“There. All done,” Rowan said, wiping his hands together. “Now, no one will mess with us.”

I looked at the heavy-duty surveillance cameras that hung on every corner of the house. I never thought it would come to this, but after Elliot’s home was burglarized, installing some extra security became a necessity for my family.

“Well, if they do mess with us, they’ll be on camera,” I said.

I felt a little uneasy going to these measures. I didn’t want to teach my son that living under tight security measures was the best route to go. I took a step back and glanced at the dried footprints of the intruder, who was most likely Daniel Thornton.

“It’s necessary, dad,” Rowan said.

I shook my head in anger and pained disbelief. “I know it is. I just hope you know that there are good people in this world too,” I said, sighing.

Rowan smiled and hugged me tightly. “I know there are. You’re one of the good guys,” he said.

My son gave me so much warmth and hope for the future. Better days were coming, but right now we were in the thick of some bull crap. “Thank you, Rowan. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying,” I said.

“I don’t know. You’re pretty perfect to me,” Rowan said. I kissed the top of his head before he ran off to a friend’s house.

I sat by the lake and enjoyed the gentle summer breeze as it wafted by. Today was a good day, I decided. Elliot was coming over soon, which meant I could relax a little bit.

It wasn’t long before I heard Elliot’s tires roll over the jagged pinecones and dirt. I stood up and walked over to Elliot’s car, waving.

“Hey, cutie. Look what I got!” Elliot exclaimed. In his hands was a big bag of fried chicken.

“Oh, man. You’re going to make me gain twenty pounds, aren’t you?” I asked.

Elliot winked and threw his arms around my neck. “You’d be sexy with a potbelly,” he said.

Elliot and I hadn’t really talked about the future too much. All we knew was that we wanted more of each other. Right now, that was okay.

“Feels good to be with you again,” I said, kissing him on his cheek.

We held each other for a minute and then parted. There was something about him on this day that drew me even closer to him. It partly had to do with his scent, but Elliot also bore a new attitude.

We stuffed our faces with fried chicken, effectively putting our bodies into a food coma. As we sat on the porch, I felt my belly swell up. “What have you done to me, Elliot?” I joked as I wiped a drop of gravy from my lips.

Elliot’s eyes were half-closed. He gazed at me and sighed. “Never eating again,” he moaned.

Elliot leaned back against me. For a second, everything felt serene. Then, his eyes fell on the surveillance cameras. “You installed cameras?” he asked.

“Yep. We officially live in a compound,” I groaned.

“Should I be that worried?” Elliot asked. His expression told me that he already was pretty worried.

“It’s just precautionary,” I said.

Elliot turned his body and wrapped his arms around me. He had never gotten this close to me before. “I just wish we could do something different,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked. I trickled my fingers through his hair but touching him like this was still new to me. I didn’t want to push it too fast.

“I guess I just wish there was a way to bring people together,” Elliot said. “Like what you were talking about. A big barbecue. Back in Dallas, the neighborhood used to hold big gatherings for the families. I miss that feeling.”

“Like a block party?” I asked him.

“Exactly!” Elliot exclaimed.

I let out a hearty laugh. “I don’t know if that would go over well in these parts,” I said.

“Why? I doubt Sid would come,” Elliot said.

I thought about the idea. I tried to imagine a scenario that ended with smiles, but nothing came to mind. “If I threw something like that, it would invite unwanted guests,” I said.

“The rest of the town will keep them in check,” Elliot said. “Trust me. The guys at the station don’t want to look like jerks in front of everyone.”

He had a point. And it was something that, in theory, could be really fun. “Maybe,” I muttered. “I mean, I could see us getting a big blowup slide on the lake.”

“Oh! And one of those things you can jump on that flings you into the air,” Elliot said. He was too cute and excited to let this dream die.

“I’ll think about it. I’m on the fence,” I said.

Elliot sat up and curled his legs around me. My throat tightened, and my hands instinctually curled around his hips. His lips pressed against me, and his tongue slowly slithered inside.

When Elliot pulled away, I was left breathless. “Think about it,” he whispered. “It might be fun to relax for a little bit.”

I grinned and took in the view of his incredible body. “I like this kind of relaxation,” I said. My hands moved toward his butt, but Elliot quickly stood up. I groaned, covering my face.

