Page 95 of Tides of Fate

Gideon gives each omega a snack of meat, cheese, and fresh fruit before they disappear to the gym, where they can hear laughter every few minutes.

With food ordered and nothing to do but wait, Logan lets Jay tell him about the changes for Long Road Home, offering suggestions for security—both cyber and physical.

It’s an hour later when Nix runs in, looking like he’s being chased by the hounds of Hell.

Gideon jumps up, but Logan’s already sprinting down the hall.

“Kitten, are you alright?”

He hopes Arlo was serious when he told Logan he could protect himself—and that he and the baby are just as Logan left them.

Gideon is not expecting Nix to say, “Arlo’s water just broke.”

Nix takes off up the stairs and returns with a sleepy, well-sated Finn, who is frantically throwing on a fresh shirt over his sweats. Nix carries his at-home med bag and towels.

They make it to the gym and through the door—only to run into Logan, who immediately shoves Finn back out again. The alpha’s fist is clenched in the doctor’s shirt, the only thing keeping Finn upright. Logan is growling and hissing, while Finn does his best to avoid eye contact.

“Shit,” Leo whispers and climbs right onto Jay’s back to slow their own protective leader down.

Gideon grabs Jay’s arm, too.

“Hey!” they hear from inside the gym.

“I am having your fucking child in here, and you’re being more of a pain in the ass than she is! So get it together!” Arlo yells.

Then, quieter, “Please. I need to see Finn. Then you can take me home.”

It’s enough to have Logan shaking it off, finally releasing Finn, allowing the leaner man to regain his footing.

“Sorry, but…uh… don’t hurt him, okay? I’m just barely hanging on and—”

Finn nods shortly, scooting around Logan, disappearing into the gym.

Jay exhales sharply, shoulders tight, and starts pacing the length of the room.

“It’s not our baby, and Finn is okay. Relax—he’s a professional,” Leo says.

“Fuck, I know that. But…you can’t tell me you aren’t thinking about if this were Nix, right?” Jay stops mid-step, eyes widening as if he’s just pieced something together. “Dammit.” He resumes pacing, more agitated than before.

It’s not long before Logan appears, Arlo held effortlessly in a bridal carry. The laboring omega has a baby-blue towel wrapped around his waist and a sour expression on his face.

“I can walk out of here on my own. She won’t be here for hours. At least stop for a minute.”

Logan looks very much like he would rather not, but he stops anyway.

Finn pulls on his shoes, taking the bag from Nix as he nods and smiles.

“Yeah, okay. I will. Keep your phone on, yeah? You’re right…I’ll need a ride.”

And then he and Nix laugh.

What the hell?

Did Finn just have an entire conversation withhimself? With Nix?

“They’re bonded. Today. And now, he can sort of hear Nix when they’re super close—maybe farther as time goes on, yeah?” Jay gazes fondly at his mates, but there’s a twist to his mouth. “I’m envious of both of them.”

“He’s really something, eh?” Leo whispers.

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