“Life in prison, without the possibility of parole.”

The words continued to ring in Jax’s mind long after the judge’s gavel banged and court was adjourned. He hugged his friends and shared in their joy over the sentencing, but he was so overwhelmed he wasn’t sure how to respond. Kell hugged him the longest, because they both had experienced the monster’s wrath first-hand.

A monster who was going to prison and never getting out. After a long, arduous trial that aired the family’s dirty laundry all over again, Senior Haus Iverson was finally paying for his multitude of horrific sins.

Reporters were tossing questions their way, but a small group of patrolmen kept them at bay, protecting the small family of people Jax loved more than anything else in the world. Karter, Ronin, Dex, and Tarek had come today with Jax and Kell, to support them as they issued victim statements and finally heard what all those guilty verdicts had wrought.

Serge had stayed home with Braun, who’d given birth to a healthy little boy three days ago, after a somewhat tricky delivery. He was on bed rest for a week, Dr. Troi’s orders, but Tarek was already on the phone, telling his mate the good news. Serge was also on baby duty, keeping an eye on Branson, Karson, and the two newest additions to the family: little baby Rei Bloom who, at three days old, had a very healthy set of lungs, and three-month-old Gaven Freel, Serge and Dex’s freshly adopted little alpha. It was highly unusual for a beta couple to adopt an alpha, but the other family simply couldn’t afford to keep him.

Rei was also an alpha, which had delighted both his parents, especially Tarek. And the little angel also had the bright green Etting eyes.

Jax spread his fingers across his own rounded belly and grinned, curious if his own new boy would have Karter’s light brown eyes, or Jax’s blue. Not that it mattered. He already loved this child with his whole heart—a child they’d made the decision to try for. Before his last heat, Jax and Karter had sat down to discuss having a baby of their own. Jax had aired his fear of miscarriage, considering his earliest years trying to get pregnant. Karter had expressed his desire for another baby, to grow their family, so they ditched condoms during heat and knotted with every surge.

And they’d lucked out. Jax was seeing Dr. Troi frequently and doing everything possible to stay healthy. Considering how Karson had come into the world, this pregnancy had been a walk in the park so far.

Their group made their way out of the court building and onto the steps. As discussed, they all stopped and made a protective circle around Jax and Kell, while reporters gathered. All of them, excluding Dex, had testified during Senior Iverson’s trial, and this was the first time anyone had spoken to a reporter about it.

“We’re not taking questions,” Tarek said. “But we do have a collective statement to make.”

“There is no justice for what has been taken from us,” Kell continued in a clear, determined voice. “However, we do believe this sentence is a fair start. Senior Iverson isn’t the only monster in our midst, but we’re flushing them out, and they will face the consequences of their actions. Omegas are not property. We’re human beings with the same rights to a happy, joyful life as any beta or alpha, and I will continue fighting for those rights for all my omega brethren. Thank you.”

Questions were shouted at them anyway, as their group descended the steps and made their way toward two cars. Jax climbed into the back seat of one with Karter, and Ronin and Kell got in front. Dex and Tarek were following behind in the second car, their destination the two-story home Tarek and Ronin had purchased several months ago. Each floor was its own private apartment, giving the two couples their space, while keeping their growing family close.

And it was only a five-minute walk from Karter and Jax’s house, which was a wonderful bonus. Jax loved spending his weekdays with Braun and Kell, and with Braun still wanting to work after he finished nursing Rei, Jax and Kell would be set up to watch all three babies. A one-year-old, a ten-month-old, and a newborn. Four babies, whenever the Freels needed help with Gaven.

Jax looked forward to it.

Tarek and Braun had the first floor of the house, and once they arrived, their group trooped up the front steps. A wide-open floor plan took up most of the space, with two bedrooms and a bathroom tucked back into the corner. Serge was feeding Karson at the kitchen table, while Braun was stretched out on the couch. Branson was crawling around the living room rug, chasing imaginary objects, while Gaven napped in a carrier.

Braun sat up for a long hug from Kell, exhaustion written all over his face. Jax walked over to the bassinette next to the couch and peered down at Rei’s scrunched up face. Karter came up from behind and wrapped his arms around Jax’s waist, hands resting over Jax’s belly. “That’ll be us in a few more months.”

“I know. I’m excited.”

“Me, too. Do you think knowing the last of the trials are over will help you sleep?”

Jax shrugged. Ever since his second kidnapping, Jax had been having trouble sleeping. He’d wake up in a panic, terrified Karson was gone, or that he was back in that freezing storage room, waiting for death. He still had trouble with numbness in his fingertips and his shoulders ached on occasion, and those twinges gave him infrequent flashbacks. He was exhausted, but knowing the last of his monsters was heading for prison eased some of his fear. The rest would go away with time, patience, and a lot of love from his alpha.

Both Ness Udal and Esom Dent were in prison for life. Fox Heely got fifty-to-life, with a chance for parole in thirty years, for his crimes. Ferral’s own deal did include some prison time, and he was serving the first of ten years. Fynn Lawry was convicted on multiple charges, but took his own life before sentencing. Altogether, twelve different alphas in varying high society positions were put away for illegal gambling and multiple counts of rape. Deeper digging into Bellair Financial had also broken open another year-old case of Tarek’s, and he’d been working with several other provinces to bring down a widespread beta sex trafficking ring.

So far, more than two dozen betas had been rescued from lives in hell and returned to their families.

The length of human cruelty sometimes astonished Jax. And when it all seemed too overwhelming, he remembered the family he had now. Not only the family in this room, preparing to celebrate over pizza and beer, but also his in-laws. Once his icy exterior thawed, Lem had embraced Jax like any of his other children, he adored Karson, and he was over the moon about a second grandchild.

Sloan was enjoying his first two months at university, and he’d already decided he wanted to be a scientist. Dain was still seeing a wonderful, if somewhat older, beta who owned a small coffee shop. Eron was still single, but enjoying himself and reasonably happy. And Argo was beside himself every time Jax and Kell brought their boys to visit. He’d swoon when he finally got to meet Rei.

Considering he was living in hell a year ago, Jax sometimes expected the life he had now to evaporate like a beautiful daydream. But it wasn’t a dream. He was happily mated and pregnant with his second child. He had a big family to love and protect. He was so fucking happy some days he wanted to explode.

The doorbell rang. “Pizza’s here!” Serge announced.

Jax twisted in Karter’s arms so he could see his mate, his belly between them and carrying someone they had created together out of love. “Thank you.”

“For what, love?”

“Everything. For loving me every day. Even though I can’t speak, you hear me. You’ve heard me since the moment we first met. I love you so much.”

Karter’s eyes glimmered. “I love you, too, Jax. And maybe I can speak, but you also hear me in the things I don’t say. You hear me better than anyone ever has in my life. I will honor and treasure you for the rest of our lives.”

“As will I, my alpha.”

They kissed over those vows. A quiet kiss only for them and the life they would live together. A promise for the future and everything they would make of it.

Together.

Always.

* * *

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