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“Sure,” I said, laughing. “I’m not totally incompetent in the kitchen, you know.”

“Pretty sure you’re not incompetent at anything.”

I nudged her with my shoulder as warmth spread through me. “You’re being really good with Dylan. I know this process isn’t easy, especially since you’ve never experienced it yourself.”

She sighed and dabbed at her eyes with her wrists, mostly avoiding getting flour on her face, but some of it was smudged on her nose. “I’m trying.”

“I love seeing you with him,” I said. “My brothers and I never got that with our mom. It’s nice to see Dylan have that kind of support.”

Her hands stilled on the dough, then she looked up at me, her bright blue eyes warm with concern. “What do you mean?”

I hadn’t intended to tell her any of this. Not this summer, at least. But seeing her manage Dylan’s changes dug up feelings I’d buried long ago. Even when we were together all those years ago, I’d fallen silent when Harley had asked about my mother, and she hadn’t pushed me. The wound had still felt raw. But now, I wanted her to know. I wanted her to know all of me.

“Ah, well.” I cleared my throat. “She died in childbirth having me and Sean.”

I focused on the dough, kneading and stretching it as I tried to ignore the sudden twist in my chest and burning behind my eyes. Harley reached over and gently squeezed my forearm. “I’m sorry.”

“She was human, like you,” I continued. “And carrying a shifter sometimes isn’t easy.”

Harley exhaled a small laugh. “That part I do know. Your son was an enormous baby and moved around a lot. Kept me awake all night towards the end of my pregnancy. I’m sure carrying twins was difficult.”

I nodded. “She hemorrhaged during the birth. A shifter’s body can cope with trauma like that, but she…”

Harley squeezed my arm again.

“So, my dad raised us,” I said. “He was a good father, but it’s not the same. He had a lot to juggle between being the alpha of the clan and dealing with us kids. We were raised by the clan as a whole, more than anything else.”

“That must’ve been lonely,” she said.

I didn’t expect that reaction. In my memory, my childhood was full of shifters—my clan members and my siblings. There was always someone I could play with or bother. But I never felt like anyone’s first priority.

“I guess it was, a little,” I murmured. “So, I’m glad Dylan has you.”

“And you, too,” she said.

We topped our pizzas with sauce, vegetables, and those perfectly caramelized onions, then slid both into the oven.

“I missed out on so much with Dylan already,” I said. “Even if Blakely hadn’t screwed everything up, I still would’ve gone to prison. That might’ve been even worse for Dylan than my absence.”

“No point killing yourself with the what-ifs,” she said. “He’s got you now. That’s what matters.”

“I’m going to miss out on a lot more when you’re back in Atlanta,” I said. “I know it’s the right choice, but these are important years. I hate that I won’t be there.”

Harley turned toward me and cupped my face in her palms. “Just because we’ll be in Atlanta doesn’t mean you’re not his dad anymore. You can be as involved as you want to be. There’s this little device called a cell phone, have you heard of it?”

I chuckled, then turned my head to kiss her palm. “It’s not the same as being present.”

“I know,” she said. “You’re not banned from Atlanta, either. You can come visit Dylan whenever it’s safe. I’m sure Hawk and Striker will give you some time off from your alpha duties.”

“Taking care of my mate and my son is my top alpha duty,” I said.

Harley quivered, then dropped her hands and hooked her fingers into my belt loops instead. Calling her my mate always sparked a little reaction in her—I could never tell if it was good or bad. But it was true. Claimed or not, she’d always be my fated mate.

“Right?” I continued. “I get to spend time with you in Atlanta, too, don’t I?”

A pink blush spread across her cheeks. “I don’t see why not.”

“It’s so cute that makes you blush,” I teased. “Sex in the middle of the forest is fine, but God forbid I suggest a visit…”