As Charles sat on the bed in the Amaris’ guest room, trying to work up the courage to dial Myron’s number, he realized he didn’t have the strength. He dialed Avery instead, relieved when the omega picked up the phone. “Charles?” Avery cried, sounding not only awake but petrified. So much for his fears about disturbing them this early in the morning. “Where are you? Are you alright? We’ve all been worried sick.”

“I’m sorry,” he said guiltily. “I didn’t want to wake anyone before I left, but I’m fine. I’m in the Emerald Pack.”

“The Emerald Pack?” Avery cried. “How the hell did you end up there?”

“I asked for sanctuary, and Jaspar granted it to me,” he said softly. “I needed to get away, and I know nowhere in the Federation outside of Southbend is going to be safe, so…”

Avery fell silent. “I’m glad you’re safe,” he murmured. “But when are you coming home?”

Home. Was that how they saw their pack? As his home, too? It was as unexpected as it was touching, even if Myron didn’t feel the same. “I don’t know. Maybe never,” he admitted. “It’s peaceful here, and the Amaris have answers about what I am. They think I can help them with their research, and I could use a little direction right now.”

“Research? What research?”

Charles wasn’t sure how to explain everything, so he decided to keep it simple. “They think that Myron and I belong to a new class of shifter they call sigmas. If they’re right, the baby is one, too, and they can help me figure out how to handle this pregnancy.”

“I’m glad,” Avery said softly. “The Amaris are wonderful people. Among the only people I’d ever trust with something like this, but… don’t you think you belong here? With Myron?”

Charles didn’t know how to answer without putting Avery in a position that wasn’t fair. Myron was his brother-in-law and as kind as the Myers had been to him, he was still an outsider. “Myron asked for time, and I’m giving that to him. I won’t let this baby become another thing that distracts him from figuring out what he truly wants.” It broke his heart to say those words, but he loved Myron too much to take away that chance. He also loved the baby too much already to ever let them feel the way he did now. Like a burden.

“I understand why you feel that way, Charles. Myron told us what a complete ass he was,” he said bitterly. “But he still loves you. And he wants this baby, I swear he does. You should have seen his face when he found out.”

“He knows?”

Avery fell silent again. “I’m sorry. Nicholas felt like he needed to know, and I don’t disagree with him. We didn’t know where you were, or if you were safe”

“It’s okay,” Charles sighed. “I’m sorry I left the way I did. I was emotional, and I didn’t think anyone would notice before I had time to call.”

“I understand. Can I at least tell Myron where you are?”

Charles hesitated. “I would rather you didn’t right now. You can tell him the baby is safe. I’d never want to hold that over his head, but I think it’s better if we don’t see each other right now.”

“Okay. I’ll tell him.” Avery paused. “Please, just promise me that you’ll tell us if you need anything. No matter what’s going on with you and Myron, you and the baby are part of this family now. I want you to know that.”

“Thank you,” Charles said, stunned by the omega’s words. He’d never had a family and never imagined he would. He wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that they cared about him whether he and Myron were together or not, but it made him feel better to know that even if Myron didn’t want the baby, someone did. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“I’m counting on it.”

Charles sighed and changed his clothes before climbing under the covers. He didn’t want to subject himself to the dreams he was sure to have, but he knew he needed to start taking better care of himself. That started with getting a decent amount of sleep.

* * *

Charles woke and felt more well-rested than he had imagined he was capable of. He opened the blinds and looked out at the beauty all around him. The Emerald Pack certainly rivaled Southbend in terms of natural beauty, even if the Amaris lived in a far more rural area than the small town. It was relaxing, and the fact that he wasn’t bound to run into someone who knew Myron or his family made it a little easier to breathe.

He took a long, relaxing shower and changed into clothes that didn’t have a logo on them or drawstrings before going downstairs. He could hear the sounds of children laughing in the kitchen, and stopped in the doorway. Jaspar was attempting to pour syrup onto a stack of pancakes while his daughter hung off him with her arms wrapped around his neck, seemingly pretending that she was a wolf who’d caught her prey. The Alpha seemed amusingly apathetic as he went about feeding his children, as if this was just a daily occurrence.

“Good morning,” he said pleasantly, looking up at Charles as he cut up the food on his son’s place. “Sleep well?”

“Very,” said Charles. “You didn’t tell me there were wild animals around here.”

The girl dropped down from her father’s shoulders and grinned brightly up at Charles. “Hello! My name is Arya!”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Arya,” Charles said, smiling. Somehow, he hadn’t expected the verum family to be so normal. “And you must be Michael.”

The toddler grinned. “Hi!”

“Don’t let the innocent act fool you. These rugrats are running late for school already,” Jaspar said with a sigh, lifting his daughter into her chair. “Someone who shall not be named decided to use her spare uniforms to make a nest for the porcupine that lives in the garden.”

