Kell Iverson Cross paced the kitchen of the second-floor apartment home he shared with his mate Ronin, nervous and eager for tonight’s unplanned conversation. Most weeknights, they ate dinner downstairs with Tarek and Braun, in their half of the house they’d bought to share, but Kell had asked Braun to change their plans. He had something he wanted to talk to Ronin about in private.

Instead of cooking, Kell had ordered Ronin’s favorite pizza—deep dish, lots of pepperoni and sausage—and his favorite beer. He wasn’t buttering Ronin up, exactly, but between Morris’s sudden loss, Jaysan’s long-term regret, and Kell’s own feelings on the matter, he wanted his mate in the best possible mood tonight.

Their exterior door opened and shut. “Kell?”

“In the kitchen,” he replied, his nerves jangling now that his mate was home. He loved and adored Ronin in every possible way, and he hadn’t been this nervous around the man since their very first meeting in the law building, back when Kell was a prisoner charged with murder, and Ronin was the lawyer Tarek had hired to defend him.

Ronin appeared in the kitchen doorway, a curious smile on his face. Kell took a moment to admire the gorgeous, black-haired, bronze-skinned man he’d taken as his bondmate over a year ago. A man who loved Branson, the child of another sire, as if he was Ronin’s own. A man who’d saved Kell’s heart and soul, and who Kell was blessed to love.

“Hey,” Ronin said. “Braun told me we were eating up here tonight.”

“I wanted to have you all to myself.”

Ronin’s eyebrows arched. “You had me all to yourself last week for forty-eight hours straight. Didn’t get enough?”

Kell had gone into heat last week, and he absolutely adored the heats he shared with Ronin. Ronin was attentive, kind, gentle, and he treated Kell like a person deserving of love and affection. Unlike Kell’s first mate, who’d only ever seen Kell as a hole to fuck and a womb to impregnate, and Kell had mostly dreaded the heats he’d shared with Krause. Now, with Ronin, heat was something to look forward to. Forty-eight hours of slick, sex, fucking, knotting, and of knowing Kell was loved. Adored.

Seen.

And for all Kell loved taking his alpha bondmate’s knot during heat, he still wasn’t ready for penetrative sex outside of it, and Ronin had been amazing about that limitation. And Ronin was pretty damned creative in coming up with other ways for them to show their love without that particular act.

Sex wasn’t even what Kell wanted to talk about tonight, but sometimes when he thought about it, he marveled at how completely his life had changed since Krause died and he’d mated Ronin. Kell was no longer a hole to fuck; Kell was a person to love. And the conversation he wanted to have was about expanding that love.

“I will always want you all to myself,” Kell said. He crossed the small kitchen to slide his arms around Ronin’s waist. “But I wanted us to talk about something serious, and I didn’t want to lose my nerve over a long dinner downstairs.”

“You can talk to me about anything, little one.” Ronin’s curiosity took on a concerned edge. “You’re not sick, are you?”

“Goddess, no, nothing like that. Come on, let’s get our food and sit.”

Kell dished out slices of the steaming, cheesy pizza for each of them, then handed Ronin a beer while he stuck to juice. They settled at the small dining room table, on opposite sides of the square so they could be eye-to-eye for this. Ronin still seemed apprehensive, which was to be expected. He was overprotective of Kell to a fault sometimes, and they both knew how quickly life could change.

“Now that you have my curiosity properly aroused,” Ronin said, “what do you want to talk about?”

Kell sipped his juice, then folded his hands in his lap. A tiny tremor of anxiety shot down his spine, and not because he was scared of Ronin’s reaction or response. No, this was a huge ask on Kell’s part, and he knew what Ronin’s first reply would be if he phrased it as a question. “First, I need you to know I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I almost brought it up a few weeks ago, but I changed my mind.”

“Okay. You know you can tell me anything.”

“I do, which is why I’m bringing it up again. Part of it is a reaction to Morris’s sudden loss this weekend. It got me thinking about how our lives can change in one blown tire, and we can’t take a single moment for granted. And this morning at the meeting, Jaysan talked about his anniversary of giving birth, and how he regrets giving up his son.”

Ronin’s expression flickered with understanding. “Kell, what is it you’re asking?”

“During my next heat, I want to try for another baby.”

His jaw went tight, but Ronin didn’t respond.

Kell took that as an opportunity to explain his reasons for attempting something so dangerous. “I love you, and I love Branson, and I love the life we’ve built. But I see Jax and Karter with their two kids, and I want that to be us. I want another son with a little bit of me and a little bit of you. I want to carry your child, Ronin, because I love you and I want our family to grow.”

