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Mrs. Stavros crouches and runs a soft hand through Nix’s hair.

“Nix,filaraki. I’m sorry. I thought that’s why you were here? To get the keys to your family’s home? After all this time?”

Oh, shit. Jay had not expected that.

The phone starts ringing, but Jay ignores it so he can gather his weeping beloved into his arms and join him in the grass.

Mrs. Stavros gasps and points.

Grayson is barreling down the street at full Were speed, Luca just behind him. Jay can only imagine what they did to keep Rowan in the house.

“Shit.”

“They belong to you, I imagine,” Mrs. Stavros says gently. “Well, I’ll leave you to it, alpha.Filaraki, come see me again. I’ll tell you all about it—when it’s not such an enormous shock.”

She disappears into her home, and Jay doesn’t blame her. Especially not after he gets a look at the very public, very not-subtle show of incoming alpha dominance.

Grayson barrels to a stop—claws out, growling—and Luca throws himself on his back, breathless.

“He got away from me. Fuck, he’s fast. Dammit.”

“Everything’s okay, Gray. Dial it back. This is a human neighborhood,” Jay murmurs, pressing Nix’s nose to his neck. He keeps his scent steady and calming, even though his heart is still racing.

“What happened, Angel?” Grayson crouches low, and Nix thrusts the keys out, tears flowing in earnest again.

Jay leans in, finally catching the scent on the long yellow ribbon—coconut and sunshine. Rose Rena. These were her keys.

“They’re keys. To what, though?” Luca asks, still catching his breath.

“They’re the keys to his parents’ house,” Jay answers softly, pointing behind them at the home that’s been quietly waiting.

“For real, Nixie?Thishouse? I thought his grandmother sold everything.”

“We did too. It’s a complete surprise.”

The phone starts ringing again, and Grayson opens his arms so Nix can collapse against his chest.

Jay answers.

“’Bout fucking time. Tell me you’re alright, or I’m gonna have to tranq Rowan again, and Finn says too much K is bad for him.”

“We’re fine. On our way back. We’ll explain everything. Does Rowanneed to talk to him?”

“He can’t talk right now. Leo has him doing laps in the pool.”

“We’ll see you in ten,” Jay says. “Baby Boy, let’s go back to the safe house, and I’ll bring you back tomorrow. It’s a lot for today, yeah?”

Nix nods, burying his face in Grayson’s neck. “S’lot. Babies are hungry. Need Rowan.”

Luca picks up the abandoned tin from Mrs. Stavros. Jay notices he’s barefoot—but at least his ass is still covered.

“Up you go, Luc. No shoes?”

“No time. One minute I had a tongue in my mouth and a hand under my skirt, and the next I was chasing the owner of said appendages out the door.” He drops his voice, conspiratorial. “That was my job, you know? Keeping him distracted. Was working perfectly until he nearly bit my tongue off and booked it in this direction.”

“Sorry, Luc,” Nix says, reaching a hand across the space between them. Grayson carries him koala-style, and Luca latches on to his fingers as they pass Jay.

That’s how they make their way back to the second safe house: walking in silence, except for the occasional hitching breath from Nix.