Morris spent the next two days slowly, methodically going through the master bed and bathroom. He allowed himself to cry when something upset him. He allowed himself to sit on the floor and wallow. He took breaks to play with Aeron, because the little boy helped center him. And it was hard. Probably one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his life, next to standing there while Morgan and Brody’s nameplates were somberly attached to the mausoleum wall.

One final goodbye.

When Ronin called that night and invited him and Aeron to brunch the next morning, Morris didn’t immediately say no. “Will Jaysan be there?”

“No,” Ronin replied. “The usual crew of me, Kell, Tarek, Braun, Serge, and Dex. Plus our friends Karter and Isa, and the kids. Braun hosted a brunch for some of their omega friends this morning, but Jaysan turned down the invitation.”

“Okay.” Morris wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed. Definitely concerned about why Jaysan didn’t want to see his friends. “Should I bring anything?”

“Depends. Are you more of a Mimosa guy or a Bloody Mary guy?”

“Um, I’m driving with an infant, I think I’ll stick to coffee.”

“Good man. Just bring yourself then, we always have plenty of food.”

“I appreciate it. I feel like I’ve barely been out of this house in a week, and it’ll be good to be around friends, especially tomorrow.”

Ronin made a rough sound. “One week since the accident.”

“Yeah. I mean, I guess it’s technically today, but tomorrow is when Brody died and Aeron was orphaned.”

“Then come over whenever you want. Food will be ready at eleven, but feel free to show up early.”

“Thank you, Ronin. Truly.”

“Not a problem, man. How are you holding up?”

“I honestly don’t know.” He looked over at Aeron, who was in his walker and gumming a cracker. “The house is somewhat clean, Aeron is properly fed, and I haven’t burned anything down, so win?”

“Definitely a win. I’ll see you in the morning, yeah?”

“Yeah, see you then.”

Morris pocketed his phone. “Looks like we’ve got a lunch date, little man.”

Aeron blew cracker crumbs and laughed. “Papa!”

“I know, I want him, too.” He squatted in front of the walker. “But we’ve got this, yeah? You and me?” And Jaysan, in another day.

“Papa.”

Aeron had another hour before bed, and spending time simply playing with his nephew was Morris’s new favorite thing. Sure, he’d loved visiting and babysitting before, but everything was different now. Life could change in an instant, and he wanted to make every new memory possible from now on. And if those memories were as simple as stacking blocks with a one-year-old, he’d take it with joy and gratitude in his heart.

Morris ended up knocking on Ronin’s door a few minutes after ten. After two days with no real company besides a baby, he was desperate for adult interaction again, and also kind of eager to return to work tomorrow. But first, brunch.

Braun answered the door with a bright smile, Rei half-asleep in his arms. “Come in, you beat everyone else. Tarek ran out for something, but he’ll be back in, like, ten minutes.”

“Thanks.” He’d only been to Ronin’s place a handful of times in the past, usually for something work related, but he liked it. He and Kell shared the second floor of a home, while Braun and Tarek lived in the bottom, both converted apartments. Morris didn’t understand needing to be that close to your sibling, but Kell and Braun, as omega brothers, had a unique relationship.

Branson gave an excited shout from the playpen in the living room, so Morris deposited Aeron in with his new friend. Finally free of the baby for a few minutes, he walked into the kitchen to say hello to his hosts.

Ronin and Kell were squabbling over something in a pan, and Morris paused to watch them. Despite disagreeing, the affection between the pair was obvious even to a blind man, and for several long moments, Morris couldn’t look away. In the end, Kell won the argument and added an herb to the pan.

Morris cleared his throat. Kell jumped, but both men smiled at him. “Hey, you’re early,” Ronin said. “Welcome.”

“I needed adult interaction,” Morris admitted.

“Did you bring Aeron?” Kell asked.

“Of course, he’s already in the playpen with Branson. I have a funny feeling those two are friends for life.”