During his speech, Ronin’s eyes had gotten wet, and his shoulders appeared to be trembling ever so slightly. He licked his lips several times, then he gulped down half his can of beer. “Have you talked to Dr. Troi about this?”

Kell blinked hard, startled by the question, rather than an immediate “no,” or even an argument against the idea. “Yes, at my appointment after the heat ended.” Most omegas didn’t need to see their OB before and after every heat, but most omegas didn’t have as much scar tissue and physical damage as Kell.

For three-plus years, he’d lived with an abusive alpha who raped him repeatedly outside heat, allowed his friends to rape Kell, and who’d done awful, sadistic things to his body. Kell had spent four days in the hospital after giving birth to Branson, and he’d nearly died from blood loss. And while Kell didn’t want to relive that experience, it had given him a beautiful beta boy, and Kell wanted another child. With Ronin.

“Dr. Troi is cautiously optimistic, his words,” Kell continued. “He believes if I start the pre-natal vitamins now, eat as healthily as possible, and do moderate exercises, I should be healthy enough to carry another baby to term. But he does suggest we prepare for a Cesarean, because another live birth carries the same complications as my first.”

Ronin blinked, and a single tear trail trickled down his cheek. That tiny stripe of water had Kell up and in his alpha’s lap in a heartbeat. He wrapped his arms around Ronin’s shoulders. “You could die giving birth again,” Ronin whispered. “I could lose you.”

“That’s why the Cesarean. They’re still dangerous, sure, but it has better odds, and the surgeons are getting better every day. Brogan hasn’t had a single complication from his.”

“Have you talked to Braun about this?”

“No. You’re my alpha. My heart. This is something we need to decide, just the two of us. Other people can weigh in their opinions after we know what we want to do.”

“You’re my heart, too.” Ronin cupped his cheek in a big, warm palm. “I am terrified of this, Kell. Absolutely terrified, because I don’t know if I could survive losing you. Especially when we’re taking the risk on purpose and not by accident. Those three weeks after we officially mated were the most terrifying of my life.”

“Mine too.” Three weeks was the earliest after knotting bare during heat in which an omega could take a pregnancy test and have any sort of accuracy. In order for an alpha and omega to officially mate, they had to share at least one knot, no condom, which ran the risk of impregnation. Braun and Tarek had done the same thing, one knot, and they’d ended up with little Rei.

Kell and Ronin had both cried tears of joy when that test stick came back negative, and then again when a hospital test confirmed it.

“But that was also a year ago,” Kell said. “I’m physically stronger and healthier than I was last year. And I’m mentally in a good place, Ronin. I don’t have nightmares as often, or as many panic attacks. Therapy is helping, and I truly do want this.”

Ronin studied him the same way Kell had seen when questioning witnesses on the stand, observing everything from tone of voice to body language. But Kell had nothing to hide. He was baring his soul to his mate, telling him what he wanted. This had not been a rash decision. Kell wanted this so badly, but Ronin had to want it too.

“I love you,” Ronin said. “And I love Branson. I love our family, little one. Branson is mine, no matter his genes, and he will always be our son. You don’t have to give me another.”

“It isn’t about giving you something, Ronin, this is about growing the family we both love. It’s about creating a new life out of the love we share and the bond that strengthens us. I love you and Branson with my whole heart, and I know I could die giving birth. But I’m not afraid of it. Not anymore.”

“Tell me why.”

“Because Braun is safe and loved. I don’t have to be here to protect him anymore, because he has a wonderful alpha to do that for me. Branson is safe and loved by you and his uncles. And you have given me the most amazing life. From the day we reconnected in that interrogation room, you have been my alpha, protecting me from a world that wanted me behind bars. Protecting me from a father-in-law who wanted me dead. Giving me a home and so much love sometimes I could burst with it. For twenty-four years, I hated my life, and in only a fraction of that time, I find joy every single day. Because you love me, Ronin Cross.”

“I do. I love you so much.” Another single tear tracked down Ronin’s cheek. “You are the strongest person I’ve ever known, Kell Iverson Cross. You have the biggest, most generous heart of any man, alpha, beta or omega I’ve ever encountered. You champion omega rights. You are a fantastic, loving omegin, not only to Branson, but to every child who is put in your arms. You amaze me every single day.”