Elliot walked down to the water, beckoning for me to follow him. The sun was shining brightly. He took off his shirt.

“It’s beautiful outside!” Elliot couldn’t stop smiling. He threw his shoes and socks off. I watched as he gracefully stepped into the brisk water.

“You’re going to freeze your nuts off, Elliot!” I called out. I slowly walked down to his side. I didn’t dare jump in.

Elliot stood in front of me, shirtless and very sexy. “It’s not bad once you get used to it,” Elliot said. “Come on. “Stand next to me.”

I reluctantly kicked off my shoes and socks. I kept the rest of my clothes on. I was not jumping in that water!

As soon as I dipped my toes in, I jumped back out. “Screw this!” I yelled.

Elliot bent over laughing, face turning red. “Alpha, it’s not that bad. Come back, or I’ll go home,” he said.

“I hate ultimatums!” I said.

“Me too, but I’m giving you one right now. Now, come be with me. I want to feel close to you,” he said.

I reluctantly stepped back into the water. Elliot was right. It wasn’t as bad the second time. Still, I couldn’t control my shivering.

I held him close to me and stared at the beautiful sunlight that reflected off of the smooth water of the lake. Elliot cocked his head and rested his chin against the crook of my shoulder as we stood on the shore.

“Do you ever think about having a family again?” Elliot asked.

He shielded his eyes from me, blinking quickly. I could tell that he was scared of my reaction. I had gone through the best years of my life last time I got married. But then, it ended in utter tragedy.

“I used to block it all out,” I said. “Everything that happened caused my brain to overload with information. I couldn’t process any of what had happened.”

I took a deep breath before continuing. Elliot ran his hand up and down my back. He relaxed me. “So I guess the answer is no. At least, I hadn’t until you came around.”

I tensed my body after saying those last words. I liked Elliot a lot, and every single day, that desire for him was turning into an emotional experience.

The tricky part wasn’t falling for someone new. Having children was a sacred rite between alphas and omegas. It wasn’t possible for a beta to bear the child of an alpha, so I it was hard for me to breach the subject.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. And identity, I guess,” Elliot said. This was such a weighty subject for him. The guys at the station wouldn’t stop fucking around with him, and it pained me to see him so strained.

I slid the front of his hair back with my index finger and kissed the top of his eyebrow. “You are beautiful, no matter what you are,” I said.

Elliot blushed and leaned into me. “I know that now, but a lot has happened in the last few weeks,” he said.

“Like what? Do you have a crush on me?” I asked, biting my lower lip.

“There’s more than that,” Elliot admitted. “I don’t know how to say it…”

I changed my tone. “Elliot, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked.

With tears in his eyes, Elliot tried to tell me as best he could. “I’m changing, and I don’t know what’s going on,” Elliot said. “I think I’m an omega.”

“Well, I had a feeling,” I said.

Elliot turned from sad to a little bit annoyed. “You knew the whole time?” he asked. He took his arm away from me.

“Well, I just had a feeling! I didn’t actually know or consult with anyone,” I said.

“Well, is it even possible?” Elliot asked, calming down a bit.

I shrugged. To me, anything was possible to a certain extent. “There have been some cases lately. They’re all over the news.”

“Great. Like science experiments on display,” Elliot groaned.

“You don’t have to explain shit to anybody,” I said, defiantly. “If you’re a beta, you’re a beta. If you’re an omega, you’re an omega. It makes no difference to me.”

“It makes a difference to them,” Elliot said. “To the world.”

I held Elliot and looked out into the distance. Then, he stared into my eyes and connected with me. “Those on the outside will always be loud. They’ll carry their pride like a boulder slung over their shoulder. I pity them. I really do. It must be hard and unfortunate to live like that,” I said.

“You’re right,” Elliot whispered.

I didn’t know how much my words console him. As soon as I said that, Elliot felt the hatred and anger disappear. The hurt filtered through his new understanding. The guys back at the station just didn’t get it. They might never understand either. They were raised in a different world. It was a world that left them with nearly nothing to fall back on. So they dove into hate and ridicule.

