Her body trembles above me, caught in the storm of our shared release, and I know at this moment that nothing can undo the connection we just forged at thirty thousand feet.
FORTY-EIGHT
EPILOGUE
Cash
“I’m goingto get you, fishy.”
I walk into the townhouse from work early and almost collide with a blond, five-year-old boy running around the living room.
Our once pristine space has been entirely transformed. Colorful foam mats cover the hardwood floors, child-sized furniture clusters in corners, and a rainbow of toys occupies every available surface.
Lucas doesn’t notice me at first, too engrossed in his game of chase. The little boy squeals with delight, darting behind the sofa with surprising agility. I lean against the doorframe, a slight smile tugging at my lips as I watch them.
Six months ago, Lucas converted our ground floor and basement into an in-home daycare center, and I’ve never seen him happier.
Normally, I wouldn’t be overjoyed about sharing my space with a hundred pounds of children’s toys, but we rarely sleep here anymore.
“Got you!” Lucas scoops up the giggling child, tickling his sides. The boy’s laughter fills the room, bright and infectious.
I check my watch—5:45 p.m.. All the children should have been picked up already. “His mom late again?”
“Hey, there. You’re early.” Lucas turns, finally noticing me. He shifts the boy to his hip with practiced ease. “Yeah, Ethan’s mom texted that she’s running behind. Traffic.”
I nod in understanding with a flash of annoyance not aimed at the boy’s mother, a single omega working two jobs. Since Lucas opened the daycare, I’ve gained a sobering education on how many deadbeat alphas there are out there, abandoning their responsibilities without a second thought.
The waitlist for Lucas’s daycare grew exponentially within months of opening, as word spread quickly about an alpha-run childcare center, particularly among single parents desperate for positive alpha influences in their children’s lives.
“I don’t mind,” Lucas adds, bouncing Ethan gently. “We’re having fun, aren’t we, buddy?”
Ethan nods enthusiastically. “Mr. Lucas was a shark!”
“A very scary shark, I bet,” I say, walking over to them.
Lucas’s baby fever hasn’t disappeared completely, but the daycare has channeled his nurturing instincts in a way that works for all of us. Between these kids during the day and our pack at night, the idea of having children of our own has shifted to the back burner. Spending time together and figuring ourselves out as a pack has been the primary focus.
I lean in and press a gentle kiss to Lucas’s lips, savoring the moment of domestic tranquility.
The front door bursts open, and a harried-lookingwoman rushes in, her cheeks flushed. “I’m so sorry! The bus broke down, and then I had to?— “
“Mommy, mommy,” Ethan wriggles out of Lucas’s arms and races to his mother.
“Not a problem, Rissa,” Lucas assures her, waving away her concern. “Ethan and I were playing sharks.”
She kneels to help Ethan into his jacket, relief evident on her face. “Thank you so much. And thank you for not charging a late fee. It makes such a difference.”
“We understand completely,” I say, meaning it. The daycare isn’t about profit—we make more than enough money as it is. This is about Lucas’s personal fulfillment and giving back to the community.
After a flurry of goodbyes and promises to see Ethan tomorrow, the door closes behind them. Lucas immediately begins tidying, his movements efficient after months of practice.
I set aside my work briefcase, glancing at my watch. “We need to go. Leave the mess for later.”
“Go? Go where?” Lucas pauses mid-cleanup, brow furrowing in confusion. He stands upright, a plastic dinosaur dangling from his fingers. Then realization slowly dawns, and he drops the toy. “Oh shit, that’s today? Let me grab my jacket and we can go.”
I shake my head, amused as he rushes around looking for his phone and wallet. “Why exactly did you think I came home early from work?”
Lucas pauses his frantic movements, a slow smile spreading across his face. He sidles closer, crowding me against the wall, his familiar alpha scent enveloping me. He places a hard kiss on my lips, then unexpectedly slaps me on the ass with enough force to make me jump.
