“Oh no, that’s terrible.” Emory took a step in the direction of the downstairs bathroom, his empathy pulling him toward an omega in distress. But he stopped. Paxton introduced himself. Dad arrived with a tray burdened with mugs, tea bags, hot water, a pot of coffee, and different fixings.
“I’m sure everyone is starting to feel breakfast time passing,” Dad said. “Em, once the boys are settled with fruit and cereal, can you help me with pancakes?”
“I’ll help with that, sir,” Tarius said immediately.
Dad smiled. “I’ll never turn down volunteers.”
Branson put Shylo down so Shylo could follow his brothers and omegin into the kitchen for their breakfast. Now that his family was safely at home, Branson’s own knotted stomach was starting to loosen, and he was definitely hungry. He poured himself a mug of black coffee and sipped, noting Kinley and Zaq whispering by the TV stand.
Banal chatter filled the room for a few minutes, until two figures emerged from the hallway. Trei still looked pale but he stood straighter, and he leaned less heavily on Jeuel. Kinley moved faster than Branson, guiding the pair over to the sofa so they could sit. He even poured tea for both young men when they asked for lemongrass and honey.
“I’m sorry to be a bother,” Trei said as he accepted the mug.
“It’s no bother,” Kinley replied. “I have two younger brothers, and now that we’re cousins-in-law, you’re my family, too.”
Dad strode in through the dining room and crouched in front of Trei. “Can I get you something for your stomach? Are you allergic to any sort of medications?”
“No, I’m not,” Trei replied with a wan smile. “I think everything is settling now, thank you. I’ve been a bundle of nerves for weeks, and this is probably a reaction to all the stress.”
“I understand and sympathize with that, believe me. If you’d like to take a nap, you’re more than welcome to the spare bed in the upstairs office.”
Trei looked right at Branson. “Can I?”
Branson blinked. “Of course, you can, if you’re tired and want a nap.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“I’ll show you where it is,” Kinley said. He helped Trei stand and guided him toward the stairs. Branson watched them disappear, concerned by the way Trei had asked him for permission to take a nap. It made him wonder how old-fashioned Trei’s mate Paul had been. Likely very old-fashioned, considering Paul’s sire, who had (at least while he was in Sansbury) seen omegas as property, people with no agency or desires of their own.
Dad caught Branson’s gaze and smiled sadly; he’d noticed, too.
Trei slept through breakfast and most of the morning. After eating two pancakes and some fresh fruit, Jeuel got down on the floor and displayed boundless energy with the triplets. Jeuel opened up in such an innocent, wonderful way that Branson could see him as an omegin to his own children—hopefully, many years down the road. Seventeen was still young, and he hadn’t experienced his first heat yet. Jeuel had time.
Papa came home a little after eleven with three takeout pizzas. Jeuel was intimidated at first, being around a strange, much-older alpha, but Papa quickly charmed him. When Branson coated his pizza slice with red pepper flakes, Jeuel asked for the shaker and did the same.
“None of my other brothers liked spicy food,” Jeuel said shyly. “Father, either. Only me and Dario.”
Branson grinned. “I’m glad we have that in common.”
The triplets eventually got cranky from all the attention, and one by one, Emory and Jeuel took them upstairs for their naps. Once all three were down, the pair returned with Trei, who had better color and seemed rested. Dad immediately steered Trei into the kitchen for food.
After lunch, Tarius had to work a half-day, so he left with Papa. Paxton, too, so they could go over more legal stuff that didn’t interest Branson all that much. It’s why Papa was his lawyer. Rei had two massage clients that afternoon. He and Kinley were quickly replaced by Frey and baby Yvan, plus Linus and Miko Higgs. Another round of introductions left Jeuel and Trei a little bewildered, but their discomfort eased as the new group regaled them with stories.
Miko had a ton of pictures on his phone, which gave the new omegas more context for the stories. Branson often counted himself lucky to have been the oldest of their generation, so he knew all the stories, remembered most of the births, and he had enough love in his heart to welcome the new mates and boyfriends/husbands of his alpha, omega and beta friends and family.
Mid-afternoon, Papa called and asked Branson to meet him at the office to sign the final custody paperwork for Paxton to take back to Sonora. Jeuel and Trei were both eager to see more of Sansbury, so they agreed to go with him. Constable Corinth’s car was parked on the street, and he volunteered to follow them but also to not interfere. Branson wasn’t sure how necessary the protection was, but that also was not his purview.
Trei was more aware and seemed less queasy on the drive to Papa’s office. Maybe he did better in the front seat, which Jeuel had eagerly offered. Branson was surprised to find Chief Constable Brandt Lars-Higgs in the meeting room with Papa and Mr. Paxton. Jeuel and Trei immediately shrank back, and Branson didn’t blame them. Lars-Higgs was an intimidating alpha, from both his size and attitude, but Branson knew how much Lars-Higgs loved his family.
“It’s okay,” Branson said. “You can trust him. I do. He’s Tarius’s brother-in-law.”
“Gentlemen,” Papa said in his most soothing voice, “this is Chief Constable Brandt Lars-Higgs. I’ve kept him in the loop with what’s been happing with your family in Sonora, Jeuel. Trei. He’s also a longtime family friend.”
“Chief Constable.” Jeuel stepped slightly to Branson’s side. “Wow, we rate high.”
“I take the protection of all my citizens seriously,” Lars-Higgs said. “I’m so very sorry for what you’ve both gone through, butI’ve known the Cross family for more than two decades. They’re good people. I hope you find peace here.”
Jeuel only nodded. Trei softly said, “Thank you, sir.”