“He doesn’t like leaves,” Arya protested, looking down at her overalls. “Besides, I can play better in these.”

Jaspar rolled his eyes. “Tell that to the teacher.”

Charles couldn’t help but laugh. He watched as Jaspar got the children packed up and ready for the day. “Tyr will be down soon,” the Alpha said, smiling Charles’ way. “Help yourself to breakfast. If you’re up for it, I’m sure he’ll want to give you a tour.”

“That sounds nice,” Charles said, waving. “Have a good day.”

Once he was alone, he decided to take care of the extra dishes before he ate. Jaspar was a messy cook, but he was surprised the family didn’t have servants to manage all of their domestic chores. Then again, maybe they preferred it that way.

“Morning!” Tyr called, walking into the room like he’d been awake for quite some time. “You look well rested.”

“I slept better than I have in a long time,” Charles admitted.

“I’m glad. The air here is different. It’s healing.”

“I can see that.” Charles hesitated. “Don’t you miss your home in Mountain Ridge?”

“All the time, but Jaspar and I visit often with the kids, and our parents usually spend the summer out here. Would you like to take a walk with me?”

“That would be nice,” he said, following Tyr out through the garden. “Your pack is exquisite.”

“Thank you,” Tyr said proudly. “The land is beautiful, but I think it’s the people who make it that way. I’ve heard Southbend is lovely this time of year, too.”

“It certainly is.”

Tyr watched him thoughtfully. “It’s not home, though. You must miss London.”

The question surprised Charles, not because it was strange but because he’d never considered the city home, even though he’d lived there all his life. “I wouldn’t say I miss it. It’s familiar, but it’s nice to be away for a while.”

“I understand. You know, when I first came here, I felt like an outsider, but it was kind of nice. Being somewhere people only knew me as Jaspar’s mate, not because they’d grown up with me.”

“Yes. I imagine it was hard to feel like you had any privacy in Mountain Ridge.”

“It was,” he admitted. “I always felt like I was living in the shadow of my father. And that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Dad was always the heart of Mountain Ridge,” he said with a wistful smile. “But he always wanted me to live my own life, you know?”

“You certainly seem to have found your place here.”

“I have,” Tyr agreed. “It’s nice to live somewhere where there aren’t so many expectations of me, both as an omega and as a Teak.”

“I suppose Futurus is a big part of the reason things are different in the Federation,” Charles murmured.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m more inclined to believe that Futurus is a product of the way the Federation is.”

“I suppose you may be right.” Charles tilted his head. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Why are you so kind to me, if you hate Futurus so much?”

“Oh, I don’t hate it,” Tyr said with a sigh. “I’m past that at this point. And I certainly don’t blame you for the things I do hate about it.”

“You don’t?” he asked, surprised.

“I followed Jaspar’s investigation. I can’t say I approve of the idea of anything resembling the breeding program my father was forced into so many years ago, but… I know what Futurus is trying to do is different, and I understand why you believe it’s the only way to manage the population.”

“That’s generous of you.”

Tyr smiled. “I didn’t start out feeling so charitably, but my father’s charity has worked with a lot of omegas who found an escape from forced marriages and abusive homes through Futurus’ matchmaking program. So I have to give credit where credit is due.”

“But you still don’t agree with the program.”

“Absolutely not,” Tyr huffed. “But now that it’s no longer mandatory, it’s less of a human rights issue and more of a personal one. I also recognize that Futurus is a solution to a problem, and if I want Futurus to go away, we have to come up with a better solution.”

“And you believe that sigmas are part of that?”

“I believe that you’re part of the equation, yes. In order to survive, our species is going to have to evolve. That’s just the way nature works.”

“And what is it exactly that you think I can do to help?”

“For the moment, I think all you need to do is rest and enjoy being somewhere you’re allowed to be yourself. Not a CEO, not an Alpha, not Myron’s mate. Just Charles.”

“I wish I could tell you there was a version of me that existed without those labels,” he murmured.

Tyr gave him a knowing look. “I get it. Believe me, there was a time in my life when I thought I existed only to be Jaspar’s. That was all I wanted to be.”

“What changed?”

“I realized he wasn’t enough.” He smiled when he saw the look of shock on Charles’ face. “I don’t mean that he isn’t enough for me. Jaspar is the only man I’ve ever loved, and our life together is everything I ever hoped it would be and more. But in order to appreciate that life and be the mate he needed, I had to realize who I was as an individual fist.”

“I thought I knew,” Charles admitted. “My work was everything to me once, and then I became the CEO and that role became my identity. Now, I don’t know what it is.”

“That’s the problem with defining yourself with work or even people. Your job title changes, you have to take on a whole new identity. A relationship ends or fizzles out, and you forget who you are outside of it.”

“Yes,” Charles murmured. “I can see that now.”

