Page 15

As Ronan’s grip on his neck tightened, Benso sputtered like he might want to argue, but everyone knew Ronan would win that fight. Although both men were large alphas, Benso had the soft body of an office worker, while Ronan’s muscles bulged with the benefit of his profession.

Niall stood frozen, stunned by Ronan’s sheer masculinity. He glanced at Teal, whose nose twitched visibly. Niall knew he was drinking in his husband’s scent, which the beta could only imagine was radiating off Ronan in waves.

Ronan released Benso. “I don’t know what you thought you’d accomplish by tailing my sons and their nanny out of the pool, but whatever it was, you’d better think again.”

“It’s not my fault your nanny’s a bitch who can’t handle a little stink-eye.” Benso stepped out of Ronan’s reach quickly after issuing the insult.

“If my sons weren’t in that truck watching right now, we’d be having a very different conversation,” Ronan gritted out.

“Back off. I’m leaving.” Benso took two more steps.

“I was only making sure you understood that I’m not going to forget what those boys did to my Landry today.

I get that you’re bigshots. The picture of the progressive omega-rights family, blah, blah, blah.

But you don’t get to dictate to me. You can make all the rules you want.

I’m still telling my kid he’s allowed to defend himself from wrong-minded alphas and pushy omegas any way he wants. ”

“Is that a threat?” Ronan asked, clearly incensed by the other alpha’s brazen words.

“Not a threat.” Benso smirked and held up his hands. “I’m just saying things happen. Kids get pushed into pools. Fall from slides on the playground. Stumble off the stairs at school. That’s what I wanted to tell your nanny here.” He looked at Ronan's truck. “Accidents happen. Best be careful.”

Benso exhaled wetly through his nose. “Let’s go,” he said to Landry and his omega as he stomped away. Landry hurried to catch up with his alpha father, but the omega held back for a second, quickly squeezing Teal’s hand before scurrying away toward his family.

“The boys…” Teal whispered, leaning into Ronan. “Our kids are being threatened now.”

Niall stared wide-eyed at his former lovers.

He’d been so focused on keeping his distance lately.

Had the threats against the McGinns escalated?

He’d known about the opposition, had even seen some nasty texts come through on Teal’s phone, but that differed from experiencing it himself.

He put one hand on Teal’s shoulder and the other on Ronan’s.

“I know there are people who don’t like what Teal is trying to do, but I had no idea it had gotten this bad. ”

Ronan rotated his head and placed a chaste kiss on the back of Niall’s hand.

“It’s okay, my beta—shit, I mean, Niall—it’s not always like this.

Teal and I were just talking about how there are some bad folks out there who would do anything for alphas to remain in charge.

Hopefully, it will all die down after High Court. ”

My beta . Niall shivered at how right it seemed, and then immediately felt guilty, thinking of Jax.

“But this is the first time I’ve heard anyone be so hateful toward our children,” Teal said. He peered at the truck where the boys chatted happily in the back seat. Then he held up a folded sheet of paper.

“What’s that?” Ronan asked.

“Don’t know,” Teal answered. “Benso’s omega put it in my hand.

” He unfolded the paper, which turned out to be a swim lessons flyer from the community center.

Scrawled in the margins was a note. Teal read out loud.

“ Please keep doing what you’re doing. There are many omegas who need you. Thank you .”

“He must have seen us in the lobby and written it,” Ronan said.

“And he took a terrible risk giving it to me. Benso doesn’t seem like the type of alpha who would let it go if he’d seen.”

“Then I’m grateful he didn’t see. But it’s a good reminder of what you’re fighting for.”

“What we’re fighting for, my love,” Teal corrected.

“Still, he must be awfully frightened of Benso. You could see it in his eyes. It just goes to prove that giving omegas the legal right to initiate divorce didn’t entirely solve the problem.

Not when many are too scared to do so. And Benso is certainly menacing. Threatening our kids.”

Teal’s fear tugged at Niall. “You know I would do anything to protect those boys, right?” he assured the couple. “Someone would literally have to kill me to get to them.”

“I know you mean that,” Ronan said. “And it’s everything to us that you do. We couldn’t have asked for a better man to help us raise our sons.”

Niall felt tears prick his eyes. It wasn’t the first time Ronan had said something along those lines, but he felt the alpha’s sincerity in his soul.

And Niall couldn’t help what came next. He couldn’t deny any of them the comfort of their connection in that moment.

He reached out and embraced Ronan, clutching his waist and burying his head in the crook of the alpha’s neck as Ronan’s powerful arms came around him.

A second later, Niall felt Teal against his back, looping his arms around them both until the three men were engulfed in a tight, three-way hug.

Niall had to believe Jax wouldn’t refuse him this moment, to draw strength from the bond he’d built with Ronan and Teal. They were no longer lovers, but it felt right to be close to them like this.

The last few months of holding himself away from the couple had been disorienting. Awkward and unnatural. Niall knew it had hurt Ronan and Teal as well. Even the boys had asked several times if he was mad at Papa and Daddy.

Staying at arm’s length couldn’t continue. And although Jax had told Niall he didn’t want him to quit his job, he’d still been considering it, thinking perhaps the only way to improve the untenable situation was to leave it.

But he wouldn’t consider that option any longer. Garin, Kino, and Zayne needed him. That had become crystal clear tonight.

“I’ll always protect those boys,” Niall said fiercely into Ronan’s shirt.

“We know. They’re your boys too,” Teal affirmed, breathing into his back, rubbing his cheek between Niall’s shoulder blades. “In every way that counts.”

Niall closed his eyes and pictured the last nearly seven years of his life.

He remembered holding the twins as tiny babies.

Teal had still been in law school and Ronan was just getting his business up and running.

Niall had practically lived with the couple because the twins’ sleeping and eating schedules were so daunting.

Two years later, Niall put his mouth to Teal’s stomach and said hello to Zayne before the boy had even been born.

He’d been there for the birth, the second one to cuddle the newborn after Ronan.

Niall had helped two-year-old Garin and Kino hold their brother as everyone fell in love with the tiny omega.

It had been a happy time for the family, and a few months later, when Ronan and Teal invited Niall into their bed, it became even happier.

How had he ever convinced himself they were casual?

Niall pulled himself out of the husband sandwich and gave Ronan and Teal a smile before slipping into his car.

“You’ll be okay getting to your apartment?” Ronan asked. “The construction on First Street must really be impacting your neighborhood.”

“I’m actually, uh, living with Jax now,” Niall said, running a hand over the steering wheel. “On the other side of town.”

“Oh.” Teal’s gaze dropped to the ground. “I didn’t realize. That’s great.”

“It is,” Niall said. “He’s been away a lot recently, and I spend so much time at your house, so it’s nice for Jax and me to have the same home base.”

“That makes sense,” Ronan agreed. “But if he’s gone and you’re ever needing some company, don’t forget our home is your home.”

“I know.”

Niall drove away before they could say more.

He was still tense from Benso’s tirade, but mostly he thought about the husbands.

How should they navigate their bond moving forward?

Keeping his distance hadn’t worked, and he wasn’t leaving his nanny position.

What would Jax be comfortable with? Would he consider the tight embrace the three men just shared to be crossing a line?

With a weary sigh, Niall merged onto the highway.