“You amaze me, too. And I won’t ask for your answer about another baby tonight, because you need time to wrap your head around it. I’ve been thinking about it for months, and it isn’t fair to expect you to decide in ten minutes. And if you need someone to talk to, you can tell Tarek or your parents, but please, don’t tell Braun, and don’t let Tarek tell Braun. Not until you and I come to an agreement over what to do.”

“Okay. Thank you.” Ronin gently kissed his lips, that hand on his cheek sliding back to curl around Kell’s neck. “Thank you for letting me sit with this for a while.”

“Of course. Call Dr. Troi, speak to him. I know you like having all the information you can at your disposal before making a big decision.”

“I’ll do that, then.”

“Good. He knows he can share all my medical history with you, because we don’t keep secrets.”

Ronin sucked on his upper lip. “We’d hire you a nutritionist. No mistakes.”

Hope lit brightly inside Kell’s chest. “Absolutely. No mistakes.”

They didn’t make the decision that night, but Kell returned to his seat and his supper close to positive he and Ronin were going to have another child. And it kind of sucked that his next heat was three months away.

Please, goddess, let this happen. Please.

By his third full day home alone with Aeron, Morris was losing his mind. Not only was he unused to having so much time off work—he’d had a job of some sort since he legally could get one at sixteen—but he wasn’t used to being cooped up in a house for forty-eight-hours with a one-year-old.

A one-year-old who didn’t seem to understand why Uncle Morris was with him, and his constant cries for Papa and Dada during the night often had Morris in tears himself. He didn’t know how to grieve this kind of loss, while comforting an upset child who didn’t have the words or mental development to cope with death. All Aeron knew was the two men who’d loved him since birth were gone.

Morris loved him too, but it wasn’t the same.

Ronin was frequently in contact, especially the first full day, as he helped settle the Danvers estate and solidify Morris’s legal standing in Aeron’s life, and in case he decided to sell the house and start over. The meals Kell and Braun had stocked in his freezer kept Morris fed without having to think about that particular problem.

Everything else, though, he frequently called Kell for help with—where to get the best diapers, how to obtain donated omegin milk to supplement the formula, did a cough mean he should take the baby to the hospital? Kell was patient with him, answering all his questions, and he’d even brought up possibly knowing an unmated omegin who could help with daily child care.

The pair was stopping by this morning, and after two days alone, Morris looked forward to the distraction of other adults in the house. He’d managed to keep it mostly clean. Not the spit-polished clean Morgan liked, but Morris was a single parent with an infant who loved to crawl all over the place. Aeron was also pretty good at pulling himself up to a standing position, as long as he had something like a chair or side table to hold onto. Then the things on those tables were within scattering reach for the little scamp.

Morris had a fresh pot of coffee on, but he hadn’t been grocery shopping, so the only snacks he had was a box of half-eaten chocolate chip cookies.

The doorbell chimed. Aeron looked up from his position in the rolling chair thingie, where he was banging two plastic blocks together and babbling along in his mysterious baby language, occasionally interspersed with recognizable words. He wasn’t about to roll away or fall out, so Morris let him be to answer the bell.

A strong waft of rose petals greeted him the moment he opened the front door to a shocking sight. Next to Kell and Branson was the omega from the emergency room that night. The expression of mild outrage he remembered had been replaced by mild curiosity, and the omega’s eyes shot wide as he seemed to recognize Morris, too. His proximity curled that lovely scent around Morris and held on tight.

“Hi, Morris,” Kell said. “This is my friend Jaysan Rowe.”

“We’ve met,” Morris replied dumbly. Jaysan was glaring at him with open suspicion now, and Morris didn’t blame him. The coincidence was kind of huge.

“No, we haven’t,” Jaysan snapped. “We saw each other in passing.” To Kell, he said, “This is the alpha you wanted me to meet?”

Kell glanced between them, confused by Jaysan’s annoyance. “Um, yes? Why, where did you guys meet?” Kell’s eyebrows dipped, and he turned on Morris. “Did you hurt him?”

“What?” Morris took a step backward. “Goddess, no, we’ve never even spoken until just now.” One of the most painful moments of his life came roaring back in vivid detail. “When I was in emergency waiting to hear about Brody, I saw Jaysan being wheeled into the cubicle next door.”

I scented him, too, and I really, really like his scent.

Jaysan’s anger melted by degrees as more recognition took hold. “Oh, no, that’s when your family died. Kell told me about the accident. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. Please, come in.”

Jaysan looked like he’d rather flee than enter, and Morris wondered if Jaysan scented him in return. He’d only just met Jaysan, but he wanted to draw the smaller man into his arms and keep him safe from the world. To make him smile and laugh, to make him happy.

