Chapter Three
Ladon
After what seemed like the longest week ever, Friday had finally arrived.
Every child had shown up for their scheduled times and days all week, and I began to appreciate the days some were off sick.
Especially those with parents who liked to stick around to chat before heading off to work or an appointment in one of the other towers.
By Friday afternoon at four, the end of my workday, I was ready to race out of the place.
Except, I couldn’t forget Kirin. I didn’t believe that to be even possible.
He preferred to hang out with me behind the reception desk as soon as the other children began to leave.
I exited the day care, leaving Emily and Sungjae to lock up when they finished.
Kirin tugged on my hand, dragging me down to the elevator. “Let’s go, Daddy. We need to catch the bus.”
A line I always used on him when trying to hurry him along at the end of the day. I chuckled. “We’ll catch the next one. I want to stop at NJ Foods to pick something up for dinner before we go home. Is there anything you want?”
“Pizza!” He jumped up and down, excitedly as we waited for the doors to open.
Of course. His answer was always the same. My son would eat pizza for every meal if I let him. That or chicken nuggets. “I think we can have pizza tonight.” I didn’t feel like arguing with him or even spending a lot of time making a meal that night. “I need to pick up a few other things as well.”
“Okay.” He skipped into the open elevator and, once I was beside him, pressed the button for the ground floor.
When we walked into the food market, he grabbed one of the children’s buggies, a miniature version of the shopping carts for adults. “I got it, Daddy. Just put your things in here.”
I ruffled the hair on his head. “Thank you, Kirin. Now, don’t wander off. Stay with me.”
He nodded, but I still didn’t trust him. Anything could capture his attention and have him leaving my side.
At the deli, we picked up a fresh-made pizza with pepperoni, pineapple, mushrooms, and bacon. All Kirin’s favorite toppings. I also added milk, eggs, and a chicken to the cart before we headed up to the checkout.
Being the end of the workday on Friday, the place was busy and though every checkout was open, they each had a long line at them.
Waiting was one of the hardest things to do with a young child.
He didn’t understand why we had to stay in line and yearned to run around the store or flop onto the floor and spin around.
Neither were options I looked forward to as the seconds then minutes ticked by.
I braced for it to happen, but instead, he started waving at the person behind us.
I turned around to see who it was and why the person caught his attention, worrying that he would chuff smoke at them.
I’d expected it to be an older woman or omega as they always seemed to be friendly with my son.
Instead, I came face-to-face with an alpha I’d seen earlier that week, one who had invaded my dreams every night since.
I didn’t realize I had a fetish for alphas in uniform until my subconscious got the better of me.
“Firefighter Gillinois. Are you here to check this place for fire code compliance?”
“Already did.” He held up his basket filled with grocery items. “I didn’t know the market was here until Monday, so I decided to come back when I had a chance.”
His eyes suddenly furrowed as he glanced down at Kirin then up at me. “You… This is your son?”
I nodded as I lightly squeezed my son’s shoulder. “Yep. This is Kirin. He’s going to be five soon and start kindergarten in the fall.”
“Nice to meet you, Kirin.” He held out his hand. “I’m Blaze.” Suddenly the firefighter’s nose twitched as he tilted his head to the side.
I knew exactly what he was sniffing for. “No, I don’t have a mate. I’m raising him completely on my own. No parents, no alpha, just me.”
Kirin tugged on my hand. “Daddy. We can move ahead.”
“I’m sorry,” Blaze said from behind me as we all took a couple steps forward. “I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay.” I tried to give him a genuine smile, but I thought I failed.
“I was young and thought I was in love. Turns out, I was just stupid.” I bent down and kissed the top of my son’s head.
“Sorry, I usually don’t blurt out my life story, but I ended up with this precious soul.
” Even though Kirin could be a handful at times, I could not imagine my life without him.
He was the only other dragon shifter I knew in the entire metropolis.
Though with my beast suppressed for so long, I didn’t know if I would recognize another of my kind.
I glanced up at Blaze, remembering a portion of my dream from the night before. I met a dragon on the street. My subconscious convinced me it was Blaze. Could it be true? Was my dragon trying to show me someone else like us? Or was it just wishful thinking after being lonely for so long?
I didn’t have time to work up the courage to ask, finally reaching the checkout and needing to put my groceries on the belt before paying for them.
Grabbing the bag of food and Kirin’s hand, I glanced back at Blaze before leaving to head out to catch the bus.
He nodded and his lips turned up in a brief smile. “It was nice to see you again.”
“You, too.” I tried to ignore the sudden butterflies in my stomach, doubting I would ever see him again outside of my dreams.
As Kirin and I rode the bus to our apartment, a fire truck rushed past us, siren blaring and lights flashing.
“Daddy, Daddy, that’s a fire truck.” He wiggled in his seat and clapped his hands. “Do you think Blaze was in there?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. He seemed to be off today, but those firefighters probably work with him.”
Kirin wiggled again before pressing his face to the window. “When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter, too.”
I rubbed his back, not sure how I felt about the idea of my son rushing into a burning building.
First, he needed to grow up and learn to control his own fire.
But I refused to crush his dreams. “I’m sure this city can always use more brave firefighters.
” And I guess I had to find a way to see Blaze again. Or at least others in his profession.