Brogan had never seen the waiting room for the Obstetrics and Delivery floor this full of people supporting a single omega in labor. When he arrived with Morris and Jaysan—after making use of the building’s day care for the two toddlers—it was standing room only, thanks to all the folks who loved Kell Iverson Cross. Tarek, Karter, Jax, Dex and Serge, Isa, Liam, Demir, Knox Oakley and Sloan Jenks, Kale, even Jaysan’s former beta guardians. Other members of Light House and their two “Raising Our Voices” support groups.

So. Many. People.

Family.

The two most obvious faces missing—Ronin and Braun—were in the delivery room with Kell, no doubt. As much as Brogan wanted to tell both men Kell would be fine, and so would the newest family member arriving, he stayed in the waiting room with the rest. He gazed around at the familiar faces. So many mated couples, arms around each other in support, and his own arms twitched. Missing his own bondmate. Wishing he had someone to hold him like Karter held Jax, or like Isa held Liam.

I need Mikel.

After about thirty minutes of making small talk, Brogan was getting antsy. Yes, labor could take hours, but he also didn’t know how long Kell had been in labor before Morris got the call. Couldn’t have been very long, because Brogan had been eating lunch with Ronin less than four hours ago, and Morris hadn’t mentioned anything dramatic at the office before coming home.

Ronin approached the room, his usual confidence a bit wilted at the edges, but he didn’t look stressed or scared. Then again, he was a mated alpha addressing a lot of worried omegins, and he wouldn’t want to cause them any unnecessary upset. “You all get to help me yell at Kell in about a month for not telling anyone he’d been feeling contractions all morning,” Ronin said in a surprisingly light tone. “Not even Braun.”

Jax gestured but Brogan couldn’t see his hands to interpret.

“It’s not your fault, Jax,” Ronin said. “Kell said he didn’t want anyone to start worrying until absolutely necessary.”

“As if Braun hasn’t been worried for the last year,” Serge Freel commented, one arm locked around his husband Dex’s waist. He was wearing scrubs which suggested he was still on shift, or had just gotten off. “What’s Dr. Troi say about Kell’s progress?”

Ronin’s expression flickered. “He’s progressing quickly, but the baby’s breach, and Dr. Troi is concerned. The baby might not turn before full labor hits.”

“So a Caesarean?”

Brogan’s stomach tightened.

“We always knew it was a possibility,” Ronin replied.

Didn’t make it any less scary, and since Brogan was the only one in their immediate circle of friends not hugging their own mate or husband, he hugged Ronin. Ronin hugged him back, chest heaving once, the only sure sign of his internalized fear for his mate’s and new baby’s lives. “They’ll be fine,” Brogan whispered before releasing the bigger man.

“Thank you,” Ronin said. “I need to get back in.”

Ronin held Tarek’s gaze for a long moment, the two friends probably silently asking how Braun was and receiving assurances Braun was okay. The pair had a long history of friendship, having met ten years ago at university, and despite their lives going vastly different ways, they’d kept in touch and reconnected because of Kell’s trial.

Jaysan slipped his hand into Brogan’s and squeezed. “Caesareans aren’t so awful.”

“I know. We both know. Still, sometimes it’s hard not to remember how scary giving birth to Peyton was. Omega obstetrics have advanced so much in the last two years, but…”

“Yeah.”

“Brogan?”

Joy jolted down his spine at the sound of Mikel’s voice behind him. Brogan turned, any residual anger at Mikel’s earlier behavior melting away at the sight of his mate standing there, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched. Hesitant. “You came,” Brogan said. “How did you know?”

Mikel glanced to his left, where Morris was holding Morgyn and watching them with a small smile. Morris winked at Brogan.

“I am so sorry about today,” Mikel said. He took a single, tentative step forward. “I was being an overprotective, judgmental jerk, and I’m sorry.”

“I know, and I get it now.” Brogan walked to his mate and put both hands on his shoulders. The contact settled something inside Brogan that had been off-kilter since their fight. “I forgive you, if you can forgive me for keeping such a big secret.”

“Absolutely.”

Surrounded by his mate’s scent and strong arms once again, Brogan relaxed into Mikel’s comforting hold, so grateful to Morris for reaching out. Brogan had walked away, and Mikel had chased after him. “I love you so much,” Brogan said. “We need you in our lives.”

Mikel’s entire body flinched. “I wasn’t so sure at one point.”

“Which point?” Brogan pulled back, alarmed at the grief in Mikel’s dark eyes. “What did I say?”

