By the end of the day, Morris had some vague idea that he and Aeron might actually be okay. After a five-hour nap, Morris had woken up and taken a hot shower. He couldn’t bring himself to wear his brother’s clothes, so he’d put his own back on before going downstairs. A pot of coffee was waiting for him, as was a plate of roast beef sandwiches with mustard, which he scarfed down.

Aeron was napping in his room, according to Kell, who was finishing up a load of laundry in the basement. Ronin had found all of Morgan and Brody’s papers, and he assured Morris that his custody of Aeron was legal and binding. The omegin had given up the child in a closed adoption, and no alpha was named as sire, so Aeron was his. The news had made Morris want to cry tears of joy, but at the moment, he had no tears left in his body.

Ronin had also found a copy of their will, which left everything to Morris, as Brody had no siblings to inherit. They’d had a few well-performing stocks, and Ronin promised to execute the will for him at no charge, so Morris didn’t get overwhelmed with the financial aspect of inheriting money and a house. He’d also given Morris the entire week off, paid, which he really didn’t need to do, and Morris expressed his thanks over and over. And he did it again after Ronin volunteered to drive Morris to his apartment to get some of his own things, since the house would be his home for now. Kell was perfectly content staying behind to watch Aeron in case he woke from his nap.

At home, Morris packed a suitcase with clothes and toiletries, while Ronin bagged up some of the food in the fridge so it didn’t go bad. He could deal with the issue of his lease another day, when his emotions weren’t so shredded, the grief still so raw. Except as they walked back downstairs to Ronin’s car, Ronin promised to take care of the lease and mitigate Morris’s loss as much as possible.

He’d truly lucked into an amazing boss.

When they returned to the house, four new additions had arrived. Tarek and Braun Bloom were there with their infant, Rei, as well as Kell’s son Branson. All three children were in the living room, Branson and Aeron in the pack-and-play, and little Rei on Tarek’s lap. Kell and Braun were in the kitchen from the sound of their voices.

Morris stood in the living room and gawked at the invasion of mated pairs and babies—and his heart swelled with gratitude at the easy way this small family had swooped in to help. He knew Tarek through his work as a constable, and because his mate was Kell’s younger brother, and the older alpha beamed with fatherly pride over his baby, who was only six months old.

Tarek stood, easily balancing baby Rei in his left arm, and extended his right to shake Morris’s hand. “My condolences, man. You just got a shit deal, but if it’s any consolation, you’ve officially been adopted by the Etting brothers.”

Morris glanced at the archway into the kitchen. “Should I ask what that entails?”

“Braun and Kell are in the kitchen preparing a week’s worth of meals for you.”

“Seriously?”

“Welcome to the family, Morris.”

“I…” He wasn’t sure he could say ‘thank you’ again without crying, so he simply shook Tarek’s hand again, then Ronin’s. In the pack-and-play, Branson and Aeron were both trying to play with a rag doll at the same time, but they weren’t exactly fighting. Aeron was alpha and Branson beta, but Aeron seemed to get he was the younger, smaller one in this situation.

Morris loved the idea of those boys growing up as friends.

“We know this is overwhelming,” Ronin said, “and we’re just trying to help. But if we overstep or it gets to be too much, tell us to back off, okay?”

“It’s not too much, not really. I suppose I’m used to Morgan being the one to fuss. He was beta, but he was my big brother. He’s looked out for me my entire life. It’s hard to wrap my head around the idea that he isn’t walking in that front door ever again. That he’ll never get to hold Aeron, or to see him grow up and find a mate of his own one day. They’ll never even get to see his first solo step.”

Morris crouched in front of the pack-and-play and watched the two babies interact. Branson had his omegin’s dark hair, but he also had his bright green eyes and pale skin, while Aeron had a duskier complexion. Two beautiful young boys who’d faced terrible things while still so young. Morris wasn’t clear on the exact details, but he knew that Kell’s former mate Krause had given Kell’s son away when he was only ten days old, and the child had been found again right before Kell’s trial ended.

Seeing the pair reunited had been a truly gratifying thing, but a small part of Morris was angry that Branson would grow up with two loving parents in Kell and Ronin. Morris was all Aeron had, and all Aeron was likely ever to have.

