Omega's Stepbrother

by Anna Wineheart

  “That’s for Wy,” Raph growled, the tendons on his neck strained. Then he kicked Max’s face from the side, hard, and there was a sickening crack. “And that’s for Hazel.”

  “I think he might—might be dead,” Hazel said, peeking out past Wyatt’s side. Her voice was rough. “People are usually dead in the movies when you bend their necks like that.”

  Wyatt’s stomach clenched. Would Raph get into trouble for it?

  Raph glowered when he turned, his eyes bright, savage. His chest heaved. He looked between Wyatt and Hazel. “You all right?”

  Hazel seemed fine, but how could Wyatt be sure? He stooped, looking her in the eye. “Do you feel dizzy or nauseous? Where do you hurt?”

  Hazel shook her head. “I hurt all over. But other than that, I think I’m fine.”

  Wyatt hugged her again, pulling her close to himself. Hazel was okay. She was alive and well, and a wave of relief surged over him, sweeping off the weight on his chest. “Gods, I was so worried, Hazel. I thought—I didn’t know what to think. Uncle Sam and Aunt Penny found you on the drive-in’s security footage. We saw Max taking you away.”

  Hazel glowered. “He hit me. I wasn’t gonna let him take my phone, so I stuck it under the seat. He wanted to pull over to find it and I kicked his face.”

  Wyatt tried not to smile. It was violent. But if Hazel was fending for herself, Wyatt didn’t care what she did, as long as she was safe.

  “Your dad was so damn worried.” Raph reached over, his hand bloody. Hazel leaned away from him, and he stopped. “Sorry. I’m still not forgiven, huh?”

  She scrunched her face up. “I’m still thinking.”

  Wyatt choked down a laugh. Raph had just beaten the life out of Max, and Hazel still hadn’t forgiven him yet. “What would it take, hon?”

  “Pancakes.” Hazel sniffed.

  Raph snorted. “Fine.”

  In the distance, police sirens blared. Wyatt leaned away from Hazel, looking over her arms and legs. Then he pressed down gingerly on her chest and stomach. “Are you sure you don’t hurt?”

  She shrugged, wriggling. “I’m okay, Dad.”

  Wyatt buried his face in her shoulder, sagging toward the ground. Hazel really did seem to be fine. With any luck, she wouldn’t be scarred from the kidnapping. And with some counseling, hopefully she wouldn’t retain the sort of memories that had crippled Wyatt for so long.

  Raph knelt beside Wyatt, slipping his arm around Wyatt’s back. Wyatt leaned into his alpha, suddenly tired. So much had happened today. Max was probably dead. “Is he...”

  Raph glanced at the limp body on the ground. “I think so. Want me to go over and make sure?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “I’ll believe you.”

  He closed his eyes, letting Raph hold him. Max was dead. He would no longer haunt Wyatt, or show up in Meadowfall. He wouldn’t threaten Hazel again.

  Part of Wyatt unfurled, a forgotten part of himself. And for the first time, Wyatt could breathe again.

  The police cars pulled up around the gas station, one stopping right next to them. Chief Fleming strode out, his brow furrowed. “How is Hazel?”

  “Roughed up, but fine,” Wyatt said. He followed Dad’s gaze to Max, who lay motionless on the asphalt. “Will Raph get into trouble for that?”

  “I’ll need more detail, Wyatt.” Dad stopped beside them, setting his hand on Hazel’s shoulder. “Hanging in there, kid?”

  “I’m fine!” She frowned, crossing her arms. “I can do a dance if it’ll show you.”

  Wyatt couldn’t help smiling.

  “Penny briefed me on the situation,” Dad said, his tone turning more solemn. “Sam Brentwood has given me details on Max McArthur, Wyatt. We’ll have grounds to lock him up for some years.”

  “If he’s alive,” Hazel said. “I won’t miss him.”

  Dad looked at Max again, then at Raph, raising an eyebrow.

  “He deserved it,” Raph muttered, glaring.

  They watched as uniformed officers swarmed out of the police cars, and an ambulance pulled up. In a lower tone, Dad said, “You may or may not get into trouble for this, Raph. Depends on your circumstances.”

  Raph shoved his bloody hands in his pockets. “Which means?”

  “Child protection can be grounds for defense,” Dad said slowly, looking between Wyatt, Hazel, and Raph. “But that’s only valid if you’re the child’s parent, or legal guardian. Or if the child can testify that you have a parent-child relationship with them.”

