the kitchen. “Hey. Who did you say was coming?”

Without hesitation, he climbs into Gideon’s lap, pulling a green blanket over his legs to ward off the chill despite the warmth of the sun. His chest and back are littered with bite marks, the evidence of last night still fresh, and he smells almost entirely of Rowan.

Gideon presses his nose into the firm curve of Leo’s shoulder, inhaling deeply, savoring the scent. Then, with a slow, deliberatelick, he takes in the full sensory experience.“Erin Christie from the firm.”

Leo’s kiss-red mouth forms an “o” as his brain picks up speed. “To talk about the case?”

Gideon might still be a bitdistracted,and by the way, Leo wiggles, he knows it.

There are many reasons Erin didn’t want to meet at the firm, and none of them are easy to talk about. Maybe it’s not badexactly, but it’s difficult.

Undoubtedly, it has been a tough few days, so Jay is careful with his words. “Yes, I think she just wants to speak with us about the court case. Nix, the court needs verification that you’re Were now, but that requires medical evidence, and they expect that newly transitioned Weres are betas.”

“But I’m not a beta.” The realization slams into him like a freight train. “Fuck. I’m not a beta—I’m an omega.” His breath catches. “If you tell the courts, everyone will know.”

Sighing and telling his wolf he will not be enjoying the pleasure of his naked mates right now, Gideon pats Leo’s flank to get him moving—at least the sound is satisfying.

Jay sighs. “You see the problem. Erin said she had a few options and something else she wanted us to see. Let’s eat something and get changed. She’ll be here pretty soon. Leo, how are Luca and Rowan?”

If Rowan had allowed Leo to leave the nest, he must be almost done. Rowan’s ruts can last longer than three days, but maybe they’re lucky this time.

Or maybe not.

“It’s not getting any better. I managed to get him to sleep around 7:30 and came out here to get something to eat, but I think Luca might need you again, or maybe Grayson and Finnie can tap in? The stranger in the house could make this worse.”

Gideon cringes, reminded again how he hates the idea of an outsider in their den when someone is rutting—it’s a time of pack vulnerability. But he knows Jay would never have agreed if there had been anywhere safer to have this conversation.

Urging the slow-moving Leo to his feet, Gideon leans in quickly to bite his butt. The beta squeaks. “Hey! Enough of biting Leo’s butt! Fuck. What is it with you guys?”

“Sue me, it’s juicy.”

Nix giggles. “Maybe I should see what the fuss is about?” He makes a bitey face, snapping his—currently tiny—white teeth, and the owner of the butt in question blushes.

“Alright, you two, Leo, go shower and change. I’ll make something quick for breakfast. Jay, could you wake the tag team and see who’s up for rut-ville, and then let’s find something of Luca’s for Nix to wear. Anyone wanting to eat will be back here in fifteen.” He watches his family disperse and heads to the kitchen to make some eggs and toast.

Jay is back in the kitchen with a showered Nix in tow sixteen minutes later. His alpha is in ass-hugging blue jeans and a plain, tight black t-shirt. He’d managed to find a pair of Luca’s brand-new, never-been-worn skinny jeans, which are still loose but will stay up on Nix’s slight frame better than anything else they have to offer.

He’s got a black t-shirt that smells like Jay under an oversized pink cardigan that is Grayson’s favorite paint sweater. It’s covered in a rainbow of splatters and has most certainly seen better days. He’ll make a note to order some things in Nix’s size but maybe have the pack scent them in advance—just in case he wants them.

After he sends Nix to set the table, Gideon raises his eyebrows. “We couldn’t do better than that?”

“He saw it in my room and wouldn’t give it up. It’s all I could do to get his pretty butt in those pants. I think Luca’s no-pants agenda is working. Let’s be grateful he is not injustthe cardigan.”

Gideon gives himself ten seconds to picture that in his mind’s eye and promises he’ll spend more time thinking about it later becausethatis a picture. Shaking off the erotic image, he serves up a simple breakfast.

Five minutes in, Jay is trying to put food directly into Nix’s mouth while their omega slides his own toast onto their alpha’s plate when he isn’t looking. It’d be fucking sweet if Gideon were suresomeonewas eating his delicious food instead of passing it around like idiots.

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