Page 100

He must hesitate too long after the knock because his old (new?) neighbor opens the screen door and calls out tentatively.

“Nix? It’s Elena Stavros, may I come in?”

“Mrs. Stavros. Sure, come on in.” He rolls to his feet, hauling Gideon up after him. He’s just pulling down his T-shirt over his girls when her head pops around the corner.

Ha, that sounds like an old boob joke.

“Good morning!” She arrives in the empty living room, spotting him and Gideon.

“Morning. I’m Nix’s neighbor, Elena.” She offers her hand so Gideon can take it in a gentle shake.

“Mrs. S, this is my Gideon. Gideon, this is Mrs. Stavros.”

“Ah, yes, the maker of dinner. I remember. Nice to meet you. I’m sorry to intrude, but I heard from the home security company this morning that a code other than mine had been used to enter, and they wanted to check in. I told them you would be making more visits, yes?”

Would he?

Would he return now, knowing this place was waiting for him? He wants to say no and yes, both at once. No, because it’s painful—being here when his family isn’t and never will be—is almost unbearable. But yes, too, because this is the closest he’s been to them in a decade. And though it hurts, it’s also a balm. It’s freeing in its own way—a place to remember them, something real, something his.

Gideon throws a shielding arm around his shoulder, and Nix takesstrength from his silent show of support.

“I think so, yes. If it works out with everyone and after my…” His babies. His eyes pop wide when he thinks about how he’s going to explain that.

Does she know about omegas?

How his babies were created?

He’s not ashamed of that, or at least his wolf reminds him they should be proud.

Two babies at once.Two!

Even so, Nix isn’t sure he’s up to a conversation about that with dear Mrs. Stavros.

Her eyes widen, too, but then her face creases with a smile, a small blush on her cheeks.

“Oh, yes. Well. Did you know that when you were small and I was pregnant with my daughter Celeste, you would sneak through the fence and sit with your cheek on my belly until your father or mother would come to find you? I asked you once what you were doing, especially near the end of my pregnancy, and you told me,I’m just waiting, Mrs. S. You were—aresuch a lovely boy.”

She glances at Gideon before steadily meeting Nix’s gaze, but she is careful not to look at his obviously round belly. Even though Nix’s wolf might like to announce his joy to the world, alphas usually don’t like unknown Weres thinking about their offspring.

“I understand that the idea of this is new to most of the world, Nix. But in my village on Crete, back when I was a girl, I knew a boy who was well-loved by his pack and had two fathers. I am happy for you and your pack.”

“Really? You don’t think it’s weird?”

His words are a surprise to him because he certainly didn’t think it was weird, and he hardly knew Mrs. S well enough to be bothered by her opinion. But he finds he is trying to mesh both sides of his life; his human past and his Were future have converged in the wave of self-doubt. Mrs. Stavros remembers his mom, and somehow it’s all mixed up with her in his mind.

“Weird? Of course not. You will make an excellent father. Would have,even if you hadn’t come to it this way. I knew it then because Celeste loved you—fussy little duck that she was. She’s getting her degree in medicine now, and with omegas coming out of hiding all over the world, she’s quite excited to choose a specialty in Andrology.”

“Our mate is an Andrology specialist,” Gideon offers, his pride in Finn obvious in his smile—and in the fact that he offered the information to a stranger in the first place.

“Oh? She is thinking about trying to study at Vanderbilt. There is a foremost authority there. Have you heard of him? I can’t recall his name, but she says he’s a genius. She’s quite the fan. They’re already offering supplemental classes this year here at Florida State, but it’s not the same as learning from a groundbreaking researcher—or so I’m told.”

Nix chuckles. “I’ve heard he’s handsome, too.”

“Oh? Have you heard of him? Perhaps Celeste should study in Nashville. Although, I hear he’s mated with a pack.” She sighs, as every matchmaking mother is wont to do when faced with a marriage-worthy candidate who has proven out of reach.

“He does have a pack. They’re very territorial. He has an omega mate who is quite fierce,” Gideon teases, and Nix elbows him in the side.

“He does? My goodness. Sotiris’spateraswere notoriously possessive.” She sighs again in remembrance and then pats Nix’s arm. “Ah! You have me off on a tangent.”