“I’m glad. Babies need social interaction, too, and I was serious before about playdates anytime.”

Morris tried to keep his smile in place. “Other than weekends, you’ll have to get up with Jaysan about those.”

“Sure, okay. I’m going to go give Aeron a hug, all right?”

“Of course.”

Kell ducked out, leaving Morris alone in the kitchen with Ronin. Morris adored his boss, and he was a man Morris aspired to become, so nothing about the moment was uncomfortable—except this was more friendly than professional, as all their interactions had been for the past week. “You have an amazing mate,” Morris said.

“He is one of a kind.” Ronin turned from the sizzling pan. “You look terrible.”

Morris laughed. “Thanks so much, boss.”

“Aeron not sleeping through the night?”

“Fits and starts. He isn’t used to me putting him down, and he wakes up every two hours crying for his papa. Last night I gave up and let him sleep with me, and he slept better.”

“He knows something is different, even if he isn’t sure what’s actually happened. At some point, things will settle.”

“I hope so.” Morris stepped deeper into the kitchen, which smelled like bacon and herbs. “I really do appreciate this invitation, sir. I’m not used to being alone. I talked to Morgan almost every day, even if it was just a quick hey. We were the only family we had.”

“I can understand that, and please, don’t call me sir today. We’re all friends here.”

“Thank you.” He snorted. “I think I’ve said those two words more than almost any other this past week, except maybe ‘I’m sorry.’”

“No one is keeping score, Morris. You were thrust into an untenable situation last week, and no one here is in a position to judge you for your actions.”

“Thanks. Can I, uh, help you with anything?”

Ronin grinned. “There’s a can of orange juice concentrate thawing in the fridge. Kell prefers fresh, but with this many guests, frozen is cheaper. Can you prepare that for me? Pitcher is in the second cabinet on the left.”

“Of course.” He bit back another sir, then fetched the pitcher from the proper cupboard. He hadn’t made frozen juice in years, but the directions were right on the can. He put the prepared pitcher back in the fridge until it was time to eat.

Someone started crying in the other room, and Morris drifted toward the sound, drawn by Aeron’s familiar high-pitched scream of upset. Kell and Braun stood over the playpen, peering down at a screeching Aeron and perplexed Branson. Branson kept saying, “Want ball,” over and over.

“What happened?” Morris asked.

“Your little alpha doesn’t like to share,” Kell said with an amused smirk.

Morris looked into the playpen. Branson had a plastic ball in both hands and the most innocent expression on his face, while Aeron flailed both hands and cried. He picked up the unhappy baby and tried to shush him. “Sounds like we need to work on sharing with friends, Aeron,” he said. “It’s Branson’s ball.”

Aeron looked betrayed, which made Morris’s heart hurt.

“What if you get to play with something else?” Kell asked. He grabbed a small, stuffed cow from the playpen and squeezed it. A long “moo” got Aeron’s attention. Aeron’s tears dried up and he reached for the toy, repeating the “moo” sound in the most adorable way.

It seemed to appease the boy, so Morris put him back into the playpen. “Only one year old and already a troublemaker,” he joked.

“He’s a baby. When I first got Branson back, he used to have the strangest fits. He’d get mad at his food for no reason at all, or he’d refuse to go down for a nap until he just passed out from exhaustion. I have no idea what he went through those few months he was with those other people, because they never admitted to their treatment of him. He didn’t have any bruises or scars, but I have no doubt it was traumatic in its own way. Aeron’s dealing with his own trauma in the way he knows how. Just…be patient?”

“I can do that.”

The two kids seemed to be at peace now, and Aeron’s newfound joy over the mooing cow made Morris grin. Tarek arrived a few moments later with a bakery box that smelled like cinnamon, and once he’d deposited it on the dining table, he eagerly took over holding Rei.

