Page 20 of Convincing the Heartbroken Beta

Sascha gazed up at Brandon, drank in his steely eyes as they flashed from the passion behind his words. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“I do, my sweet Sascha. I do.”

“And you’re not mad about the baby, because it’s not yours?”

Brandon cupped Sascha’s cheek. “How could I be mad about an innocent child? And if you’re mine, if you’ll let me, I’d also like to be a father to your baby.”

Sascha let out a happy sigh. He’d always believed that the baby he carried meant something ugly could become beautiful, but now he could also have a partner.

“Our baby. He or she will be our baby.”

Brandon leaned in. “You’ve just made me the happiest wolf alive.”

Sascha grinned. “Does that mean… Are we true mates now?”

Brandon brushed his lips back and forth across Sascha’s temple. Brandon’s scent, his heat, was making Sascha crazy. All he could think about was climbing onto Brandon’s lap. The moment he wrapped his arms around Brandon’s neck, he realized that’s exactly what he’d done.

Brandon held his gaze, his smile as wide as Sascha imagined his own was. “True mates. A real family, you and me and the baby.”

“Then kiss me.”

The instant Brandon’s lips pressed against his, Sascha melted in his Alpha’s strong embrace. He opened up, let Brandon in, tasted him. This. This was his first kiss. The curious fumblings with young omegas had been nothing other than trying to understand those first urges, the initial burst of longing at puberty that hadn’t been there before.

Sascha explored Brandon’s mouth with his tongue, breathed him in as Brandon fought him for control over the kiss. His Alpha prevailed, and Sascha reveled in Brandon’s sure touches, the way he caressed his back, his shoulders, his ass. Sascha ran his fingers through the thick waves of Brandon’s hair then angled his head to deepen the exchange.

Sascha let out a gasp as he broke free from the kiss, gulping in air. He gripped Brandon’s shoulders as the realization of what was happening hit him.

“What is it, love?” Brandon stroked Sascha’s face. “Am I being too rough?”

Sascha shook his head. “No. I…I’m hard. I can’t believe I’m hard. It’s been ages.” He drew his eyebrows together. “There’s something I need to tell you, and I hope you don’t think I’m lying. I’m a virgin. Not only wasn’t I raped, but I was never with anyone before I was kidnapped. I’m saying this because I want us to share everything. I’ve always believed that’s something true mates do.”

“I agree. And I believe you, Sascha.” Brandon kept caressing Sascha, soothing him. “Can you help guide me when it comes to our physical relationship? I don’t want to push you too soon.” Brandon rubbed the side of Sascha’s swollen belly. “And I don’t know what’s okay to do with anyone who’s pregnant.”

Sascha chewed on his lip. The last thing he’d been thinking about was sex when Asha had examined him. Yet, he imagined that sex happened during pregnancy. The only thing he wasn’t sure of was if it was only okay up to a certain point in the pregnancy. Then there was the fact he was a guy. Would it be different because of that? Would it be a problem because the baby was the result of a lab experiment?

“Look at me.” Brandon grasped his chin and gently encouraged Sascha to meet his gaze again. “I’m happy just kissing and cuddling right now. And anyway, I’m headed back to the Wolf Creek Pack in the morning. I can check in with Asha and ask her. She’ll know.”

“But then you’ll be outing yourself to her.”

Brandon snorted. “I doubt much gets past her anyway. I’m guessing she already knows who your fated mate is.”

Sascha was back to being stressed out. Only this time, he was worried for his mate and not himself. “Yeah, but what if Nic finds out too?”

“Sascha, listen. I’m done hiding. Now that I know we have a future together, that you’re accepting me as your Alpha, I was planning on telling him anyway. I was going to ask his advice on whether I should come out to the council or my own pack first.”

Sascha’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? If you want to wait a while to get used to us being together, I’d understand.”

“No.” Brandon shook his head. “You’re my mate and I’m proud of that. I want everyone to know. It never mattered whether I came out before, but it sure as hell matters now.”

A sense of peace washed over him. He and the baby were safe from the evil bastards who’d stolen him, but it was more than that. The one who the fates had chosen for him was honorable, loving and fiercely protective.

What else could he possibly need?