The first day back to work after a long heat leave is refreshing, yet exhausting. The children were all excited to have me back after having a substitute for the beginning of the week. Somehow, this excitement turns them into little terrors, acting out in ways that they usually don't. When the last kid is picked up by their parent, I am ready for a nap.

Instead, I start up my laptop, determined to find a good divorce lawyer for Milo that will not cause us to go broke. It takes a while to sift through all the egotistical lawyers, charging well over four-hundred dollars an hour. Just when I am determined there are really no good people in the world, an email pops up on my screen.

Curious, I click on it, noticing immediately that it is from Grandama.

Ollie,

I don't know if Milo has thought any on getting a lawyer for his divorce, but I put in a word for him with Herri Mikelson. She says she is willing to take the case pro bono and would like to meet with him at 2:45 on October 27. I have attached her number and email below. Have Milo contact her as soon as possible.

I expect to see the two of you this Saturday for brunch.

All my love,

Grandama

How that woman always seems to know when I am in need always surprises me. Immediately, I forward the email to Milo while also saving the contact information on my phone.

The clock at the bottom of my computer reads just shy of three-thirty, meaning I still have a while before I have to meet Milo back at his old house. I click on the link at the bottom of the email, being redirected to a biography page.

It is on Herri Mikelson, the lawyer taking Milo's case pro bono. On the biography, it talks about how she is a civil rights attorney, specializing in omega rights. This immediately makes me like her. We have had to fight so hard just to be able to have basic rights, such as the ability to have suppressants and press charges against alphas who assault us during our heats. Reading more, I see that her partner in the business is her sister, an omega who also specializes in omega rights cases. They decided to go into business together after her sister's nasty divorce from her wife, who was an alpha who abused her regularly. The case was made difficult due to her sister being pregnant at the time, and the law automatically granting an alpha the right to see their child, despite the abuse allegations. Ever since then, they have been taking a few pro bono cases a year that involve omega rights issues, while spending the rest of their time on high-profile cases involving omega rights in our state.

This is starting to look up, and I send my Grandama a quick email of thanks and promising to bring Milo with me to brunch.

Milo should be getting off work soon, so I decide to head over to his old house. It is a surprisingly nice day out today, no rain clouds in sight and briskness to the air that comes with autumn. It makes the drive over to Milo's quick, which I am grateful for.

Nico is already there, leaning against his truck as he drinks coffee. He waves when he sees me, standing up as I get out of the car.

"Little late for coffee, isn't it?" I ask, nodding at his cup.

He chuckles, taking another sip. "I am on night shift tonight, so this is my version of pre-gaming." He looks me over then, eyes narrowing as he subtly scents me. His eyes widen in surprise before he meets mine, an eyebrow raised. "Something you want to tell me, Ollie?"

Shrugging, I lean back against my car, eyes flicking away from him. "No."

"You sure about that?" he questions, arms crossing over his chest. "Because you smell an awful lot like my brother and like an omega who just finished their heat. Is there something going on between the two of you?"

Luckily, I am saved from answering that awkward question by Milo pulling up into the driveway, parking his car behind mine. He looks tired as well as he steps out of the car, blonde hair pulled up into a messy bun, while the bottom strands fall out, too short to remain tied back.

"Oh, you two made it here early. Great!" he says, smile on his face. He pauses before walking in between us. A confused look is on his face as his eyes flicker from Nico to me and back. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Nope," I say, wrapping my arm around his waist and pulling him over to the front door. "Nothing at all."

"Alright," Milo says, drawing the word out and not sounding the least bit convinced. At least he changes the subject though, opening the door and peeking over his shoulder at me as it swings open. "I got your email. I'll call her first thing tomorrow morning. Thank you."

Shrugging my shoulders, I give him a small smile, stepping into the house after him. "You know Grandama, always worrying."

He chuckles. "That is true, but I appreciate it. I hadn't even thought about looking into a divorce lawyer yet."

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened, Milo?" Nico says, closing the door behind all of us. His eyes land on where my hand is resting on Milo's waist, and I let it fall away, taking a small step back. Nico is one of the only alphas I respect enough to worry about their opinions.

Milo doesn't seem to notice, his eyes falling to the side. Eventually, he lets out a long breath. "It started two weeks ago when I went to the doctor..."

He finishes telling his brother everything that had happened with Aaron while we pack. It doesn't take long to get everything together, Aaron having taken almost everything. All there is left is Milo's clothes, toiletries, most of the kitchen stuff, and the grandfather clock that always sits in the corner of the living room.

By six o'clock, everything is fully packed and loaded into the back of Nico's truck. He stays silent the entire time Milo is talking, but the tense way he is carrying his body belies his anger.

It is only when Milo finishes- thankfully glossing over everything that had happened during his heat- that Nico talks. "That asshole. I can't believe he treats you that way. I'm sorry, Milo, but I am happy that he left. You deserve someone who treats you right."

