my shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts. “This looks so great, Tyson,” the Alpha Omega, Cord stood at my side. He had his first born, Patrick, on his hip.
“Thank you,” I said. “I am happy to be home and contributing to the pack.”
“We are lucky to have you,” he said. His name was called from across the way and he handed me Patrick. “Can you hold him for a second? I have to take care of this.”
I didn’t get a chance to respond before I had a handful of toddler. My heart rate increased as I looked at the little guy in my hands. I’d never been much of a kid person, though if my suspicious were correct and I was pregnant with Curt’s child, I’d better get used to them sooner or later.
Patrick’s face contorted like he might let out a wicked cry. I braced myself for the ear-piercing screech I knew was coming.
“Need some help with that?” Curt asked.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes,” I said. Me and my wolf settled now that our mate was closer.
Patrick launched himself at Curt and it was as if Curt was a natural, holding the toddler on his hip like his own father had done. Patrick settled, a smile now on his face.
“How do you know how to do that?” I asked.
“This?” Curt indicated the child in his arms. He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just like kids; I’ve always helped out with my cousins and stuff.”
“Oh.”
It did look good on him, having a child in his arms. I didn’t get a chance to say anything though before Cord was back and took Patrick from Curt.
“Thank you for all your work on this, Tyson. Go ahead and enjoy the solstice dinner and run. We have a group of us that are going to take care of serving and clean up.”
“But—”
“But nothing, Tyson. Enjoy your night! You did great. Look, Mia’s even out there having a good time.”
Sure enough, Mia and Lissy sat together at a table, sharing a plate of the meal we’d put together. I supposed if the Alpha Omega told me I had to rest, then who was I to question him?
Curt lifted his arm for me to link mine into. “Shall we?” he said.
I followed, but instead of leading me to the table to enjoy our meal, he led me around the pavilion down the path that lead toward my parent’s home.
“Did you know that the winter solstice is a time for regeneration, reflection, and renewal?” he said. “Equal parts day and night, equal parts as man and as world. Ample time for a wolf to take a look at himself and see how he might make improvements. Don’t you think?”
“Sure,” I said slowly. This was a side of Curt I’d never seen before. When had he become so philosophical?
“When I called that day to ask you to be my fake boyfriend, I never dreamed you were my actual mate. In hindsight, I should have known. My wolf went dormant when you left, but I didn’t make the connection until now. I couldn’t be happier about you being my mate, Tyson. I love you. So much.”
My heart warmed. I bit my lip to keep myself grounded. I wanted to jump for joy. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes for the second time that night, but for an entirely different reason now.
“It took me a minute to catch up with everything,” he continued. “From this being a fake idea, to a real attraction, and then to top it off we’re real mates. I fumbled a bit. But now, after some reflection, I’d like to start anew.”
He stopped walking and faced me. We were just outside a small house, one I’d never been in before, but had seen many times. An older couple with two grown children had just moved out of this house into a smaller one now that they’re kids had moved out.
“I’m not going to be a perfect mate,” Curt said. “But I will be a good one. I’ll make mistakes, but I’ll never stop loving you, making you happy, and supporting you in all that you do. If you’ll have me of course.”
“Curt, there was no doubt since the moment that I felt your knot that we’d be together. I love you, too. I have wanted you for a long time now, I just didn’t know how to say it or what to say. Luckily, fate intervened for us.”