17. Uriel’s Secret #2
Come to think of it, Uriel had never actually answered his question, on whether he was an alpha or omega.
“Huh,” Emre said. “Are you... both?”
Uriel paused in his work. He glanced around, then pulled out his phone and typed into it.
When he turned the screen toward Emre, there was a line of text.
It’s a secret, but I’m actually an omega.
Emre froze. He stared at the message, then at Uriel’s rough-hewn face, the muscles on his body. He looked back at the message.
Uriel, an omega.
Did the scars have something to do with it?
Suddenly, Emre’s heart hurt a lot.
What had happened to Uriel? Did he want to look like an alpha, or did he not have a choice?
Uriel shrugged one shoulder and smiled crookedly. “The omega chat knows. Want me to add you?”
Emre swallowed. “Yeah. That would be really nice.”
“Give me your number.” Uriel opened an app that Zenith had been using to contact his friends. Emre told Uriel his number, and his phone buzzed. When he looked, he found that he had been added to a chat. Several people were welcoming him before he had even said hi.
Dad2Pups
Uh, hi. Thanks for having me.
HocusPocus
I have verified that Emre has not been kidnapped.
QuinCukesXXX
Thank the gods. Griff was just telling me how proud he was that Zenith kidnapped you, Emre.
To be fair, Griff kidnapped ME to his mansion, so.
IvoFivo
Griff kidnapped you???
KillianKillsDreams
Holy cow
QuinCukesXXX
Griff is special
Dad2Pups
And you’re fine with that??
QuinCukesXXX
(shrug) He sings me lovely songs
Nat-urallyBig
Oh hey! Emre!! It’s so great to see you here, we met some time back when you bumped into me and my alpha and his friends. We hoped you were okay but didn’t want to intrude (smiling emoji)
Dad2Pups
Oh wow, I meant to say thanks but couldn’t find a way to get in touch. You guys really helped us, thank you
Nat-urallyBig
You’re very welcome!
OttisWoof
Hey!! An omega wolf! We don’t have too many of those in here, hi!!
Dad2Pups
Hi!!
HocusPocus
Ok, y’all celebrate and everything. I’m going to work on Zenith’s Big Problem
Emre looked up from his phone, eyeing Uriel speculatively. “How are we going to do this?”
“We’re aiming to keep your pup warm, right? I’m thinking of a mild heating spell, gentle enough for a baby.”
“There’s a few blankets and tiny beds here,” Emre said, leading Uriel to a stack of them. “Zenith bought them so Bean can have a bed in every room we’re in.”
“Bean?” Uriel grinned. “That’s adorable.”
“It’s a nickname. We—I haven’t decided on an actual name yet,” Emre said, his thoughts crashing together.
Why had that slipped out of his mouth? Zenith wasn’t Bean’s dad. Emre hadn’t even asked Zenith to be Bean’s dad.
He swallowed, hoping that Uriel hadn’t noticed his sudden nerves. “I just wanted some time to pick the perfect name.”
“That sounds great,” Uriel said. “Kinda wish I’d done that for mine, but oh well.”
Uriel seemed a little wistful. Emre wanted to ask how Uriel had gotten his baby, why he was alone in raising his child, but he didn’t want Uriel to feel bad.
Uriel picked up one of the beds. It was small and oval, with a low wall all around and an opening for a pup to climb in. “Skin temp, right?”
“Yes, maybe slightly warmer.”
Uriel nodded and began writing a spell straight onto the bed, marker tip brushing over the fuzzy fabric. When he was done, he touched the runes, and they glowed briefly. Then the runes sank into the bed and disappeared.
“Here, is this warm enough?”
Emre touched the little bed. Warmth soaked into his fingertips; it felt so inviting that he groaned and ran his hand over the entire thing. “This feels really good.”
When he placed Bean on the bed, the pup wriggled and went straight back to sleep.
“He likes it,” Emre said, his heart lifting.
“Yeah?” Uriel grinned. “Want me to do the same for the other beds?”
“Yes, please.” Now that he knew his pup would be safe, Emre could focus on the next problem: the hot, hard length in Zenith’s pants that needed Emre all over it.
He swallowed dryly, torn between hurrying upstairs to Zenith, and waiting for the alpha to come to him. Would Zenith have to probe him first, to make sure he was okay inside?
Zenith would have to spread him out on the bed, stretch him open and shine a light inside, examining Emre’s most intimate parts. Then he would slide his fingers in, maybe his cock—he needed to knot Emre, didn’t he? Keep Emre under him, pinned and stretched—
Something crashed, a cacophony of noise nearby.
“What was that?” Emre said.
Uriel frowned and glanced over. He hadn’t heard it. “What was what?”
Emre pricked his ears. The sounds were coming from just beyond Zenith’s property lines, maybe on the street.
Were they in danger? Had Ronald found them?
Unease slithered through Emre’s veins. He gathered Bean into his arms, needing to locate Abbie. Where was she?
Zenith came thundering down the stairs, a little gray shape clutched against his chest.
Oh thank Mother Moon. Emre hurried over to him. “Zenith!”
“I heard something,” Zenith said, glancing around sharply. He handed Abbie over. “From the front.”
“Sounds like it!” Huxton yelled.
Uriel frowned. “I’ll go with you.” He paused though, glancing over his shoulder at his baby. “Emre, could you—?”
“I’ll watch yours,” Emre said.
“Thanks.” Uriel slipped off his baby carrier, right as Buttwheel came nosing up to Emre.
Emre stuffed the spelled bed into Buttwheel’s cargo basket, setting Abbie and Bean in it. Then he took Uriel’s baby bundle and tucked that in next to his pups.
Zenith and Uriel dashed out the front door. Emre crept after them with Buttwheel, his heart in his throat.