Morris observed the tender way the older alpha cradled his baby in one arm, so he could touch Rei with his free hand. Simple strokes of the boy’s bare arm or across his cheek, as if both memorizing him and proving he was actually there. Braun had had a high-risk pregnancy and a difficult delivery, and a quick glance at Braun showed the young omegin frowning at nothing in particular. Kell had returned to the kitchen, so Morris made small talk with Tarek for a while.

Someone knocked around ten-forty, and the Freels walked in. Morris didn’t know the beta couple well, having only interacted with them a scant handful of times since he began working for Ronin. Serge was slim, blond, and an ICU nurse at the province hospital. Dex was tall, dark-haired, and worked in the main records room for the constabulary. He still used a cane and walked with a slight limp, but Dex had apparently had an operation a few months ago that helped an old knee injury that had been causing him pain for years.

Dex also had a diaper bag slung over one shoulder, while Serge proudly carried their boy Gaven into the apartment. They’d adopted the now-eight-month-old after being selected by an alpha/omega couple who couldn’t afford the financial strain of a fifth child. According to Ronin, they’d been on the adoption list for years and were thrilled to finally be parents.

Morris introduced himself again, because it was polite, and they both took a moment to coo over Aeron, extend their sympathies, and offer assistance with anything he might need. As much as Morris appreciated the kind offer, he didn’t want to stress another family with a child of their own.

The last two to arrive were Constables Karter Jenks and Isa Higgs. Morris knew Karter because of Kell’s trial, and he’d interacted with Isa a handful of times last summer when Mancini tried to take Liam away. All the men in the room—alphas, omegas, betas alike—interacted like the family they were, tied together by the men they loved and the bonds that united them, and Morris felt out of place. Yes, Ronin and Kell had been wonderful to him this past week, but he wasn’t part of this family.

If I mate with Jaysan, I will be, because Jaysan is connected to Jax and Liam.

No, Morris didn’t want to mate his way into a family, that was dumb. His family was still playing with that mooing cow toy, and that was okay. He had friends. It was good enough.

Ronin called everyone in to get food, which had been set up buffet style, with silverware, napkins, and the various drinks on the dining table. Morris helped himself to a piece of frittata, fruit salad, bacon, and a few pieces of some sort of pull-apart cinnamon cake that Tarek had brought. He’d already had coffee, so he poured himself a glass of orange juice, then did the same for Braun.

He was one of the first at the table, so he sat on one end, and as other folks joined him, he found himself between Dex on his left and Ronin at the captain’s end to his right. Kell captained the other end of the table, which Morris found odd. Usually, only alphas sat in those places. Kell should have been opposite Morris, and Tarek or Karter in that spot.

That’s your sire talking.

“So,” Dex said after a few minutes of eating, “Tarek mentioned you’ve hired Jaysan Rowe to watch Aeron during the week.”

Morris nearly choked on his bacon, surprised his personal life had been gossiped about. Then again, Kell had been there when Morris hired him, and he imagined this small family talked to each about everything. “I have, yes. He starts tomorrow. It’s honestly the simplest solution, considering he’s the baby’s omegin.”

Dex sputtered his coffee, then coughed into a napkin. Morris glanced at Tarek, who looked kind of guilty. Next to Dex, Serge was gaping at him, too. How had that tidbit not gotten around? “Jaysan is Aeron’s omegin?” Serge asked. “How’s that possible?”

“Sorry,” Tarek said to Morris. “Karter and Isa knew, because their mates know, but I didn’t want to continue spreading your private business.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” Morris replied. “It’s not a secret we expect everyone to keep, but I’d appreciate if it stays in this room for a little while. We’re still getting used to the idea ourselves.” To Serge and Dex, he explained his first meeting with Jaysan, Jaysan’s regret over giving his boy up, and how no one could deny their physical resemblance or Aeron’s immediate recognition of Jaysan.

“That’s an incredible story,” Serge said. “Wow.”

“Jaysan was over the moon when he realized who Aeron was,” Kell added. “He knew it the instant he saw Aeron, and he was so overwhelmed he couldn’t speak at first.”