Elliot wasn’t going to be like them, nor was he going to fall for their tricks. He was going to remain balanced. I took his hand and interlocked my fingers with his. I nuzzled my face against his chest and kissed his tight muscles.

“Thank you, Tate,” Elliot said. “You give me a sense of courage I never really had.”

“I just want you to be happy because you are pretty darn amazing,” I said.

Elliot grinned. It felt good to know we were worth a damn. At that moment, Elliot seemed to feel liberated. He was turning into an omega, and everything was going to be okay. It didn’t mean he was losing himself. It meant he was growing.

“Is Rowan home?” Elliot asked me.

“Rowan? No, he ran off to a friend’s house. He won’t be back for a while,” I said. “Why do you ask?”

Elliot bit his lip and hesitantly eyed the broader areas of the lake. My pupils dilated. “Oh, no,” I said. “Not going to happen.”

“Come on. Let’s just jump in all the way this time. Real quick,” Elliot said, laughing and grabbing my hand. He took a step forward, but I let out a high-pitched scream.

“Heck no!” I jumped back two steps. Elliot frowned. “Elliot, it’s freezing.”

Elliot unbuttoned his jeans and zipped down. “You don’t want to see me naked?” he asked. Elliot teased me by slowly pushing his jeans down.

I groaned. “This isn’t fair,” I said.

“Sure it is. It’s a good trade. You get to see me naked, and I get to make you uncomfortable for my enjoyment,” he said, winking.

I didn’t smile back, but I was thinking about jumping in. “Give me about a month, and I’ll jump right in,” I said.

Elliot’s jeans were already soaked at the ankles. There was no way he was backing out of this. “Okay. Here’s a fair trade,” Elliot said. “If you come into the water with me, you can touch me.”

My expression changed. It was if, in one moment, the cold made no difference to my body. I jumped out of my jeans and dove into the water, completely naked.

Swimming to the center of the lake, I popped out of the water. “Elliot! Come in! The water is so nice!” I had a wild and proud expression on his face.

Elliot hurried out of his clothes and dove in after him. Underneath the water, everything felt peaceful. The cold liquid wrapped around my body, both harsh and calming. As Elliot rose out of the water, I felt my adrenaline kick in.

Elliot snuck up behind him and pounced out of the water. “Rawr!” he yelled.

I jumped back. “Shit! I thought you were a water snake,” I said.

“Don’t lie,” Elliot said.

I chuckled softly, but our words and laughter turned to cold chatter. And then there was nothing left to say except for the meaning that was kept in the center of our eyes.

We just stared at each other, floating. Slowly, our bodies came together like magnets. We fit around each other, hovering above the green algae and curious fish. I wrapped my arms around his chest. I propped Elliot up on my legs.

“Well, this is nice,” Elliot whispered.

I kissed my cold lips. “I love feeling close to you,” I said.

“Me too,” Elliot admitted.

I hadn’t felt close to anyone in years. We knew precisely how much this desire could shape our future.

“I’m glad I met you, Tate,” Elliot whispered.

“I’m more than glad,” I said. “I’m starting to feel like we were made for each other.”

“Best friends, right?” Elliot asked.

Both of us were too nervous to take the next step, but every inch we moved pushed us nearer to each other. “Best friends?” I thought about that phrase for a moment. “Maybe. That feels too wrong.”

“More than best friends?” Elliot asked with a revealing smile.

“Much more than best friends,” I said. “At least, on my end it is.”

“You’re more than a best friend to me, Tate,” Elliot said. “I hate words sometimes. They never do the feeling justice.”

“That’s the exact reason why I’ve never opened a dictionary in my entire life,” I joked.

“I’m so sure,” Elliot said.

I pinched Elliot’s butt. “There. That was the touch I promised you,” he said.

“Hey, no fair!” I swam after Elliot.

I kept swimming until I reached the other side. Elliot swam with me. We both stopped at the edge, where the tree roots zig-zagged toward the water.

A boat’s engine could be heard in the distance. People could be seen on the deck, but they weren’t your typical spring-breakers. In the center was a large metal appliance covered by a blue blanket.

“Hey, we should get out of the water,” I said. My expression was no longer playful and cute. I was worried.

“Who are they, Tate?” Elliot asked.

“Do we really want to find out? It doesn’t look like they’re out for a good time,” I said.

