Page 115 of Tides of Fate

Or so he thinks.

That line of logic is precisely what sets off the new heat sensors in the kitchen, resulting in the local fire department dispatching a truck thirty minutes later. Turns out, water in a pot needs to bewatched—otherwise, it evaporates and sets the pot on fire.

When Gideon smacks him upside the head, Leo tries to argue thata watched pot never boils.

Gideon’s unimpressed glare is answer enough.

The commotion wakes the rest of the house, and once the agents and fire department leave, Jay steps in to make pasta—show off. They all collapse onto the couch like heathens, sharing the meal in a comfortable sprawl.

Later, Leo finds himself stretched out with his head in Nix’s lap and his toes tucked under Finn’s thigh. Together, they watchAustin Powersto distract themselves from the weight of tomorrow. Despite the incoming stress, his mates smell content, and for now, that’s all Leo needs.

Happiness might be in short supply after tomorrow’s events, but tonight, he has them—and that’s enough.

Chapter Twenty-One: Leo

The Were Court is housed in a large building on the opposite side of Lupine Park from the hospital. It comprises three floors, with a detention center in the basement that holds suspects in various stages of trial and sentencing.

Leo has spent many hours in this building, and while it’s not a second home, he knows its nooks and crannies well from his childhood adventures in and out of courtrooms with his father.

It’s an added relief that the courthouse steps are blissfully empty. Still, Leo had half-expected the paparazzi to show up, despite Margot’s team promising that news of the trial hadn’t made the wire yet.

The Rhodes Pack rolls up in the car his father sent, each man in his new suit, and Leo feels blessed knowing they have supportive people in their corner. The warm feeling of gratitude must travel along the bond because Nix hums beside him.

“Hey,” Leo says to Nix, who has had one hand clenched tight around his biceps and the other in Jay’s grip since they got in the car.

He looks beautiful in his slim-fitting suit and Jay’s lucky tie. It didn’t quite match the suit Leo’s mom picked out, but the minute Gideon fastened the tie around his neck, Nix had settled.

Were courthouses, like most formal settings, require people to wear scent blockers, with exceptions for children, pregnant people, and the newly transitioned. But there is not one trace of sweet vanilla inside the car. The control of his omega “powers” is improving every day, and Leo only wishes Nix didn’t have perfect control over the one thing that made his sensitive alphas twitchy.

“Everything’s going to plan. One thing at a time, okay?” Leo squeezes the tiny hand around his arm.

The day was gray, and while it had been raining all morning, it had thankfully stopped by the time they pull up outside. Gideon is the first to exit the car, but he pauses in the doorway, blocking the others from following.

It isn’t long before Finn jabs him in the ass. “Come on, we can’t sit here all afternoon. We’re on the docket for 2:00 p.m., and we still need to meet the prosecution and the others.”

Gideon grunts but steps aside, offering a hand to help Finn and Grayson out of the car. Rowan and Luca follow next, with Luca’s hand tucked into Rowan’s pants pocket for comfort. The gesture wrinkles Rowan’s pristine black suit, but no one would dare say a word because Luca almost didn’t come today. He’d had a terrible night, filled with anxiety that ended in an epic panic attack.

Gideon had finally removed them to his room to sleep—or whatever—around 1:30 a.m.. No one fell back asleep after that, especially after Gideon texted, asking Rowan to join them. It turns out Rowan is acting as Luca’s anchor today, and so far, it’s working for both of them. Luca is subdued but content as long as Rowan is touching him, and it gives Rowan someone else to think about besides Nix and Hayes.

Jay follows, holding Nix’s hand, and Nix pulls Leo out after. They stand huddled together for a minute in the cool afternoon breeze until Jay says, “Okay, Rhodes Pack. Let’s do this, and tonight we can sleep in the nest, knowing he’s going to get what he deserves.”

The change is instantaneous, as Nix appears to lock down any outward emotions. He straightens up, dropping both of his hands and clenching them into loose fists at his sides. He is a sight to behold, and Leo is proud as Nix leads his pack up the steps with purpose. Leo hustles to get the door for him.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

Courthouse security is strict, especially with a high-profile and volatile case on the docket. But once they’re through, the receptionist directs themup to the second floor, where his dad and Erin are waiting, both with encouraging smiles.

“Nix, good afternoon. Thank you for coming early. We have a meeting room prepared,” Erin says, directing them down the hall.

Jay has pulled Leo’s father aside, and Leo is torn between eavesdropping or following his pack, curious about what has Jay worked up and put that look on his father’s face. But Gideon makes the choice for him and takes his hand.

“Come on, Leo, let the big daddies talk.”

It makes Leo’s cheeks flush with bothewandyumresponses simultaneously.

“Fuck off,” he whispers, because he is not getting hard at his father’s workplace, and it just makes Gideon huff a laugh under his breath.

Pink-cheeked and tight-jawed, Erin looks harried and gestures for them to take a seat.

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