Chapter 18 #2
Alison checked her watch. "It is getting late. We should probably head home for dinner."
"Can Lucas come too?" Leo asked, his hopeful expression impossible to resist. "Please, Mommy? I want to show him my room and my toys and my books!"
I watched Alison's internal debate play across her face—her desire to maintain boundaries warring with her reluctance to disappoint our son. I stayed silent, letting her make the decision without pressure.
"I suppose that would be okay," she finally conceded. "If Lucas isn't too busy."
"I'm never too busy for you two," I said simply, earning a shy smile from Leo and a complicated look from Alison.
The Black estate was as imposing as ever as we pulled through the gates, but seeing it through Leo's excited commentary gave it a warmth I'd never associated with the mansion before.
"And that's where Grandpa William reads the newspaper," Leo explained, pointing to a sun-drenched corner of the garden as we walked up the drive. "And over there is where I help Grandma with her flowers sometimes."
"It sounds like you keep very busy here," I remarked, smiling at his enthusiasm.
"He's certainly brought life to the house," Alison agreed softly. "Father says it hasn't been this lively in decades."
William and Elizabeth Black welcomed us warmly, though I detected a knowing gleam in the old man's eye when he saw me. As the true patriarch of the Black family, William had made it clear he approved of my interest in Alison, despite our rocky history.
"Lucas, good to see you," he said, shaking my hand firmly. "Staying for dinner, I hope?"
"If that's not an imposition," I replied politely.
"Nonsense! Elizabeth, tell Margery we'll have one more."
Elizabeth smiled warmly. "Already done, dear. Leo informed the kitchen staff the moment they arrived."
Leo grinned unrepentantly. "I told them to make your favorite dessert too, Grandma!"
Dinner was a surprisingly relaxed affair.
The Blacks had created a warm family environment, and I found myself grateful that Alison and Leo had found this belonging after all they'd been through.
Leo dominated the conversation, regaling his grandparents with tales of our park adventure, though I noticed he carefully avoided mentioning his special connection with the dog.
Smart kid. He already understood some things needed to remain family secrets.
After dinner, Leo insisted on showing me his room—a spacious chamber filled with toys, books, and artwork that told the story of a happy, well-adjusted child.
"This is where I keep my special rocks," he explained, showing me a collection of ordinary pebbles that were obviously treasure to him. "And these are my dinosaurs. This one's a T-Rex. He's the alpha of all dinosaurs."
I smiled at his unconscious use of pack terminology. "Is that so?"
"Yep. That's why he has the biggest teeth." Leo demonstrated with his fingers. "Just like you have the sharpest ones when you change."
I froze, casting a quick glance at Alison, who stood in the doorway. Her expression confirmed that Leo shouldn't know this yet—I hadn't shifted in front of him.
"What do you mean, buddy?" I asked carefully.
Leo shrugged. "I dreamed about it. You were a big wolf with dark fur, and you had really sharp teeth. But you weren't scary." He yawned suddenly. "You were protecting us from the bad people."
Alison stepped forward. "I think it's bedtime, sweetheart. You had a big day."
"But I'm not tired," Leo protested, even as he yawned again.
"Tell you what," I said, ruffling his hair. "You get ready for bed, and I'll come read you a story before I go. Deal?"
This compromise satisfied him, and twenty minutes later, I found myself sitting on the edge of Leo's bed, reading from a well-worn book of fairy tales. He didn't make it past the second page before his breathing deepened into sleep.
I gazed down at my son, overcome with a fierce love and protectiveness that tightened my chest. Gently, I brushed dark hair from his forehead, marveling at this miracle I'd nearly lost through my own stubborn pride and misplaced suspicions.
"He looks just like you when he sleeps."
I turned to find Alison watching from the doorway, her expression soft in a way I rarely got to see anymore.
"Poor kid," I joked quietly, standing to join her.
We walked in silence down the hallway to the main staircase, the air between us charged with unspoken words.
"Thank you," she finally said as we reached the bottom step. "For today. Leo had a wonderful time."
"So did I." I hesitated, then took a chance. "I'd like to do it again. Not just with Leo, but... I'd like to take you to dinner."
Alison's eyes widened slightly. "Lucas..."
"Just dinner," I pressed gently. "We have a lot to talk about, Alison. About Leo's development, about his werewolf heritage. About us."
She crossed her arms, a defensive posture I recognized well. "Is there still an 'us' to discuss?"
I stepped closer, close enough to catch the slight hitch in her breath. My wolf stirred, sensing our mate's conflicted emotions.
"You know there is," I said softly. "You feel it every time we're near each other. The bond never broke, Alison. Not for me, and not for you either."
"A lot has happened," she reminded me, but I could see her resolve wavering.
"I know. I've made mistakes—terrible ones that hurt you. But I want to make things right." I touched her cheek gently, relieved when she didn't pull away. "One dinner. That's all I'm asking for now."
Her pulse quickened under my touch. Despite her hesitation, her body's response told me what she couldn't say aloud—she wanted this too.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea," she murmured, but there was little conviction in her voice.
"It's the best idea I've had in five years," I countered with a small smile.
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine for several long moments before she finally gave a slight nod. "One dinner. For Leo's sake, so we can discuss his... development."
We both knew it was more than that, but I accepted the pretense. "Tomorrow night? I'll pick you up at seven."
"Seven," she agreed softly.
As I drove home that night, my wolf was more settled than it had been in years.
My son accepted me. My mate was giving me another chance.
The path ahead wouldn't be easy—we had years of pain and misunderstanding to overcome—but for the first time since discovering Alison was my true Luna, I felt genuine hope.
One dinner at a time, one day at a time, I would rebuild what I had nearly destroyed. I would prove myself worthy of the family that had been within my grasp all along.