Ignoring him, I said to Ben, “I told her you and David would help with the mess of a garden she’s got behind the house. Hope you don’t mind.”
“I love working in the garden,” Ben said.
“Colt, I was going to call the Cheevers and see about all of us helping them out. I can’t believe they’re living there with kids. It’s a damn mess.”
“Of course,” Colt agreed.
“I told her Ben and David could go in the morning with you, Colt, while Maddox and I get some chores done, and then the two of us will come with the Cheevers.” I chuckled, remembering. “Nova asked Laura to come back to check on the little girl, who was obviously fine. Surprised me that Laura said yes. I thought she had a flight back to New York in the morning.”
Maddox walked through from the kitchen still holding Ollie, and his cell phone in his free hand. He was headed for the front door. “Carter’s on the line. Would you hold Ollie for me?” He passed the baby to Colt when he stood up.
Colt settled on the couch with Oliver in his arms. Reaching up his tiny hand, Ollie grasped Colt’s nose.
Ben and I laughed.
“You ready for children of your own, Colt?” I asked.
“Yes. I think I’d like that a lot, actually.” Colt grinned at me and Ben.
“You’ve never thought about it before?” Ben inquired.
“I’ve never imagined being mated or married.”
“Even to Angus?”
Colt chuckled. “No. Angus softened when you came along.”
“Because you’re special,” I told Ben.
Ben shook his head.
“Yes, you are,” Colt said.
“No, I’m really not.”
“Why do you say that? Or is it something private?” I asked him.
Shaking his head, Ben said, “Only David and Jackson know about my past. The reason I know I’m not special is because I was abandoned when I was a baby. I guess my parents freaked out when they realized I was showing signs of being an omega. Honestly, I don’t know how they knew it that early. Or maybe it wasn’t that at all. Maybe they just didn’t want me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Colt said, squeezing Ben to his side with the arm that wasn’t holding Ollie. “Maybe they couldn’t afford a baby and hoped someone else would take care of you.”
Ben stared down at his hands.
“I was found in the dumpster,” he whispered.
Stunned, it was a moment before I could react, but when I did, it was to pull Ben into my arms for the hardest hug I could give him without crushing him.
Colt met my eyes over Ben’s head. “Oh, Ben. I’m so sorry,” he said sadly.
Released from my grip, Ben caressed Ollie’s cheek with his index finger, then looked up at Colt and then me. “Now you know you’ve mated an abandoned omega nobody wanted. Someone from the SOS found me and, eventually, they placed me with Gleesa, the beta woman who took care of me. I met David, and Jackson there. I’d probably still be there if Gleesa’s abusive husband hadn’t unexpectedly come home after eleven years. That’s why we all had to leave. I went from there to a halfway house for unregistered omegas. Then, when Jackson rejected Neil Havers, the alpha his parents had picked for him, I asked to take his place. I was tired of being a burden. Then Neil gave me up to the government. But you probably know all this.”
“I’ve only heard some of it. Keep going. What happened?” Colt asked, voice full of gentle compassion.
“Neil left me in a hotel with a beta woman. I didn’t know where he was going. I overheard her on the phone and got suspicious about something she said about me going with her. I managed to escape and find my way here. But that was after a long time wandering around.”
“You must have been so scared,” I said, wanting to go find that Neil fellow and beat his brains in.
Colt kissed Ben’s temple.