The little things were the ones Jason had always overlooked, preferring a more big picture approach to life. Having two mates to love and care for with a baby on the way and a newly incorporated Federation territory to run taught him to savor those little moments. Movies on the couch. Dinner at the lake. Stray glances from across the fancy event halls at the parties he no longer had a valid excuse to get out of.

Not that he had much to complain about when he had two mates who looked damn good in a tuxedo.

There was nothing little about the night ahead of them, though. Everything else was on hold and they’d finally carved out a time to complete the mark, because it was too important to put off on account of any other pack-related demands. As he stood at the edge of the forest, looking into the trees for any sign of the omega’s soft brown fur, his wolf was ready to come out. So was Kade’s. He’d always been able to tell when his mate was about to shift, and that night, at the prospect of hunting their beloved omega, they were feeding off each other’s excitement.

Looking back, Jason wasn’t sure how he’d ever failed to realize what Clyde was to him. Now that he was about to hunt his mate with the intent of staking that final claim that would bind them together forever, it seemed so obvious. So perfect.

Kade shifted first and Jason took off after him. What began as a dual effort soon turned into a goodnatured competition. Jason caught wind of Clyde’s scent and shifted his path through the trees, but Kade was already on the right trail. Before long, the omega would need to stay close to home and rest, but the doctor had assured them that this traditional rite of mating was safe, as long as they did it soon. Not that Clyde was in any real danger. With two devoted, fierce mates at his beck and call, there was no omega on the plains who could boast greater safety or security.

Not that he needed their protection. The headstrong omega had kept their Alpha ways in check at every turn, reminding them that he was with them because he loved them, not because he had to be. It just made the times when he’d allow them to care for and nurture him all the more meaningful.

Finally, Kade caught sight of Jason and the other Alpha followed his gaze. It became a race to the finish, but the omega wasn’t letting them off easy. He darted at the last moment, scurrying under a tree root that neither of them stood a chance at getting through with their large, muscular beasts.

Kade’s eyes met Jason’s and an understanding passed between them. A truce in the interest of claiming their mate together. Jason nodded and took off to cut Clyde off at the pass while Kade penned him in.

The omega gave a startled yelp as the huge black wolf appeared in front of him unexpectedly. When he turned back, Kade was blocking off his only exit through the tall rocks. For a moment, Jason could see him formulating an alternate route of escape before he finally realized he’d been bested. Probably for the first time in his life, and it had taken a joint effort, but Jason was still going to call it a victory.

And there was no sweeter prize than getting to claim the omega who’d always been theirs.

Clyde let out an amused snort of resignation and sunk down with his belly to the ground, flattening his ears in submission. When Jason loped over to him, the smaller wolf raised his head to lick his cheek. Jason nuzzled him affectionately as Kade came around to join them. They both laid down on either side of the smaller wolf, letting the adrenaline of the chase wear off first so he’d be comfortable. Clyde shook out his fur and laid his head down on Kade’s paws as if to tell them he was ready.

Both Alphas sunk their teeth into his neck at the same time and while Clyde shuddered, he didn’t yelp or cry out in pain. It was over fast, but Jason could already feel their bond deepening, strengthening. The cord between the three of them was stronger than ever and in that moment, he knew nothing could break it. Nothing ever would.

* * *

The latter months of Clyde’s pregnancy seemed to fly by to Jason, but he knew his mate probably had a different perspective, since he was the one on bed rest for most of it. According to Milton, it was a precaution due to the early onset of the mating sickness, but he expected Clyde and the baby to be just fine and reach full term.

The closer the due date came, the more Jason began to relax knowing that the omega wasn’t going to go into premature labor. Kade, on the other hand, seemed more worried than ever. He’d repainted the nursery three times because the color wasn’t “quite right” and he’d read a book that said the color a baby sees most often in his first six months of life sets the tone for the next eighty years, at least.

Jason wasn’t at all sure about that, but he knew better than to argue with a mated Alpha whose mate was due any day. He was one, for that matter. Other than a few odd cravings, Clyde’s moods hadn’t changed much. The omega was taking the same clinical approach to pregnancy that he took to anything else.

At least, that was what Jason had thought, until he’d caught him whispering words of promise and love to his round belly as he sat in the rocker Kade had built for the nursery.

Jason’s heart swelled as their mate’s belly grew. He could understand now why Kade had always wanted this. He had, too, even if it had taken both of them to make him realize just how much. Bringing a new life into the world, having the chance to grow their family and share the love that they’d been blessed with in such great abundance. Silver Rapids had once been Jason’s greatest source of pride, but he saw things in such a different light now.

Clyde and Kade had both given him so much. They’d given him everything. He could never repay them, but he decided to try, and forever was as good of a place as any to begin.