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"That's different. I give them back at the end of the day."

"Not with what we're planning for the school," Emery pointed out. "Those will be our kids too, in a way."

I hadn't thought of it like that. "Still not the same as having one growing inside me," I muttered, then immediately wished I hadn't verbalized it. Saying it made it more real somehow.

"No, it's not," Emery agreed. "But I'm just saying you're not starting from zero here. You have skills, Danny. And more importantly, you have heart."

I blinked back the sudden burn of tears. "When did you get so wise?"

"Being a dad," he replied with a smile. "Turns out growing a person gives you perspective."

"I'm not growing a person," I insisted, but my hand drifted to my stomach again. "Besides, I'd have to be pregnant for like a day. Pretty sure morning sickness isn't instantaneous."

Unless it was a weird freaky shifter thing.

"Of course not," Em agreed, but his eyes followed the movement. "Just a bug."

We sat in companionable silence for a moment, Emery thankfully not pushing the subject further. My thoughts drifted to Bayer—his hopeful expression, the subtle change in his scent when he'd realized what might be happening. And what was with that? Since when could I smell anything like that?

"He'd be a good dad," I said softly, not really meaning to speak aloud.

Emery nodded. "The best. Patient, protective, kind."

"Too protective," I corrected, thinking of our arguments about the revenant.

"He's an alpha," Emery shrugged. "It's in his nature. Feel like getting up and maybe having some tea?”

I groaned, but agreed, and let Em fuss.

I was mid-eye roll at Em's mother-henning when a commotion outside caught our attention.

Raised voices, the heavy thud of boots on the porch—and then the low rumble of Bayer’s warning growl.

“Stay here,” Emery ordered, his gentle tone suddenly sharp.

“Like hell,” I muttered, even as my stomach twisted. I followed him anyway.

We stepped into the main living area just as the front door swung wide. Phoenix stood in the entryway, his posture deceptively calm, though his shoulders were tense. Behind him loomed Bayer, every inch as forbidding as his growl had promised.

On the porch stood six figures surrounded by Phoenix’s gammas.

“This is pack territory,” Phoenix said, his voice even but edged with steel. “You can’t just show up uninvited.”

One of them—tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair threaded with silver at the temples—met Phoenix’s gaze without hesitation. “We’re not here for you,” he said quietly. “We’ve come to speak with our alpha, and we were escorted.”

“I’m not your alpha,” Bayer responded, stepping forward. “That choice was yours when you left, Torrel.”

The newcomer’s gaze flicked to Bayer. He gave a polite, almost regretful nod. “I understand, but it was your father we rejected, not you. We’d like to offer our assistance in return for being accepted into your bear pack.”

“Assistance?” Phoenix echoed.

“We heard about the attack at the campground,” a younger bear said.

Bayer crossed his arms. “And you only care about pack safety now, after walking away?”

The leader met Bayer’s gaze. “I couldn’t condone Micah’s behavior, and he knew it. If I’d been older, I would have challenged him, but ten years ago, all I could do was walk away.” His tone was calm, patient. “This is George, Kian, Tate, Mac, and Lachlan. Lachlan left when I did. Tate three years ago. The others have joined us from different packs."

I edged closer to Emery, who slipped between me and the newcomers.