Aeron looked up, right at Morris, and his dark eyes seemed to say everything would be okay. Morris didn’t know how, but he decided to believe in baby’s intuition. “It’s you and me now, little man,” Morris whispered.

“I know we keep our personal stuff out of work,” Ronin said, “but have you started looking for a mate yet?”

“No.” Morris stood, the magic of the moment broken. “That’s not for me.”

Tarek and Ronin exchanged looks, but neither man disputed his statement, for which Morris was grateful. He might be a young alpha at twenty-four, but he knew his mind and where he stood on mating. He could not risk becoming the horror his own sire had been. No one, least of all Aeron, deserved that.

“Well,” Tarek said, “our mates know plenty of other omegas who enjoy babysitting, so if you need help, just shout out to Braun or Kell.”

“I know, thank you,” Morris replied. “I can barely think past the next twenty minutes, much less daily childcare while I work. I think I just need time, you know? To process all this and find my balance in my new normal.”

“Of course. There’s no timeline for grief, and no one expects you to do a certain thing or act a certain way.”

“I don’t know how I’ll repay you guys.”

“Nonsense,” Ronin said. “Our help doesn’t come with a price tag. It’s what decent people do when a friend is in need.”

Morris gave his boss a watery smile. “There’s so much to do. I need to sort their stuff, figure out what do with their clothes. Move my own things here. But all I want to do is sit here, hold Aeron, and pretend my brother’s just out shopping, or they’re on vacation and coming home tomorrow.”

“I know. And I won’t patronize you by pretending to know what you’re going through, because I don’t. But we’re all here for you, however you need to grieve. You aren’t alone, Morris.”

There it was. The source of his fear and insecurity. Ever since the moment that doctor called time of death, Morris had felt completely and utterly alone. But he wasn’t. Maybe his blood family was gone, but he had Aeron. He had Ronin and Kell, Tarek and Braun. He had more support than he’d allowed himself to realize, and his chest swelled with gratitude. He thanked the older alphas again, and then went into the kitchen to thank the two omegas who’d overtaken his kitchen.

His kitchen. That would sound weird for a hell of a long time, but it was the truth. Once he went down to the courts building and filed the appropriate paperwork, this house and all its belongings were his. Aeron was his to raise, goddess help him.

“These are all easy to freeze meals,” Kell said, pointing at the various aluminum trays either full of food or waiting for whatever concoction Braun was currently stirring in a pot. “Just put them in the fridge in the morning to defrost and then put them in the oven an hour before you want to eat. And you’ll have leftovers, so these should last you a while.”

“You guys really didn’t have to do this, but I appreciate it,” Morris said. “Truly.”

“It’s no bother. I can’t imagine what I would have done if I’d gotten Branson back and didn’t have Ronin to help me. Braun and Tarek, too. It’s tough being a single dad, and Aeron’s innocent in all this. He deserves the best possible chance to thrive.”

Kell spoke with a gentle ferocity that didn’t surprise Morris in the least. He’d seen the depth of Kell’s strength during the trial, and in the last year-plus of his life, as Kell sought to increase omega rights in the province, and to provide a support system to other victims of abuse, both omega and beta. And he’d found a perfect mate in Ronin—a strong, supportive alpha who indulged his omega and protected his family. Someone Morris aspired to be.

Someone he’d never be, because Morris couldn’t risk mating.

Morris surprised himself by hugging Kell gently. Kell hugged back, if a bit stiffly. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Kell said.

The two mated pairs stayed for another few hours, time shifting between television, dinner, and then a few rounds of pinochle. Morris had never played before, and he enjoyed learning the new game. Kell and Ronin left first, because it was getting to be Branson’s bedtime, and Aeron was drooping, too. Rei had fallen asleep in his carrier hours ago, so Braun and Tarek graciously stuck around while Morris put Aeron to bed.

The baby squalled for Dada again, and it took three storybooks in the rocking chair before he finally nodded off. Once he was situated, Morris walked his guests to the door. Braun hugged him goodbye, and Morris might have clung a bit because Braun gave big, full-body hugs like Morgan did. Used to.

