Bully Alpha Daddy (Gold Wolves Black Ops #1)

Epilogue - Declan

“Can I hold him yet?” Dani pleaded. She gave Mira her trademark puppy-dog eyes.

“Only if you’re sitting down on the couch,” Mira said as she bounced the swaddled bundle in her arms.

Dani scrambled onto the couch as quick as lightning, sitting up straight and holding out her arms. Mira deposited Alex into them. Dani held her brother gingerly but tightly, imitating the bouncing motion she had seen Mira do.

“I’m going to be the best big sister ever,” she declared, looking down at her half-brother. “I’m going to teach him the best places to play in the woods that don’t have bears, and how to sneak around the house, and how to build things with bricks, and how to steal cookies, and the best people to prank—”

“Maybe not the last two?” I suggested.

Dani gave me a perfect eyeroll, one I knew I had given my parents on more than one occasion. “That’s no fun, though,” she argued.

“You have to do that when the parents aren’t paying attention,” Jackson advised Dani, winking. “That’s what the fun uncles are for when we come to babysit.”

“If that’s your plan for when you babysit, then forget it,” Mira said with no real malice.

Going temporarily deaf, Jackson turned to Alex. “Come to Uncle Jackson.” He scooped Alex up in his arms and started bouncing him up and down. Alex giggled, a delighted smile spreading across his face. “You know he’s got my eyes,” Jackson said.

The rest of the Gold Wolves watched on, lounging in chairs as we all relaxed. It was the first time several of them had met Alex, so the baby had made the rounds, everyone holding him for a little bit.

“He’s a cute kid,” Trent said, looking down at him.

“Yeah. And with all of us to give him tips, he’s going to be a lady killer in no time,” Nolan said. “He’s already got that suave, debonair look to him.”

A snot bubble swelled and popped beneath Alex’s nose.

“Very debonair,” Mira quipped.

Chris held the baby last, then returned him to Mira. “I’ve been keeping an eye on your old pack,” Chris said as she took Alex.

“Oh?” The caution in my wife’s voice was palpable, though she kept a steady gaze. “And how’s that going?”

“They’ve restructured since Harrison died,” Chris said. “His goons like Rex got kicked out. Don’t worry, I’m keeping track of them, too.”

“I’m surprised Rex didn’t try to hold onto power,” Mira remarked.

“He probably would have,” Chris said, then gave a feral grin that showed his fangs. “But a little birdie let slip what they did to you, and also that supporting Rex or any of them would be close to declaring war.”

“Good job there,” I grunted.

“Anyway, seems like the new alpha is a guy named Pieter,” Chris said.

Mira raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

“You know him?” I asked.

“Of course.” Her eyes glazed over a little. “He was one of the ones who was nicest to me.” She paused, considering. “Granted, that was a pretty low bar.” Shrugging, she leaned back, resting her head on my shoulder, nuzzling my cheek slightly. “To be honest, I don’t care anymore. It’s weird. A couple of months ago, I probably would have been a lot more upset about the lack of apology, but I just could not care less. It’s all in the past.” She smiled, looking down at Alex and Dani. “And I’ve got plenty to look forward to.”

Not an hour after the Gold Wolves had left, Dani emerged from her playroom to find us watching TV in the living room.

“I’m bored,” Dani said. “Can we do something?”

“I was going to suggest we all go to the park,” Mira said. “It’s a nice day out, and I want to stretch my legs.”

“Can we get ice cream?” Dani asked hopefully.

“Are you going to try and share it with your brother?” I asked.

A look of utter horror crossed her face as though I had just told her to clean her playroom. “I’m not sharing my ice cream!” she stated. “It’s mine. He can have his own.”

“He’s not old enough to have any yet, anyway,” I said. “But it’s good to know your limits.”

“He can have all my old toys, and I can show him how to play with my new ones,” Dani said, trying to strike a compromise. “And he can play with me whenever he wants. But ice cream is different.”

I nodded solemnly, trying to hold back my laughter. “I think that’s reasonable,” I said. “Ice cream is sacred, after all.”

“Yes.” Dani nodded emphatically. “It is.”

We gathered everything we needed for the family outing, placing Alex in the car seat as Mira gathered the stroller and other belongings. After she deposited them in the car, I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her.

“I love you,” I said.

Mira stood up on tiptoes to press her lips against mine. That electricity radiated through me the same way it did every time I kissed her. I hoped it never left.

“I love you, too,” she said.

*****

THE END