“I imagine so,” Dex said. “Damn.” He squinted at Morris. “That has to be a little odd for you, though. You’ve got sole custody, but you’re letting Jaysan take care of him?”

“It’s an odd situation,” Morris replied with a nod, “but it’s also a bit perfect, because I’d have to hire a governor anyway, and who better than Aeron’s own omegin? They get to have a relationship and I get childcare so I can work and provide for the family.”

“Family, huh?”

Morris realized what he’d said and cringed. “Not like that. We aren’t going to mate or anything, this is simply a beneficial arrangement.”

Yeah, right, it’s that simple.

Kell was watching him with a steady, knowing gaze that Morris studiously ignored.

Tarek changed the subject by telling a work-related story of a group of drunk betas trying to climb telephone poles down in the Narrows on dares. One guy got so high up, he was too scared to climb down, and they had to get a fire truck to the scene. He spun such a vivid story that Morris could see it happening in his head.

“They were all given citations for disorderly conduct,” Tarek finished, “but since no property was damaged, no one was arrested.”

“Sounds as if you get some pretty entertaining calls,” Morris said.

“They can be, and believe me, I’d rather have a disorderly call than another dead body.”

“Ditto,” Karter said.

Morris tipped his juice glass in their direction. The meal continued with light conversation, and Morris relaxed by degrees and enjoyed the fellowship. This is what he missed without his brothers. Simply hanging out with other adults, chewing the fat, with no urgency to finish and move on. Folks got up for second helpings, and Braun excused himself once to change Rei’s diaper. Branson, Aeron and Gaven seemed to be entertaining themselves in the playpen, so Morris soaked in the conversation.

Everyone was full and smiling when Kell dinged his fork against his juice glass, gathering everyone’s attention to his end of the table. “So, Ronin and I had a long, long conversation last night,” Kell said with a shy smile. “We came to a decision that we’ve already shared with Braun and Tarek, and that we wanted to share with the rest of our friends.”

Morris glanced at Braun, who once again looked unhappy and worried. But Kell looked happy, so what on earth was he about to say? Ronin looked cautiously excited—oh. Oh!

“We’re expanding our family,” Kell continued.

“Are you guys adopting?” Serge asked.

“Nope. During my next heat, we’re going to try for a pregnancy. We want to have another baby.”

Voices exploded around the table, and above the joyous congratulations came the curious, concerned questions. Ronin hushed everyone with a loud throat-clear.

“We’ve looked at all the options,” Ronin said, “and we’ve consulted several times with Kell’s OB. He’s healthy, his body is stronger, and we’re going to take every possible precaution, but we both want this.”

Braun’s unhappiness made more sense now. Kell had nearly died giving birth to Branson, and that it was quite possible three years of abuse and rape by his late mate Krause had been a huge factor in that. Coupled with Braun’s difficult pregnancy, Morris understood the fear both brothers would live with for the next year or so.

“Jax will be over the moon for you guys,” Karter said. “We were so happy when Jaxson was born.” Jax’s oldest, Karson, had been sired by his first mate, but the pair had wanted a biological child of their own. Jax had named Karson in Karter’s honor, so Karter had done the same with the new baby.

Will Jaysan want to have my child?

Stop. Thinking. Those. Things.

So many mated or married pairs and their babies, though…less than stifled by it, Morris was incredibly jealous of their happiness. He wasn’t sure he remembered true happiness anymore.

“Have you and Liam talked about expanding your family?” Karter asked Isa Higgs. The big, burly alpha had been mostly silent during the meal, but he was also the oldest alpha in the room by ten years, with three grown beta sons of his own before he’d met and mated Liam, who was twenty years his junior.

“We’ve discussed it casually,” Isa replied. “Some days forty seems a bit old to have another baby, and other days I look at Layne and would love to give him a sibling closer to his own age. Not that he wants for other kids his age. I’d have brought Layne with me to meet little Aeron, but Jax and Liam had already arranged a play date with Brogan.”