“You know, it’s not too late,” Tyr said, giving him a playful nudge. “You’re hardly an old man. You still have time to figure out who you are.”

“I don’t even know what it means to be a sigma, other than being an outlier.”

“Sigma is just a name for a set of traits, Charles. It’s not an identity,” Tyr said gently. “Neither are omega or Alpha. Do you know why we started calling your kind sigma?”

“Because it sounds better than theta?”

Tyr laughed. “The first one to come forward came up with it. Her name is Georgina, and she said she always felt like a lone wolf. That’s what sigmas are in a feral wolf pack. They’re alone, not because they want to be but because there’s a force that drives them to keep moving.”

“Because they don’t belong anywhere?” he murmured.

“Because they know they haven’t found the one they’re meant to belong to. Sigmas tend to be alone for a long time before they meet their destined mates. I don’t know why, but it so rarely seems to be easy for them,” he said sadly. “Jaspar and I were fortunate. We grew up together and we always knew that one day, we’d be together. For most of you, it’s not so easy.”

“And what about those of us who found our destined mates and still don’t end up together?” he asked.

“I’ve never heard of that happening, Charles, and I don’t get the feeling you’ll be the first. Sigmas aren’t like other wolves. You’re far more sensitive to emotional connections, and that means that there’s more room for confusion. Sometimes, the deeper you feel, the harder it is to sort it out. Myron just needs to realize that he’s the one in control. He’s spent all his life convinced that he’s an omega, and the baggage that comes with that can be hard to leave behind.”

“I’m not what he wants,” Charles insisted. “He’s only going to realize that more clearly now that I’m gone.”

“Maybe. But if that’s true, then you’re really not meant to be together after all and someone better will come along.”

Charles’ heart protested the very idea that there was anyone better than Myron. Not for him. That was what made his rejection hurt so much. In his heart, there was no doubt. The fact that there was still plenty of room in Myron’s for second guessing was just more proof to him that they were never going to be on the same page.

“Before, you said your father sent you a message,” Charles said, longing for a change in subject. “What was it?”

Tyr looked out into the forest, and Charles wondered if he’d crossed the line. “He told me that he was coming back.”

“Coming back?” Charles asked, unable to hide his dismay.

“I know how it sounds. When Jaspar’s father, Mel, was returned to us, I held out hope for so long that maybe dad was coming back, too,” he murmured. “I had finally come to accept the truth when I started having the dreams.”

“Dreams?”

“Every night these last six months,” he said in a somber tone. “At first, I thought it was just the product of my wishful thinking. Then, when my twin sister told me she was having the same exact dream, I knew there was something more to it.”

“Can I ask what it was about?” Charles asked, intrigued. He knew some believed twins to share a psychic link, and he’d always had a mild interest in the phenomenon.

“Our grandmother always appeared to him as a black crow, giving him advice before he went into battle,” Tyr said quietly. “She saved his life more times than he could count, and I saw her all throughout my childhood. When our daughter was born, I saw two of them and I knew it was my father, saying goodbye. This time, he came with a message. ‘I’m coming back.’ I didn’t believe it, and sometimes, I’m still not sure, but… when I saw Myron at that first press conference and he mentioned my father’s name in the context of your research…”

Charles’ eyes widened. “I thought you would be livid.”

“Oh, I was. At first,” he laughed. “Then, Jaspar told me about your apology and how sincere it seemed. And your aura. When I looked over your research and realized it wasn’t just a publicity stunt, I couldn’t deny that there was something else going on. Something too big for my skepticism to deny.”

“You think that the dreams are about Project Renaissance?”

“I believe so. I think that’s how my father’s spirit plans to return,” said Tyr. “And there is part of me that wants to adamantly resist the whole idea, but…”

“He’s never led you astray,” Charles murmured.

The omega nodded. “Isn’t there anyone you’ve ever trusted that way?”

“No,” Charles admitted. “I was given up at a very young age, so I can’t imagine my parents were very trustworthy people.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He sounded it, too. Everything about the omega was genuine and it was easy for Charles to forget who he was. Both Tyr and his mate were intimidating in their own right, but they were also surprisingly down to earth.

“I hope to be that person for this baby,” Charles said, sitting next to Tyr on one of the benches that lined the forest path. “I have no idea what I’m doing, but perhaps one day.”

“Nobody knows what they’re doing at first,” Tyr assured him. “That’s how it makes you better. You think you’re grown and that you know everything about life there is to know, and then you find yourself responsible for this tiny person,” he sighed. “You feel completely lost, and you know what the consequences are if you fail.”

“You make it sound terrifying.”

“It is!” Tyr laughed. “But it’s also the most beautiful experience I’ve ever had. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Charles smiled. As the head of the most successful enterprise in the shifter world, he quite literally had the world at his fingertips and it had never made him happy. Maybe this time, it would be different.