in any danger from his sire or brother, but Caden still had studying to do for his trade school certification.
“Call me anytime,” Kell said. “If you have questions, or if you just want to hear my voice.”
“It’s two days. I think I’ve got this.”
“It’s also the longest we’ve been apart since you were born, kiddo. Let me be an anxious parent, okay?”
Emory laughed. “Yeah, okay. Worry away. Like I can stop you.”
“Exactly.” Kell pulled into the driveway of Serge and Dex’s house, his stomach in knots. He knew this day would come eventually—it did for every omega—but his first heat meant Emory could more easily scent his bondmate if they crossed paths. Even though his baby boy was nineteen, Kell was so not ready for him to mate yet.
Gaven mated at nineteen, stop worrying so much.
Except Kell would never stop worrying about his kids. They were his pride and joy, and he’d make any sacrifice to keep them safe, happy and healthy.
Emory was a tad hunched over on the brief walk to the front door, so probably less than an hour from full-on heat. His appointment yesterday afternoon had confirmed his symptoms, so Kell had quickly made plans with Serge to drop Emory off this morning.
Serge opened the front door before Kell could knock, then put a dramatic hand over his heart. “This isn’t possible. Weren’t you just a toddler, Emory, running around and refusing to wear a diaper?”
Emory went scarlet. “Not funny.”
“It’s a little funny. Now hug your omegin and go get settled in your room. I’m sure you already know what your body is about to do, but I’ll be there in a few to talk about how we’re going to get through this together. Okay?”
“Okay.” He clung to Kell, and Kell hugged his boy back as tight as he dared, already missing him but happy that Emory was going to spend his first heat in safety and with a friend. Kell’s first hadn’t been awful; Krause had actually been kind back then. But it gradually changed into a living nightmare, and Kell would not let that happen to Emory.
It helped having a lawyer for a mate and the mayor as a brother-in-law.
“I love you.” Kell kissed Emory’s forehead. “See you in a few days.”
“Yup.” Emory took his duffel bag from Kell and went inside.
“I know you’re anxious,” Serge said, “but I’ve got this. Gaven and Frey aren’t coming over, and Dex is making himself scarce. The kitchen is stocked, and I have plenty of clean sheets and towels.”
“I know, I know.” Kell accepted a hug from his dearest friend. “I promise I’ll try not to be like this every time he has a heat.”
“He’s your son, and as an omega, you know how big a deal this is for Emory. But you also know what an amazing nurse I am.”
“And so modest.”
“Of course.”
On a bark of shared laughter, Kell stepped back. Serge had barely aged a day since they first met more than two decades ago, with only a few lines around his eyes and some strands of silver in his dark-blond hair. “All right, you go pamper my kid while I try not to go crazy worrying.”
“If it helps take your mind off things, kidnap your mate tonight for a date. When was the last time you and Ronin went out and did something for just the two of you? With no connection to work or a charity?”
“It’s been a while, actually.” Kell loved the idea of a night out with Ronin, having fun as a mated couple. No kids, no work expectations. Just…fun. “I think I’ll do that. We both deserve a break from real life for a few hours.”
“Yes, you do. Now go and start planning something. I’ll take care of Emory.”
“Thank you, Serge.” He leaned over and kissed his best friend’s cheek. “For everything.”
“You are more than welcome.”
Serge didn’t move from the home’s doorway until Kell was backing down the driveway. As much as he disliked leaving his youngest behind, Kell was very much looking forward to tonight’s date with his bondmate.
Hyatt’s excitement and joy over the first half of his week—being so intimate with Dorian, making promises about his looming heat—were tempered by the weekend news that Frey had miscarried. While the older omega was upset by the turn of events, he and Gaven were also determined to try again whenever his next heat struck.
My body knew it wasn’t viable, Frey had said in a mass text message to their group of