“Awake and alert. There doesn’t appear to be any brain damage.”
“Who’s this?” Emerson’s papa asked.
“Maybe it’s the omega Emerson’s been sitting with all day,” Lucas said, grinning. “Must be a special one to get a bedside vigil. Have you finally found your mate?”
Emerson stiffened.
Everyone in the room turned to look at him. Emerson’s gaze went to Randall’s—who wore a shocked expression and shrugged his shoulders.
“Who said I was sitting vigil with anyone?” Emerson asked, his throat so tight he wasn’t sure how he’d gotten the words out.
“When I got here, I overheard some of the ambulance drivers talking outside about how you jumped in and saved some guy and how you were in full overprotective alpha mode. Another one mentioned you hadn’t left his side since.”
The rumors have already begun, hmm? Great.
His papa sauntered over and pressed a finger into the middle of Emerson’s chest.“I told youthat you were next.”
“I’m shocked he even has one,” River said, his voice heavily laced with sarcasm. “He’s not the type.”
“River,”Bayley scolded. “Be nice.”
“Why should I be?” River asked before turning his arrogant stare to Emerson. “I already told him I planned to make his life hell for as long as I could after what he did to me.”
“He had every right to chase that alpha out of your bedroom,” Lucas said to River, pulling his arm away from Emerson’s shoulders, squaring up to River.
“He hadnoright,” River said, glaring.
“You were only seventeen,” Lucas growled. “And in our parents house.”
“My body, my choice,”River snapped back. His angry gaze turned back to Emerson.
Emerson turned away, not in the mood for one of River’s tantrums.
“Do you know how embarrassing it was for the whole neighborhood to witness my boyfriend jump out of my bedroom window—and then have this idiot jump out and chase him?” River growled low. “Why’d you do it, Em? Did you have a hard-on for my sexyalphaboyfriend?”
Emerson’s head whipped up and he met River’s gaze as gasps filled the room.
River crossed his arms over his chest, lifting his chin arrogantly. When he glanced around at everyone, he seemed to waver a bit. “Oh, come on! How long are we all going to pretend we don’t know?” River eyed Emerson. “I bet there’s no omega he’s been sitting vigil with, either. Another piece of fiction ol’ Em can hide behind.”
“River!”Emerson’s papa snapped.
Emerson’s knees felt like they were about to go out from under him. He scanned the room, but everyone but Randall turned and looked away from him, as if embarrassed. When his gaze landed on Jackson in the other bed beside Randall, he cringed andreallywanted to die on the spot. He’d not even noticed the man there.
Pity shone on Jackson’s face and Emerson immediately wanted to put his fist there to make it go away.
“My man Emerson here hasthe bestomega in the world,” Jackson said, breaking the silence. “I know, because I tried to win him myself, but wasn’t meant to be. I might bea littlesalty about that, but if I can’t have him, at least I know he’ll have a hero at his side.” Jackson grinned. “I saw you doing your thing inthat fire and I’ll say that I’m way more impressed with you now. Especially when you made that beam your bitch. I’m definitely not going to piss you off anytime soon.”
Emerson smiled weakly, appreciating Jackson’s attempt to cover for him. It also made him feel a little guilty about considering that punch.
River looked at Emerson and back to Jackson, lowering his arms to his sides. “So… there’s really an omega? He’s not fake?”
“Oh yeah,”Jackson said. “A very talented one who’sfine as hell.”
“You don’t have to do that, Jackson,” Emerson said. He’d already planned to come out to his family. This wasn’t the way he’d wanted to do it, but such was life. “There’s no point in continuing the lies.”
“I knew it,”River said, narrowing his eyes at Emerson.
“Pretty sure I just said thereisan omega,” Jackson muttered, frowning at River with irritation in his eyes.
