They'd share the responsibilities of pack duties and child-rearing.
Cooper would have both his mothers, the one who'd raised him and the one who'd given birth to him.
And when Maya's pregnancy progressed, when she gave birth to Ethan's second child, Dakota would be there to help, to support, to be part of the family structure in ways that benefited everyone.
It made perfect sense.
It solved everything.
Maya got the bonding she'd been promised, the alliance her father expected, the security of being first wife with all the status and privileges that entailed.
Dakota got recognition of the mate bond, got to be with the man her wolf recognized as hers, got to be part of her son's life again without having to fight Maya for position or custody.
And Ethan.... Ethan got to keep them both.
Got to honor both bonds, both commitments, both women who'd become essential to him in different ways.
