The mention of that causes a flicker in Alexander's scent, a moment of tension. It isn't distress, just -- like the concept catches at him oddly.

"What a strange thing to say." He yawns, and his stomach growls. "Why have a marriage if neither married can be got with child?" He can see the logical flaw in that as soon as he says it: Washington's marriage had no children, and Madison's. Marriages can be between those too old to have children, or those who are barren.

"It would be an odd world, where two men, alphas, could be together that way." Marriage, as defined, can be done one of many ways. An alpha and an omega; a man and a woman; these are the most acceptable. But a beta woman can marry an alpha woman, and a beta man can marry an omega man. Blackstone had some sort of complicated chart and there are books of legal theory on the matter, which essentially boil down to -- it's not seemly for those of the same gender to marry, and for there to be a marriage without one who can be gotten with child, and the other who can get them with child. Always seemed dubious, to Alexander, but he convinced himself it was for the best.

"But I always wanted a family. Children. Perhaps you should have been the omega..."