“I know you were frustrated with me today, but the way you called Peyton ‘my kid.’ Your kid, as if you no longer considered me a parent, too.”

“I’m sorry I said that. Of course, I consider you Peyton’s parent. It was absolutely said out of frustration with our argument. Every single choice I’ve made since giving birth has been made with Peyton in mind, and that has never been more true than with this Hamilton mess. But I did have good news I never got around to sharing.”

Mikel’s eyebrows arched. “Yeah?”

Brogan finally laid the inheritance bomb on his mate, and Mikel’s eyes sparkled with surprise and excitement. “It’s obviously going to be on hold for a few days, now that Kell’s in labor. Ronin will be otherwise occupied, but wouldn’t it be the best possible news?”

“It truly is. It would put off our mating for another heat, at least, but it’s so totally worth it for a good outcome.”

“Why put off mating?”

“Well, we don’t know when Hamilton will go on trial, and you securing control of his assets is dependent upon a guilty verdict, right?”

“Right.”

“And the claim to the money is based on you being mated to Francis. I don’t want us mating to diminish that standing in the eyes of the law.”

“Oh.” Brogan hadn’t considered that particular angle, and it was likely something Ronin would have addressed down the road. But he loved how much thought Mikel was already putting into this. “How did you get to be so smart?”

Mikel chuckled. “Goddess knows. It isn’t as if it ever showed in my schoolwork.”

“Not everyone is book-smart, not even alphas. We just have to find something you’re good at and passionate about. You’re twenty, Mikel, you have plenty of time to figure yourself out. Peyton and I aren’t going anywhere.” And for the first time since the diagnosis, Brogan truly believed that. He believed in a happy future for his son—not only because of the money, but because a few yards away, Demir Higgs chatted with fellow betas Sloan and Knox, and Demir wanted to be a doctor. A researcher.

He wanted to find a cure for Donal Syndrome.

Brogan’s family would fight for them, no matter what.

An hour later, Braun shuffled into the waiting room in a daze, both cheeks blazing with color, but his face otherwise pale. Tarek dashed to him, and alarm shot down Brogan’s spine. Braun resisted Tarek’s attempts to hug him and said something in a harsh whisper Brogan couldn’t hear. “He’s what?” Tarek asked. “Are you serious?”

Braun nodded. “Dr. Troi can’t believe it, either.”

“Can’t believe what?” Liam asked. “Braun, what’s going on? Is Kell in trouble?”

“No.” Braun gazed around the room but didn’t seem to actually look at anyone in particular. “Um, Kell’s having twins.”

A roar of shocked cries and comments went around the room, and Brogan gaped at his friend. He’d never heard of multiples in Sansbury in his lifetime. They were crazy rare, and now Kell was having twins? Seriously? Brogan grasped at Mikel’s waist so he didn’t sway from the shock of it.

“But he’s been under such strict care,” Tarek said. “How on earth did Dr. Troi miss twins this whole time?”

“I guess the way they were positioned, the scans never showed more than one at a time. And their heartbeats were synched until a few minutes ago, when Dr. Troi checked to see if the baby had turned, and then he realized…holy shit. Twins.”

Tarek tugged him into a firm hug. “That’s incredible.”

Incredible, but also scary. Twins would be huge news, and Kell was already infamous for being an omegin on trial for murdering his mate. Plus, all the omega rights marches and rallies he participated in and helped organize. The speeches he made.

“I have to go back,” Braun said. “They’ll probably have to do the Caesarean now, but I wanted you guys to know.” He kissed Tarek hard on the mouth, then returned to the delivery room.

Brogan gaped at Liam and Jaysan, and in his peripheral vision Jax was signaling furiously to Serge. He caught words like “risk” and “weight” and “delivery” but not the full meaning of the questions. Serge’s reply was lost to the general din of conversation. Even the handful of strangers waiting on other patients were buzzing about the twins news.

“I still can’t believe Dr. Troi didn’t realize Kell was carrying multiples,” Brogan said. “That’s insane.”

“Maybe it isn’t part of the general medical training, since it’s so rare,” Mikel replied. “A paragraph on what to look for in med school and then that’s it. Why focus on learning something you’re unlikely to use in your lifetime?”

“I guess so. But it would have been nice for Kell and Ronin to be able to plan for twins, you know? Kell’s going to hate being in the news for this, too.”

“But he’ll have his friends there to support him through it all.”

“True.” Brogan leaned into Mikel’s chest. “Thank you for being here and for loving me.”