  “What does that mean?” Hazel asked.

  Wyatt held his breath. Then he released it slowly, holding Hazel’s hand. “It means Raph won’t get into trouble over Max if he’s your dad.” To his father, he said, “We’ve been talking about getting married. Raph was asking if Hazel wanted him as her dad.”

  Chief Fleming looked kindly at Hazel. “So is Raph your dad?”

  For the second time today, Raph looked uncertain. Wyatt held his hand. Hazel glanced between all of them. Then her gaze settled on Raph, and she bit her lip in thought. “Yeah,” she finally said. “But I’m still angry with you.”

  Raph let out a sigh, a smile breaking across his face. Then he reached for her, palms up. “Can I have a hug?”

  “Are you going to make me pancakes?” Hazel scrutinized him.

  “Yes.”

  “A hundred of them?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, I guess.” She stepped into his arms, and Wyatt watched as Raph’s shoulders relaxed. Raph pulled her tight against his chest.

  “Glad to have you back, princess,” Raph said, kissing her forehead.

  Dad watched them, his expression unreadable. It was a lot for him to digest, too, his sons bonding, his granddaughter being kidnapped. At length, he said, “I’ve told your mom about Hazel. I expect she’ll want to see you at some point tonight. After Hazel’s seen the EMTs and we’ve recorded your statements.”

  Raph glanced at Wyatt. Wyatt nodded, lacing their fingers together. “I’m up for it.”

  “We’ll visit when we get back,” Raph said. “Think we’ll be released early enough?”

  “I’ll make sure of it.” Dad cracked a smile, leaning down to hug Hazel, Raph, and Wyatt. “Perks of being in charge.”

  Wyatt laughed, finally relaxing into his family. Things would be fine, sooner than later.

  32

  Wyatt

  Much later, when the sun was setting and they were driving back to Meadowfall, Wyatt asked Hazel, “What did Max say to you? At the parking lot.”

  She frowned. “How did you see that?”

  “The security footage, remember?”

  Wyatt reached toward the backseat, wriggling his fingers. Hazel set her hand in his. Her fingers were small against his own, a little bruised, but the EMTs had otherwise cleared her to go home. After two hours of making statements, Wyatt had sagged against Raph. He couldn’t wait to snuggle into bed, sleep the rest of the day away.

  “The cameras caught Max taking you away, but not the words he said.”

  Hazel chewed on her lip. “He said he’s my dad. I didn’t believe him. But he knows I didn’t have another dad before Uncle Raph.”

  Wyatt grimaced. There was that. And he understood why she’d faltered, instead of skating away from Max.

  What would it feel like, to know one of your dads had beat your other dad? Would it scar her?

  “She’s watched that bastard die,” Raph murmured, his eyes flicking between the road and the rearview mirror. “I think she’s old enough to know.”

  Wyatt gulped. It was a difficult conversation, however old Hazel was. “I was hoping we didn’t have to talk about that,” he said slowly. “But after today, I think you deserve a proper answer.”

  Raph held Wyatt’s other hand, giving him a squeeze.

  “Max was your father, but only in the sense that he provided the seed to grow you into a baby.” Wyatt stroked the back of her hand. “But the violence he showed you today... he’s done it to m
e, too. For much longer. I left him when I was pregnant with you, hon. He kicked me out.

  “And honestly, that must have been the best decision of my life, raising you with Uncle Sam and Aunt Penny. I don’t consider Max your dad, because he wasn’t there for any part of your life at all.”

  “Ew.” Hazel scrunched her face up. “He hit you? He’s really my dad?”

  “You don’t have to think of him as your dad. You probably shouldn’t.”

  “So you lied to me?” Hazel pouted, frowning at Wyatt. “You always said you didn’t know who my other dad was.”

  Wyatt winced. “Max doesn’t deserve to be your dad, hon. As far as I’m concerned, Raph and I are your dads. I didn’t want you to imagine Max to be a great person, because he wasn’t. And I didn’t want you to think I love you any less, just because Max was your other biological father.”

  She nodded slowly, still frowning. Wyatt wasn’t sure she understood it all, but as the adrenaline from the day faded, Hazel’s eyelids began to droop.

  “Raph and I love you, Hazel. I think that’s the most important thing.”

