Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Even when he’d introduced Eric to younger, available alphas, he’d never tried as hard as he could have—as he should have. He should have left Eric alone with them to give other alphas a chance, not walked around with Eric’s hand wrapped around his arm. Eric had had no chance of attracting potential alphas when they were so intimidated by a Randall’s presence.
Hugh couldn’t deny that he’d liked the way the kid had looked at him. The trust, the faith in his eyes. The softness, the warmth, the need in them. It was addictive. It had pushed all his buttons. Fuck, maybe he really hadn’t wanted Eric to look at anyone but him with that trusting, bright-eyed expression. Maybe everything Eric said was true and he was that much of an asshole.
He’d thought he was a better man. It was humbling to realize that he wasn’t any better than the traditionalists who acted like they owned their omegas. Hell, Eric wasn’t even his omega, and yet Hugh still irrationally felt like he had a claim to him. He hadn’t even managed to keep his dick out of Eric for longer than a few minutes after Eric walked into his office alone. He’d ravished his patient—his married patient—against the door like an animal in rut. A better man wouldn’t have done that. A better man would also feel ashamed at the memory, not turned on.
Hugh grimaced, nursing his glass of water. He was going to control himself around Eric tonight, his asshole alpha instincts be damned. It was a good thing Eric had chosen to meet him at a restaurant. The public setting was a relief. Hugh didn’t trust them to keep it in their pants if they were alone again.
There might already be consequences of the unprotected sex.
Pushing the persistent thought to the back of his mind—he didn’t like how that made him feel—Hugh looked up from the glass of water, just in time to see Eric heading toward him.
“Hi,” Eric said, his expression guarded. It made Hugh’s heart twist with nostalgia for the unguarded, bright-eyed boy Eric once was. That boy had clearly grown up.
“Hey,” Hugh said.
They didn’t talk until the waiter left with their orders.
“So,” Eric said. “How come aren’t you on suppressants anymore?”
“I’m not bonded as of two months ago.”
Eric’s eyes widened, his guarded expression gone. “Really? The bond dissolved on its own? So you’re in the 0.07% of the bondmates that has happened to?”
It made Hugh smile in amusement. “Your ability to know and remember bizarre little facts never ceases to amaze me.”
“I like to read,” Eric said with a crooked smile, and for a moment it was like the three years apart hadn’t happened.
Hugh cleared his throat a little, wrenching his gaze away from those smiling, lovely lips. “It didn’t dissolve on its own. We found a solution. You’re actually the one who gave me the idea.”
“What do you mean?” Eric said, leaning forward in his excitement. He looked so lovely when he was animated, his blue eyes sparkling with interest.
Hugh couldn’t seem to stop staring. “You mentioned that your brother’s bond to his mate broke because of the genetic modifications his bondmate had undergone on Planet Calluvia. I contacted genetic centers on Calluvia and asked around if anyone were willing to do the same for me.”
Eric frowned. “And they agreed?”
“No,” Hugh said, grimacing. “They said they could perform such a risky procedure only if it were a life-threatening situation, which obviously wasn’t the case for me and Nadine. But the fact that it could be done at all through genetic modifications helped me focus the direction of my research. After two years, with the help of a geneticist friend of mine, I finally made a breakthrough: we were able to find the part of Eilans’ genetic code that changes upon forming a mating bond. Eventually we found a way to ‘factory reset’ it, so to speak.”
“That’s amazing!” Eric said, his eyes wide. “But I haven’t heard of it, and I keep up with science news.”
Hugh felt a rush of overwhelming fondness. Eric was such a nerd. “We haven’t published our research yet. I’m the first Eilan to undergo the procedure, but obviously it can’t be published, because my bond to Nadine wasn’t supposed to exist. We need more volunteers before we can publish.”
“Ah,” Eric said softly, accepting his drink from the waiter. “I’m happy for you,” he said, his eyes shining with sincerity. “Did Nadine and your brother rekindle their relationship?
Hugh shook his head, his lips twisting. “No. Freddie met a female alpha he fell in love with and mated her last year.” He had mixed feelings about it. He was happy that his little brother had found happiness, but it made the past two decades of toxicity and resentment seem… so damn pointless. They were trying to fix their relationship, but it was impossible to erase two decades of estrangement; Freddie barely felt like pack anymore.