Elliot squinted his eyes. They were gaining traction, and the boat was traveling far too fast. Whatever they were doing was probably not legal.

The men on the boat weren’t wearing swim gear. They were wearing goggles and the usual plaid button-downs. The weirdest part of the outfit was their blue surgical gloves.

“They’re going too fast,” Elliot said.

“We need to swim,” I repeated.

The boat kept moving toward us. “Shit,” I muttered. “We don’t have time!”

The boat was like a freight train. I grabbed Elliot’s body. “Hold your breath,” I muttered against my ear. Elliot took a massive gulp of air before I carried him as far down as we could go.

Elliot squinted his eyes and saw the faint trail of the boat as the engine roared right above us. As soon as the sound disappeared, we both swam back to the surface.

“We almost got chopped by the engine,” I said, out of breath.

“Sid?” Elliot asked.

I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a good enough look. Could have been. If it wasn’t, they know him.”

“Goggles rested on their forehead. They were wearing surgical gloves. It had to be something illegal, right?” Elliot asked.

“Officer, you know as much as I do,” I said. “I just wonder if that’s the same boat my son and I saw the other night.”

“They’re traveling in the daytime now,” Elliot said. “Why would they do that?” The gears started spinning rapidly in his head. Even I wondered what kind of production needed such a big machine.

“Maybe they’re moving locations,” I said.

“Has to be that,” Elliot muttered. Maybe Daniel tipped them off. Maybe that’s why he was walking around my property. “I need to follow Daniel Thornton. I swear, he’s the guy who is going to spill everything.”

“Be careful,” I said. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Maybe we should leave it alone.”

Elliot grinned. “I know you want to find out as much as I do,” Elliot said.

“Ugh. I do. But this is getting scary,” I said.

I was nervous too, but I was intrigued. If there was a possibility that we could change this town for the better, we were going to do it.

There was very little time to think about that, however. On the shoreline, Rowan was standing, holding my new pair of jeans. “Hey, dad! Forget something?” he called out.

“Oh, God,” I groaned.

Elliot burst out laughing. “You said he was at a friend’s house!” Elliot exclaimed.

“Well, he was supposed to be,” I said. I cleared my throat before calling out to my son. “Put those down! We’re just taking a swim!”

It was a comical way to be caught. We were just two adults, skinny-dipping to our heart’s content. It didn’t look too good, and Rowan wanted to mess with us as best he could.

Rowan stepped forward, holding my jeans above the water. “Don’t you dare!” I yelled.

This brought an even bigger smile on Rowan’s face. I remembered back when I was thirteen. It was the time in my life where I learned how to really be a nuisance.

“Are you guys nakey?” Rowan asked.

“None of your business!” I cried out. I looked at Elliot, flustered. “Okay, we have to swim back, right? What do I do in this situation?”

“You’re asking me? I have no clue, but I’m starting to freeze,” Elliot said.

“I’m about to drop the jeans!” Rowan sang his words.

“Okay, I’m swimming back to the shore,” I said. “You in?”

“I’m in,” Elliot muttered.

We swam as fast as we could, but Rowan had the upper hand on us. As soon as we got to a more shallow area, we stopped swimming. We couldn’t jump out of the water because we were completely naked. Embarrassing.

“Son. I’m going to take away all of your electronics if you don’t put my jeans down,” I warned.

Rowan’s smile seemed to grow even wider. “You mean, put them down right here? In the water?” He lowered his body closer to the water.

“Dang it! Don’t do that!” I yelled.

“Oh, okay. Well, I guess you’re just going to have to come out of the water,” Rowan said.

“Alright. That’s it. You’re grounded for three days,” I said.

“Oh. So I guess it doesn’t matter if your jeans get wet or not,” Rowan said. The rascal would not stop!

“I’m coming out. Screw it,” I said.

Rowan turned into a little devil. He dropped the jeans on the water. For a split second, everyone was silent and still. The jeans floated on the top of the lake. The wallet that rested in the back pocket made it sink.

Rowan ran for the hills. Like a bunny rabbit, he zipped away within a second. “Wow,” I muttered.

But as mad as I was, a smile formed on my face. This was my chance to get closer to Elliot.