Page 28 of His Snowbound Omega

“Thorn.” Baal entered the room like he owned the place, wearing a long black coat with a fur collar and lining. He smiled, softly, a mere lift at the corner of his full lips, but it was enough to have heat racing down Thorn’s spine.

Espen was with him, but the other man stopped at the door, turning and facing the hallway as though standing guard.

The alpha came right up to him, settled a hand on his hip, and then leaned down and planted a featherlight kiss to the rise of his cheek. Then he turned to Aster and asked in a kind voice, “How are the dumplings?”

“They’re as good as you promised,” Aster grinned. “And look! You were also right about Thorn.”

“Right how?” Thorn asked.

“He was asking for you,” Baal replied. “I told him you’d arrive soon.”

He frowned. “You were here earlier?”

“Brother-in-law has been here all day,” Aster said.

“I stepped out to take a call,” Baal explained.

As ifthatwas what had Thorn’s brow pinched.

“The doctor will be here in a moment to check on you,” the alpha told Aster. “Hurry up and eat. If you need anything else, you know to ask Espen, correct?”

“Yes, thank you!”

“Wait.” Thorn put a hand on Baal’s stomach and tried to push him away, but the alpha held firm at his side. Glaring got him nowhere either. “What do you mean ask Espen?”

“Espen will stay behind and attend him,” Baal stated, like that was obvious and Thorn was the strange one for not getting that on his own.

“You’re not leaving a mafia member with my brother.”

“Thorn?” For the first time since his arrival, there was uncertainty in Aster’s tone. He glanced between the two of them, and then toward the man standing by the door. “They said you sent them….Didn’t you? Is he not your alpha?”

Shit.

He couldn’t make Aster worry.

Thorn forced a smile on his face and reached out to ruffle Aster’s blond hair. “It’s nothing like that. Finish up. You heard the alpha. The doctor is on his way.”

“Youralpha,” his brother reiterated stubbornly. They had that pesky trait in common despite their age gap. “Right?” His gaze darkened, and he set a threatening look Baal’s way—or at least, as threatening as a sixteen-year-old in a hospital gown, bent over a bowl of dumplings could appear, anyway. “Hey, have you done something to him? If this is about what our father owes—”

“Stop.” Thorn cupped the back of Aster’s head, and this time Baal allowed him to step away. “It’s not like that. Okay? Trust me.”

He stared at him for a long while and then seemed to be satisfied. With a nod, he went back to eating.

“I need a word with my alpha,” Thorn said a moment later, taking Baal’s hand. “We’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” Aster nodded.

Thorn turned toward the exit, then glowered when he spotted Espen’s back. Switching gears, he ended up pulling Baal into the attached bathroom, not releasing him until the door was shut and they were relatively alone.

“Careful,” the underboss drawled, leaning back against the glass wall of the shower stall. “What’s little brother going to think we’re doing in here?”

Refusing to take the bait, he stabbed a finger at him. “Why is he calling you brother-in-law?”

“Would you have preferred I told him you were my kept omega?”

Thorn bristled, but couldn’t deny that would have been worse. Sure, there was nothing embarrassing about being someone’s kept omega. Breeding contracts were common, and Aster would never judge him for making that choice.

However.