I’d never stood up to my father like that before. But it felt amazing!

The cherry on top was just how angry Brad was when they left. Him and Gregory. But fuck them. Brad was my brother, and I loved him because of that, but we’d never had a real relationship of any kind.

He was always my…keeper. We’d never been on equal footing or had any kind of brotherly bond. I always felt like a responsibility to him more than anything. It was like he was my boss or something. I’d never expected or gotten anything back from him when I confided in him. I’d gladly trade that for living with Terry, my fated mate, who completely understood me.

It had taken him a minute, but my father had taken his men and gone. Brad had stared at me before getting into the truck, and I’d almost thought he was about to turn around and come after me. But he hadn’t. And Terry and I had stood there and watched their taillights speed away until they finally vanished into the darkness.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and leaned heavily against my mate. His scent was the warm comfort of belonging that assured me everything would be all right.

“That was not how I expected that to go,” he told me, stroking my head as my adrenaline levels started to come down.

“Me either,” I replied. And that reminded me. I turned to Preston and the others standing on the porch. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I never wanted that to happen.”

“It’s not your fault,” Preston replied to my surprise. “And I understand now—you are not like the rest of your family. I am sorry for doubting you before.”

“Thank you, Preston,” I smiled as Terry pulled me tighter to him. I felt like we’d both accomplished something together. I was the one who had finally stood up to my family, but I knew I wouldn’t have been able to do it without his support. Just knowing he was there was enough to inspire a strength inside me I never knew was there. Terry had changed everything about my life, and I loved that about him.

“I was ready for a fight,” Juan grinned. “Of course they had to run away.”

“Oh, shut up, Juan,” Preston laughed.

“We’re going to head inside for a bit,” Terry said, pulling me towards the house. “All this excitement is too much for a pregnant omega.”

He chuckled and tickled my side as he opened the door for me. I giggled and jumped on him. He caught me easily and I buried my face in his neck and nuzzled close as he carried us through the house and into our bedroom.

It was beginning to feel like my home in a way it hadn’t before. It was as though I’d been living with him for years and the farmhouse was a place I’d been countless times. Terry was my home, but the farm felt much more real now in a way after having cut the cord to my family. I’d never go back to my apartment. There wasn’t anything I needed there besides clothes, and even those didn’t matter much. I’m sure my father would be fine letting me take them if I wanted.

He’d been much more understanding than I’d expected. He hadn’t even put up much of a fight. Maybe it was a sign of kindness that I rarely saw from my father, or maybe it was the fact that he remembered what had happened to Jasper. Either way, it was a better outcome than I could have ever hoped.

As Terry lay me down and took his place beside me on the bed, I felt more at home than I’d ever felt. I had his cub in my belly and the acceptance from my family—my father at least. I knew he didn’t approve, but that would come later. For now, all I needed was for them to not actively be trying to sabotage my relationship, or worse.

We actually lay there a long time not talking, just taking a moment to take in the reality of what had just happened. Terry absentmindedly stroked my belly as I stared at the ceiling and smiled. I was in heaven.

After a while, I began to look around the room and picture how it might look after the baby came. We’d need a crib, and that could go in the corner on either side of the bed. There was enough room on the other side at the foot of the bed for a little play area for him—or her.

“I can see it,” I whispered to my mate.

“See what?” He asked.

“Our future.”

Terry smiled and wrapped his arm around my head and pulled me closer, kissing me on the cheek.

“How does it look?”

“Perfect,” I replied. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”

“I don’t really care,” Terry said simply.

“Come on, you have to care!” I protested, turning to face him. But he shook his head.

“No, I really don’t. I just want a baby with you. Or two or three or fifty!”

I laughed as he tickled me and inhaled deeply. “Mmmm, you just smell so good!”

We both chuckled and I leaned in to kiss him. But just as our lips met, a bright light flashed through the window. I looked out and heard the sounds of an engine approaching.

“What’s that…?” I asked. Terry must have heard the concern in my voice, and quickly got to his feet and peered outside.

“Shit!” He cursed. Before I could react, he was out the door and racing outside.

“Terry, wait!” I shouted after him, but he was gone. I turned back to the window and saw Brad’s truck roaring up the drive.

“Oh, no…”