Jaysan stared out the wide bank of windows that overlooked a small park in the middle of the hospital campus, watching the sea of men moving around, heading to one building or another. Others sat on the many benches and enjoyed the early summer sunshine. Conversations hummed around him from the visiting room’s myriad couches and clusters of chairs.

“Jaysan?”

He turned at the sound of his own name falling from Mikel’s lips. Mikel stood just inside the visiting room, hands clasped behind his back, face covered with unshaved scruff. He’d lost weight and seemed pale, but at least he wasn’t in prison.

After reading Jaysan’s statement and speaking to him in person, a sympathetic judge had remanded Mikel to the mental health ward of the hospital campus, and he’d been a patient ever since. Not only because he’d tried to kill himself and accidentally hurt Jaysan, but because various x-rays showed a history of systematic abuse from his sire. Broken bones that healed badly, few of which were on Mikel’s official records, which meant they’d never been reported.

The doctors investigated, and eventually Constable Higgs arrested the sire, and the man was awaiting trial on multiple accounts of assault and battery. Mikel’s omegin and beta siblings were living with other family, finally safe from decades of abuse.

When Morris heard all of this, he’d finally become sympathetic to Mikel’s situation. After weeks of intensive therapy, today was the first day Mikel was allowed visitors, and Jaysan was eager to see him.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Mikel said, a bit breathless. “Goddess, the last time I saw you…”

“I know, and it’s okay.” Jaysan walked to him, because Mikel seemed rooted to the spot. “I know it was an accident, and I’m fine.” He still occasionally had a nerve twinge in the spot where he was stabbed, but the wound had healed and left only a small scar. “I don’t blame you.”

“I never wanted to hurt you, I swear. I just…at the time, you were my last hope to mate, and to maybe get my family away from that psychotic bastard. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Come on.” Jaysan led to him a pair of chairs, and they sat facing each other. “I forgive you. For all of it. If I’d had any idea how much you were suffering, I’d have tried to help sooner.”

“I couldn’t tell anyone. Hell, I have a hard time talking about it in here, to a therapist who is paid to listen. There’s just so much to unpack, you know?” Mikel raked a hand through his messy hair. “Doc says I have PTSD.”

“That makes sense, considering what you’ve lived through.” And Jaysan was certain he only knew the most surface stuff, and that the details would probably give him nightmares. “Do you think you’re getting better?”

“Well, I don’t want to kill myself anymore.”

Jaysan gave him a crooked smile. “I’d say that’s a good start. Does knowing your family is safe help?”

“Definitely.” Mikel picked at the knee of his linen pants. “I, uh, the day I asked you to be my mate? Earlier that day I’d gone to visit my omegin, and he had a broken nose. Third time in four years he’s had one. And he was so…shattered that he didn’t care. He was only glad it wasn’t one of my brothers, and I needed the release of sex, and I took things too far with you. I’m so sorry I scared you.”

“Apology accepted.” Jaysan had long ago forgiven Mikel for his sins, but sometimes the words had to be said out loud. “Mikel, I don’t hold any grudges against you, not for anything. I’m just glad your family is safe, and that you’re getting the help you need to go out and live a good life. Maybe find a mate who will love you for all the things you are.”

Mikel shivered. “I don’t think I’d make a good mate for anyone. Maybe not ever. I just…I feel so broken inside. I couldn’t stand up to my own sire and protect my birth family. How can I be trusted to protect another? No.”

His heart broke a little for the truth and devastation in Mikel’s voice. The guy was only nineteen and he’d already given up.

“Before I met Morris, I never wanted a mate,” Jaysan said. “I hated alphas, even the ones who’d been nice to me, all because of the ones who weren’t. The ones who laughed and cheered and abused and raped. But Morris was different. And I believe that one day, an omega will look at you and realize you’re different, too. Because you and Morris have similar backstories, but he didn’t turn out like his sire. You can be different, Mikel. You can be kind, too.”

A single tear tracked down Mikel’s left cheek. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.” He cleared his throat hard. “So, uh, how’s Aeron?”

“Finally walking on his own.” Pride swelled his chest, and Jaysan pulled a snapshot out of his wallet. Last month, Aeron had shocked him by pulling himself up by the coffee table and then tottering to the couch. From the couch to the coffee table again, and then he’d begun the treacherous journey through toys and scattered books to the pack-and-play.

Mikel studied the photo of Aeron standing in the middle of the living room, smiling smugly for the camera. “He’s beautiful. He looks so much like you.”

“Thank you.” Jaysan’s hand slipped to his belly, where Aeron’s future brother was still the size of a raspberry. They hadn’t announced it officially outside their circle of close friends. Morris had been over the moon when the test came back positive, and while Jaysan was nervous to go through another pregnancy, it helped knowing he had a mate who adored him and friends who’d stand by him.

