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Beau started crying, but he nodded. “I understand.”

Evan wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulders and gave me a sad look. “He didn’t mean it, Lewis.”

I nodded again. “I understand that. But I need more time to gather my thoughts and make my decision about what I want to do.”

“Okay,” Beau said. Evan pulled his brother into a hug, and I looked up at Vaughn.

“I’m ready to go into the council and talk about my options with someone.” Most importantly, I was just ready to get inside before I started bawling in front of Beau and Evan. It wouldn’t be the first time, but right now, I didn’t think that would help any of us. Vaughn thankfully nodded at the pair and then started walking with me. I held on to my mate tightly because I needed his strength at the moment more than ever.

Chapter 17

Vaughn

“It’s my fault, you know.”

I looked over at Evan, completely confused. “What is?”

“Beau. What he said earlier to Lewis.” Evan sighed. “How’s Lewis doing? I love him as much as I do Beau, and I hate that they’re at odds because of what I said to Beau when he first met Roman.”

“I’m not following. You’ll have to give me more context.”

“When Beau first met Roman, basically, I was a jerk. I tried to talk him out of giving up his dream of running a bakery for a mate. The council was offering him his dream. Was he really going to give that up for an unknown alpha?”

I groaned. What a mess. “Wouldn’t he have done that in your realm as well? What he and Lewis talked about when they were teenagers wasn’t so very long ago, but they were teenagers, and they have both changed a lot since then. What would have happened if they were still in that realm and were running a bakery? What if they had met mates there instead of here?” My beast absolutely did not like the idea of our mate having anyone but us for his mate, but he only growled a little in my head at the thought.

Evan nodded. “They have changed. I’ve watched them both grow up since then, both because they were going to, but also because they were forced to, because we all lost our parents. I’ve always been honest with them, and I tried to do my best for both of them. I failed in that moment with Beau, and my words to him that day have stuck with him ever since, apparently. It’s part of the reason why he’s still with the bakery, but not completely. But it’s also why he won’t allow himself to fully give it up, even though I know that a large part of him desires that.”

I’d already thought it just moments ago, but this was a disaster. I’d taken Lewis to talk to Master Edison after the mess this morning with Beau, and he was happily at home now, but this was something that needed to be discussed sooner rather than later. All three of them.

“Why would you do that?” I asked Evan. “You’re not supposed to interfere with mates.”

He groaned. “I know, and I wouldn’t actually ever keep him from Roman. But we’d not been here long, and he’d been so excited about the bakery, and then poof, Roman suddenly appeared, and all I could see was him giving up everything he’d said he’d wanted.”

“And now?”

“Now I know that Roman is perfect for my brother, but sadly, Roman holds grudges, and he still hasn’t forgiven me for what I’d said then. Trust me when I say I love my brother and Cooper. Roman, I like. A lot. He’s good to my brother, and he’s an amazing father. He provides more than enough for Beau to not have to work, and I know that he’d love it if Beau stayed home for at least the next few years to be with their kids, but my brother is stubborn.”

Just like his older brother. “They weren’t necessarily children, but I truly believe that neither of them really knew what they desired. They were both hurting from losing parents, and they wanted to make it go away by dreaming about having a bakery of their own where they wouldn’t have to deal with someone telling them what to do. They weren’t fully thinking about what their futures were going to be like. Despite everything, they’re omegas, and there is no getting around the fact that they are the carriers in the relationships.” Despite the pregnancy sickness and the bit of a tendency to cry frequently, Lewis was doing amazing.

“I’m aware of all of that,” Evan said. “But that also doesn’t mean they should give everything up for their mate.”

I shook my head. “I really hope you figure it out before you find yours. They aren’t giving it up for their mates. They are doing what they want for themselves. For their families. Yes, their mates too, but they are doing it for their babies. It’s a possibility that they might actually wish to stay home and love on their children while they’re still small.” I was still adamant that I was going to support Lewis no matter what he decided. It was going to be completely his choice either way. I was just here for whatever he needed. At the moment, he was at home, curled up on the couch, taking a much-needed nap.

“But why do omegas have to be the ones to stay home?”

I shook my head. Thankfully, Frederick came into our shared office with Leo right behind him. “Perhaps the two of you could talk some sense into him,” I said as I stood.

“I heard part of it,” Frederick said, “but I’m not sure anyone can make him understand or see reason. Maybe when he finds his own mate and they want to stay home with the children, he’ll understand. Or perhaps then he’ll finally get it, and his mate will be one that refuses to do any sort of childcare, and it will all be on him.”

Evan’s eyes widened. “Hey now, that’s not fair. Why does it have to be all or nothing?”

We all collectively sighed. “You aren’t that dense, Ev.”

We all looked toward the door where Lukan stood. He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t like getting calls from your brother because his mate is fussing in his ear because you said something.”

Evan held up his hands. “I actually didn’t say anything today. This was way before, and it’s still biting me in the behind.”

“Exactly,” Lukan said.