He’d wanted to bring his stepson to meet Aeron? More than almost anything, that truly touched Morris and made him feel included in this group of friends. “That’s a very kind gesture, thank you,” Morris said.

Isa tilted his head in an acknowledging nod. “You got handed a raw deal, young man, and you seem to be handling it with a lot of courage.”

“Have you been able to do any organizing this weekend?” Kell asked.

“Some,” Morris replied. “It’s easier to throw out half a bottle of prescription pills than to put someone’s clothes into a donate box, but I’m making progress. I know it won’t happen overnight, so I’m not going to push myself and get stressed out.”

“That’s a good plan,” Ronin said. “There’s no one right or wrong way to grieve and move on. And if you aren’t ready to come back to work tomorrow, say so.”

“No, sir, I’m more than ready. It helps knowing Aeron is with his actual omegin and not a stranger. I absolutely trust Jaysan to take care of him.”

“I’m glad, and what have I said about you calling me ‘sir’ outside the office?”

“Sorry. Habit.”

“One I’ll break you of yet,” Ronin said with a grin.

Brunch in the Cross household was apparently a super-casual thing once the food was eaten. Kell and Ronin put away the leftovers, while everyone else just mingled between the dining area and the living room. Rei was still figuring out the crawling thing, so the little boy sat on the corner of a play mat Braun had spread out and watched while Branson, Aeron, and Gaven played baby games and babbled to each other.

Morris watched for a while, but eventually drifted to a set of sliding glass doors at the front of the house. The first floor had a small porch, and the roof of that porch was actually a small deck. Morris hadn’t realized it was a useable deck until he peered out the window. Maybe ten by ten, it had two small folding chairs on it, a little mosaic table between them, and nothing else.

“I hope to plant some herbs out there soon,” Ronin said as he came up next to Morris. “Kell loves cooking with fresh herbs but they’re a bit pricy at the market.”

“It’s a nice space,” Morris replied.

“It’s a warm day. Want to stand outside for a few minutes?”

“All right.” This was Ronin’s subtle way of getting him alone to talk, and Morris was okay with that. After the new baby announcement, and after seeing these happy couples—beta couple included—Morris had questions and no answers to any of them.

Neither of them spoke right away. Morris leaned on the metal handrail and gazed down at the quiet neighborhood street, a little jealous of the view. Then again, he didn’t live very far from here anymore.

“That couldn’t have been an easy decision,” Morris said. “Trying for another baby.”

“It wasn’t, and we talked a lot and for a long time.” Ronin sat in one of the chairs and stretched out his long legs. “I can’t imagine losing Kell. I think it would break me in profound ways, but we both agree it’s an acceptable risk. I come from a large family, and I’d love to have a brother for Branson and a baby with my DNA.”

“DNA doesn’t make family.”

“Trust me, I know that very well. But Kell is an amazing parent to Branson, and he wants more kids. And it’s entirely possible he won’t get pregnant in his next heat, or ever again, but we can try. If we come to a point where it’s time to give up, we’ll probably adopt. As you said, DNA doesn’t make family.”

“Aeron isn’t blood, but he’s family.”

“Exactly.”

Morris turned and leaned his hip against the rail so he could look at Ronin. “How did you know you’d make a good alpha mate?”

Ronin’s mouth twisted as he thought. “I don’t know that I ever consciously decided I’d make a good mate one day. Growing up, I had many siblings, and my sire was a great man. Fair and loyal. He was firm without raising his voice or his hands. He and my omegin made an amazing pair of parents, and they instilled the best parts of themselves in their kids.”

“What happens when your sire is an abusive, murderous alphahole?” Morris hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but he had, and Ronin’s eyebrows shot into his hairline.

“I take it that’s not a rhetorical question?”

Morris shrugged. “My sire hurt a lot of people, his mate and kids at the top of the list. Do a records search from Cornerstone Province for Angus Danvers if you’re curious.”

