Page 9 of Alpha’s Conquest

“Very sweet,” David declared. “And so like you, Marsh. Dating this cutie without even asking him out.”

“Oh, really? You asked Dina out yet? Or are you still pretending that’s not a thing?” They shared another sibling coded look and David shoveled a large bite of potatoes into his mouth to avoid the question. “It was just natural with Casey.” He gave my hand another squeeze. I barely resisted the urge to look at Mr. Wilson, keeping all of my focus on Marshall. “Being with him has always been easy.”

Easy. Easy and safe. That’s what it was like with Marshall. I couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend.

I stroked his foot with mine over and over, eating the delicious meal and listening to David and Marshall catching up. No one asked about me or my past. Beyond those initial questions, our relationship wasn’t even part of the conversation.

Mr. Wilson barely said anything, even when prompted, and his gaze hardened every time our eyes met. He was clearly as unhappy with our situation as I was.

As soon as I was done eating, I gave Marshall’s foot one last caress and got up, taking my dishes to the sink. “Is it okay if I take a shower?” I asked, my fingers tapping the marble countertop. I sucked in a quick breath when Mr. Wilson leaned back in his chair, his eyes locking with mine from across the room. That glare slowly turned into something else, a heated glint that made my knees wobble. Ignore, ignore.

“Go ahead,” David prompted with a smile.

I left them at the table and retreated upstairs to the bathroom. Safe. For now.

SIX

Adam

Adam

My head was cloudy, even after the omega left the room. I could barely contain myself during dinner, watching him slide a fork between his lips and seeing those subtle signs of enjoyment on his face with each bite. He kept trying not to stare, but every time I glanced at him, his brown eyes were pinned on me.

Now he was upstairs taking a bath, removing every item of clothing on that strong, lithe body. Picturing him naked in the shower almost made me lose the small amount of restraint I still had left.

Focus. I couldn’t afford to be horny and distracted right now. This reunion had already been derailed by slutty omega pheromones, and there was a long overdue conversation waiting for me and my youngest son.

“David, give us a minute.”

My eldest quickly bowed out almost before I even asked.

“Thanks,” Marshall said once we were alone. Thank you for lying, is what he meant. He never told us he was seeing someone. I just couldn’t let the omega think my son didn’t care about him.

“That was to spare his feelings, not to make you feel better. You used to bring home every single omega you were dating in high school, but you were never serious about any of them.” Even worse was the fact that my son brought home the most tempting omega I’d ever met in my life.

Marshall tossed his silverware down and stood to gather his dishes. “This is exactly why I didn’t tell you. You would just interrogate me and find him wanting, just like you always do.”

The shower turned on upstairs. The omega was naked and wet under the water. Begging ‌me to take him. Calm down, Adam. I had to push those thoughts away, or Marshall would leave again. That alone was enough to cool my blood. For now.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Marshall.” He’s not yours. Casey belongs to my son. Keep a cool head. “Is it serious?”

“Yes. We’ve been together for two years.” Two years of dating an omega, and my son didn’t think I should know about it? “I know you’re angry. But… Casey has been through a lot. I wasn’t sure if he would stay with me for this long, even though we’re good together. I had to coerce him just to get him to come here with me.”

So the omega didn’t even want to meet us. He had no interest in connecting with his boyfriend’s family. Why the hesitation? Did he even love my son?

“He’s cautious?” I asked, trying not to press too much, but my curiosity got the better of me.

“Meeting the parents has never gone well for Casey.”

My eyebrow slowly raised. Casey sounded like a red flag, and not the kind of omega I wanted for my son. The amount of unprompted attraction I felt for him only emphasized that fact.

“That usually means there’s something wrong,” I noted. “Parents can sense things about people.”

“Just stop it, okay. You know nothing about him.” Defensive. Protective. Marshall cared for Casey. “He’s infertile.”

“Oh.” Well, now I felt like a jackass. That tiny little omega couldn’t have children.

“Yes, oh. Before we met, all of his relationships ended because of it. Even if his boyfriend thought it was fine, their parents never did. He didn’t want to meet you because he knew you wouldn’t approve of him once you knew. I pushed the meeting. It was my idea, not his.”