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We stared at each other.

Was this a dream? A long, detailed, bad dream? Somehow, this felt even worse than thinking Stephan had chosen Blakely over me. Instead, the reality was that he still considered me his fated mate—something I admittedly didn’t completely understand—but he could’ve never been a good father to Dylan because he’d spent seven years inprison.Fordrugs.How could I expect a convicted drug dealer to help Dylan with his shift?

But what other option did I have?

Stephan turned away from me and paced into the kitchen. He muttered to himself as he rummaged through the fridge, then pulled out a bottle, cracked it open, and took a long swig.Then he went back to muttering. The sound was oddly familiar, awakening memories from that summer a lifetime ago. I’d forgotten this habit of his. I propped one arm on the back of the couch and turned to peer back at him.

“Are you talking to your dragon?” I asked.

He glanced over at me in surprise. “Yeah. This hasn’t been easy for either of us.”

I pressed my lips together. I was about to ask him to help with Dylan’s shift, but Stephan spoke before I could find the words.

“What’s his name?” he asked. “Your son.”

Our son, I thought, but didn’t say. “Dylan.”

“Dylan.” He nodded. “Good name. Strong name. Is he about to have his first shift?”

“I think so. A shifter friend of mine has been helping, but it’s not enough. It’s been really tough for him.”

“And his dragon’s being a dick?”

I snorted a surprised laugh. “Yeah, that’s a good way of putting it. How did you know?”

Stephan patted his chest. It was the same gesture Dylan made when his dragon was communicating with him. Seeing it made my heart clench painfully. “We can sense it. We know our own blood. His dragon is losing its shit because he needs… us.” He didn’t meet my eyes as he said it. “Both of us.”

“That’s why we’re here,” I said. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You made the right decision. I know things between us are”—he grimaced—“complicated. But this is the right thing for Dylan. I’ll help him with his shift.”

I exhaled in relief. “Thank you, Stephan. I mean that.”

Stephan nodded. His gaze went to middle distance as he took another swig of his drink. Then he shook his head and barked out a disbelieving laugh. “Jesus, Harley. I’m a fuckin’ dad.”

“Steph—”

“Not now, Harley.” He raked both hands through his hair, then looked at me.

Under his gaze, I felt like I was twenty again. A crazy part of me longed to rush forward, wrap my arms around his neck, and soothe the hurt expression on his face with a kiss. God, I wanted to feel his lips on mine again. But I wasn’t that naïve girl anymore, and he wasn’t the same young man. This couldn’t be fixed so simply. Not anymore.

Sighing, Stephan turned away and strode out the front door. He slammed the door behind him, and I didn’t bother calling after him.

Hawk came in a minute later. “Yeah, I thought I heard the door.”

“He stormed out.” I moved into the kitchen, like I could capture the lingering remnants of his presence. I didn’t have enhanced senses like dragons did, though. Instead, I emptied out his abandoned beer and left the bottle in the sink.

“He’s been known to do that,” Hawk said. “He needs some time to process. This is kind of a huge bomb to drop.”

“I know.”

“He’ll reach out to you soon. Here, let me give you my number so we can keep in touch.” Hawk joined me in the kitchen, then tapped his number into my phone and handed it back.

“I never wanted to keep Dylan a secret,” I said. “I never knew?—”

“I know.”

Mia stepped back inside with Bella on her hip. Dylan followed her, his attention still on Zoey as she yapped and jumped around him. “Sorry,” Mia said. She pointed at her ears. “Didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but can’t turn the shit off.” Shenarrowed her eyes at Hawk. “I told you Blakely was trouble. That bed-jumper has always been no good.”