That depressing thought stuck with him as Morris tidied up downstairs, before going upstairs to his new room. It wasn’t the master, and he wasn’t sure he could ever bring himself to live in that room. He wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to keep this house, with all its memories. Aeron was young enough that he’d adapt, and maybe the change would help the infant realize that no matter how many times he asked, Dada and Papa weren’t coming home.

Not ever again.

Jaysan woke with an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Sure, he’d felt off and unsteady for the last two years, but this was different. He hadn’t dreamed of anything terrible, and yesterday’s conversation with his guardians had actually helped him see things in a more positive light. His situation wasn’t hopeless. He could take control of his future.

So why the odd feeling?

Maybe because he’d decided today was the day he really opened up during the support group meeting? He didn’t like talking to others, didn’t like being the center of attention. And their group continued to grow as more abused omegas and betas realized that support existed. They weren’t alone. Brogan had even branched out and created a second group, so the original didn’t get too large. Their unofficial organization was called “Raising Our Voices,” because so few abuse victims in the province, particularly omegas, had a voice to raise against their oppressors.

Kell Iverson Cross’s trial had helped change that a year and a half ago, but there was still so much work to be done. Laws to be changed or implemented. Protections to be created. Work Jaysan had never been proud to participate in before today.

He went about his morning routine, and then went downstairs. As usual, Alec was home from work, and Orrin had to leave in about thirty minutes for his own job, but the pair almost always managed breakfast and dinner together between shifts. Today was scrambled eggs and sausage, two of Jaysan’s favorite things.

“Do you need a ride to the meeting?” Alec asked after they’d all settled at the kitchen table to eat.

“No, Jax is picking me up,” Jaysan replied. Jax was the latest omega in their group to learn how to drive. Braun, Kell and Liam, as mated omegas, could learn with the permission of their alpha mates, and they’d all earned their licenses within the past year. Their alphas were totally fine with it, and Jax was so busy with two young children that it had taken him longer to complete the course.

Sometimes Jaysan envied them the ability to drive, but he’d rather rely on others than risk finding a mate who might, maybe allow him to learn. It was yet another law that Kell and Braun railed against at every opportunity—that omegas could only do some things with the permission of a mate that alphas and betas took for granted. It was derogatory and insulting to think another man had to decide Jaysan was competent enough to learn a skill that three-quarters of the population could do.

Jaysan admired Jax for so many reasons, not the least of which was Jax’s escape from the fight ring, only two weeks after giving birth to little Karson. Jax had the courage and intelligence to get out during a time in which the two alphas imprisoning them thought he was too weak to do anything about his situation. But no, Jax had gotten away, found his mate, and helped the constabulary find the fight ring and liberate the rest of the omega prisoners, Jaysan included.

But Jaysan also had a bus-load of guilt, because Jaysan was the last omega Jax fought before giving birth, and Jax had been so heavily pregnant that he’d lost kind of quickly. Jaysan wasn’t the best fighter, and he’d been glad to finally win—even though he knew the price the loser paid at the hands of a rich rapist.

“Are you looking forward to today’s meeting?” Orrin asked.

“I honestly don’t know,” Jaysan replied. “I need to work through some stuff, but I’m so scared of actually talking about it, you know?”

“I can imagine, but it’s brave of you to want to share after all this time.”

The house phone rang, and Alec excused himself to answer the line in the living room. Jaysan and Orrin continued eating, but Jaysan’s curiosity rose after Alec was gone for several minutes. When he finally returned to the kitchen, Alec’s face was split wide with a grin, and he was practically vibrating.

“What’s up?” Orrin asked.

“We were selected,” Alec replied. “He’s due in two months.”

Jaysan didn’t get it right away, but Orrin did, because he leapt from his chair with a high-pitched shriek of joy and hugged his husband. Practically swung Alec in a circle as Jaysan gaped at them, confused—a baby.

The Jensens had been selected to foster Jaysan because they were on the province’s adoption list. Due in two months meant they’d been pre-selected by a mated pair who’d chosen to give up their child for adoption for whatever reason—finances, usually—to a waiting beta couple. They were going to have a baby.

And Jaysan was in the way, sleeping in the home’s only guest room.

