Chapter 22

twenty-two

. . .

ADDY

Over the months that followed, I settled into this new life with a serene acceptance over what had transpired and what would come.

Instead of being in a panic about life and the new baby on the way, I felt at peace and all I could think was that I must be on the right path.

I stood from where I sat, rereading our book. Alil had found another copy of it and brought it home a few days ago for us to finally find out the ending of the story that had occupied us on our journey through the desert. We were both wrong about the ending, and I liked how Alil described the story more than how the author did, but reading it with him had given me some of my happiest memories. Being able to do something so simple with nothing else to worry about was a happy blessing.

Alil was bundled up under the covers in the bedroom when I went him.

After visiting the market with my om-father and Latif those months ago, he had really settled into the pregnant life.

That day, he had returned home with a happy smile and bundles of blankets and pillows and curtains and all sorts of comfortable things for "nesting" apparently.

I hadn't heard of it, but it made sense that an omega would want to be safe and warm while they were pregnant.

I was still getting used to lying on a cloud of fabrics, but it was so sweet the way that Alil always cuddled happily into me, like I was the comfiest pillow or all.

He was asleep now, hugging an actual cushion that made me feel a little jealous, but I chuckled at my ridiculousness and crawled onto the bed to give him a kiss on the cheek.

When he stirred and opened his sleepy eyes to look at me, I kissed him again, on the lips this time.

"I will be out for a little while," I told him.

He was too tired to ask where I was going and simply nodded.

Just before I stepped out of the room though, he sat up.

"Bring me back some of those sweet rolls," he ordered.

"Of course," I said, smiling, because I loved how outspoken he was with me.

Sweet Alil had always seemed so timid and polite. He hadn't changed, he had only become truer to himself, and this more confident version only made me love him more.

I reflected on that as I walked, only getting distracted by Zulli, whose house I happened to be passing while she was in the front working on the garden.

"Oh, Addy," she said, dusting off her hands and standing to greet me."Will you be back to work this week?"

I nodded.

I had been filling my free time by tagging along with some of the city maintenance crews. Zulli's team had welcomed me without asking any questions and I had spent weeks on end repairing the crumbling wall of the art center before moving on to the next job with them.

"Alil is feeling a lot better," I said, "so I'm planning on being there this week."

She smiled.

"That's great to hear. An entire omega path needs to be rebuilt on the west end of town. We need all the help we can get, as long as your omega doesn't need his alpha. Just a moment."

She went back to the paper bag she had been filling with fruit from the cactus in her front garden and brought it over to me.

"Alil will like these," she said, offering it to me.

I thanked him profusely and went on my way, not out of eagerness to do what I needed to do, but because it was finally time to suck it up and face my brother. And his mate. Repairing our broken relationship mattered more to me than I could explain. That meant being honest with him the same way that I had been with Alil. It felt like ages ago now, but that first night, lying at his side, explaining my misguided opinions had been the catalyst to our relationship.

Still, I was incredibly nervous when I finally reached their door. My heart was racing, but I tapped on the frame, not feeling brave enough to call them through the opening, or to walk in freely. A minute later Blaine pulled the curtain back.

He paused when he saw me standing there, pursing his lips for a moment and then stood aside for me to enter with a heavy sigh.

I swallowed and entered, looking around the room.

"I've been waiting for this, to be honest," he said from behind me.

I glanced back at him. He was still in his strange human clothes, but instead of annoying me that he refused to conform, I thought, maybe he was just comfortable like that and why had I even cared ? It was his choice.

"Where is Latif?" I asked.

"Not here," he said. "Anything you have to say, you can say to me."

I paused.

It was true that I probably deserved some attitude from him. After all, I had even tried to attack him before, but now that I thought about it, he had remained cordial, even after that. And I knew he hadn't been doing it for me, but for Latif. They were mated after all, and now I knew just how strong that love felt.

"You are right," I said, bowing my head. "May I sit?"

He tried not to let his surprise show, but I saw it.

He nodded.

I took a seat, not planning to leave until I was on better terms with my brother. Even if it was miniscule progress, I would take it and keep working on it until there was peace between us all. For Alil's sake, but also for mine and Latif's too.

"I'm sure you are wondering why I am here after the last time we spoke."

He shrugged.

"It sounds like a lot has changed since then."

"Yes," I agreed. "Most notably, I have become aware of what a jerk I was. I was preoccupied with my own point of view, and honestly, I felt betrayed by Latif. He went under my nose with you and—well I suppose I was angry and jealous. I hope that someday you will be able to forgive me for making you feel so unwelcome…"

My heart was pounding hard and I held my breath, waiting for a reaction. His expression was very guarded though.

"Does this mean you're sorry?" he asked slowly, and I realized that I never actually said the word.

"I am sorry. To both you and Latif, but I will apologize to him in person when I see him… I want my brother back."

He gave me a long, hard look, and then sagged a little, uncrossing his arms as though he was already giving up on being mad.

"What do you think?" he asked. "Will that do?"

It took me a moment to realize that he wasn't talking to me. I stood, realizing what was happening just as Latif emerged from the back room, looking emotional.

"It will do," he said coming toward me.

I caught him in a hug as he threw his arms around my neck and held me. Relief flooded me so strongly it was almost too much. All I could do was hold him tightly, my eyes squeezed shut as I tried to find words.