“I’d rather wait until you think you can open up and tell me about it.”

“It might be a while. Morgan was the only person who knew, the only person I could talk to about it. I just…don’t know how to be without my big brother. To be honest, this is the first time since secondary school that I feel like I have real friends again, and I’ve never talked about that stuff with other people.”

“Well, I’m here to listen when you’re ready.”

“I appreciate it.”

Ronin was silent a beat. “Can I go out on a limb and assume that your violent sire is why you’re so resistant to mating?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me tell you a secret about nature versus nurture. Dex? He has a very strained relationship with his family, because of long-ago incidents that are not mine to repeat. It gave him a lot of reasons to be an agitated, cruel adult, but he’s one of the most loyal, generous people I’ve ever met. He didn’t become the cruel, disbelieving person his parents were. He’d give you the shirt off his back, and then ask if you need his pants, too.”

Morris closed his burning eyes. “So you’re saying my fears are unfounded and I’ll turn out just fine?”

“Yes, because I’ve known you for how long now? There isn’t a mean bone in your body, Morris, and one tragedy isn’t going to turn you cruel. Mating won’t turn you cruel. You’re a good man, and I truly believe you’ll be a good alpha when you choose to mate.”

He studied his boss a beat, but saw no hidden meaning in his words. “So Kell didn’t tell you?”

Ronin blinked. “Tell me what? If it’s your private business, then no. Kell isn’t a gossip.”

I want to trust him but telling one more person means it’s even more real.

“Jaysan and I both feel the mating bond,” Morris said, and rushed on before Ronin could comment. “We feel it, but we each have our reasons why we aren’t interesting in mating, and Aeron just complicates things. Maybe it would be different if we’d met months earlier or months from now, but things are just too complicated all around.”

Ronin regarded him a moment. “I met my bondmate while defending him from a murder charge. That’s complicated.”

Morris opened his mouth to respond but found no real words. He’d worked with Ronin for over a month defending Kell, and he couldn’t imagine the stress of finding his bondmate and trying to keep him from going to prison for murder.

“However,” Ronin continued, “I recognize that your family just passed away a week ago, and you’re readjusting to your life. Maybe this week isn’t the right time to claim your mate, but don’t close yourself off to it forever. When it’s your bondmate, man…it’s something really special.”

“That’s half the problem, though. Jaysan has made it very clear he doesn’t want anything to do with me. He’s there for Aeron and no other reason.”

“Made himself clear how?”

Morris’s skin buzzed with fresh anger over that morning three days ago. “He came to my house smelling of another alpha.”

Ronin’s eyebrows drifted upward. “Wow.”

“Yeah. He’s made his position clear, and that position is as my nephew’s governor.”

“Okay, well, here’s my credit’s worth of free advice. Jaysan has lived through unspeakable pain and abuse, and he’s scared. He has every reason to be scared. His story isn’t the same as Braun’s or Kell’s, or even Jax’s, or Liam’s. He won’t react to finding his bondmate with open arms and excitement, so let him live with knowing you’re there, and you’re his friend. It took Tarek weeks to earn Braun’s trust. Liam and Isa didn’t act on the bond they felt for months.”

“So basically, be patient and let Jaysan come to me?”

“Something like that. I can’t tell you how to write your story, Morris, but I can offer advice based on personal experience.”

“I appreciate it. You have no idea how much.” Grief punched him in the chest. “Morgan was the guy I always went to for advice.”

“Then I’m honored to be a pinch-hitter. I only met Morgan and Brody once, but the world is worse for their loss.”

“Thank you. And it may be a bit early to say so, but congratulations on expanding your family. I wish you and Kell all the success and happiness.”

“Thank you, and I wish the same for you. And for Jaysan, no matter where your paths go from here.”

Morris truly hoped his and Jaysan’s paths ran concurrent from many years to come, even if they never truly entwined. He could live with that, and with being single, as long as Aeron was safe and loved.

He hoped.