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“I just needed the milkshake.” Rory patted his belly. “Little Trent is very specific.” Rory paused, then wrinkled his nose. “No. No Trent.”

“Okay. Yeah.” It sounded way too…old.

“There’s always Travis. Or Trey.” Rory closed his eyes and pursed his lips. “Truck. Train. Travel. Trundle.”

Fen tilted his head. “What are you doing?”

“Thinking of ‘tr’ words. I figured if I did have a word that starts with tr that was really good, then we could come up with a name that was close.”

He rolled his eyes. “Now you’re being silly, mate.”

“Umm, I am. What’s your point?” Rory narrowed his eyes, and Fen knew that look.

He held up his hands. “No, no point. None. What do you think about Alexander?”

“Oh, I like Xander. Used to watch Buffy once upon a time. Did you ever watch that show on TV?”

He shook his head. “We didn’t really have television. It wasn’t my thing, I mean. I grew up in a wolf pack.”

“Yeah, I grew up on DVDs, but you know… It wasn’t a wolf pack.”

Fen had to chuckle. “Well, you know, wolf packs are superior.”

“I know, right? I can’t imagine raising our baby anywhere else but here.” Rory sounded so utterly satisfied.

But was he? Did Rory regret not finding a stronger mate, one that had bigger ambitions?

“Do you ever wonder? Does it bother you that I’m not an alpha in the same way as Keegan and Jameson?”

Rory frowned at him. “No. I don’t want Jameson or Keegan. I want you. I love you. I love the way that you smell like wood chips when you come home from work. I love how safe and happy I feel with you. Love how much fun we have in our house.I love how you make me milkshakes in the middle of the night. You’re mine, and I’m yours. I think I’ll keep you.”

His mate honored him, made him feel tall. Proud. “Thank you, mate.”

“Any time, stud. Any time at all.”

“Stud.” Fen hooted. “I love it. I feel unstudly.” He kissed Rory’s neck. “But I love you and would protect you with my life.”

“Trout.”

“Alexander.”

“Trinie.”

“Alexander.”

“Trevor?” Rory said, fighting a smile for all he was worth.

“Xander,” Fen returned. “We agreed already.” He winked.

“Mmm.” Rory just leaned back against him and smiled, and he knew this was going to be something they teased about right up until Rory was giving birth.

But their son was going to be Alexander.

Chapter

Fourteen

Rory hummed, rolling out cookie dough. He had decided to make decorated cookies for the equinox. He’d learned how to do the fancy flooded ones from YouTube videos.