"I am so sorry," I repeated. "I know now how much you wanted a choice. I just didn't understand that before. I didn't understand anything to do with the struggles of being an omega."

"Oh goddess," he whispered. "I never expected to hear you say anything like this."

He pulled back, shaking his head and looked at Blaine.

"Do you believe this?" he asked.

Blaine chuckled.

"Yes. Love can turn a person upside down."

"Who knew you just needed to be alone with Alil for a few weeks," Latif said, grimacing. "Do you really mean everything you said?"

I nodded.

"Yes, and I would love to know everything you have been working on with the council. You have my complete support."

Latif's eyes widened dramatically.

"Well, do you want to go on a walk?" he asked tentatively. "I can tell you all about it."

"I would love that," I said, honestly.

My heart was singing as we went out the door but Latif paused, leaning back inside.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked Blaine.

"No, no. You two need your brotherly time," I heard him say.

Latif slipped back behind the curtains to speak, but I could still hear his whispered voice.

"Can you believe this?!" he asked incredulously.

"I told you he just needed to get laid," Blaine remarked.

I had never heard the expression before, but had an idea of what it might mean.

Latif snorted and hushed his mate before returning to me and linking his arm through mine. He was beaming the whole time we walked together, and as he explained all his plans to more or less, single-handedly better our society, I realized that I wasn't the only one who had changed.

He seemed so much stronger, more confident and happier. And I was so proud of him.

"I'm impressed," I told him and he glowed a little bit brighter.

"I can't wait to tell Alil that we're getting along again. The three of us can be friends again, just like old times."

"Should we surprise him now?" I asked.

"Yes!"

He practically jumped up and down in excitement until we reached my new house.

Inside, we crept into the bedroom and it really did feel like we were kids again, especially when Alil saw us, sat up in bed and started cheering.

"Finally!" he cried out. We both jumped onto the bed, laughing, and talking, and Alil kept shaking his head, smiling.

"So that's where you were going, you sneaky bastard," he said, smacking my arm. "Please tell me you at least got me those rolls."

I grimaced and placed my hand on his belly. It was large enough to fill my hand now, a beautiful half-moon stretching his pretty skin.

"I'll go get them now. I can't leave the baby hungry."

"Ew," Latif whispered, looking between us. "You two are so cute together."

Chuckling, I shoved his shoulder and stood.

"Keep them company," I ordered, and then paused by the door. "Do you want something to eat too, Latif?"

"Let's all go," Alil suggested. "I've been cooped up all day. Don't get me wrong, I have an obsession with my bed right now, but it would be great to stretch my legs."

Alil was already developing a waddle and, to be honest, it was the cutest thing. It slowed us down and I could tell carrying the extra weight made him tired, but we had a lovely time sitting together and catching up, discussing possible baby names and some of Latif's work, but mostly reminiscing about fun things we had done as children.

When it was finally time to say goodnight, poor Alil seemed exhausted.

I waited until we were alone again but before he managed to walk too far, I stopped him, bent and scooped him carefully into my arms.

He didn't argue which I knew meant that he needed the rest.

"I don't get it," he grumbled. "Alex worked through his pregnancy."

"Perhaps humans are different."

"Perhaps," he agreed. "I'm just glad to be going through this with you... I can't wait to see what it looks like. I had a dream that I was holding a tiny pink-haired baby in my arms."

"Pink?" I repeated, surprised. "Like Ossad?"

"No. More like a magenta."

I could imagine it now. For some reason, I had never stopped to think of how our genes would cross, too distracted by the fact that a baby was coming in the first place. Babies often took one of their parents' colors, but just as often, they mixed to create something new… With my bright, reddish orange, and Alil's calm purple, magenta made sense.

"How sweet," I whispered.

Suddenly, it all felt even more real.

"Do you think it will be an omega?" Alil asked. "Or an alpha?"

"I'm not sure."

"I hope it's an alpha," Alil announced. "It would have the best role model."

Touched, I held him a little bit tighter.

"It means a lot that you would think that after how I acted before."

"But you have the humility to accept that you made mistakes. You have worked hard to fix them and make amends. Every day I am prouder to call you mine."

My heart squeezed so tightly, I almost couldn't breathe for a moment.

I looked up at the sky, remembering the utter darkness of the night I took Alil away. There had been no moon to guide us and yet we had still found each other. And now life was filled with nothing but light.

"Isn't it strange?" I whispered. "There was no auction, yet it still feels like we are meant to be."

"We are," Alil said firmly. "By the goddess, if a mating happens, then it was fate. That is what I have always found strange about even needing the auctions."

"But it was our choices that led to that moment."

"Yes, but if it wasn't meant to be, something would have intervened. We never would have been successful."

It was an interesting thought, one I had never considered.

"So it doesn't matter that I never fought for you."

"That is what they say," Alil mused. "A bonding is always fate."

"That's why everyone was so accepting of Latif and Blaine," I said, finally understanding.

He nodded and nuzzled my neck, tickling me with his breath.

"Yes, and perhaps their union was needed to make you act out in such a way that I did not enter the priesthood and instead mated with you."

I shook my head.

In that train of thought, everything felt like a constellation, all leading to our little baby. A bright star. No, a sun.

And I had no doubt that our child would be another point of bright happiness in our lives and the lives of those around us.