Page 25

CAMbrY

“ W ho are you?” The Alpha had long black hair in a straight braid down his back. His dark eyes bored into me. He looked severe and rude.

“Um, uh, I’m Cambry. That’s Angell.” Angell came running through the leaves and up to my side.

“Why are you here?”

“Um, well…” I started to take my wallet from my pocket, knowing I had my I.D. card to prove I was legit. Stories of mean Alphas stealing Omegas were all over the Internet.

Earlier, Niro had informed me and Angell that we’d be going to his brother’s house for dinner. We loved the idea. We both liked Thorne very much. It was late summer, and Niro said it was okay to wear our shorts and t-shirts.

When we arrived, the leaves at Thorne and Kris’s place were thick and golden along the driveway and back around the side yards of the house. It was stunning.

We had lots of trees where we lived, but Niro had a gardener who came often, and he kept everything pretty neat. Plus, our backyard was mostly the pool and patio on cement, and grass and flowers beyond.

Here, it was more natural. The leaves made waves on the ground. There was a little shed out front where they had piled up along the front. It was the prettiest scene.

When we went into Thorne and Kris’s house, carrying our contribution to the evening: fruit plates and charcuterie boards of cheese, salami and crackers, both were in their small kitchen still preparing food. We set down our trays as they offered us drinks.

Angell and I had never met Kris before. He was beautiful, with long golden hair pulled back in a tail.

Niro had told us he was raised Alpha but designated an Omega when atrophied ovaries were found when he was getting a routine exam at age eighteen.

It didn’t matter to me what gender he was. He seemed super nice.

“Hi, I’m Kris.”

I introduced me and Angell before Niro could say a word.

“We’re still cooking but I’d love to show you around later,” Kris said.

Niro and Thorne moved off to the stove and started talking rapidly to each other.

Angell signed about the beautiful leaves. I translated.

“Angell says your place is beautiful with all the fallen leaves.”

“Yeah. We keep saying we’ll start raking one of these days. But I love it all natural and wild.”

“It’s beautiful. It doesn’t look messy. We both agree.”

“Thanks.” Kris grinned.

“Can we go outside for a better look at your yard? We’ll be respectful of everything.”

“Sure. Niro?” Kris called.

Niro looked up.

“They want to go look around outside. Okay?”

Niro looked from me to Angell, smiling. “They love the outdoors. They love to explore. If it’s okay with you.”

That was how Angell and I got to the point of laughing, kicking through gold leaves in Thorne and Kris’s yard. Where the strange Alpha came from, I didn’t know.

I rummaged for my wallet. Before I could produce my I.D., an Omega walked up the driveway holding two toddlers on either hip, handing one of them off to the Alpha. “Don’t mind him, he can be severe and rude, but he doesn’t mean it.”

I almost giggled at his use of the same wording I’d thought.

The Alpha took the child and cuddled him, crooning and stroking his back as the kid hid his face in his neck.

The Omega said, “We’re relatives of Kris. I’m his brother-in-law, Saber. This oaf here is Kris’s brother, Mathias.”

“We’re Niro’s. I mean were his. His husbands,” I said. “That’s Angell. I’m Cambry.”

Angell immediately held out his hand and Saber took it in his.

“Pleased to meet you,” Saber said.

Angell nodded. Saber turned and shook my hand as well.

“We’re here for dinner,” I said.

“So are we.”

“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t think.” I hit my forehead. “I didn’t know anyone else was invited.”

The Alpha, Mathias, said, “My brother didn’t tell us anyone else would be here, either. He’s forgetful that way.”

I wanted to stay longer in the shady, late day and kick at more leaves, but it seemed right that Angell and I head back inside with the others.

I found out the two toddlers were twins, and that Saber and Mathias had two other twin boys who were with Saber’s parents for the weekend.

By the time we all walked in, our trays had been put out and drinks were waiting. Angell and I got sodas, a treat for us which we never got back on the farm.

We all went out onto a patio where a barbeque was set up.

Kris brought out heaping plates of steak and chicken to grill.

There were plenty of chairs set around a big table with an umbrella.

Everything smelled so good. I’d thought I might be bored during the evening, but Kris and Thorne were so friendly, and Saber was fascinating to talk to.

Angell and I got to take turns holding the toddlers on our laps. It was fun.

