Page 14 of Slow Heat

“Omega persuasion,” Urho said.

It was a kind of slur, the implication that omegas used their sexual thrall over alphas and their alpha’s intrinsic need for omega approval to get their way. But Urho said it with an affectionate remembrance that took away the sting. He’d obviously enjoyed being in Riki’s thrall.

“He’ll have his parents to argue for his best interests. I’ll have only myself.”

“And me. And Yosef. Rosen would likely come to be at your side, too.”

“Yes. I can’t imagine he wouldn’t.”

“Don’t be so stubborn as to go face this child’s parents and attorney alone. You against a wall of them? Omega persuasion only goes so far. He’s a pup. He’ll cave to whatever his parents want.”

“Maybe. You never know.”

Urho grunted.

Vale pondered. “Have you ever known of another incident like this? I know they exist in the records, but, personally, have you known an alpha and omega pairing this distant in age cohorts?”

“In the military, when I was a young medic, there was a commanding officer whose omega was twenty-five years his junior, and not a surrogate.Érosgápe.”

“And?”

“And the omega was a hot piece of tail. A sweet-looking thing, and—”

“Urho, if this is going to be a lurid and offensive tale about interminable heat in an omega, I will stab you with this hot poker.”

“Well, the older alpha did have his work cut out for him. He enlisted the aid of some alpha friends when his stamina ran low. It cut into his ego, but he did it out of love for his omega. I imagine you wouldn’t have that same trouble as the receiving partner, so long as you make enough slick.”

“Wolf-god, you bring it around to sex every time. I meant more than that. Were they happy? Did they love each other? You say your commanding officer loved his omega, that they wereÉrosgápe, but was it everything any other bond would be?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I was obsessed with getting back to Riki at the time, so I didn’t spare much thought outside of the titillation of their sexual situation. I guess they were pretty much the same. I always wondered what became of the omega once his alpha died. There’s no way he didn’t outlive him.”

“Unless he died of an illness or accident.”

“Or took his own life.”

“Wolf’s own hell! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I just know when Riki went, I thought about it. It’s a common thing with bonded pairs when one dies. I’m sure it would go the other direction, too.”

They’d never talked so much about Riki’s death in all the years they’d been friends. Most of Urho’s mentions of his omega were of happy memories or funny stories. He usually steered away from the gloom.

“Well, I suppose if Jason Sabel chooses to contract with me instead of taking on a breeding surrogate, then I’ll discover the strength of this attachment for myself.”

Urho went quiet again, his expression moody and distant.

“What now?”

“Érosgápeisn’t what you expect.”

“How do you mean?”

“It’s not instant. It’s a gradual thing. He’s already imprinted on you and that’s the most instant part. And you’ve felt the pull of the bond, but the actual ties of it? They only strengthen over time, even if you contract.Érosgápeis just another word for deep love.”

“Oh?”

“In my experience, anyway, and others I’ve talked with.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He already felt the answering tug toward his alpha. It didn’t feel like love. It felt like an unexpected addiction—needful and cloying.