Page 145 of Alpha Heat

“How lucky am I?” Urho asked softly. “Sitting here with my three beautiful omegas.”

Caleb glanced up. “He’s an omega?”

“Yes,” Urho said. “Like his namesake. And his pater. And his father.”

Xan laughed softly. “I’m not really an omega, you know.”

“You’re mine,” Urho murmured. Xan’s heart quickened, and he smiled helplessly.

Caleb kissed the baby’s head. “I guess we’ll have to make another one if we want an heir.”

“Or we can say screw the rules,” Xan said. “Continue our trend of giving the finger to the established way of doing things, and leave it all to little Riki here.”

“Or we can have more babies,” Caleb repeated. “I do want at least one more, you know.”

“You didn’t think so a few hours ago!” Xan exclaimed, laughing. “You were very angry about it all!”

Caleb stared down at the baby in his arms. “He’s worth it.”

“He is,” Urho agreed.

“Yes,” Xan smiled and snuggled in close. “Welcome to the world, Riki Heelies. Your three parents already love you so much.”

With Caleb andthe beautiful babe sleeping soundly, Xan and Urho walked along the shore, the warm surf swirling around their bare feet in the moonlight. They held hands and shared kisses.

Xan could hardly believe he was actually a father. He’d done it. It all seemed like a dream, and he squeezed Urho’s hand, letting Urho’s strong, steady presence ground him, as always.

The stress of the day ebbed away and they began to talk of other things.

“How is the new clinic coming?” Xan asked, referring to the office Urho was setting up in the village. Not only was it time he got back to his calling, but it also engendered good will in the village to cut down on the potential gossip. It would provide new jobs in both the creation of the clinic and in the running of it, plus the benefit of another skilled doctor in the area.

The flu epidemic of the prior year had just narrowly missed Virona and left thousands of casualties in the city. The sense that another episode like that might not leave the village unscathed also contributed to Urho’s welcome in the area. An extra doctor made everyone feel safer.

So far, they’d dealt with any questions regarding Urho’s choice to live at Lofton by saying that he’d spent many lonely years after the loss of hisÉrosgápein his city home, and that he no longer had the stomach for such solitude. The mention of Riki did much to stop deeper questions, putting an end to most speculation. Everyone pitied an alpha that had suffered Urho’s loss, and no one blamed him for soothing himself with the care and comfort of intimate friends.

“The contractors you recommended are doing great work. I think I can start interviewing for staff positions soon.”

“That’s good news.” As Urho talked more about the clinic and what came next, Xan’s mind went back to the interesting phone call he’d shared with his pater, announcing baby Riki’s arrival.

After a few minutes, Xan interrupted Urho’s discussion of new obstetric tools he intended to purchase by saying, “Pater was thrilled about Riki.”

“I’m sure he was. Does he plan to visit soon?”

“Yes, though I convinced him to give Caleb a couple of weeks breathing room first.”

“Good idea.”

“He said that Janus is still playing the hermit in Montrew, and, even more surprisingly, behaving himself. No love affairs or poor behavior in months.”

“Your father must be devastated by Janus’s sudden loss of ambition.”

“I think he’s more baffled than anything. Pater also had some other interesting news.” Xan bit his bottom lip. The next topic was always a tense one, even though he’d shared all the gory details of his final run-in with Monhundy long ago. “Wilbet Monhundy was arrested last month.”

Urho’s fists clenched and he was silent for a long moment before gritting out a single word. “Good.”

“He was found guilty of raping prostitutes in the Calitan district.”

Urho nodded curtly.