Omega's Stepbrother, Anna Wineheart

There are a lot of pressures to consider when the one you love is close to you.  Closer than society would ever approve of.  Even though there's no blood relation between Raph and Wyatt there are a lot of people that would do more than just balk at any other type of relationship between them than brothers.  Unfortunately they find the worst outcome to their young love and the consequences that follow are dire.

Wyatt was a young omega when he left home.  From the time he was 14 and presented as an omega something inside him yearned for Raph, his older stepbrother.  Raph took time for him, included him, and even liked him right back.  But on the night of Wyatt's 18th birthday everything fell apart.

Their grandmother, a hag of epic proportions, caught them kissing in the piano room.  That one moment pushed her to make life so untenable for Wyatt that he was forced to leave the family home.  He ended up in the arms of someone who was almost worse than his grandmother who made it her mission throughout his entire life to make him feel separate, worthless, and alone.  Pregnant and in the worst situation of his life he truly had to work his way up from nothing.

Nine years later he's at his family's home to honor his father's latest professional achievement and praying he doesn't run into Raph.

Raph didn't have it as bad as Wyatt but that doesn't mean he got off without any kind of negative consequences either.  He's got a six-figure debt from his grandmother's loan for his education and a job he can't leave because she's his boss.  He loathes her and regrets not being the kind of alpha that could stand up to an old harpy.  Even more, he kept tabs on Wyatt's life and knew all the horrors he had to live through and he blames himself for not being strong enough to protect him.  Punishing himself by staying away was all he thought he could do.

Now, after nine years, he's at the family home for the same party praying he runs into Wyatt.

A tattoo, a sudden dive into a pool, an un-suppressed heat, and an isolated room away from the guests bring about the moment that has been hanging in suspension for nine long years.  Raph gives in to his rut, Wyatt succumbs to his heat.  The consequences set them on a course that could bring them together, but only if they can stand up to everyone that seeks their separation.

With drama from the g-ma, debt, business, pregnancy, and a dangerous ex, not to mention all the turmoil between them as a couple, there's a whole lot going on.  I think there was a few elements too many.  Because there were so many things going on all at once there was a lot that drew Raph and Wyatt away from building a lasting, believable relationship.  I think the story needed to be streamlined to find a focus rather than adding so many elements to keep the story interesting because it didn't actually add interest or suspense, it was just one thing on top of another and another and another that I lost patience quite a few times with the direction of the story.  I also felt that the way Max and the grandmother were resolved was both dramatic and simplistic.

So, in addition to the issues I had with the unnecessary amounts of dramatic craziness going on there was also the incredibly serious issue with Wyatt's sexual needs.  Being so messed up that his sexual expression was affected the way it was wasn't healthy.  I would have no problem if that was his brand of kink learned through experimentation and trust but that was absolutely NOT the case here.  He is in serious need of counseling for the trauma he went through and by asking Raph to participate in his shaming the way he did was completely unhealthy.  This was totally not okay.

Overall, the story was pretty good when you took in the way that Raph and Wyatt really did create a good partnership.  I enjoyed Raph very much, actually.  His heart was so very good and he was patient, loving, kind, and earnest.  He struggled with transparency a bit, but his heart was in the right place.  The way he dealt with Wyatt's unhealthy sexual request was honest and hopeful.  I'm glad that he tried to give Wyatt what he said he needed but then begged him to never request a repeat.  He is really what saved the story for me and the reason why review sites will be rounded up from 2.5 stars to 3.

*$4.02 on Amazon or FREE on KU!