can experience things you enjoy without having to guess.”
“Okay.” He had no idea what to plan for them yet but had time. Until it hit him. “Well, tomorrow is Khory’s birthday, and we’re having a small party for him at the apartment. Do you want to come? It’s not a fancy date but we can spend time together.”
“I’d like that a lot.” He could practically hear the smile in Dorian’s voice. “What time and what should I bring?”
“Seven o’clock and just bring yourself and a positive attitude. We’ll have had dinner, so it will just be cake and a few presents. Rebel will be there, though.”
“Good. I look forward to the chance to get to know your brother.”
Hyatt wanted to roll over and show his belly at that kind statement. “He intimated he’s going to give you a chance. Rebel truly is amazing, Dorian. But he’s protective for a reason.”
“I understand. I can’t promise to win him over but I will absolutely do my best.”
“That’s all I can hope for. It’s all either of us can do, given our current situation. And I know that tomorrow we’ll be with other people, so I truly do hope we can have another date that’s just the two of us. We can be open and frank about things.”
Dorian was silent for several seconds. “I want that, too. As your alpha bondmate, your happiness is my priority.”
“And as your omega bondmate, your happiness is mine, too. We’re just coming at this from two very different worlds. Will you, uh, tell me more about Samuel? Growing up together?”
“Certainly. He’s two years younger but he’s always been an amazing sibling and friend. Our sire owned a speedboat that we kept docked at a local lake, and we were not technically supposed to drive it alone until we were fourteen. But when I was twelve, I convinced one of our drivers to take Samuel and me out to the lake.”
“Uh oh.”
“Yeah.” Dorian snorted. “It didn’t go well.”
Hyatt sprawled out on his back and settled in for the rest of Dorian’s very amusing story about pre-teen hijinks and a defective engine.
Eleven
Dorian arrived at the apartment promptly at seven, his stomach a wormy mess over this social interaction with both Hyatt’s roommates and one of his brothers. He’d had no idea what to bring for Khory as a birthday gift, so he’d bought a gift card to a children’s clothing chain, since the young omegin had a boy entering his toddler years and who would likely begin growing like a weed.
A blond alpha who introduced himself as Aeron Danvers greeted him at the door with an affable smile and took Dorian’s jacket. Dorian presented the card directly to his mate Khory, who thanked him. During their conversation last night, Hyatt had given him more details of how Hyatt had come to live here with the mated pair and their son, and he spotted a little boy in a playpen on the other side of the living area.
Then Dorian handed a single red rose to Hyatt. “It didn’t feel right not to bring you something,” he said.
Hyatt beamed. “It smells amazing, thank you.”
“It’s my honor.” Near a small kitchen table, he spotted Peyton—familiar from the photo Hyatt had shown him—standing next to a dark-haired omega holding a baby. Had to be Layne and Caleb. Karson and Rebel he already knew, as well as Gaven and Frey. One young beta was there who Dorian didn’t know.
“Dorian,” Hyatt said as he led him over. “This my nephew Peyton Tovey, his mate Layne, and their son Caleb.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet more of Hyatt’s family,” Dorian said as he shook Peyton’s hand. “You have an amazing uncle.”
Peyton’s wary expression gentled. “I do. He deserves the best.”
“Then I will strive to meet his expectations. And a belated congratulations to you and Layne on your son. He’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Layne replied. “We’ve heard a lot about you from Hyatt, so it’s nice to finally put a voice to the name and face we’ve only seen in newspapers.”
Dorian barely stopped himself from cringing. “I never wanted a life where I was interesting enough to be in the papers, but here we are.”
“I feel you on that,” Frey piped up. “Being a Porter and all. Every step of my meeting Gaven was a byline on the gossip page, and all we wanted was privacy.” In Frey’s warm smile, Dorian saw a potential kindred spirit, despite their different genders. Someone who’d also come from a wealthy family and