Bowie gasped as he stared at the group chat and got a sinking feeling at the thought of Monty not coming back. They’d returned to Darling Ranch less than two months ago with the plan of returning in six months. He understood why Monty had gone to the ranch with Rue, but it didn’t stop the feeling of loss that came from not being able to see him daily. Lennon and Isley were right, they were family, just an unconventional one. Rationally, Bowie understood one of them had to leave, and as Rue had offered to head back, it meant Monty went with him, not that he seemed to mind.
A factory based in Drinkwater where they’d found mistreated divergent omegas had kicked off all the trouble for the brothers. This was why Monty and Rue had left Hazardville. Rue was there when they’d discovered the dreadful conditions the omegas were working under. Frey, Lennon and Monty had been to the factory, but even they didn’t know the worst of it because they hadn’t known about the basement. The brothers had returned without their PAs to purchase the factory and kick out the alphas, except that hadn’t gone to plan after the discovery of what was really happening.
Bowie, like the others, thought things would get better for the omegas. They were getting their lives back, then a nasty person had sold a story about how four of them had reacted disastrously when they went into their heat.
In need of a safe place after everything that had happened, Silas had offered the ranch as a haven. Monty had kept them updated on just how Cace, Ivo, Eric and Otis had benefited from Rue taking them to the ranch and helping them make the transition. The videos Monty shared of them playing and having fun made all the PAs happy. He’d even seen Lane sitting in the dirt, helping to dress Cassidy’s little chicks with them.
Kari explained that Lane and Derick had gone to Vaughn Winery for their wedding anniversary. They must have visited Rue to see he was okay. They were such great parents.
We’re mated to Kari, so doesn’t that mean they’re our parents too?
I don’t know. I never thought about it. Don’t we have to be married for that?
Ask Kari.
Okay.
Bowie had other things on his mind, so that would have to wait. Had Frey got it wrong about Monty moving permanently?
He quickly tapped on the screen when no one else was asking.
Bowie:Moving? Why are you moving to Bayfield? I thought this was a temporary thing.
Please say it’s temporary, he begged silently. He had cried when Monty packed up his office and came to say goodbye, but Bowie had clung to it only being six months.
Isley’s reply appeared, and Bowie huffed out a breath.
Isley:There’s got to be more to it. Was that what you wanted to share?
Ziggy:You’re mated!
Bowie blanched, his gaze flying to where Kari was sitting, working at the table. Kari had suggested a ‘work from home’ day because they had no meetings in the calendar. It was Kari’s way of getting to spend more time with Bowie out of the office. He loved it.
But was what had started as a great day about to be derailed when Kari found out about Rue?
Monty shared he was mated with everyone.
He expected his belly to clutch, and when it didn’t, he frowned at why that was.
Kari loves us, and we’re mated,his animal said emphatically.
Yes, but how is Kari going to react when he hears this news? He got upset last time.
Bowie had never found the right time to announce his news to all his friends. He didn’t want to do it in the group chat; he wanted them all together because that was the right thing to do when sharing news. That had been hard to achieve with everyone's working schedules and personal lives getting in the way. He had hoped to get a chance when they were in Milan for the fashion, with a plan to ring Monty right after. Except they’dbeen so busy they’d barely had time to eat together, never mind take an evening off like they’d all hoped to do.
It's all excuses.
I wasn’t asking you.
He’s been very patient with us.
Monty:You guys are thunder stealers!
Bowie didn’t answer when he read Monty’s reply.Thunder stealer, what on earth is that?
Bowie:Why would we steal thunder, if that was even possible??? I don’t get it.
Bowie didn’t, but then Frey’s name appeared next to the typing dots he kept his next question to himself. Kari would explain, but he didn’t want that yet because then he’d need to explain why he was asking in the first place.
