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“Why didn’t you wait?”

“Because I didn’t know how long you were going to be chatting. I want to see Lewis and my beast was getting impatient. The thought of him going through something like the others are is disturbing, and I can’t imagine others having to go through that. It’s wrong, Evan.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I agree. That’s why the council is going to get involved. It’s why we’re going to put a stop to it.”

“And what about next time? What about the next sick person who decides to abuse others? Are we going to go after them all?”

Evan held up his hands. “Hey, you’ve been here longer than me. I don’t know. Maybe?”

I stopped, sighed, and took several deep breaths to calm myself. “You’re right. Maybe the council will. I just wish alphas would stop mistreating omegas. They’re so incredibly precious, and none of us would be here without them. Every birth is possible because of an omega. Male, female, they’re the reason we’re all here. Why do alphas have to go and treat them like property?”

“I don’t know. We don’t have issues like that where I come from. Sure, there are horrible people there, but they are just dealt with harshly once they’re discovered.”

I nodded. Why would anyone want to leave their realm to come to this one, then? Was it because it was an unknown? Because they thought it might be better? We had so much ugliness in our world, I just didn’t understand.

“Come on. You really need to go hug on your mate for a bit. I told Jordi we’d bring him back some treats. They don’t go to the bakery because they’re a bit intimidated by my brother, apparently.”

I chuckled. I could see that. Beau, much like Lewis, was as sweet as could be. But Beau had grown up with an older brother, and I was almost certain that was why he was a bit more assertive than Lewis in certain situations.

Evan and I continued on to the bakery, and I was a bit surprised when we entered and were greeted by Beau. I had thought he was sticking more to the back like Lewis was.

“Your guy is in the back,” Beau said. “He had to use the bathroom, which is understandable.”

I grinned and hurried over to the end where I could pass through under the counter. “Thanks,” I said to Beau as I walked by. “I would imagine between the two of you, you both make quite a few trips.”

Beau placed a hand on his stomach. “Sometimes too many.”

I carefully pushed the door open and stepped into the kitchen. I was surprised to find Lewis on the other side of the kitchen, staring out at the mountain in the background. My guy loved to be outside in nature. Yet here he was, inside, baking.

“Hello, little mate,” I said.

Lewis gasped and turned around. There was a plate piled high with lemon bars on it, and I grinned. I was definitely a fan of those, but I liked the man holding the dessert more. He was a much better dessert in my opinion.

Chapter 20

Lewis

“You know, even though you are having a little girl, that doesn’t mean our kids won’t grow up to be besties like we are.” Beau handed me a tray of giant cinnamon rolls. Banner had made these amazingly delicious coffee cinnamon rolls, but he had decided to not come back after he mated with Dante. Not that I blamed him.

I smiled at my best friend. “You’re right. I’m sure they’re going to love hanging out. I mean, we still do even now, even if we don’t have nearly as much time as we used to.” It was a lucky thing that we’d had our heats so close together. Of course, meeting Vaughn threw me into heat a little early, but I wasn’t going to complain. My smile widened at the thought of spending future heats with him. The thought was absolutely wonderful. Granted, we’d sort of hurt me a bit, and as far as I knew, nobody but us and Dr. King and, of course, Dr. Kennedy because he was mated to Dr. King, knew.

“Are you feeling okay?” I asked. Beau had started to slow down. He was carrying a fae baby, and a little boy at that, but I’d almost guarantee that he was going to be an alpha with as big as he was.

Beau pushed on his right side for a few and then seemed to relax. “Yeah. I think he’s just out of room.”

“Already. Are you sure you’re having only one?” I asked. I was joking, but Beau’s eyes widened, and a look of panic filled his face.

“Don’t joke like that.” He sighed. “Yes, only one. Dr. King confirmed it for me. There is only one other aura with me. Roman isn’t exactly a short man. I think this one is going to be an alpha fae.” I started laughing. “What? I do. Why is that funny?”

I shook my head. “It’s not,” I managed to get out while continuing to laugh. “It’s just that I was just thinking the exact same thing.” I pointed at his rather large stomach. Beau wasn’t any larger than I was, which meant he was going to show a lot more than, say, a dragon alpha. But he just looked miserable.

“Yeah, that is funny.” Beau grabbed his side again, and I suddenly stopped laughing and hurried over to his side.

“What’s wrong? That wasn’t a look of ‘just out of room.’ Are you having contractions?”

“No. Just another pain.”

I shook my head. Nope, we weren’t playing that game. “Where is Roman? Is he at home with Cooper?”