Page 32 of Slow Heat

“Will he have to pay that if I contract with him?”

“Only if you refuse to contract for a live birth.”

They stared at each other.

“So he’d have to pay the fine regardless,” Vale said eventually.

“And the allowance to you, as well. If he took a surrogate, he’d have to file papers to the government explaining why. In your case, infertility or age would do the trick, and he could continue on with another omega for the purposes of making a family. The government approves of that. But given that you’reÉrosgápe, there would be blood on the street if the discarded omega reproduced with anyone else, thus the laws preventing you from such, and the fine Jason would need to pay.”

“Why wouldn’t that be forgiven if the reason for taking a surrogate was my infertility?”

“Because the government prizes two things above all else: money and babies. Period. Logic need not apply.”

Rosen removed the baked sweet potatoes from the oven and retrieved plates for them all.

“Let’s assume he takes a surrogate,” Vale said, his throat tightening strangely. “What happens with my heats?”

“You’d have to be incredibly discreet in how you handle them from now on. Though, so long as you had minimal contact with your alpha, there would be almost no way for him to know how you got through them or with whom.”

Rosen spoke up. “I’ve never understood why an infertile omega has to be discarded. Can’t an alpha handle two? A surrogate and hisÉrosgápecan’t be too much for a young, virile alpha to care for simultaneously.”

Vale growled under his breath, a sick, rolling feeling starting in his gut at the idea of sharing his home or alpha with another omega.

Yosef’s brows lifted in amusement. “There’s that reaction for one,” he said. “But more importantly, they used to do just that. Omegas in days of yore were treated like breeding stock, with important and powerful alphas literally purchasing uncontracted omegas for the purposes of spreading their seed wide and far. This ultimately resulted in a reduction of the gene pool and genetic anomalies, and some unsatisfied alphas started renouncing their contracts to sell their omegas to wealthier alphas with two, three, or up to five omegas. Eventually the government stepped in and put a stop to it. That was well before New Wolf Reform took over, obviously. Apparently, even the religious kooks in Wolf Above could see the problems of human trafficking.”

Vale stared out the kitchen window, watching a few leaves float on the breeze and land gently in the yard.

“But there’s no reason to assume he’ll take a surrogate,” Yosef said soothingly.

Vale shrugged. It shouldn’t matter, and yet his stomach knotted up at the thought of being rejected by hisÉrosgápe. Logic need not apply in his heart, either, he supposed.

“How can we make it palatable for you to take the allowance you’re owed?” Yosef asked, bringing the conversation back around to money again.

“You can’t.”

“I’ll find a way.

“Dinner is served.” Rosen brought plates of fish and baked sweet potatoes to the table.

They dropped the topic of Vale’s unexpectedÉrosgápefor dinner, instead speaking of Rosen and Yosef’s tentative plans for the various upcoming Autumn Nights celebrations. After they’d eaten, cleaned up the dishes, and moved to Vale’s study, it was clear Yosef was ready to get into it again. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the doorbell rang.

Vale’s stomach flipped and tangled as he walked down the hall toward the front door.

Would it be Jason? Did he hope it was or dread the idea? Damn theÉrosgápeimprint. It clouded everything.

A messenger stood on the front stoop with two fat envelopes in his arms.

“Mr. Aman?”

“That’s me, yes.”

“These are from the Law Offices of Tissue & Freet. If you’d sign here…” He indicated a form and held out a pen.

As Vale signed, Yosef appeared at his elbow. “What’s this?”

“No idea.” Vale passed the form back to the messenger and accepted the packages in return. “They’re from a law firm.” He tucked them under his arm as the messenger stepped through the front lawn, dodging the falling leaves and dropping acorns of the oak tree by the gate. “Maybe Rory has already sent the terms of my temporary resignation, but I can’t imagine it’d require two packets to get the job done.”

“Ah, no,” Yosef murmured, grabbing the top envelope from Vale’s hands. “These are pre-negotiation disclosures. Everything about Jason Sabel his family deems important for your consideration and review before the official contract negotiations begin.”