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It makes sense to Nix, because Finn had said he and the babies were doing the same.

“Where is Rowan?”

Since Nix won’t let the wolf run all the way back to Clearwater and track Carnell down, he’s moved on to his second favorite urge after sex: food.

What he wouldn’t do for another pocket-snack right about now.

The others arrive dressed to leave, and Leo heads into the kitchen, likely to empty the cupboards and fridge of anything they could transport and eat as they go.

“What happened? He didn’t try it again?” Jamie asks as he goes to his knees to help Nix’s feet into a pair of small red shorts, then pulls on his hands to help him up.

The shorts make the wolf grouchy, but they don’t cover the baby belly, so he’s not putting up a fight.

The white T-shirt sitting on the couch, though—that’s going to really piss him off.

The wolf doesn’t like anyone to forget they made babies.

If he could, he’d announce it to every single humanoid-shaped person, with a pointed finger and a detailed explanation of how they got in there.

He grabs the shirt from Jamie under the guise that he can dress himself and flings it across the room, much to his alpha’s dismay.

“Nix.”

“Gray’s temp is hot enough to bake cookies,” Gideon volunteers, but Nix’s wolf only hearscookies.

Like he’d known Nix was starving to the point of feeding himself—the horror—Rowan arrives and hands Nix a package of double chocolate Oreos, and Nix rewards him with a kiss that tickles his tonsils; it makes him wiggle his butt like a puppy.

“I’m really good now. Honestly. Better than ever,” Grayson adds.

“Maybe we should look inside, though. You know, with a scan thing? Just to be safe. Cookie?” Nix offers one to Rowan and then one to Grayson.

“Nix, this is serious. It could be melting his brain.”

Rowan scoffs, teeth covered in black-chocolate-Oreo-goo. “What brai—?”

“No, Rowan, not right now,” Jamie says, cutting off any forthcoming commentary on Grayson’s brain capacity—or lack thereof.

“Nix is right. Tell me if you feel worse again, Gray, and we’ll try to get you another MRI when we get to the city. I don’t have contacts, but maybe Lauren could help,” Finn says, and packs up his bag.

Gideon puts his phone to his ear again. “Did you hear all that, Codex?Ooh, I’m scared. Bring it. Yeah, yeah, just call me back. Bye.”

He rolls his eyes, and Nix is so grateful his mother-in-law didn’t see that. From what Nix has heard, she could really kick his ass.

“You had Lauren on the phone this whole time?!” Jamie groans.

“Well, I couldn’t just hang up on her when Kitten bellowed, now could I? I would just hate to berude.”

The Paradox Stands (Jay)

It’s nearly an hour later by the time they pile everyone into the van and set the code on the safe house. Jay doesn’t bother looking back—he’s not sorry to see it go.

Oh, it had served its purpose. A haven when they needed one. A place for Finn to catch his breath. A rare moment for Jay to slow down, to think, to plan their next steps.

But now, it’s time to move forward.

It had been the place they’d first felt their babies, and a place of pure freedom for his beloved. Nix had spent the entire week naked as the day he was born, pregnant belly on full display and a reminder to them all of how far they’ve come.

He was the reason they’re in Florida at all, and the reason they need to deal with Carnell for good.