Milo just nods his head, accepting the hug that his brother is offering. It is funny to see them together, so different in looks, yet both so caring and protective of one another. While Nico is nearly six feet with dark hair, Milo is a good four inches shorter with warm blonde hair. But they do share the pale skin and blue eyes, something that gives away their relation.

"You need to come over for dinner soon. Maya worries," he says, pressing a kiss onto the top of Milo's hair.

"Oh, like you don't worry just as much," I mumble, raising a brow when Nico looks over at me.

"I'll come over soon," Milo finally says, pulling away from his brother. "But for now, why don't you call Maya up and have her join us for dinner tonight. It is the least I can do since you are helping me move."

His brother nods his head, pulling out his phone. "Sounds good to me. I'll call Maya, see what she says. And you don't need to thank me. Brothers are supposed to help one another." He pats Milo's shoulder while bringing the phone up to his ear.

While he is distracted, I turn my attention over to Milo. "How are you feeling?" I ask, eyes sweeping over him.

"I'm fine," he murmurs, leaning into my side. "A little sore still but not nearly as bad as yesterday."

Heat blossoms up my cheeks, but I nod my head. "That's good. I was worried about you going back to work so soon. You never let yourself relax."

"You worry just as much as he does," Milo says, nodding over at his brother. "And there is no need to. I'm fine. I feel a lot better, more like myself than even before I had my heat. Haven't had a headache since I woke up on the last day, which is surprising. I'm just happy to feel normal again."

"I'm happy," I murmur, pressing a kiss to his cheek, feeling him smile at the motion.

Someone clears their throat, and turning, I see Nico watching us with knowing eyes, but he doesn't say anything. "Maya is going to meet us at your place. I'll see you guys there." He gives us a brief wave after climbing into the truck, leaving us alone as he drives away.

"Need me to run to the store for anything?" I ask, looking over at Milo.

He shakes his head. "No, I am just making some burgers. This is the last somewhat nice day we will have in a while, so might as well take advantage."

"Alright, well, I'll see you at home then."

He nods, a small smile on his face as he pulls himself away from me and goes over to his own car.

The drive back is peaceful, the music playing in the background as I watch Milo's taillights in front of me. After the stress of last night- Milo being so scared after the ordeal with Aaron- today feels almost too calm. I am not about to start complaining, though.

Nico and Maya are already waiting for us by the time we get back home. Nico has his arm wrapped around Maya's waist, hand resting on her rounded stomach. She is pretty far along now. I think only a month or so left until she has the baby.

They had been trying forever to have a baby, at least a couple years. With Maya being a beta, it was making everything more difficult. While alphas are great at getting people pregnant, they have a difficult time getting pregnant. The reverse is true for omegas. Betas, though, get the short end of the stick. They have a hard time getting others pregnant and getting pregnant themselves.

So, it was a well-welcomed surprise when they finally became pregnant. Their little one is well loved already.

Maya lets out a cry of delight when she sees us. She grabs us both in a tight hug while Nico just stands back to watch, a smile on his face. The belly makes it a little difficult to hug, but we manage.

"I haven't seen the two of you in forever!" she says, finally pulling away. Her smile is so bright, showing the dimples in her cheeks. She has always been gorgeous, her honey-colored eyes complimenting her olive skin and dark locks. But her smile just makes her look radiant. "I've missed you."

"Sorry for not coming by that often," Milo says, voice sounding contrite.

"Oh hush, it's just as much our fault. We just need to start planning a monthly dinner or something. I hate going this long without visiting, and even if he won't admit it, Nico hates it too."

The alpha just snorts at her words, rolling his eyes, but he doesn't argue. "Well, I think that sounds like a great idea."

"Good, good," Milo says, "Now come inside. It may not be raining but it is still a little cold."

The rest of the dinner goes by quickly, almost too quickly. The hamburgers turn out wonderful, and Maya shares her ideas for the nursery, easily listening to Milo's input for the design. When the subject of Aaron comes up, she gets just as mad as her husband, having to take a minute to calm down before she wraps Milo in a tight hug, murmuring something in his ear, too quiet for anyone else to hear.

By the time they leave, I am sad to see them go, but we make promises to go over to their place for dinner sometime next week.

Milo looks exhausted as he leans against the counter, hand rubbing over his face. Walking up to him, I give his arm a small squeeze, causing his blue eyes to flicker up to mine. "Why don't you head to bed. You look like you are about to fall asleep standing up."

"I don't want to leave this mess for you to clean up," he says, gesturing to the somewhat messy kitchen.

Shaking my head, I start to guide him over to his bedroom, knowing that he will be out as soon as his head hits his pillow. "I can take care of it. You just get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." He opens his mouth to protest, but I drop a chaste kiss on his lips before pushing him into his room and closing the door behind him.

It is only when he is out of sight that the realization of what I had just done hits me. My heart pounds as I walk back into the kitchen. The kiss had been short, much softer than the ones we had shared during his heat. But this one feels much more intense. Maybe because I don't have the excuse of it being his heat.

Maybe because I am not doing as well as I hoped at keeping my feelings intact.