He really hoped the new baby had Morris’s red hair.

“Has your family been to see you yet today?” Jaysan asked.

“No, but one of my brothers is coming in a few hours,” Mikel replied. “I can’t wait to see him again.”

“Good. Family is important.”

They chatted about aimless things for another hour or so, until an orderly reminded Mikel it was time for a session. Jaysan kind of wanted to hug Mikel, but Mikel kept a deliberate distance, so Jaysan settled on shaking the man’s hand goodbye.

“See you later,” Jaysan said.

“Yeah, you take care.” Mikel offered him small, half-smile as he left.

Jaysan let out a long breath, happy to have seen Mikel again with his own two eyes, and also sad for the very broken alpha he was leaving behind. Hopefully, though, Mikel was getting the tools he needed to leave these four walls and be part of the world again.

He took the elevator down and exited the building on the side facing the park. Morris and Aeron were playing on a blanket under a tree, and as soon as Aeron saw him, he screamed, “Omi!” and pulled himself up. Jaysan knelt in the grass a few feet away and let Aeron walk to him on increasingly steady legs. Aeron threw himself at Jaysan’s chest, and Jaysan hugged him. He never tired of Aeron’s hugs, never tired of the boy’s excitement when they were reunited after a separation.

They’d been separated for the first year of Aeron’s life, and Jaysan would always regret that. But the choice to give up his newborn had brought Jaysan to Morris, and in Morris’s kind, gentle soul, he’d found the perfect mate.

“How’s Mikel?” Morris asked. Him and Aeron waiting in the park had been his compromise on Jaysan visiting at all. While Morris was sympathetic to Mikel’s history, he didn’t trust the man.

“He’s haunted,” Jaysan replied. “Hopefully, given enough time and therapy, he’ll find a way to be happy.”

“You’re a good man, Jaysan Rowe Danvers, and you’ve got a huge heart. Do you know that?”

“I didn’t used to know that, not until I met you.” Jaysan scooped up Aeron and carried him to the blanket. Aeron struggled for freedom, so he let the boy get up and toddle over to a patch of grass. He plucked a stray dandelion, then laughed like it was the funniest thing ever.

Morris leaned over to kiss Jaysan. “Same. Oh, and I’ve got good news for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Ronin texted me a few minutes ago. Kell’s in heat.”

“Yay!” Jaysan tackle-hugged Morris onto the blanket. Despite the health risks, Kell had talked about nothing for the past few weeks except his upcoming heat and trying for another baby. Kell and Ronin both wanted it so badly, and Jaysan had been nervous to tell Kell he was pregnant again. But Kell had been overjoyed for them, as had all Jaysan’s friends.

All my friends.

A year and a half ago, Jaysan had left a brutal hell, positive he’d never find peace or happiness again. Now he had his son, his mate, and more friends and family-by-choice than he knew what to do with. Their support group, along with Kell and Braun’s advocacy, were giving a voice to omega rights, and to domestic violence in general, no matter their gender. They were creating a better future for their children.

Because their children deserved safe, happy lives, free of the pain their parents had gone through. Free to be whoever they wanted to be, to choose the career they wanted, rather than the role selected for them by a rigid, alpha-led society. Change was coming, and Jaysan was proud to be on the front lines with his fellow omegins.

Proud resist the status quo and to be a force for progress.

Morris’s stomach rumbled and they both laughed.

“Lunch?” Jaysan asked.

“Definitely.” They sat up, and Morris pulled him onto his lap. Put his hand over Jaysan’s belly. “What do you guys feel like eating? Omegin’s choice.”

“Tacos. The little raspberry definitely wants tacos.”

“Petrova’s?”

“Is there any other place? And after? There’s somewhere else I’d like to visit. The three of us.”

“Where’s that?”

“Morgan and Brody’s markers. I’ve never thanked them for taking such great care of Aeron for me.”

Morris kissed his forehead. “I think I’d love that. We can definitely go there after lunch.”

“Thank you.” Jaysan stood and collected Aeron, while Morris folded the blanket. “What do you say, little man? Ready for lunch?”

“Yeah,” Aeron replied. “Lush.”

“Lush it is.”

Morris joined them and slid his free arm around Jaysan’s waist. They walked as a unit to the parking structure where they’d left the car. His two men and a third on the way. Jaysan smiled the entire time, so much joy in his heart he could barely contain it. Joy he never expected, but had rediscovered when he found Aeron three months ago, and his heart was made whole again.

And with that joy, Jaysan could face any challenge. Overcome any obstacle. With his mate and children by his side.

Forever.

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