“It’s my honor, Brogan. I mean it. You and Peyton are my world. You helped me believe in myself, not only as an alpha, but as a man and a future mate. You helped me open up to love and happiness, and to my blood family. Each new day is an adventure and a gift, rather than a burden to bear. Instead of simply existing, I’m now living my life as I was always meant to.”

The beautiful words put tears in Brogan’s eyes. Mikel leaned down and rubbed their noses together. “Thank you, my alpha,” Brogan whispered.

“Anything for you, my omega. My heart.”

Two hours later, Brogan, Jaysan, Liam, and Jax were crowded into Kell’s room, waiting for their first glimpses of the two new Crosses. After a successful Caesarean, both newborns were whisked away for careful monitoring, because they were so small. Only four pounds each. Kell was resting in bed, as happy and content as Brogan had ever seen the older omegin, and he was anxious to see his new boys again.

“I’ve never seen such tiny babies before,” Kell said. “But you should have heard them crying.”

“I can’t imagine how it feels to have twins,” Liam replied. “A single child is such a blessing, but two?” He flattened both hands over his stomach. “When I was still pregnant with Layne and Isa was working on his plan to get our group beta guardians, he made an offhand comment about ‘after your babies are born,’ and for a split instant, I thought he’d heard something I didn’t know from the doctor, and that I was having more than one baby.”

Jax snickered.

“They’re coming!” Braun bounced into the room, all cheerful smiles and energy now that his nephews had been safely brought into the world. “You should see the people outside in the hallway who want a peek. Not just our friends, but random strangers. It’s like babies on parade.”

Kell groaned. “Ugh, stop reminding me I’ve created some sort of miracle. Ronin’s already said we’re getting a higher fence and external security cameras on the house.”

“Not a bad idea,” Brogan said.

“You’ll find a way to use this to your advantage with omega rights,” Braun added as he positioned himself next to Kell’s bed. “If omega healthcare was improved and more of a priority, especially our reproductive systems, maybe you’d have found out sooner you were having twins.”

“Good point.” Kell grabbed Braun’s hand. “Oh, I need them soon.”

“They’re coming. And Demir went down to the playroom to get Branson. He needs to meet his new baby brothers.”

A wave of hushed excitement filtered in from the hallway. Their respective alphas were there, giving the omega friends room to visit without overwhelming Kell, everyone excited to meet the twins. The first set of twins born in Sansbury Province in at least twenty-five years, to the first and only omegin to ever stand trial for murder.

Kell is going to have so many stories to tell his kids when they’re grown. So many.

Serge, Dex, and Tarek nudged their way into the room, and on their heels, Ronin pushed a bassinette with two swaddled, squirming bundles. One boy wore a yellow knit cap, the other a green one. They were so tiny they looked more like dolls than real live human beings. Their proud sire loomed over them, and Ronin didn’t bother wiping the tears off his own cheeks, not seeming to care they were there.

Kell squealed softly when the bassinette finally reached the bed. “Oh, Ronin, look what we did.”

“They’re perfect and healthy, just small,” Ronin reported. He expertly lifted the green-capped baby and settled him in the crook of Kell’s right arm, then put the yellow-capped baby in Kell’s left. “Now that’s a pretty sight.”

“What are their genders?”

He rested a large palm over Green’s stomach. “He’s alpha.” His other palm settled over Yellow’s stomach. “And he’s omega.”

Kell’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. We’ve got a matched set.”

Brogan squeezed Jaysan’s hand, eyes stinging with joyful tears. Not only had Kell survived his second pregnancy with very few complications, he’d given birth to twins. And the little family was not quite complete...

“Daddy!” Branson raced through the crowd of visitors. Ronin bent to scoop him up and deposited the excited little beta onto the bed next to his omegin, who was the daddy he’d cried out for. Ronin was Papa.

“There you are, my big boy,” Kell said. “Meet your new brothers.”

Branson gazed in awe at the little bundles. “My brothers? I get two?”

“Yup. Two is a big surprise, because we were only expecting one. Think you can be a great big brother to two at once?”

“Yup!” Branson touched Yellow’s cap. “Hello.” Yellow’s tiny lips smacked together, and Branson squealed with joy. “I love you.”

Brogan heart melted at the sight of the toddler declaring his love for his twin brothers. He couldn’t wait for that to be Peyton one day, saying hello to his new little brother. A brother Brogan would make with Mikel, his heart and his mate. It might be a year or two before that actually happened, but they were both young. They had time, and they’d take their time. Do things right.

“So have you guys talked about names?” Serge asked.

Kell and Ronin shared a look, and then they both started laughing.

