body and emotions. “You’d think after three years of therapy, I wouldn’t be triggered so hard anymore.”
“In my experience,” Karter said, “certain traumas never truly go away. Jax is more than twenty years past the fight ring, and he still has the occasional nightmare or flashback. Lean on your friends and loved ones whenever you need to.”
“Thank you. I will.”
“Now, Dorian.” Karter took a slimmer folder off his small stack and held it out. “I can’t copy you on Dustin’s abuse complaints because they’re official documents, but I did make a copy of the trial transcript as that’s a matter of public record. I know you were present but this has everything presented by both sides, line by line.”
“Thank you, sir.” Dorian accepted the file. “I appreciate it. You’re already doing me a huge favor by investigating this at all.”
“What we learn from Dustin could potentially affect your and Hyatt’s future children. After everything our extended family went through with Peyton’s Donal Syndrome diagnosis, waiting and hoping for years for a cure, I can’t think of a worse thing for a parent to wonder about than his own child’s future.”
Since Dorian was pretty sure he’d used up his quota of ‘thank you’s’ today, he said, “I’ll do my best to speak to Omegin and find out what details I can. And to get those medical records.” He added the release forms to his folder, content with their plan for now. And a little terrified of actually seeing his omegin again.
“When I learn more that I can share, I’ll be in touch.”
Dorian shook Karter’s hand, then took Hyatt’s in his and led him out of the office. A few patrolmen in the corridor glanced their way, and Dorian wasn’t sure if it was because they were civilians, or if someone recognized one of them. Or was interested in Hyatt—not that it mattered, because their scents had mingled enough these last few weeks for any alpha to realize Hyatt was taken.
They’d better realize it. If any alpha—or beta, for that matter—tried to take from Hyatt again, Dorian would kill them. No one got to touch his omega ever again. No one ever should have taken from him in the first place, but Dorian couldn’t change that part of Hyatt’s past. All he could do was love and protect his bondmate now and every day going forward.
Mine.
After a quick stop at a café for iced coffee drinks and freshly-baked cookies, they went to Dorian’s apartment. Hyatt was quickly acclimating to the place, no longer acting like a guest but like a resident, moving around the kitchen with ease. Cooking meals there. Putting his feet up on the coffee table when they watched TV together. Dorian loved the idea of Hyatt moving in with him permanently. Them spending their lives as one unit, living here until Hyatt got pregnant and they needed to go house hunting.
“Move in with me,” he blurted out just as Hyatt was sitting on the couch.
Hyatt nearly dropped his coffee, eyes round behind his glasses. “Do what?”
“I don’t mean today. Um.” Dorian put his own coffee and the bag of cookies on the coffee table, then perched his butt on it, opposite Hyatt. “After we mate, if you still want to next month. I mean, I obviously couldn’t move into your apartment. It would be a bit crowded.”
Hyatt blinked at him a few times before smiling. “I don’t know why this surprised me so much. Of course, we’re going to live together after we mate. I guess I expected to talk about what we found today first thing, not moving in together.”
“I want you with me. In my life. You are precious to me, Hyatt, more than I ever expected possible. You become more precious with each day we spend together, and I want us together always. I know your heat is only a month away, and I don’t want to leave your roommates in a lurch with rent, so I will help cover expenses.”
“Don’t worry about that right now, I’ve got enough in savings to cover things if they need help.” An odd look flashed across Hyatt’s face, and Dorian suspected he was thinking of that mysterious credit transfer.
I need to tell him it was me.
“Hyatt, there’s something—” The thought was cut off by Dorian’s mobile ringing. He checked the screen, not entirely surprised by the caller. “Hey, Samuel.”
Hyatt quirked an eyebrow.
“Hey, brother,” Samuel replied. “Is this a bad time?”