Page 66 of Alpha Heat

“Oh, dear friend,” Vale whispered, a hand on Urho’s shoulder. “I suppose that must have shocked your old-fashioned, traditional soul nearly to death.”

“I keep telling you. I’m not old-fashioned. If anything should prove it and put a nail in that coffin, I’d think it would be this situation.” Urho smiled wryly. The illegal abortion he’d performed on Vale years before and the untraditional relationship they’d shared should have ended the rumors of his old-fashioned sensibilities well before. “I admit I did lose my mind at first.”

“After you’d…” Vale made a lewd gesture.

“No. Before I made the offer to him. I was in a state—overwrought, afraid, and angry. I wanted to protect him and shake him. I wanted to…” Urho trailed off. “Once I settled on the idea of acting as a surrogate for him, everything seemed to click into place. I was able to make a peace with it.”

“Well, you always did have a hero kink,” Vale said, the knowing smile on his face almost annoying. “I think that was half your attraction for me.”

“No.” He’d cared about Vale for reasons that went beyond that.

“Oh, maybe our relationship eventually became more than heroism to you, but at first you were my surrogate during heats because you wanted to save me from ever being in a dangerous position again. And then we became lovers outside the heats…and, yes, I’ll concede that was based more in friendship and fun than in heroism gone awry. But that was where it had started.”

And based in a now-faded love.

But Urho wouldn’t bring that up. Instead, he ventured toward the subject that had been pricking at him between bouts of dreaminess, longing, and intense phone calls with Xan. “It’s wrong, though. Two alphas. It’s against the Holy Book and the law.” He took Vale’s hand in his. “How do I reconcile that it feels so right?”

“I think you’re smart enough to know the answer to that.” Vale flicked him a harsh glance. “The laws and Holy Books are all about control. But hearts are wild things. They can’t be controlled no matter how much those in power wish it.”

“It’s an obstacle,” Urho mused. “We can never truly be together.”

“Plus there’s Caleb.”

Urho chuckled. “Yes, Caleb. Who is strangely accepting of all this.”

Vale nodded. “Contracted relationships aren’t likeErosgapé. I’m sure he has his reasons for being content with the arrangement.”

Urho tilted his head. “You know.”

“I know what?”

Urho said nothing and Vale looked at him innocently. Clearly Xan had shared something with Jason—perhaps the failed heat—and Jason had shared that information with Vale. “Caleb is special.”

“I think he’s a wonderful man and Xan is lucky to have him,” Vale said, shifting back uncomfortably and rubbing his stomach. “Good wolf-god above, this child! He never rests.”

“When he’s bigger, he’ll have less room to move around. So he’ll slow down.”

Vale frowned at his stomach. “Then I’ll panic and rejoice every time he makes himself known. I’ve heard as much from Miner.”

Grateful for the change of topic, Urho asked, “Miner’s driving you up a wall, is he?”

“They both are. They’d put me in a glass cage if they could, and feed me only the freshest fruit and vegetables straight from golden tongs.”

“Interesting image.”

Vale sighed and rubbed his bulge again. “So with all that out on the table, indulge me some more. What’s the plan now? How will you proceed with this relationship—is that even the term for what you have? And how are you coping with all of this time apart?”

Urho sighed. “I’m not sure. Making plans is difficult because his cousin, Janus, an alpha with a reputation for seducing contracted omegas, has been sent there to spy on Xan. Or so he believes.”

“Oh, I can believe it.” Vale rolled his eyes. “Xan’s father is a controlling man from what I’ve seen and all I’ve heard.”

“Yes. Well, Xan wishes he could get away from Virona to meet me halfway in Montrew, but he’s so busy with his work. And I’m busy here, of course. Plus his father has put the kibosh on Xan traveling anywhere near the city during this flu epidemic, and his cousin is there to enforce it.”

“Jason didn’t tell me about that. What if you went up to see him for a few days?”

“He says even if I did find a way to get up there, we wouldn’t have any time alone. Not with his cousin keeping such a close eye on him.”

Vale’s face showed how ridiculous he found that argument. “You could be inconspicuous.”