Chapter Sixteen
Shaw
I woke up wondering what to make for breakfast and whether I had any snacks for Sebastian to take to his granddads’, when I realized I wasn’t at home.
Bastian had spent the night at their home.
And they always had lots of snacks—I just felt like they should not have to always provide, so I sent things.
And I was in the arms of my alpha.
“What time is it?” his gruff voice bellowed from behind me. I was the little spoon and had never been more content. Neither had my wolf.
I reached for my phone on the nightstand and checked it. “Almost six.”
“Hungry?” he asked. “Coffee?”
“Coffee would be great.” I moved a bit, and my body felt used, stretched, in all the best ways.
“Sore?” he asked. “I have some painkillers. Or maybe a hot shower would help?”
“A shower will do it. Wanna join me?”
Gatlin growled and held me tighter. He was already rock hard but even during the shower, he didn’t try to fuck me again.
He was respectful and worried about me. He would make a great father.
We toweled off and pulled on pants. Gatlin seemed as distracted as I was while I made coffee and he cooked up a simple breakfast of fried eggs and sourdough toast.
The secret I had to tell him had my stomach in knots. How would he react? I couldn’t eat a bite.
“You don’t like eggs?”
“It’s not that. I have to tell you something before I burst or throw up, whichever comes first.”
Gatlin nodded. “Tell me. Get it out, omega.”
“Sebastian is yours. He’s your son. Our son. I couldn’t tell you until I got to know you better. What if you were the kind of alpha who would try and take him from me? I’m so sorry.”
My alpha. My sweet, loving alpha didn’t get red in the face or slam his fist on the table. The worried lines on his forehead softened, and his mouth opened. “He’s my son? The night we were together?”
“Yes. Once was all it took.”
He laughed. “It was more than once.” His eyes welled with tears.
“I can’t believe he’s ours. He’s so beautiful and smart and funny.
I always wanted a family.” He seemed to be in his own happy world for a moment.
He loved our son already. How silly of me to think for one second that my alpha would be anything but loving about this whole thing.
Then, smiling, he met my eyes again. “Does he know? Have you told him?”
I put my hands out. “Wait, Gatlin. Aren’t you upset or angry? Don’t you want proof?”
He reeled back as though I’d slapped him. “What? No. You didn’t know where I was before, and once we reconnected, you needed to be sure I was a fit person to be your mate—to be more than his bio dad before opening that door. You are such a good omega, protecting our young, even from me.”
I let my head fall back, the weight of my secret lifting.
“Baby, have you told him?” he repeated when I didn’t talk for a while.
“No. I wanted you to be with me when we tell him.”
“I hope I can be a good father for him.”
“What? Gatlin, you’re going to be the best dad ever.”
Gatlin went quiet. It was a lot to take in. “I have something to tell you, too.”
“Tell me.”
I had to admit, my heart sank into my stomach.
I had a big secret to tell him. I hoped his wasn’t bad news.
“The other night, I received a really big job offer in another city a couple of hours away. Cuffed is opening up a sister club and they want me to run security there for the whole club, and the position would come with a share in the company and a huge raise. I would be an owner of the new club.”
“Alpha, that’s huge news. I’m so proud of you. Did you accept?”
He shook his head. “Of course not. Not with things muddy between us. We decide this together. You and Sebastian moved here to be close to your family and you have your work. I love my job right now, so whatever makes you and our son happy, I’ll do it and never complain.
I swear. I told them I would think about it. ”
“You put your dream job on pause for me?”
Gatlin scooted his chair over closer to me.
“All these years, you’ve lived in my head.
I searched for you. Pined for you. You and Sebastian are my dream.
Everything else is details. It’s just a job at the end of the day.
As long as I get to come home to you and our boy every night, then who cares what I do for work. ”
I thought about it for a moment. We had a family now and he was right; there was nothing more important than our family. My parents could travel to see us. There was no way I would ask Gatlin to give up this opportunity.
“There’s something I want to do before we decide anything.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Can we go get Sebastian and tell him? I want to see my son. Last night with you and I mating and marking each other, I have felt so complete. But now, knowing he’s mine, I… Can we? My wolf wants to see his pup. I have my omega already but—”
I leaned forward to kiss the heck out of him. We’d lost some time together, but we would make up for it.
“Let’s go get dressed and get our son.”
Less than an hour later, we picked up Sebastian from my parents’ house. I promised to explain everything later. They wanted to talk to Gatlin more and get to know him, but we had time for that. For now, they said they trusted my judgment.
“Daddy, where are we going?” Sebastian asked from the back seat.
“I need a better car. A safer one. And another car seat.” Gatlin mumbled a list from behind the wheel.
“We are going out for some coffee and chocolate milk. There’s something we want to talk to you about.”
“Oh,” he said, kicking his little legs. “About Gatlin being my daddy?”
The cab went silent. Gatlin took the first opportunity to pull over and put the car into park. He looked to me for permission to speak to Sebastian. Of course, I nodded.
“Sebastian, what makes you think I’m your daddy?” he asked, turning around to face our son.
“Because the wolfie in my tummy says you are my daddy. I got two daddies. Are you my daddy?”
The tears were flowing all around. “I am. Is that okay with you?”
“Yep.” He made a pop sound with the P. “Can we go get chocolate milk now?”
Gatlin and I cracked up. “Anybody else have any secrets to spill?”
I shook my head. “Good. Let’s go get this family some coffee and chocolate milk.”