  “Love you too,” Hazel mumbled, yawning.

  When she nodded off, Wyatt sagged into the car seat, tipping his head back. It probably wasn’t the end of the conversation. But they’d started it, and hopefully, Hazel would come to understand the decisions he’d made.

  “You did great,” Raph said.

  Wyatt chuckled. “I did?”

  “Yeah. Hazel’s fine. You told her everything she needed to know.”

  “I shouldn’t have gotten her riled up about the skating.” Wyatt groaned, rubbing his face. “But you’re right—it’s better if she stays inside the drive-in, so we can all keep an eye on her.”

  “Maybe give her something safer to work on,” Raph said. “Like the accounting.”

  “Ha! That girl hates math.”

  “She’ll take over the business someday, won’t she?”

  Wyatt paused with his mouth open. He hadn’t thought that far. At first, all he’d imagined was himself and Hazel, making a living through the drive-in. At some point, Hazel might enroll in college, and she might leave for the big cities. But Wyatt had a second child now, and he also had Raph.

  And he and Raph had only just made up this morning.

  He sagged into his seat, suddenly tired. “I don’t know. It’s been such a long day.”

  “We still have to visit Mom.”

  “I know.”

  Raph looked tired, too. There were bruises starting to form on his face, from when Max had somehow punched him. The blood on his hands had dried, and there was an edge of weariness in his eyes.

  Raph had skipped work, had accompanied Wyatt to talk to Dad, had beaten Max, and gotten rid of him permanently. He’d done all of that for Wyatt, and Wyatt realized he needn’t have doubted Raph at all. Raph might have a debt, and he might have kept his secrets. But he’d promised to move to Meadowfall, and be part of Wyatt’s family.

  “I love you,” Wyatt said.

  Raph slanted a look at him, the corners of his lips quirking up. “Yeah?”

  “Yes.” Wyatt rested his hand on Raph’s thigh. Penny’s Mini Cooper was narrower than he was used to; there was barely a center console, and he could touch Raph without reaching far, let his nails scrape the rough fabric of Raph’s jeans. “I love you like I love no one else, Raph Fleming.”

  “What about Hazel? And the baby?” Raph’s eyes gleamed.

  “That’s a different sort of love.” Wyatt squeezed Raph’s thigh, leaning into his shoulder. “I’m just glad this all worked out. And that you’re not in jail.”

  Gods, having Raph in jail would have been a terrible end to tonight. Wyatt pressed his nose to Raph’s bicep, breathing in teak and old sweat. “Are you staying with us tonight?”

  Raph winced. “I’ll probably have to return to work tomorrow.”

  And Grandma’s shadow hung over them, all over again. “I’ll ask around,” Wyatt said. “Maybe someone knows how I can get rid of debt.”

  “Would be nice if we could use Grandma’s inheritance for it.” Raph smiled wryly.

  “You did not just say that.”

  “It’s not like you haven’t thought about it.”

  Wyatt had. He blushed, looking away. In the back, Hazel had fallen asleep, her head tipped forward.

  Raph rested his hand on Wyatt’s belly. And the baby kicked.

  The grin that spread across Raph’s face was bright, like he’d been lit up from inside. “The baby kicked!”

  “Sure did,” Wyatt said, cradling Raph’s hand in his own. “I kind of think it’ll be a boy.”

  Raph glanced at him. “How’d you know?”

  Wyatt shrugged. “I just do.”

  “Girl or boy, or in-between, I’d love them anyway,” Raph said, stroking Wyatt’s fingers. “Both the baby and Hazel.”

  Wyatt lifted Raph’s hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to broken skin. Then he pressed a kiss to Raph’s wrist, right over his scent gland, and Raph smiled.

  The rest of the drive passed in companionable silence, until they pulled into Meadowfall, and up the winding driveway of Grandma’s mansion.

  In the evening light, the mansion stood imposingly before them, its dark windows staring down, its lawns perfectly tended. Wyatt had never liked looking at the place—it reminded him too much of Grandma, and the way she forced everyone to bow to her will.

  She might be home, this time of day. And Wyatt couldn’t find the strength in him to care, not right now.

  In the backseat, Hazel stirred. “Where’re we going?” she mumbled.

  “To your grandma’s place,” Wyatt said. “She wants to know if you’re fine.”

