Page 52 of Slow Heat

Miner gave a stern nod to Yule, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed nervously.

Noticing this time, Yule abruptly looked to Jason and placed a hand over his, squeezing until Jason released his lobster fork and, thank wolf-god, his knife.

“It fits my hypothesis well,” Urho said around a bite of lobster. “Those omegas with higher rates of wolf-gene markers in their blood don’t present as often or as thoroughly. They are more wolf-like in their behavior, which strangely has the effect ofnottriggering the knotting instinct in their alpha to as strong a degree.” He grinned. “There’s nothing like seeing an omega in full presentation to bring out the animal in us.”

Jason shoved back from the table, and Yule stood up, too, to grab his son by the shoulder and push him back into his seat.

Vale cleared his throat, but it sounded like a squeak. Yosef put his hand on Rosen’s arm, and Urho wiped his mouth with his napkin. Eyes downcast in shame, Jason murmured something that sounded likedsorrybut it didn’t quite carry down the table.

“No, please accept my apologies,” Urho said. “I forgot what it’s like to be a young alpha. I should have been more thoughtful. I didn’t realize my research would be a dangerous topic, but I should have.”

“I hadn’t considered it either,” Yule agreed. “That was short-sighted of me. It’s been too long since I was so young and driven by so much instinct. The impulse toward alpha expression is to be expected.”

Jason shifted in his seat, like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to shrink away or sit up taller to prove himself. Vale cleared his throat again, and Jason’s eyes were on him in a heartbeat. He smiled comfortingly. “Everything is fine here.”

Jason swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again.” Then he went back to his dinner, though he didn’t seem to truly enjoy the lobster any longer.

Urho smiled reassuringly at Vale but it seemed pale. Vale wanted Jason’s smile instead. Hands trembling, Vale found his own lobster tasted less delicious than it had before the awkwardness.

CHAPTER TEN

“Let me walkyou in,” Urho said as the hired car pulled up in front of Vale’s house.

They’d already dropped Rosen and Yosef off at the apartment they shared in a renovated house near the river. Vale’s house was the next stop.

“If I let you do that, you’ll want to stay for a drink, and if you stay for a drink…” Vale smiled coyly.

Urho’s eyes brightened with interest. “Why shouldn’t I stay for a drink then?”

“You’ll make this hired car wait out front for far too long. We wouldn’t want to anger the driver. I’m sure he’d like to get home at a decent hour tonight.”

Urho leaned closer. The scent of his expensive aftershave filled the space between them. “I can call another ride.”

Vale sighed, pulling his scarf tighter around his neck. “You know you can’t come in, Urho. Not like this. Not anymore.”

“We didn’t get a real goodbye.” The words were gruff with sadness, and Vale swallowed against his own.

“That’s the way of life, isn’t it?” He hadn’t gotten to say goodbye to his parents before they’d gone. Endings were often sudden. Goodbye was a gift not everyone received. “I couldn’t go against my instincts on this matter. If Jason chooses another, well…arrangements will need to be made for my heats. Who knows what lies ahead?”

“You’re a fool. That boy and his pater have their hearts set on you. The alpha? He’s another story. But we all know who really rules the roost.”

“Let’s not argue. I’m tired.”

Urho pressed his thumb into the dimple in Vale’s chin. “One drink as friends.”

“Not tonight. I know that look in your eye. I’ve seen it for years and always gave you what you wanted—yes, what I wanted, too—but I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror tomorrow if I allowed it now.”

“So sure of yourself, aren’t you? Maybe I just want a drink.”

“I love you dearly, Urho, but you lie terribly. Another night we’ll share a drink when we aren’t both feeling so strange.”

“I’m going to miss us.”

Vale smiled and touched Urho’s cheek. His stubble scratched at Vale’s fingertips. “Me, too.”

“Who will you talk to about tonight?”

Vale shrugged. “I have a telephone. Maybe I’ll call someone. I have friends.”