He wanted to be happy for his guardians, he truly did. They were wonderful people who deserved a child of their own. But selfishly, what would happen to him once the baby was born? A new foster pair? A halfway house? Jaysan wasn’t sure he could handle the latter, but maybe the former…

“Oh, Jaysan,” Orrin said. “This doesn’t change how much we care about you.”

“It only changes where I’m going to live,” Jaysan replied, a tad bitter about the sudden upheaval of his previously ordered life.

“We’ve got time to figure out what comes next,” Alec said. “Baby or no, we’re still your legal guardians. We aren’t just going to dump you on the street or into a group home. We still care, Jaysan.”

“Yeah. Congrats on the baby. I know it’s what you guys really wanted.”

Orrin seemed caught between the joy of adopting and wanting to burst into tears for Jaysan’s pain, and he appreciated it. But he didn’t need their pity. No matter what happened, Jaysan would be fine. He’d just decided to take control of his life, damn it, so he’d overcome this too.

Breakfast continued, but everything about it was awkward now. Alec and Orrin had plans to make, baby equipment to buy, but they didn’t seem keen on discussing the logistics in front of Jaysan. Even if they decided to put the cradle in their room for a little while, Jaysan’s temporary living situation had become more temporary than before.

He was subdued when Jax picked him up an hour later, and he was glad one of Jax’s brothers-in-law was watching the babies, because Jaysan wasn’t sure he could handle that right now. The meeting was at Braun’s house this time, so some kids would be there, but Jaysan could put it off a little longer.

Jax was the only omega from the fight ring who’s been permanently muted, rather than simply unable to talk above a whisper. The men who’d kidnapped them said it had been an accident, but that “accident” had only happened to the biggest, tallest omega they’d forced to fight, and sometimes Jaysan wondered. It meant the drive to Braun’s was silent, which was fine by Jaysan.

They were the last to arrive for the meeting. Braun was in the nursery finishing up feeding Rei, but everyone else was in the living room nibbling on a snack tray. Even after Brogan had begun a second group, theirs was still nine members strong—five omegas and four betas. The group had split when they reached twelve, so they made sure everyone who wanted to speak got a chance without the meetings lasting for hours on end.

Kell sat in an armchair with Branson in his lap, despite the boy seeming desperate to get free and crawl around on the floor. Kell had been indisposed with a heat last week, so he should have looked rested and happy from alpha pampering, but today he looked stressed. Jaysan didn’t get a chance to ask what was up—he was trying this new thing where he engaged others more, instead of being so self-absorbed—because Braun joined them sans Rei, and the meeting officially began.

As the unofficial leader of the group, Kell made a general welcome and then asked if anyone had something they wanted to say today.

Jaysan raised his hand first.

Jax and Braun gawked at him, because Jaysan never wanted to share his thoughts or feelings. Not since Reid died last summer.

“Jaysan, go ahead,” Kell said with an encouraging smile.

“Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of me giving birth,” Jaysan said, needing to get it out before he changed his mind. “And giving up my baby.”

Mikhail, the newest omega member of the group, gasped and clutched thin hands over his own flat belly. He’d joined a few months ago, after Ronin successfully sued to have him freed from the legal mating to his former alpha, Adzu. After years of repeated miscarriages due to physical violence, Mikhail had nearly died before law enforcement intervened. He was currently living with a beta couple, like Jaysan and Brogan, and trying to get his life back on track.

While Mikhail knew Jaysan, Liam and Jax had come out of the fight ring last year, he didn’t know much of Jaysan’s own story, because Jaysan didn’t talk about it, and the others knew better than to gossip.

“At the time, I didn’t think I wanted him,” Jaysan continued, speaking more to the snack tray than the other men in the room. “So I gave him up the moment he was born. I never saw him, held him, or even asked his gender. But sometimes I wonder where he is. Who adopted him. If he’s loved like he deserves to be loved, because he can’t help how he was created or why he was born. And I’ve been stressing out my guardians by doing really stupid shit. Two nights ago, I went home with an alpha, and I had sex with him and two others. At the same time.”