  Hazel made a face. “Is Great-Grandma there? She’s a witch.”

  “Don’t let her hear you say that. She might threaten you with her magic,” Wyatt said.

  Hazel leaned forward. “Does she really have magic?”

  Wyatt shuddered. “Gods, I hope not.”

  “She better not,” Raph said. “She’s enough of a bitch.”

  “Raph, language,” Wyatt said. “Not in front of Hazel.”

  “I bet she was a scheming, poisonous hag when she was younger,” Hazel said. “Maybe she ate all the schoolkids’ bones.”

  Wyatt laughed, and Raph smirked. They drove up the driveway with the silence a lot lighter, and parked at the base of the front steps.

  The door flew open. Mom hurried out, her eyes bright. She waved. And stumbled forward, flailing on the topmost step. Wyatt held his breath. Don’t slip down the stairs!

  Then Grandma stepped around Mom in her evening finery, all glittering gold rings, and Wyatt’s stomach sank. “She pushed Mom.”

  “Bitch,” Raph said.

  Wyatt didn’t have the energy to deal with this. He turned, handing Hazel a fresh bottle of water. “Drink up, hon, You’ve been dehydrated today.”

  Hazel brightened, clicking off her seat belt.

  On the front steps, Grandma beamed down at the car. Then she met Wyatt’s eyes, and her face twisted into a scowl.

  Raph sighed. “I’ve dealt with enough bullshit today.”

  “Me too,” Wyatt said.

  “Me three,” Hazel said.

  Raph stepped out. He rounded the hood and opened both doors, catching Wyatt’s hand, and Hazel’s. “We’re going up,” he said. “Just to tell Mom we’re fine. Then we’re going home.”

  Wyatt squeezed Raph’s fingers, leaning into his side. “Will it be that easy?”

  “Yeah,” Raph said, his eyes gleaming. “Watch.”

  Wyatt held his breath. Together, they trooped toward the stairs. Mom’s smile grew, and Grandma’s frown deepened.

  “What are you doing, Raphael?” Grandma asked, her eyes narrowed. “You were missing at the office today. I’m glad I fired you as my chauffeur. How shameful would it be if I were late?”

  “Somewhat,” Raph said. “But nothing you can’t recover from.”

&nbs
p; Grandma’s nostrils flared. She glared, jabbing a shaking finger at Wyatt. “And what is that omega whore doing with you?”

  “Wyatt is my omega. Who I fuck and marry is none of your business.”

  Wyatt turned, staring at Raph. Really? You’re saying that to her?

  But the corners of Raph’s lips were turned up. Mom bit down her smile. And Grandma prowled forward, glaring so hard the whites of her eyes almost glowed.

  “You ungrateful son of a bitch,” Grandma said, her voice rising, her necklaces trembling. “I’m taking you off my will. Forget what I said about the next three months. You’re fired. You’ll pay your debt in the next thirty days, and I’ll see that all three of you are banished from this town!”

  Her chest heaved. She shook hard, the gold bangles on her wrists rattling.

  “My mom’s not a bitch,” Raph said. “Either of them.”

  “You’re the bitch,” Hazel said.

  Wyatt stared at his daughter and his alpha, wishing he could add something, anything. Grandma had stalked after him through his childhood, had told him how worthless he was. But he wasn’t worthless. He had family, and he had friends. He’d done all the things Grandma had said he couldn’t.

  As they climbed the first step, Wyatt took a deep breath, and said, “I have worth, you know. I’ve got my own restaurant. I’ve got an alpha, and I have children who love me.”

  “Damn straight,” Raph said, squeezing his hand. He smirked, all handsome and confident, and, looking at him, Wyatt found the strength to continue.

  “I might not have been your favorite,” he said, his voice growing stronger as he spoke. “But controlling people is really not what family is about. Raph, Hazel and I have been having a lot of fun over the past few months. Raph’s going to be Hazel’s dad.”

  At the top of the stairs, Grandma seethed, pressing her hand to her chest. “Imbeciles,” she snapped. “Nasty little ingrates. You know I have a weak heart. You’ve lived under my roof for several years, all for free—”

  “You’ve been making Raph pay you back,” Wyatt said. And a slow, hot anger burned in his chest. “You could have helped him soar, but you’ve dragged him down instead. Why force him to pay that loan in three months? Why ruin him? I think we should all be ashamed of you, Grandma.”