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“Welcome back, Reese.” The Dean glanced at Reese’s rounded belly and arched a brow. “And congratulations.”
“Thank you, sir.” Reese ignored the burning blush on his cheeks. “And thank you for giving me more of your time.”
“Not a problem. I’m glad you’re back. Although Tiberius is the one now talking about leaving.
“Leaving the Academy?” Reese sank down in one of the empty chairs, winded. “Did he tell you that?”
“Yes. I know, I was shocked, too. At first, I wondered, is it an epidemic causing my best students to leave? Should I be worried? But he seems determined to find a job and take care of you and...” The dean waved a hand, indicating Reese’s belly. “His family.”
Aw god. Tiberius had said his father wanted him to marry. He didn’t really say what the consequences of refusing were. He had to talk to him. Reese was already behind in his studies and would have to stop again in about three months when the babies came. He could take a part-time job...
“Reese.”
“Sir.”
“If you want to come back, just say so. You still have the scholarship.”
“I do?”
“I’d been hoping you’d come back. I realized something had happened when you left so suddenly. And now I know why, or I’m guessing I know why, I have to tell you that there are special terms for pregnant omega students.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll get more flexibility in timetables, deadlines, and presence requirements, once you give us a doctor’s paper stating you’re pregnant.”
“Oh.” Reese thought about that. “Would the ultrasounds of the babies do?”
“They certainly would.” The Dean smiled. “Does that mean you’re picking up your studies again?”
“That was the plan, if you’d let me,” Reese whispered, “but...”
“But what?”
“I have to talk to Tiberius, see why he thinks he has to drop out.”
“If you can convince him to stay...” The dean shrugged. “He’s a good student. In one year, he’ll have his diploma. It could open many doors.”
“Right.” Reese got to his feet, rubbing his belly. “Thank you, sir. If that’s okay, I’ll come back later to talk some more.”
“Of course. I hope you both stay.”
***
“Did your father kick you out?”
Tiberius looked up from where he’d been reading the back of a prenatal vitamin jar, eyes wide, as Reese stormed into his room. “What?”
“Did your father...” Reese stopped, and bent over a little, trying to catch his breath. Damn, but he got so easily tired these days. “Did he kick you out? When you refused to marry?”
“Love.” In two strides, Tiberius was beside him, tugging him toward the bed. “Come, sit down. Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” Frustrated, Reese yanked—or tried to yank his arm free from the alpha’s steel grip. “It was just a question.”
“I see.” Tiberius was quiet for a few moments, and Reese relented and stepped closer to him. “What did the dean tell you?”
“You know what he told me. You want to drop out of the Academy.”
“I was only thinking of the future. Reese...” He tugged on Reese’s hand again and they sat together on the bed’s edge. “My father promised to disown me if I didn’t do as told. And I don’t regret it at all. I never wanted to lead the company and the estate, never wanted to stand beside my father in his power politics. I’m much happier working a job and sharing my life with you.”
“But...”
Tiberius kissed him. It always worked to distract him. “I’ll finish this year first,” Tiberius said, cupping Reese’s face. “And then decide. It’s not urgent, okay? There’s nothing to stress over. We’ll study. Wait for the babies to arrive. And after that, we will see.”
“Okay.” Put like that, it sounded logical. Practical. “I’m just so sorry you lost your inheritance, your father—”
“I haven’t lost anything I wanted. All I want is you. My boyfriend. My lover. Tiberius pulled him into his strong arms. I’m so damn lucky to have you. My father is the one losing a son. He tried to force me into a life I didn’t want. Tried to scare you away from me. He’s not only losing a son, he’s losing two, plus the grandkids. You should be sorry for him.”
“... I can’t,” Reese breathed.
Tiberius chuckled. Then he laughed outright. “You never will, will you?”
“Probably not.” But then Reese was laughing, too, and then the babies started kicking, and the topic was dropped in favor of Tiberius serious conversation with Reese’s belly, what he always did when the babies kicked.
It involved Tiberius lying on his stomach on the bed, to be on belly-level, rubbing Reese’s belly and talking to the babies about the weather, the Academy, and even singing them rock songs.
It was hilarious.
And exactly what Reese needed to feel better about the whole thing.
***
After telling the dean that he’d be happy to go back to his studies, and that Tiberius would be doing the same at least until the end of the year, Reese was walking back toward the alpha building, relieved—when he thought he saw a familiar blond head.
The other omega stopped, too, giving him an uncertain look. Reese didn’t have much contact with the other omegas of the Academy. He mostly saw them in the salon, serving the alphas for credits.
“You’re Jace, right?”
“Yeah?” The omega approached him. He held his backpack against his chest, as if afraid someone might take it. “I’ve seen you before.”
“I’m Reese, Tiberius’s boyfriend.” It felt weird to introduce himself like that, but he also kind of liked it. He liked belonging to Tiberius. “We met at the salon. You brought Marcus a gift.”
Jace colored, and his mouth tightened. “Oh yes. I remember now.”
“I’m sorry he’s so callous.”
“Oh, it’s okay. Aw!” He took a step closer, looking at Reese’s belly. “You’re pregnant!”
“Yeah.” Reese felt himself coloring. “Halfway through the third month already.”
“And you have that glow about you. You look lovely.”
“Thanks. The morning sickness is finally easing off, so...”
“Can I touch?”
“Um. Sure. Go ahead.”
It was common for omegas to want to touch a pregnant belly. And Jace’s eyes positively glowed as he placed his hand on Reese’s bump. “How many babies?” he whispered.
“Um, two.”
“You’re so big already, though. Maybe it’s alpha babies.”
That could be. It was impossible to know how a shifter presented before the first years of life, but the size was sometimes a good indication. Alpha babies were the largest, omega babies the smallest, with Beta babies in the middle.
“Tiberius seems to be a nice guy,” Jace said. “He loves you, one can clearly see that.”
“Yeah.” Reese rubbed at his belly, smiling. “I think he does. He said he wants to Claim me.”
“I’m so happy for you. Uh... I should let you get on with what you were doing. Where you were going. Whatever you have to do. Um.” Jace stepped back, then turned and hurried away.
“Jace. Wait.” When the other omega stopped and glanced at him over his shoulder, Reese took a deep breath. “Tiberius says that Marcus is a good guy.”
Jace waited, a question in his eyes.
“But he’s also a difficult guy. Complicated. Or so it seems. And he’s been going through a rough patch since he hurt his leg. I’m telling you all this in case you meant to Court him more. Just so you know.”
Great, he was babbling.
After a moment, though, Jace shot him a faint smile, inclined his head in thanks, and walked away.
Reese liked Jace, he decided. He didn’t even know why, if that desperation in his eyes tugged on Reese’s heartstrings, or what it was. Maybe it was just a fellow omega thing, in an Academy chock-full of burly alphas.
And he also liked Marcus, who was kind in his own gruff way.
Why did he find himself hoping for a happy ending for those two? It was ridiculous. And he wasn’t a matchmaker.
Stop it, Reese, he told himself firmly. You have enough on your plate already.
As if in reply, one of the babies kicked him in the ribs, making him snort.
Exactly that, babies.