When Curtis’s knot finally goes down enough for his cock to slip out of me, I miss the fullness, but I don’t have the same sense of loss or insecurity I’ve had all weekend. The bond not only changed us physically but also emotionally.

I now have zero doubts about his commitment or interest in me. I can feel how much Curtis loves me. And though we haven’t said the words yet, I know as an indisputable fact that what we feel for each other is pure and complete love.

Regardless of what the calendar says about how long we’ve been together, I know what feels right. And this, lying in my mate’s arms, feel more than right.

Until nine am rolls around.

“I’ll come home at lunch and will call as often as I can.” Curtis is running some product through his hair with his fingers. He looks damn fine.

“But…” I hate sounding needy, and I know Curtis has to go to work, but I really don’t want to be alone. “What will I do all day?”

Curtis looks around the room then nods toward the big screen TV. “You can watch TV. Or there’s an Xbox set up on the TV in the living room.”

“I’m not going to play games by myself.” A memory of Trevor trying to get me to play video games with him pops into my mind. That wasn’t even a week ago but it feels like a lifetime has passed since I was that scared, loner omega. “Maybe I should go back to Omega House.”

Curtis almost growls as he levels his stern gaze on me. “You want to move back there?”

“No!” A fuzzy feeling in my chest has me walking up to my mate, falling into his arms. “Just for the day. It’ll be boring here. At least I have a few friends there.”

Curtis rubs his nose in my hair, breathing slow and deep as if trying to calm himself. “That’s not a bad idea. I’m sure Naheed wouldn’t mind. Besides, you need to get your stuff.”

“Can you drop me off?” I glance at Curtis from under my long eyelashes, hoping the look comes across as coy and cute instead of desperate and sad.

“Of course.” Curtis kisses me hard, plundering my mouth with his hot tongue. “I’ll make breakfast while you get dressed.”

* * *

“So that’s it?” Freddie has his feet up on an ottoman and is waving a paper fan at his face. “That’s why you were so weird with Curtis? Because he’s your mate?”

I nod, hoping he understands and can be supportive of my new situation. “And there’s one more thing.”

Freddie chuckles then coughs…and then winces as his hand presses against his side. “Of course there is. What is it?”

“I’m pregnant.” I’ve never heard such empty silence as seconds tick by before he reacts at all.

“You are?” Freddie works himself up and out of the recliner and drops down next to me on the couch. “I’m so happy for you!”

“You are?” I don’t know what I was expecting from Freddie, but excitement wasn’t at the top of my list.

He smacks my shoulder then holds my hand between his. “Of course I am. We can have play dates together. Mine will be about eight months older than yours, but they can still be best friends.”

Hearing the excitement in his voice makes a few happy tears well up in my eyes. “They can?”

Freddie pulls me into an awkward, but I can kinda rest my head on his shoulder. “Yes! I’m truly happy for you. You seem like a good guy and you deserve to find happiness.”

I hold him a little tighter. “You do too, Freddie. And I know you will.”

He just nods, no longer needing words to convey his feelings.

“Max.” A soft voice calls me from down the hall. “Someone’s here to see you.”

It has to be Curtis. Maybe he’s missing me as much as I’m missing him.

“You stay here and rest.” I direct Freddie back to his recliner and ottoman. “I’ll be right back.”

Seeing Tad standing in the entryway makes my stomach clench with equal doses of surprise and discomfort.

“What are you doing here?” I look around to see if anyone's watching us. Naheed can see us from his desk, but he's on the phone.

“I just want to talk to you.” He raises his hands in surrender. “I promise to leave if you want me to. But just give me five minutes.”

I don't want to cause a scene, so I wave toward the front door. “Let's go outside.”

Tad follows on my heels, and as soon as the door shuts behind us, he reaches for my hand. “I'm so sorry if I scared you the other day.”

His touch makes my skin crawl. This isn’t right. Not at all. I try to pull free of his grip, but he doesn't loosen his hold on me.

“You shouldn't be here, Tad.”

“No, Max, you shouldn't be here. You've spent too much time locked away as it is. You don't have to stay here anymore.”

I pull harder, and Tad finally releases my hand. “I'm not staying here anymore. I'm just here to visit a friend.”

Ted cocks his head and gives me an indulgent look. “You don't have to lie to me, honey. We can start slowly. Come stay in my guestroom for now. In time, we'll see what happens.”

Just the thought makes my stomach roll and a scowl form on my face. “No, Tad. It's too late. I've already—”

Before I can explain, the rumbling of a very loud and now very familiar engine comes barreling toward us. I look up in time to see Curtis’s BMW screeching into the driveway before he stops just a few feet away from where Tad and I are standing.

I'm frozen in place, praying Curtis isn't mad at me. I hope he doesn't think I set up this meeting behind his back. I’ve just found him, and the thought of losing him makes me want to puke.

Tad makes the mistake of reaching for my arm, almost losing his when Curtis blocks the contact him with his solid chest. “Don't fucking touch him.”

“Dude, chill. I just came by to talk to Max.” Tad takes a step back but doesn’t leave like a sane person would. “He's not a prisoner here, ya know. If he wants to leave with me, you can't stop him. I'll call the police.”

Curtis chokes out an unamused laugh. “You're kidding, right?”

“I was just about to explain it to him,” I say, reaching for Curtis’s bicep.

“Explain what?” Tad looks confused and more than a little annoyed. “What’s going on here?”

I wrap both of my hands around Curtis’s thick bicep and rest my head on his shoulder. “Curtis and I are bonded mates. And we're having a baby.”

Cheers and whistles erupt behind me, and I turn back, startled to find an audience watching us. I had no idea they were there but their excitement and support brings tears to my eyes.

“Seriously?” Tad looks between me and Curtis and then leans forward far enough to get a good whiff of the air between us. “You do seem a little different.”

“I am.” I hope he can hear the sincerity in my voice. I can’t make this any clearer.

A mix of sadness and resignation war in his eyes, but Tad finally backs off, putting a few more steps between us. “Well, I guess that's it then.”

Tad stares at me for a long moment before turning to Curtis with his arms crossed over his chest. “I hope you understand how special Max is. He deserves to be taken care of.”

Curtis rolls me forward so I'm pressed against his chest then kisses the top of my head. “Oh, I do. And I intend to give him everything he could ever want.” His grip tightens on me, and he lowers his lips to my ear. In a whisper only I can hear, he says, “And even some things you don't know you want yet.”