Page 9 of Slow Heat
Hisomega, huh? Hadn’t Xan just said he wasn’t Jason’s yet? Asshole.
Pater’s eyebrows drew down. “Oh, son. What happened?”
Jason tucked his chin down, wanting to wrap his arms around Pater and seek his solid warmth for comfort. But he was a soon-to-be contracted alpha now. He couldn’t act like a spoiled little whelp.
“He was justthereand I couldn’t—I didn’t mean to—it just took over.” Jason didn’t want his fragile pater thinking he was a brute.
Pater squeezed his hand reassuringly. “That’s the reason young omegas and alphas are introduced under close supervision.” He turned his gaze to Father. “What was a juvenile, unbonded omega doing on an alpha campus?”
“He’s old,” Xan said with a sniff.
“What?” Father darted a confused glance Xan’s way and then back to Jason. “What does Xan mean by that?”
Jason shrugged. He didn’t want to explain even though his parents would discover the truth eventually. But he didn’t want their minds poisoned by Xan’s opinion, so he shot a glare at Xan again, daring him with his eyes to speak another word against his omega.
Xan glared back.
“We’re here for Jason now, Xan. You can go,” Father said shortly. His tone was tired and thin. Jason knew how careful he had to be during Pater’s heat to fulfill his own alpha needs without hurting or impregnating Pater, and then afterward he took care of Pater through his respite as diligently as an omega with a newborn. As tired as Pater looked, Father was probably equally exhausted.
“Xan can’t go,” Jason said. “He’s a witness.” Humiliation burned like a coal in his belly. “He has to make a report to the police, too.”
“The police are coming? Here?” Pater glanced around the room. “Did you injure him, son? Or give him reason to file for assault?”
Jason shook his head, remembering the way he’d gripped Vale’s throat, torn his clothes, and bent him over the table. But the man had been on his feet when they’d carted Jason away on the stretcher. He hadn’t said anything about filing for assault despite Jason’s out-of-control behavior. He’d given his information willingly and said he’d be awaiting contact from Jason’s parents. Surely he wouldn’t change his mind now, would he?
Jason’s nostrils flared.
There’d been that other alpha on the scene. Urho. He hadn’t heard the man’s last name. He’d encouraged Valenotto cooperate. What if he’d gotten under Vale’s skin once Jason was gone? Convinced him that Jason was too young, too unpredictable? And what if he persuaded Vale to claim assault to the police?
Jason’s gut curled tight in fear and self-loathing. Some alpha he was: he hadn’t controlled himself and had been carted off like a lunatic. He’d made a horrible first impression. He’d be amazed if Vale wanted to submit to him now or ever.Of coursehe’d probably file for assault. Why shouldn’t he? And that other alpha…if he touched Vale, if he had a role in keeping Vale away from him? Jason would have no choice but to tear his throat out or die trying.
Gritting his teeth, he squeezed his eyes shut and tried to get a grip on his emotions. He was not going to be a child about this. He was going to be a man, an alpha, and woo his omega into falling on his knees willingly. Where he belonged. He just had no idea how to even start with that. None of what was happening was by the book.
“Did you hurt this omega, son?” Father asked, gently, touching Jason’s chin to bring his gaze up. His father’s eyes were tender and blue, soft like a sky, with a wheat-colored ring near the pupil. “I understand how hard it can be to control the impulse. And taken by surprise like that, in your first week of university, it’s a wonder you didn’t do more damage. But I know you’d never intend to hurt him.”
Jason’s throat grew too tight to talk, but he shook his head.
“The omega was fine,” Xan interjected again. “Not for lack of Jason’s barbarous attempts to disrobe and mount him, mind you.”
Shame curled in tight, and he pulled his hand out of Pater’s grip to hide his face.
Xan went on, tone irritated. “The omega was calm enough about it. Got Jason to unhand him, at least.”
He wished he knew why Xan was so mad. Jason’s life had exploded into a big mess and Jason could use a friend’s gentle support right now.
“His omega’s name is Valendo Aman, by the way. Goes by Vale, apparently. Lives on Oak.”
“Those are nice homes, Yule,” Pater said to Father, hope threading into his tone, despite the worried crinkle on his forehead. “He must come from a good family. We’ll need to speak to his parents.”
“Good luck with that,” Xan said under his breath.
Father’s eyes narrowed on him again. “What the hell is going on? Jason?”
Chancellor Rory’s bald head poked into the room at that moment. Another alpha added to the mix, and when his eyes narrowed on Pater, Father straightened up sharply. Pater averted his gaze to the floor.
Chancellor Rory adjusted his vest and cleared his throat, taking a moment to adapt to Pater’s post-heat pheromones, and then he entered the room with a warm smile for Father. “Good evening, Mr. Sabel, Mr. Hoff. It seems we’ve run into quite the situation, doesn’t it?”
“It does indeed,” Jason’s father said roughly. “I think the first question I’d like answered is what was a young, unbonded omega doing on campus to begin with? What fool brought him here?”
