Another few seconds of quiet passed before Ronan’s low voice asked, “Are you saying you’re…drawnto him? To another omega?”
“I’m not entirely certain. That would be…new…for me. But after talking to him today, I think so.”
“Thank you for being honest.”
Teal tittered. “I could say the same to you.”
The distinct sound of Ronan and Teal kissing filled Niall with a deep sense of nostalgia. And longing.
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” Ronan groaned. “What are we going to do?”
“About Sorcha?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“What can we do? We need to keep an eye on him and his uncles, to make sure they don’t let loose on him. If it seems unsafe and we need to step in, we will.”
“And the rest of it?” Ronan asked. “Thepull?”
“We can keep an eye on that too. Like you said last night, it’s been eight months since Niall ended things, and six since he told us how serious he was about Jax. We’re both still missing that, mourning it. There’s no rush. Let’s just see how things develop.”
Stepping away from the door, Niall lowered himself to the edge of the tub. He didn’t want to hear any more, didn’t want to feel the pain—or the joy—of knowing the couple still desired him. He didn’t want to hear how Ronan and Teal now felt pulled toward Sorcha.
Niall had wondered earlier if he should leave this job to protect what he had with Jax. Now he saw he might need to leave it fora different reason. It would be brutal to watch Ronan and Teal invite someone else into their bed. Would the little omega next door be his replacement?
Niall knew he shouldn’t be jealous of Sorcha. He liked the young man and shared the husbands’ urge to protect him from his uncles. If Ronan, Teal, and Sorcha could find happiness together, he didn’t begrudge them that.
After helping the boys from the tub, Niall used a towel to play tug-of-war with the twins while Zayne applauded in delight. Watching Garin and Kino make careful parts in their hair, Niall couldn’t help but feel like he belonged in this family.
As more than the nanny.
But he also loved Jax. And he knew in his heart that they belonged together too.
Chapter Five
Teal
Teal woke up early the next morning to get in a few hours of work at the office. He hated working Saturdays but knew it would be necessary until the Bannon case went to High Court in a few weeks. If he worked quickly, he might get back home in time to eat lunch with Ronan and the boys.
He stretched his arms above his head, fingers entwined, and felt his shoulders pop. A few other folks buzzed around the office, but no one bothered him. Even though he’d made a name for himself as a highly competent lawyer, people in his day-to-day life often treated him like a museum display, something to be stared at, kept apart. His co-workers were either cordial or hostile, never objectively friendly.
Although he was grateful for everything he’d accomplished, sometimes the industrial-looking gray walls of his corner suite felt like a prison.
Five years ago, he’d been just another low-tier attorney. Stuck doing grunt work and assisting with easy cases. Few omegaswent to law school, so merely working for Schulman, Carson & Associates had been a huge win.
But then his bosses saw an opportunity to put their firm on the map. A case like no other fell into their laps. Across the state, people had been waking up to the poor treatment of omegas. Omega rights had become a hot topic. An all-gender rights group approached Mr. Carson to take on a case challenging the existing decree that only alphas and betas could file divorce petitions. Before that, if an omega wanted to get a divorce, his husband had to agree. Teal’s firm represented the omega position all the way to High Court, garnering daily media attention.
And to bolster the optics, they’d put their young omega attorney front and center for all of it.
When they’d won the case a year ago, there were celebrations in the streets. Many omegas came forward to tell their stories of being trapped in loveless or even abusive marriages, ecstatic over the prospect of freedom.
Teal McGinn became a household name. His firm gained prestige and recognition.
There had also been detractors. The television commentators who referred to him as an “unnatural” omega, the people who thought omega rights meant the downfall of society. Teal received threatening emails and letters. Beyond that, Ronan was subjected to the sneering judgement of other alphas. Many of them questioned his veryalphanessin the face of his support for his husband. The blustering men on TV couldn’t take it—Ronan had the nerve to be not just tolerant of his omega’s ambitions, but proud of them.
But the blowhards had no effect. Ronan never wavered, steady through it all. Teal could not have asked for a better husband or confidante. It brought them closer together.
At the time, they’d still been involved with Niall. Teal pulled back after that, terrified his bosses would find out. Schulmanand Carson supported omega rights. To a point. Discovering their star lawyer was poly and in an open marriage would not have flown. They were fine with Teal being a well-known member of their firm, but only if he towed the line.