Serge glanced at Dex. “What did I say?”

“Sorry, it isn’t you,” Ronin replied, because Kell couldn’t seem to stop giggling over their shared joke. “We had discussed names, and we each had one we loved best, so I said we’d just flip a button after the boy was born to see who got to name him.”

“Now we can use both names,” Kell added. “But who is who?”

After a quiet discussion, Kell proudly announced their names. “Okay, you guys. Meet Emory, our little omega, and Caden, our little alpha.”

Emory and Caden. Beautiful names for two beautiful, tiny lives. Brogan waited his turn to hug and kiss his friends, then went in search of his mate. His heart was so full, he was afraid it might burst with all his joy, excitement, and love. Mikel and Morris were standing in the hallway, mid-conversation, which stopped when Brogan flung himself into Mikel’s arms with a peel of laughter.

“I’m so happy for you and your friends,” Mikel said. “They’re so tiny.”

“I know, right? Did you hear their names?”

“I did. The goddess is smiling down on that family today.”

“On our entire family. All of us. We are all truly blessed right now. And there’s still work to be done, but Mikel…today is a good day.”

“Today is a great day.” Mikel slanted his mouth across Brogan’s, and he sighed into the tender kiss. A revelation, a promise, and an act of love all rolled up into one small act. An act Brogan couldn’t wait to share again and again, in private, and definitely later in bed.

They’d make a baby brother for Peyton one day, and Brogan very much looked forward to all the practice they’d get in the meantime.

Kell Etting Iverson Cross’s heart was so full he almost couldn’t stand it. A lifetime ago, he’d simply been Kell Etting, big brother to little Braun, and they had tea parties in the backyard with Omegin and imaginary wild animals. A lifetime ago when Kell and Braun both believed in magic and in the kindness of people.

And then he’d been Kell Iverson, mate to a sadistic alphahole who treated Kell like a come-dump, a hole to fuck, a womb to fill, and nothing more. Three years as that man had been hell on earth for Kell, and after being pushed too far, Kell’s lizard brain had protected him. Sure, Kell had been in jail for a while and on trial for murder, but now he was free.

And the entire thing had made him the man he was today: Kell Cross. Mated to the best person on the planet, the best mate, alpha and sire he could have ever wanted for his children. Ronin was everything he’d ever dreamed for in his life, and Kell adored the man currently shooing visitors out of the room, because Ronin knew without asking that Kell was exhausted.

The idea of giving birth again, after nearly dying the first time, had terrified Kell, but when Dr. Troi said twins? Kell’s brain had shorted out. It hadn’t made sense. But Kell had seen the sonogram, seen the two hearts beating slightly off synch. Two new lives. He and Ronin had created two.

Emory and Caden were sleeping in Kell’s arms, where they’d been repositioned after a few of their closest friends had held the newborns. Branson was absolutely enamored of his new baby brothers and couldn’t seem to wrap his young mind around twins. Barely three, he’d already vowed to love and protect his siblings, and Kell couldn’t be prouder of his firstborn.

Braun and Tarek were the last to go. Braun lingered the longest over the twins, kissing each wrinkled face, and then kissing Kell’s forehead too. “You did it,” he whispered.

“We all did,” Kell whispered back. His heart burned with love for his brother, because without Braun, none of this would have been possible. Braun had escaped Lawry’s hell, been rescued by Dex, who introduced him to Tarek, who’d called Ronin, and the rest was history. Kell didn’t believe in fate, exactly, but he believed in Braun. In Braun’s strength, courage, and unerring loyalty to the people he loved. “Thank you.”

“All I did was not freak out.”

“You did more than that and you know it.” Kell smiled up at his baby brother, a bit startled to see that Braun was, in fact, a man. Still young, but an omegin with his own child, and mated to an honorable alpha who treasured Braun like the unique, irreplaceable person he was. A person who lived, loved, and fought for omega rights alongside Kell every single day.

A person Kell was blessed to call brother.

“Will Unca Braun have twins?” Branson asked.

Braun groaned.

“You never know, baby boy,” Kell said to his eldest. “That’s the fun part of life’s big adventure. None of us really know what’s going to happen next. The important thing is we love each other now, exactly as we are.”

“Agreed.” Tarek wrapped his arms around Braun from behind.

Ronin eased onto the bed next to Kell and laughed when Branson climbed up his broad chest to hug his neck. Kell steadied the sleeping newborns, wishing Rei was here to complete their little family, but they’d all be home soon. Together. With the rest of their lives spread out before them.

Family.