After a long day, this shower is refreshing. I towel myself off and put a t-shirt on, intending to catch up on the news on my tablet. I’m just settling in on my favorite spot on the couch when the door opens loudly, and Carson walks in with a weird expression on his face.

I sigh, putting the tablet down. “What happened?”

“The craziest thing,” he says, and I can tell he’s itching to talk about it. He kicks his shoes off and sits on the couch next to me. I put my arm around him, since I can tell he needs it.

“Yeah? You wanna talk about it?” I ask, trying to go slow even though I’m insanely curious. Carson isn’t usually this excitable.

“So… you remember Harley, right? That omega I was helping?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I hadn’t heard from him in a while, and then he calls me today to tell me he’s giving birth and he needs help… so basically I ended up holding his hand while he delivered the baby, and I was there the whole time…”

His eyes are wide, like he still can’t believe it happened.

“What… in the world,” I say, amazed. This is possibly one of the most random things ever to happen to Carson. “So is he okay, now?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine. But that’s not all. He told me he got a job and has made some friends at work who’ve been very helpful.”

“That’s good news isn’t it?” I ask.

Carson shakes his head. “Get this. He’s working at that Blacktail shop that’s obviously a front.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. My heart rate has increased. If we have another lead in the case…

“Yes, I’m absolutely sure. I asked him and got enough details,” says Carson.

“We need to handle this carefully.” I think about it. If we go too hard, we risk alienating Harley, tipping off the Blacktails, or giving Harley more information than he needs—information that’ll put him in danger or at least make him lose his job.

“Agreed,” says Carson. “Even though I’m tired from helping him, I feel antsy. I want to follow this lead.”

I chuckle. “That’s usually my job. What’s special about this Harley, anyway?”

Carson gives me a look, and I feel a sliver of annoyance mixed with guilt. I don’t want to make him feel bad because I know it’s important for him to take care of others. But on the other hand, I feel jealous that he’s so into this omega, one I’ve never met. I’m an alpha, so I can’t get pregnant. It’s always been a minor point of contention in our relationship, that neither of us can give the other kids. And now that he’s found an omega to be interested in…

“Special?” says Carson. “He’s just a guy I’m helping. And he seriously needs help, especially considering that he’s now involved with the Blacktails.”

“I suppose,” I say, turning over the idea in my head. I’m not usually the most jealous person—the bond Carson and I have is so deep that I’ve never doubted it. But then, nothing’s ever happened to make me doubt it in the first place. This is new for both of us.

There’s a legend among the wolves of Stell—the legend of the fated mates. Some wolves think it’s bullshit, and others don’t. Other types of shifters have their own beliefs around it, too.

I never believed in fated mates until I met Carson. He’s an amazing guy. Seriously amazing. I’m lucky to be spending the rest of my life with him. But fated mates is more than that… it’s a feeling, deep inside, compelling you to be together. It’s like the universe showing you you’re destined to be together.

And the amazing thing is that I never used to think Carson would be the one for me. He takes life a little slower than I do, and is the kind of person who stops to smell the roses. On the other hand, I’m more of a go, go, go person. I didn’t think we’d be compatible when we first met.

But that’s the magic of the fated mates. And that’s what made me believe. As we worked together on missions, I realized that we had something to learn from each other. Being with Carson has made me appreciate life more, and I’ve helped him become more decisive. We’re better because of each other.

And that’s how it should be. But the fated mates legend doesn’t have a provision for when people feel a connection with more than one person.

Well, I guess it does, in a way. In some traditions, like those of the reptile shifters, multiple partners are a lot more common. But I haven’t heard of it happening much among wolves. I don’t know any groups of three or more.

There just isn’t room for a third. I don’t even know how it would work.

“Just… I just worry, you know,” I tell Carson, not able to summon the right words to describe how I’m feeling.

He takes my hand and rubs his thumb on my palm gently. “I know. I know we can’t have a kid.”

Even when he says it, I feel a sting in my chest. Is it something that’s always going to wear on me?

“But we don’t need a kid to be happy,” he continues. “We have nieces and nephews. The fated mates are supposed to be together for a reason, aren’t they?” he asks, rubbing the spot on his neck where I bit him during our first mating.

“Yeah…” I say, trailing off. My heart swells with love for Carson, and I realize that he’s right. I can’t doubt the myth. I can’t doubt him.

“We’re going to be okay. And hey, maybe you can be an uncle to Hunter, too. Looks like he’s going to need all the help he can get,” finishes Carson.

“Yeah,” I say. “I just… you know how I always wanted my own baby.”

“I know,” says Carson soothingly. “But we’re fated to be together for a reason.”

For a reason. He’s right. There’s some part of this cosmic plan I don’t understand yet. I have to learn from my pain, my insecurities. I have to grow.

There’s a moment of silence as we sit comfortably together, the tension draining out of me like dissipating smoke. That’s another reason I love Carson—he makes me feel grounded.

“That is one of the things I love about you,” I say. “I love that you love helping people.”

Carson smiles. “Thanks,” he says.

“You’re gonna continue helping Harley and the baby?”

“Yeah, I want to keep an eye on them, especially since they’ve been roped into Blacktails stuff,” he says.

I nod. “That makes sense. I’d love to meet them sometime. We should have some of the other guys from the pack meet them too, so they know we’ve all got their backs.”

Carson’s smile grows wider. “Yeah, we should. I was thinking of heading over later, bring some stuff from the headquarters storage. He’s well-stocked, but I’m sure he could use help.”

“Good plan,” I say. “I’ll come with you.”

“Sweet, I’ll text him,” says Carson, pulling out his phone.

I can’t help but wonder what exactly Harley will be like.

When we arrive at Harley’s front door, I can tell the man is tired but pleasantly surprised to see us. His eyes widen when he sees me, and he puts a finger to his lips, indicating the baby is sleeping.

“We just wanted to bring a few more things from headquarters,” starts Carson.

Carson is so earnest, it’s adorable. I love watching him like this, being so caring towards a newborn baby and new dad omega. And it’s not an experience I would get if Harley weren’t here.

Hm. As much as my jealousy is making my hackles rise, just a little bit, I can’t help but wonder if an omega is the missing link in our relationship.

Watching Carson beaming at the baby, asleep like a perfect porcelain doll in his crib, is truly magical. Yet again, I feel a pang in my heart. I’m not the one who can give him a baby.

“This is my partner, Lars,” says Carson proudly, ushering me over.

“Hey,” I said, shaking Harley’s hand. I don’t know what to say. I’m not a people person like Carson is, and I feel awkward just being here.

But Harley doesn’t seem to care. Seems like he and Carson already have something of a rapport built up. They chat a little bit about the baby, but it’s evident Harley is tired.

Carson helps him move some stuff around and I can’t help but watch him interact with the omega with a mixed feeling of wonder and jealousy. I quash the jealousy and let it give way to something different.

I kind of like this feeling, whatever it is. And the baby is downright adorable.

I wonder if our relationship does have room for one more. One who comes with a baby, that too.

When Carson and I drive home, I ask him how he feels.

“You like Harley, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” he says. “I mean, not like like…”

It’s so funny to see my mate behaving like a schoolchild. “No, I mean like… do you want to date him?”

“I guess I’d like that.”

“Well, maybe you should try it,” I say.

There’s a silence as Carson thinks. “You’d really be okay with it?”

“I think so. I mean… Let’s take this one step at a time, anyway,” I say, wondering why I brought it up at all. “The man just had a baby, after all.”

“Sure,” says Carson, but he reaches for my hand and squeezes it, and my heart feels alright again.