“He’s not,” Wes said at the same time Asher said, “I’m not. Not really.”
Assa perched on the coffee table. “Okay. So, not a friend. But obviously not a stranger.”
Asher extended his hand, which Assa shook. “I’m Asher Parkenson. Your husband was one of my professors in Warburton.”
Dread pooled in Wes’s belly. “Alright. Now that you two are acquainted, how about you tell us yournews.”
Asher exhaled. “Again, I’m sorry if it feels like an ambush. I wanted to meet you on campus, but you never replied to my texts. In the library, I recognized Assa from pictures, and I almost walked over to introduce myself, but then that other alpha came over. I wouldn’t normally just show up at someone’s house uninvited, but it was too important that I speak with you.”
Another chill rushed through Wes. Assa placed a hand over his knuckles and laced their fingers together.
“Well, you’re here now,” Assa said. “So please tell us what you needed to say.”
Asher spoke directly to Wes. “Do you remember the conversation we had after your class? The one about decrees regarding single omega fathers under the age of twenty-five?”
Now that Wes thought about it, he recalled that they’d discussed not only adoption but also omega rights. A few years back, the decrees had been challenged in High Court. Nowadays, omega fathers had to agree to adoption proceedings for their children, regardless of their age or marital status. But that wasn’t the case when he and Asher talked.
“I recall it, yes.”
“What conversation?” Assa asked.
Although Assa’s question held no suspicion, Wes did not want his husband to think he’d deliberately kept a secret. After their polyamory was exposed, Assa had been rightfully upset that Wes never told him about the threats Lux had been making for months. Wes promised not to withhold anything important from Assa again, even in the name of protecting him.
Asher saved Wes the trouble of clarifying. “I’m sure it didn’t seem like a big deal,” he explained. “I approached Professor Pashuk after his lecture to ask questions about the law.”
“That’s right,” Wes said. “I recall the conversation now that Asher is here, but that day I didn’t think much of it.”
Asher rolled his shoulders. “Look, there’s no easy way to say this, and I’m here to give you what details I can, but long story short, I’m the reason the agency approached you about adopting your son.”
Wes’s stomach clenched. “What do you mean?”
“After we talked, I thought about what a great father you’d make. College professor, everyone loves you. I also had a friend in the biology department who said Assa was a good guy… I asked you all those questions because I knew an omega in that situation. And I might have done some engineering to ensure that you two were the ones who adopted his child.”
“Wait, wait.” Assa moved his hands in aslow downmotion. “You know who our son’s omega birth father is?”
“I do. And he’s not the man listed on the birth certificate.”
Assa squeaked.
“Then you’re saying our son’s omega father was forced to give up his baby?” Wes asked, remembering more details of their long-ago conversation as he put a hand on Assa’s shoulder.
“Yes…my brother,” Asher replied softly. “He’s the father.”
Assa’s mouth dropped open.
Wes struggled to process the information. He hadn’t known Asher had an omega brother, or really anything personal about Asher. Because why would he? But now…
“You’re our son’s biological uncle?”
“Ryde,” Assa whispered. “Did you know that’s his name?”
Asher sucked in his bottom lip. “I know his name and what he looks like. That’s also why I recognized you in the library. I’ve kept track of your family—” He stopped, as though realizing how his words sounded. “Informally, of course. Just enough to keep an eye on Zeller’s baby.” Under his breath he mumbled, “It was the least I could do for him.”
“Zeller,” Assa breathed out the word like an appeal. “That’s your brother?”
“Yes. And before you ask, he doesn’t know about you two…or about Ryde. But before I explain more, I want to clarify that I never planned on approaching you or making any demands. Bending people to their will is more my parents’ style.”
“Fuck,” Wes said, dropping his head in his hands. “I just realized this means our son is Keyes and Deveron Parkenson’s biological grandson.”