Page 102 of Bully for Sale

“Go on,” Heath said. “Omegas who seek out an unrelated alpha for help have big demands. Bigger than can be accommodated, but let’s hear it.” Adrien took a little breath, and Heath patted his hand. “Not that I won’t entertain the problem. Of course I will.”

Adrien checked on little Laya beneath the nursing scarf and, finding him asleep, removed him from his teat, cradling him close and keeping his face shielded from the light. Adrien looked content and happy, and Ned took a moment to wish he would ever see Ezer just as content with their children.

“Yissan’s problem is complicated.”

“As I said it would be.”

After Ned spelled out Yissan’s situation, Heath sat back from the table, arms crossed over his chest, and a deep frown on his forehead.

“I thought you said this was complicated. This is straightforward. An omega has compromised himself, feels no guilt for it, and wants to shape his own future without his alpha father’s hand in the matter.”

Adrien looked up sharply, but Heath didn’t seem to notice.

“Consent is the law,” Ned pointed out. “Ezer didn’t get true consent. He was coerced, and I believe Yissan will be coerced too.”

Heath nodded. “Well, as abhorrent as I find his behavior with the beta, I can’t say that I approve of the match his father is contemplating. Trace is known for the callous treatment of his omegas, and his omega sons as well. He also indulges in…” Heath caught Adrien’s eye and then glanced away. “Activitiesthat aren’t always enjoyable for his partners. He likes that they don’t enjoy it, from what I understand.”

Yissan was in more danger than Ned had realized, but even if Trace Stone had been as pure as the driven snow in his intentions and treatment of omegas, the simple fact was that Yissan didn’t want him.

“I have some lawyers on retainer who’ve dealt with omega rights cases in the past. I’ll reach out to one of them tonight, and I’ll fund Yissan’s case. But what I cannot do is fund his life afterward. I have deep pockets, but I can’t have every omega in Wellport and the known world coming to me for support.”

“No, of course not,” Ned agreed.

“But this young man is your family now, which makes him my family.”

“Uncle?”

“Yes?”

“Is there an organization dedicated to helping omegas in situations like this? Lawyers who work to help them out of coercive situations, or worse?”

Heath tilted his head, meeting Ned’s eyes. “Is that something that interests you? Helping omegas?”

“I love Ezer, and if he will stay with me, I want to make everything right for him, but how we got here wasn’t okay. It wasn’t true consent. I don’t think it’s right for other omegas to go through this. I’d like to stop it from happening again to someone else.”

“I know some attorneys, yes, who’re involved in fighting for omega rights. I can introduce them to you. Once things have settled in your life, perhaps you could do some volunteer work with their office.”

Ned smiled, relieved at having a concrete way of making things happen. “Thank you, Uncle, for all of this. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you can help Yissan.” Ned had dreaded having to tell Ezer his older brother was being forced into a situation as bad or worse than the one Ezer had been coerced into.

“I can’t promise the boy will be delivered from his fate, but Jeger Forest, one of the attorneys I mentioned, will know where to start.”

Heath waved the waiter over, and they ordered their luncheon while Laya slept in Adrien’s arms. After they’d eaten, and when they were on their way out of the door, Heath gave Ned a big hug.

“I’m stern with you because you need it.”

“I know, and I do.”

“You’ll let Yissan know to await a call from my attorneys?”

“Yes.”

“And I’ll wait to hear from you about your omega. Don’t let him go easily, Ned. If you love him, it’ll be worth making sacrifices to make sure he stays.

Ned’s throat tightened. “I’ll show him how much I care for and respect him somehow,” Ned said.

“‘Somehow’,” Heath snorted, turning to relieve Adrien of Laya’s weight, so Adrien could grab a hug as well. “‘Somehow’, he says.”

Adrien scolded Heath again, but as Ned left the restaurant, he couldn’t help but think back over all the discussions he’d had with Ezer, all the times Ezer had called him a coward, or questioned his motives. He couldn’t stop himself from remembering his own father packing up and leaving.