Page 78 of A Farmer’s Guide To Gamers

The others also seemed to sense it, considering how they all were glancing at him randomly, waiting for whatever was going on in his head to come out. Even Tillie was settled on his right side with me on his left, trying to help calm the beta down.

We were setting up all the pieces when Aiden took an even deeper breath, signaling that he was about to actually start speaking about what’s on his mind.

“Addison called me a while back.”

I blinked, unsure what to think, since this was not what I thought he was going to say. Jack somehow looked like he knew what was coming and just nodded at the beta as if to signal everything was going to be okay.

“Who is Addison?” Tillie asked, curiosity and not an ounce of jealousy in her tone as she kept her focus on Aiden.

“My twin sister,” Aiden explained succinctly. “She, um… called the day you came over with the lasagna and I needed a reset.”

“Ah okay.” Tillie nodded. “Is everything okay with her?”

“Yeah… Yeah.” Aiden swallowed hard and closed his eyes. He opened them up and focused his blue eyes on Tillie then all of us, one at a time. “She was calling to say she was pregnant. And I… didn’t take it well.”

“Oh—” Tillie started, looking from him to the rest of us, trying to follow what he was attempting to say.

“I’m excited for her,” he hurried up to explain. “But then it got me thinking about kids and then we all found each other. And a lot of people, packs, want to have kids right away. And I just really don’t know if that’s something I could do. Well, actually, I know that’s not something I could do. Maybe just not now, or maybe ever…”

“Aiden,” Tillie crooned softly, a hand gently resting beside his trembling ones on the table. He stopped his rambling as my breath caught in my throat for my best friend, who was obviously struggling. “Breathe for me. It’s okay.”

“I just… I don’t want to fuck this up and⁠—”

“Hey, you’re not,” I told him, firmly, pressing my side against his. I knew that sometimes that firm sensation was more bearable than a soft touch. “You’re being honest.”

“You’re good, beta,” Dean and Jack reassured him at the same time.

“Considering we’re all fairly serious,” Tillie said in a slight teasing tone but with enough weight so we all knew she was being honest. “I agree with you, Aiden. I’m not ready for kids right now. Maybe that’s a conversation after we’ve all been able to enjoy just being a pack first? I’d rather take the time to figure out all of us before doing something that’s going to completely change the dynamic. You know?”

“And what if kids aren’t something I’m ever really ready for?” Aiden asked in a broken tone.

He looked up with tear-glazed, blue eyes at our omega. My heart twisted for him. After all this time and everything I’ve been there with him through, I’ve never seen him so worried.

“Then I think it’s a good thing we have big, chaotic families that have lots of options for nieces and nephews.” Tillie smiled, and she pulled Aiden into a hug. “Just don’t close yourself off to all the options, but I think if it ends up just being all of us… I can think of plenty of fun things we can do to celebrate just us. Maybe some farm animal children?”

“Well, let’s not get carried away, Tillie,” Dean started as Aiden snorted with laughter.

“Tills, a cow isn’t the same as a baby and you know it.” A new voice declared as I saw someone join us at the table.

I didn’t know who it was, but given the way Tillie stiffened, I knew it wasn’t anyone good.

The alpha sat down with the full confidence of someone who belonged. Though, he didn’t.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. Her voice had a slight tremble, and his smile softened. The familiarity made my stomach turn as I started to put the pieces together.

“I belong here,” he said firmly, his eyes flashing with determination. “We were together before you found them. I don’t see why I have to be cast aside because you found scent-compatible mates. Scent isn’t everything.”

“She told you to go,” Dean said. His voice was rough and menacing, his eyes flashing with possessive fury. “I suggest you go while you can.”

“I can’t break it off with you any more than I already have, Jonathan,” she hissed, anger coloring her tone as her scent became sharp. Tillie leaned into Aiden, not letting go of him as she faced off with this alpha. “It’s over between us. I don’t want to be stalked or you forcing yourself into pack time. This is not your pack. I’m not your omega.”

“You are my omega,” he growled, leaning forward and reaching for her hand. “You seem to have forgotten that.”

She snatched it back so fast his face twisted in fury.

“Get out!” Aiden yelled, his voice loud and firm. “You don’t force yourself on an omega when she says it’s over!”

His voice was so loud both Tillie and I jumped.