Is this the mating bond? Oh goddess, I don’t need this right now.

He followed his guests into the living room, where they sat side by side on the couch. “Can I offer you guys coffee? Or water?”

“Water, please,” Jaysan said.

Kell shook his head. “I’m fine, thanks.”

Morris headed into the kitchen to get a glass of water for the man whose scent was now imprinted on his mind and heart. He needed a moment to think of a way to get them both out of here now. The very last thing Morris needed with his head so messed up with grief was to find his bondmate.

It took every ounce of Jaysan’s self-control not to flee the house right away, to get as far from that sharply-sweet basil scent as possible. He’d hoped the scent had been a fluke back at the hospital, but that wasn’t the case, and somehow fate had managed to cross their paths a second time. But Jaysan didn’t want a mate, dammit, especially not one as good-looking and gentle-seeming as Morris.

He had pale, freckled skin, and hair that seemed to change from orange to red to auburn depending on the light, and those things appealed to Jaysan. Except the man was an unmated alpha with several inches of height and bulk on him, and that made Morris dangerous.

Morris also looked like a stiff breeze might blow him over, and that woke up his instincts to soothe the man and make it all better—instincts that were simply from being omega and had nothing to do with his scent. Nope, not a thing.

“Are you okay?” Kell whispered. “Are you sure nothing happened between you guys at the hospital?”

No, something definitely happened.

“Positive. Like he said, we didn’t even speak. Ships passing in the night.”

Kell squinted at him, then deposited Branson from his lap to the nearby pack-and-play. “Oh, there he is.” He circled the couch and walked toward a hallway where a lime-green baby walker had run into a wall, then picked up the child in it. “This is Aeron.”

Jaysan stood to meet the little boy, but when Kell turned to face him, a shockwave rolled through Jaysan so hard and fast that he gasped. It was like looking at his own baby picture come to life, from the dark, curly hair to his button nose. Something deep inside of Jaysan roared to life—an instant recognition, a need to take that baby and keep him safe. Aeron looked right at him, seemingly into his very soul, and Jaysan knew.

He didn’t know how, and he didn’t understand why, but he knew.

“Jaysan?” Kell stopped halfway back to him. “What’s wrong? You look like you’re going to pass out.”

“Jaysan?” Morris was by his side instantly, a steadying hand on his elbow, and he tried to help Jaysan sit back down, but Jaysan didn’t want to sit. He couldn’t take his eyes off Aeron, terrified if he so much as blinked, the baby would disappear and all this would only be a dream. “Kell, what happened?”

“I don’t know, I picked up Aeron to introduce him to Jaysan, and Jaysan just…froze like that. He’s not having a stroke, is he?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“How?” Jaysan rasped out, his fragile voice even lower than normal.

Morris circled Jaysan so he was halfway in Jaysan’s line of sight. That glorious basil scent made Jaysan’s mouth water, and he hated Morris for it. “How what? What’s wrong?”

Jaysan raised a shaking hand and pointed at Aeron. “How did you find him?”

“Find who? Aeron? I don’t understand.”

Kell’s lips parted and his eyebrows winged up, as he seemed to clue in on what Jaysan couldn’t find the words to ask. He looked from Jaysan to Aeron several times, and he had to see the resemblance. He had to. “Morris, when was Aeron born?” Kell asked.

“Um, he just turned one three days ago, why?”

“You said he was a newborn, hours old, when your brother adopted him directly from the hospital.”

“Yeah.” Morris seemed totally clueless, while Jaysan was so grateful to Kell for figuring it out and asking questions Jaysan didn’t know how to ask. “But what does that have to do with Jaysan acting so weird?”

“Everything.” Kell moved closer, until Jaysan could reach out and touch the baby who was now staring up at him with rapt attention. Big dark, familiar eyes. Eyes Jaysan had never seen before today but that he’d know anywhere.

And this close, Jaysan scented him. Beneath baby powder, the scents of the betas who’d once lived here, and Morris’s own distracting scent, Jaysan smelled something akin to rose petals. Rose petals and alpha.

Jaysan reached out a trembling finger and stroked it down Aeron’s chubby arm, and everything snapped into place. Kell hadn’t said it yet, so Jaysan did. With one finger wrapped in Aeron’s strong, baby grip, Jaysan looked up.

Looked a strange alpha dead in the eye, and he said, “This is the baby I gave up for adoption. Aeron is my son.”