He glanced up, not surprised to see open shock on most faces. Only Kell seemed grief-stricken, rather than shocked. “I came home bleeding, and one of my guardians was so upset at how I looked he dragged me to emergency to get checked out, even though I was fine. But yesterday, we three talked, and I realized how much I was hurting them by internalizing all my anger and regret and resentment. I hate that I hurt them so badly, but this morning they got the call that they’ve been selected to adopt, so I’ll have to go somewhere else soon, anyway.”

“Oh, wow,” Braun said. “That’s a lot to take in all at once. But why would they send you away?”

“It’s a two-bedroom house. Even if they keep the baby in their room for a few weeks, they won’t want me around indefinitely. It’s already been over a year since they took me in, and I haven’t done anything in the meantime to get help or look for another arrangements.”

Braun glanced over at Kell, who’d finally relinquished Branson to the floor. Kell had a thoughtful look on his face, and Jaysan wasn’t sure if that was a good thing, or a bad thing.

“What?” Jaysan finally said. “You gonna offer me a room?”

“No, I was just thinking about something else that happened yesterday,” Kell replied. “Some of you guys have met Ronin’s paralegal, Morris Danvers. Morris’s older brother and brother-in-law died in a horrible accident, and Morris was left with their baby to raise. He’s an unmated alpha and—”

“Forget it. Are you insane? I’m not going to mate a stranger for a place to live.”

Kell looked horrified. “I wasn’t going to suggest you mate with Morris. I didn’t actually have a clear thought in mind. We were at Morris’s house most of yesterday, and he’s devastated, plus he has a baby to take care of. It’s a big change, and I was trying to figure out if you two could help each other somehow.”

“Like how? An alpha I don’t know gets a roommate and free child care?”

“Yes?”

“Morris is a stand-up guy,” Braun said. “Ronin vouches for him, and we trust his word.”

Jaysan glared at Braun. “If you were me, would you go live with him? An unmated stranger?”

“I don’t know, because I’m not you. Kell wasn’t making an actual suggestion, okay? He was thinking out loud. And maybe you don’t live with him, because even though he has this week off, eventually he’s going to need a babysitter. Or even a full-time governor for the baby. Maybe helping Morris out will help you work through your grief over the baby you gave up.”

Jax signaled, “I agree with Braun. Think about it. It could help you.”

“It sounds reasonable enough, right?” Knox Oakley said. He had been the first beta to join their group, and Jaysan liked him. Despite what hell he’d gone through, he had a generally positive outlook on life now, despite being skittish around almost anyone who wasn’t a member of the support group. “I mean, what would it hurt to have a conversation with the man?”

“Nothing, I guess,” Jaysan replied. He wasn’t sure how babysitting the kid of a stranger was supposed to help assuage his own grief over the son he’d never know, but the idea of being a full-time babysitter held some appeal. He did like kids, especially the children of his friends, and while he’d never know or shape the mind of his own offspring, maybe he could be a good influence on another man’s child.

“Think about it,” Kell said. “You don’t have to say anything right away. And thank you for opening up. For trusting us with your truths.”

“Should have done it a long time ago. Maybe I wouldn’t have done some of the stupid-ass shit I’ve done these past few months. I’m so numb some days that I’ll do anything to feel something, even if it’s dangerous.”

Jax snapped his fingers, then signaled, “Please call one of us first. If you need to feel, talk to us. Don’t hurt yourself.”

“I don’t want to anymore. Hurt myself, I mean. I gave my baby up so he could have a better life, and I deserve a better life, too. I’ll probably need you guys to tell me that at least once a day so I start believing it, but admitting I have a problem is the first step, right?”

“You’re grieving a lot of loss,” Kell said. “There’s no time table for that loss. But we’re here to help you, Jaysan, so let us help you.”

“I’ll try.”

Jaysan could say the words all he wanted, but changing two years worth of grief, anger, loss and regret wouldn’t happen overnight, and he was going to fuck up. And maybe he wasn’t the best person to help this Morris fellow out with his childcare issue, but it was worth exploring. He’d either get a door slammed in his face, or he’d possibly meet an alpha who didn’t look at him as an ass to fuck. He might even become his friend.

Stranger things had happened, and he wouldn’t know if he didn’t try.