The kids were given hot dogs, then ran out of energy and were put down for the evening in Kris and Thorne’s room.

When our food was ready, I ate until I was almost too full to move.

Angell ate heartily at first, then started picking.

When apple pies were brought out for dessert, he declined.

Apple pie was his favorite, so I knew something was off.

He rubbed absently at his belly. Niro and I felt his discomfort through the bond and kept checking on him. He assured us he was fine.

Later, as Thorne lit torches about the patio and the sky darkened to purple, Angell excused himself. I knew he had gone to the bathroom to throw up. Our bond was that sensitive.

Niro eyed me. I shrugged.

Later, when I went inside to check on Angell, he was sitting in a chair in the silent living room half asleep.

“You okay?”

His hands fluttered. “Yeah. Just something went down wrong, I guess.”

I bent down and hugged him, kissing him on the cheek.

A few minutes later, Niro came in. “Angell?”

Angell held out his arms and Niro hugged him, picking him up. “I made our excuses to our hosts that we are leaving early. They understand.”

Angell made no protests about being carried to the car and then into the house when we arrived home.

Niro and I got Angell to bed all tucked in and he fell instantly to sleep. Downstairs, we watched a movie together and I fell asleep against his shoulder.

Now it was my turn to be tucked in. Niro climbed between us and we slept well until the next morning when we woke to the sounds of Angell gagging in the bathroom.

Next thing I knew, a strange car drove up the driveway. A man got out and walked up to the door.

Angell had been put back to bed, having declined breakfast.

I stood frozen, not knowing what to do. Niro rushed past me and opened the door. “Doctor Emery, thank you for coming.”

“Of course.”

“We think it might be just a flu bug, but just to be sure.”

My heart leaped into my throat. Niro had forgotten to tell me he had called a doctor. Did he think this was that serious?

I followed them upstairs but was afraid to go into the room. What if the doctor said something really bad?

I waited in the hallway, trying to keep the tears from piling up in my eyes as I listened to their low voices converse as Niro translated Angell’s answers to all the doctor’s questions.

Finally, Niro and the doctor came out of the room. I started to go in to see to Angell, but Niro caught my arm. “I need to speak to you.”

I went with him to let the doctor out, then Niro took me to the couch and sat me next to him.

“Is—is Angell okay?” I started to break as I spoke.

Niro put his hand to my face. “Sweetheart, yes. He’s fine. Don’t cry.”

I buried my face in his chest. Muffled, I asked, “What did the doctor say?”

“We’ll know for sure once he gets all the tests back. But sweetie, open your mind. Don’t be scared. Feel. Feel what I feel. What Angell feels. Then when I tell you, you’ll know.”

I did as he asked. I let my thoughts go and felt for my mates.

Niro. Angell. They were both in my mind like flashing lights, like heartbeats, like the best security blanket wrapped tight about me.

I didn’t know what I’d do without them. Our three lights embraced, coalescing together.

It was as if Angell sat right next to us on the couch.

I could smell him, feel him. And Niro, too. Angell was tired but feeling better. I sensed it instantly. He was also tremendously happy, which was weird because he was sick.

Not sick.

No?

No. Feel.

Angell stretched out his emotions to encompass mine and then I felt it. Inside him. Growing and becoming. A fetus. A little one. Deep in his womb.

“Yes,” Niro whispered into my ear, while pressing back my hair. “We’re having a baby.”

I opened my eyes to stare at Niro. “A baby?”

Niro smiled, eyes crinkling. “Ours.”

“Angell’s pregnant?”

He nodded.

“Are you both insane? Angell’s too little to have a baby.”

Niro frowned at my response. “He’s an adult like we are. Older than you. He’s healthy and an Omega. His body will do what it needs to do to have a baby.”

My jaw dropped. “But—but a baby?”

“Is that okay?” Niro asked, looking alarmed.

“It’s amazing. A miracle. It’s more than okay. It’s fantastic.” Tears burst from my eyes. I didn’t know why I was crying, but suddenly I was sobbing in Niro’s arms.

Cambry? Upstairs, Angell grew worried.

I’m okay, I said between sobs. I’m just overwhelmed.

Are you happy, though?

With Niro holding me, I sobbed even louder as I answered Angell. Happier than I’ve ever been.