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“Morning,” she chirps. She moves to him, standing on tippy toes to peck Charles’s cheek before moving to Elaine. She also gives Elaine a peck on the cheek before realizing she’s been crying, and that she just walked into a tense situation her groggy mind hasn’t picked up on yet.

“Hey, are you okay?” she asks Elaine, reaching for the coffee pot. Charles opens the fridge, handing her sterilized water for Scarlett’s bottle.

“Fine, dear. Here, I’ll make that while you make your coffee,” Elaine tells her, reaching for the bottle in her hand. Harlow’s brows furrow, and her eyes flick to us. She holds up the coffee pot and we all nod as she tries to read the room.

“Is everything alright?” she asks, her eyes moving to mine.

“Elaine and Charles want to mark Leo in order to save him,” I explain. Her shock hits me, but so does a sliver of excitement before she masks it.

I know what Leo had to do to save her. He touched my Omega, my mate. He laid out every detail on the flight home, as if trying to make it easier for me to kill him when the time came. He didn’t try to hide how he touched her, and I can tell Harlow didn’t feel violated by it, once she realized he was doing it to keep up appearances. She understands why he did it, and so do I. I’m not happy about it, knowing his paws were fondling and touching her, but I accept it.

“Thane?” Harlow murmurs, noticing Raidon outside the window with Leo and Emily. Her eyes darken, turning clouded.

“Maybe it's time we let go of the past and let the dead rest,” I murmur. Everyone’s heads turn to me. Elaine's mouth opens and closes as she looks at Charles.

“But—”

I wave her off.

“Mom would accept this, Elaine. You aren’t betraying her. She would do the same, knowing he saved Harlow and Scarlett. Mark him. He deserves a second chance,” I tell them, looking at Harlow. I’ve certainly gotten my fair share with her, and she’s always found a way to forgive me.

“Son?” Charles asks, and my eyes move to his.

“You have my blessing, but you don’t need it,” I tell him, and Elaine slams against me. Her arms wrap around me as she squeezes tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispers, and I nod, rubbing her back.

I help Harlow make coffee for everyone, and we carry the tray outside. Raidon looks up as we set it on the steps.

“Son?” Charles nods for Raidon to come inside. He points to Leo, but his father waves for him to come in anyway, and Elaine takes his place to prop Leo up. I know this will be a huge thing for Raidon to accept.

They return moments later, and Raidon seems okay. He grabs Harlow, setting her on his lap. He rubs her arms, trying to warm them. Leon comes out with Scarlett, feeding her the bottle Elaine made. He leans against the door, holding her tiny body. She slurps away at her bottle, bundled up in her pink blanket.

Charles taps Elaine on the shoulder. She looks up and nods. Charles takes her place and Leo groans.

“Always gotta ruin things, Charles. She was much comfier to lean on,” he chuckles before coughing.

“Shut it. You’ll have to get used to me touching you, anyway,” Charles snaps at him.

“Yeah, I can put up with ya for a few more days,” Leo laughs. He is deathly pale, his veins dark beneath his skin, and his eyes are sunken deep into his skull.

“Or maybe longer,” Charles tells him. Emily lifts her head up to look at Charles and Elaine.

“You found something?” she asks, hope flaring to life in her eyes. Leo goes to wave her off.

“We have,” Elaine says, looking down at her. Her eyes move to Raidon. He nods once to her, and she smiles sadly down at Leo. Leo tilts his head back to stare at her.

“You’re gonna let me mark you, Leo,” Charles tells him, not giving him the option of choice.

“You want to mark me?” Leo scoffs, looking at Charles over his shoulder.

Charles's eyes remain forward. I know how hard this must be for him. Leo looks at Elaine in confusion when Charles doesn’t answer him.

“You want this?” Leo asks her.

“Let us save you,” Elaine whispers, looking at Charles. Leo looks at his daughter. His brows furrow.

“You’ll mark him?” Emily asks Elaine, and she nods her head. Emily rises to her feet, slamming against Elaine, making her stagger back as she clutches her.