“Why won’t Uncle Raph be my dad anymore?” Hazel asked when they paused by the front door of their apartment.

Wyatt’s key missed the keyhole. “I decided that it... would be best for us to stop seeing him.”

“Why?”

Because I can only keep some of my family, and you need me more than Raph ever will. Wyatt blinked hard, shoving the key home. Then the door opened, and they were back in the safe, quiet shadows of the apartment, the space that would never hold Raph again. “Remember how Raph and I are stepbrothers?”

Hazel nodded, pulling her shoes off.

“Great-Grandma doesn’t approve of our relationship,” Wyatt said. “Neither does Grandpa.”

“That’s it?” Hazel asked, turning back to him with incredulous eyes. “But the people in the movies get married anyway.”

The reasons seemed so small when she said it like that. Wyatt sighed. He headed to his bedroom, pulling off his sweater for something that fitted his mood better. “This is real life, Hazel. We don’t always get the things we want.”

He looked down at his swollen belly, smoothing his palm over it. The baby kicked, and Wyatt’s chest squeezed. I’ll be there for both you and Hazel, regardless.

Hazel hopped onto his bed, kicking her legs. “But Uncle Raph visits Grandma and Grandpa, right? Will we ever see him there?”

Wyatt paused at the closet. Would they? He didn’t know. Not when reality was just starting to sink in.

He’d broken up with Raph. Raph had been the only alpha to really care for Wyatt, to hold him like he mattered. Raph had started playing the violin again, had talked to Hazel and asked to be her dad. He’d looked at Wyatt with those warm eyes, like he’d never seen anyone so beautiful.

Wyatt had left Raph behind, and there’d be no more of that.

He trembled, his heart aching.

Was it worth it? Leaving Raph so Grandma wouldn’t shut down Wy’s Drive-In? Leaving Raph, with his mountain of debt? Gods, I’m a terrible omega.

They’d talked about the future in bits and pieces, building a nursery for the baby. They’d talked about a wedding, and baby names, and car seats, and Raph learning to change diapers. Would Raph hate Wyatt if Wyatt never let him see the children again?

He leaned into the side of the closet, tears trailing down his cheeks. I miss you already.

And maybe he shouldn’t have let Raph go.

Wyatt peered into the closet, his gaze snagging on the stack of folded T-shirts that had moved in between his sweaters and pants. He had to return these, didn’t he?

He took the first T-shirt in the stack, the one with the Jaguar print, its cotton soft in his hands. It smelled like teak, like Raph, and Wyatt’s throat closed. He’d pack up Raph’s things tomorrow. Tonight, when Hazel was asleep, Wyatt would wallow in the piles of Raph’s clothes, pretending he still had an alpha.

Soft footsteps padded behind him. Then Hazel’s arms wrapped around Wyatt’s belly, and she leaned into his back.

“Did Uncle Raph make you cry, too?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “He... wasn’t very honest about some things.”

“I told him he’s not supposed to lie to you.”

Did you? Wyatt swallowed, reaching behind to hug her. Then why did Raph keep secrets from me? All the times Raph had said he was working overtime... he’d been juggling different jobs. He’d hidden the truth about the debt. And Wyatt didn’t know what to feel about that.

“I don’t like it when people make you cry,” Hazel said.

Wyatt gulped. “It’s not something you need to bother with, hon.”

“I want to. You’re my dad.” Hazel squirmed around to his side, a tiny frown on her face. “When I grow up, I want to get even with anyone who makes you sad. Like Max.”

Wyatt quailed. They’d get to the Max discussion some other time. “Not Raph. He... I’ll forgive him.”

“You’re crying.” Hazel glowered. “Uncle Sam says anyone who makes you cry is bad.”

He wiped away his tears, his heart heavy. Maybe it would be best if Hazel never wanted to see Raph again. Then they’d all move on with their lives, and Raph didn’t have to concern himself with Wyatt and his children.

“Promise me you’ll consider other solutions before fighting,” Wyatt said. “Many times, the best alternative is to walk away.”

She digested his words, looking at the floor. “But what if they’ve hurt you? Like Great-Grandma? She’s evil.”

He had no answer to that. “We’ll save the answer for another day, okay? Let’s go to the kitchen and get you some food. What about some chicken stir-fry?”

Hazel brightened, hugging him tight.

With luck, things would settle, and Wyatt would learn to deal without Raph. He had Hazel, and the baby. His children had to be enough.

Except deep down, he knew he’d found the alpha he’d always wanted, and then let him go.