Knight Life In Vegas (Sin City Omegas #3)

Chapter 44

T he nest was full, the kids asleep between Charlotte and Beau, the rest of us tucked around them. I liked seeing Charlotte in full mom mode. She was so sweet with her kids and it was obvious how much they all loved each other. Since the entire pack had bonded in, she’d been so steady. I’d expected us to face a lot of resistance and panic, but maybe the bonds were enough to show her we were serious about being there for her and her children. Our children. We were all legally their parents now, a brand-new family.

Everything had moved so quickly, we hadn’t even had the opportunity to introduce Charlotte to loved ones. That would have to happen sometime soon, considering how quickly we had gone from zero to sixty.

I picked up my phone, my first opportunity in days to go through work emails. I popped open the app, staring at it, trying to process why I was seeing hundreds of emails from our website. I clicked into the top one.

Holy shit.

Were they all people signing up for the camps and lessons? I clicked through a few dozen more just to make sure, every single one of them someone interested in taking part.

Charlotte shifted next to me, turning enough so she could see me but not disturb Ollie, who was velcroed to her. “What’s happening?”

“Well, you got about two hundred requests for riding lessons with the queen so far.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yep, and another couple hundred for knight training.”

Beau and I had already done the math on how many active signups we would need to start pushing Night of Knights into solid profits so we could recover everything that had been stolen. We had more than double that.

“Does that mean what I think it means?” she asked.

Relief filled my chest, tears sneaking up on me. “Yeah. We’re gonna be okay.”

I wasn’t going to lose my grandfather’s legacy or let a franchise version of what we did take over in our place. Night of Knights was mine—ours—and we were in a damn good position to save it together.

Charlotte wiggled around carefully so we were face to face, her smile bright in the dim light. “You did it.”

“ We did it.” I kissed her slow and deep, committing the feel of her mouth to memory. “I kept it afloat, but I’ve been so stuck on the status quo I hadn’t thought of other opportunities. Even if I had, half of the new ideas only work with you on board.”

“Those were selfish ideas.” She nestled against my chest, tucking her head beneath my chin, her arms wrapped around me. “I get to hang out with all of you and the horses all day. That’s basically a dream come true.”

“We both have selfish motives in that regard.”

Charlotte sighed, pressing a kiss to the hollow of my throat, tenderness tumbling down the bond. “I haven’t thanked you yet.”

“For what?”

“If you hadn’t given me such a good experience when we first met, I probably would’ve been too scared to try again.”

I tipped her chin up and leaned close so she would be able to hear me even though I spoke quietly. “Duchess, are you saying I laid you so well you were ready for more?”

She let out a giggle. “Partly. That bit was very fun, but before all of that, you stood up for me, you talked to me like I was a whole person, you made me feel like an omega for the first time in years. I can’t ever thank you enough for making sure I felt safe and wanted, even if I wasn’t totally ready for it at the time.”

I absorbed her words one by one. If I’d scared her off, she might have still met Dylan and Eduardo, but she’d have probably been too spooked to go to bed with them. She’d been so afraid when we’d found her again at Night of Knights. Without her attachment to them too, would she have ever entertained the possibility of more? Charlotte was an omega who needed a pack and the security of being bonded to all of us.

“I plan to spend my whole lifetime making sure you feel safe and wanted.”

“But I want you to feel that too,” she whispered. “I know I didn’t do a very good job of it.”

“It’s not your job to comfort anyone else when you’re already scared. I’m a grown man. I can manage my own emotions.” I kissed her again purely for the pleasure of it. “You gave us a chance, and that’s more than I could expect from anyone in your situation.”

Nervous energy flooded down the bond. “I just don’t want you to think I don’t love you.”

My heart squeezed. “You don’t have to worry about that. I can feel it.”

Charlotte blinked up at me.

“Duchess, I started falling the moment I laid eyes on you and I haven’t stopped. I love every beautiful inch of you, your vibrant spirit, and everything else about you. Fate knew exactly what it was doing when it matched us.”

“I think so too.” Her bottom lip wobbled. “Are you really sure you want to do this?”

“Do I want to be alpha to the most perfect omega and a father to the sweetest boys?”

She nodded.

“I want all of it. Thank you for being brave enough to let me have this. I love you.” I sighed against her soft mouth and pulled her even closer. “I’m sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep. It’s entirely too early for anyone else to be awake.”

She burrowed deeper against me, tossing her thigh over my hips and quickly dropping off.

Contented didn’t even begin to cover it. Sure, life would be different, but it would also be full. Our omega loved us and we loved her. Her children had become ours, and I was determined to not let a day pass where I took them for granted.

I spent the whole of the next day with my pack, answering emails and sorting out calendars. We had enough interest to book out for a solid year. Charlotte was beside herself with excitement as she and Dylan arranged students by their experience level and availability.

It would take careful organization and long hours, but once we had a rhythm down, I had faith it would all go smoothly.

In a few moments of quiet time, I made a call.

“Hey, Mama.”

“My Chico, how are you doing, baby?”

“A lot better than the last time we talked. I have some news.”

“Good news or bad?”

“Good. Great, actually. Would you come by the arena? Bring Grandpa if he’s having a decent day?”

