Page 64 of Bitter Heat
They were alpha and omega. The beginning and the end.
The everything.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
In the daysfollowing Charlie’s near death, Kerry completely forgot to show Janus the letter from Caleb, and Janus forgot to ask for it. They were both far too busy caring for Ellis, keeping up with their usual work with patients or around the boarding house, fucking like desperate creatures at night, and ignoring Pater’s knowing looks at meals.
In the chaos of it all and the ringing, buzzing high of being so well and thoroughly pleasured, Kerry forgot about other things, too. As became immediately evident on the morning after Dax had finally come to retrieve Ellis.
By wolf-god’s grace, Charlie was sitting up and well enough to demand to see his child. Dax didn’t have much, but in his gratitude for their help with Ellis, and for Janus’s role in reviving Charlie, he had dragged a fairly new-looking rocking chair up to the porch and offered it with his thanks.
“Is that Charlie’s rockin’ chair, d’ya think?” Pater asked as Dax walked away with the babe happily cradled against his chest, held there by an ingenious wrap that Kerry thought he might want to copy to take the load off his back when…well, when the inevitable happened.
“I think it is,” Kerry said quietly.
“The one he made ’im as anÉrosgápegift?” Pater asked.
Kerry nodded, setting the chair rocking with his right hand and his left settling over his stomach.
“Oh, dear. I think we should send it back.”
“Alphas have their pride, Pater,” Kerry said. “It’s best we keep it. He’ll no doubt make him another.”
No sooner had Dax and Ellis disappeared into the thicket, taking the path up toward Dr. Crescent’s house and Charlie’s convalescent bed there, than a cleaner-than-average message delivery boy started up the drive. His jaunty cap kept the sun off his face, but the way he held the crisp, white note out like it was a snake told Kerry all he needed to know about who wrote it.
With shaking fingers, Kerry took the note and walked around the corner of the house, dropping into his favorite rocking chair to read the summons, leaving his pater to scrounge up some coin for the delivery.
Due to a failure to keep up your agreement to inform us weekly of the progress with your state, we have found it necessary to return to Blumzound. Meet us at the hotel this afternoon. You’ll be joining us for dinner. Prepare yourself to stay for the night.
Your loving parents,
Monte & Lukas Monhundy
Loving parents. Kerry scoffed as he folded the paper and pushed it into his pants pocket. Pater followed him as he went back into the house, anxiety rolling off him in waves.
“What do they want?”
“To meet them in Blumzound this afternoon.” Kerry started up the stairs, Pater at his heels.
“Where are you going?”
“To pack a bag.”
Pater gasped. “No. That’s not going to happen. I’ll get Janus.”
Kerry stopped halfway up the stairs, turning to face his pater. “Why? What are you saying?”
“They can’t take you with them to the city. They agreed you could stay here.” Pater’s unspoken “with me” was plain as day on his face.
“It’s just for an overnight, Pater. They’ll let me come back up. They’re worried because I forgot to send them an update. It’s my own fault.”
Pater crossed his arms over his chest. “Janus should go with you.”
“Janus definitely cannot go with me,” Kerry said as if Pater had gone insane.
“Why? He’ll keep you safe at least. I’ll feel better with him at your side.”
Kerry shook his head. “It’s a long story, but if you think letting the alpha who is servicing me—” he felt the heat creeping up his neck at admitting that “—anywhere near Wilbet’s parents, you’re a lunatic. They’ll take me away for sure. And there are other reasons besides.”