“I’ll give them a call and see how he’s doing. Do you want me to come now?”

“If you’re not busy.”

“Never too busy for you. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay, love you, Mama.”

I dipped out into the stables, where Charlotte and Dylan were preemptively planning which horse would be best for each student.

“Hey, duchess. My mom’s gonna be coming by.”

She froze instantly, panic flooding down the bond. “To meet me?”

“Well, yeah,” I said with a laugh. “We’ve had a lot of changes since the last time I saw her.”

“What if she doesn’t like me?”

“Chico’s mom is cool,” said Dylan. “She’s going to love you and the boys.”

Charlotte wrung her fingers and I scooped up her hands to kiss her knuckles, dispelling the rise of nerves I felt from her. “It’s going to be fine. I was thinking of having her and my grandpa stay for the show. He hasn’t been around the horses for a little while and I want them to meet Beau and the boys when they come later.”

“We’re not exciting anymore,” Dylan said with a laugh. “Eduardo and I are old news.”

“Will everyone else’s families be coming too?”

“That could be arranged,” said Dylan, “but I don’t want you getting overwhelmed. If you’d rather wait, we can plan something.”

“That’s probably better,” Charlotte agreed. “One anxious meeting at a time.”

“Why don’t you take Eclipse out?” I suggested. The best way to keep her occupied and relaxed was to put her on the back of a horse.

“Don’t worry about planning, princess,” Dylan added before she could protest. “That work’s not going anywhere. We can do more later.”

I kissed her pout right off her face and sent her over to Eclipse. I hung back, watching her saddle him and hop on, her movements fluid and beautiful. The two of them took to the arena and I got a text from my mom saying she and my grandpa would be there soon.

I watched Charlotte while we waited. Mom knew her way in, and Grandpa certainly did even on his worst days. Their warm presences settled next to me.

“Who’s this beauty we’re watching?” Grandpa asked.

“My omega,” I replied simply.

Mom whacked me on the shoulder. “Since when do you have one of those?”

“I haven’t been hiding her, I promise. Things just moved quicker than expected. She scent matched the whole pack, went into heat a few days ago, and bonded everyone.”

Mom’s jaw dropped. “And we’re happy about this?”

“Thrilled, actually.” I laughed. “I think you’ll like her a lot.”

“Does this mean I’ll finally get to be a grandmother?”

“You already are,” I told her, enjoying the shock on her face. “She has two little boys. Samson and Oliver. They’re at a school program right now, but if you stay until the show, you can meet them tonight.”

“Oh my god,” Mom breathed out. “I need to sit down.”

Dylan helpfully brought over a stool for her since he had been eavesdropping. “She and I are going to be teaching riding lessons. Kids and adults, in case we could coax you onto a horse.”

Mom laughed. “Absolutely not. My feet are going to stay on the ground.”

Charlotte pulled Eclipse to a stop and slid down, keeping a steady hand on his reins as she brushed her hair out of her face.

“Charlotte, this is my mother, Clementine, and my grandfather, Fernando.”

“Hi.” She reached out to her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

Mom didn’t stand for handshakes and pulled Charlotte into a hug over the arena wall. “Welcome to the family, my dear.”

Grandpa got his hug in next. “You tell Marcel he’d better take good care of you.”

Charlotte glanced at me, confused.

I leaned in to whisper, “Marcel is my dad. He usually thinks that’s who I am. Dad passed about twenty-five years ago. Just roll with it.”

“I certainly will,” Charlotte said to Grandpa. “He’s been wonderful.”

Grandpa beamed. “I raised my boy right.”

Charlotte seemed to take everything in stride, chatting with my family, and not correcting Grandpa at all when he started calling my mom his sister, or telling Charlotte stories about my dad when he was little as if he were talking about me.

I stepped back, giving them some space to talk, and pulled in a deep breath to steady myself.

“You okay?” Dylan asked, sidling up next to me.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Doesn’t get any easier.”

Dylan nodded. “I know. The love is all still there, though.”

Eduardo emerged from where he had been doing inventory for me, greeting both my mother and grandfather warmly. Grandpa didn’t usually know who Eduardo and Dylan were, but he accepted that they were friends of mine either way.

While Grandpa was showering Eclipse with attention, Mom came over to me. “Honey, she’s lovely. I can’t stay tonight, but please plan something soon so I can meet my grandsons.”

“We definitely will,” said Dylan. “She has to meet everyone, so there will be no shortage of opportunities.”

Mom kissed my cheek and we hugged for a long moment. “I should get your grandfather back. The staff said he tires easily and has been sundowning a lot, so I don’t think the show would be a good idea tonight.”

“We’re going to be planning some matinees. He can come to those if he’s feeling up to it.”

Mom nodded with a soft smile. “He’ll love that. I’ll see you soon.”

I returned her kiss to her cheek and saw her and my grandpa out, hugging them both fiercely.

Charlotte was happily sandwiched between Dylan and Eduardo when I got back inside the arena, all three purring up a storm, their arms opening to welcome me in.

I stole a kiss from Charlotte, breaking off her purr. Her brilliant smile when I pulled away almost knocked me off my feet. Yeah, fate definitely knew what it was doing when it picked her for me.