Chapter 121

Standing with my arms crossed, I glare sternly at Lottie and her mischievous little siblings. They're annoyingly unfazed by my outburst - carbon copies of the ultimate cocky bastard, Kadeem.

“You do not have two fathers," I say. "You can only have one, and it's not Dr. Jack - it's Kadeem!"

Kadeem, who's been eye-level with Lottie, stands and looks at me with raised eyebrows.

Instant regret hits me square in the chest and I curse under my breath, though the quints expressions are a Christmas morning kind of joy. I glance at Kadeem, my cheeks burning.

“It’s okay,” Kadeem whispers weakly to me.

“I KNEW IT,” Erbao erupts. He rushes to stand in front of Kadeem. “I knew it,” he says, looking up at him fiercely.

Kadeem breaks into a crooked smile and reaches out to hug him.

“I wanted it to be you.” Erbao melts into him. “I hoped it was you.”

Kadeem smooths his hair. “I’m all yours,” he says softly.

“You’re our real father,” Silas asks. Behind his glasses, his eyes are bright with amazement.

“Yes,” Kadeem says. He scoops him up and kisses the top of his head.

Milo rushes to fasten himself around Kadeem's leg - throwing his weight at him in an overzealous hug as he bursts into tears.

Kadeem picks him up in the other arm. “Oh, Milo,” he says, chuckling, but his eyes are damp, too.

“I always wanted a dad,” Lottie says.

Kadeem grins down at her, and sets the boys down next to me.

I pat their backs apologetically, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me for how harshly I've revealed this life-changing news to my children.

Lottie’s big eyes fixed on Kadeem, her dark hair wild and flowing. She has a tutu on over her overalls.

“And I also wanted a Lottie,” he says, reaching out to her.

To his surprise, she leaps into his arms. With a surprised “oof” he catches her and they giggle together.

Ezra’s looks between me and Kadeem. “Does this mean I can tell the Were kids at school my dad’s Alpha?”

Kadeem considers for a moment before replying, “Yeah, but it might not be as advantageous as you'd think." His mouth curls up into a wry smile.

Ezra's face lights up. “Everyone’s going to be so jealous!”

Kadeem winks at him and holds out his fist. Ezra knuckle bumps him and they both pretend their hands are exploding into bombs and laugh while Kadeem ruffles his hair.

A loud sob, followed by a blowing sound comes from Julia sitting on the ottoman. “I’m sorry,” she says, reaching for more tissues from the box on the table behind her. “This is so fucking beautiful.”

Erbao’s mouth gapes open and a wicked grin comes over his face.

“Ignore the cussing," she says, eying him.

She blows her nose again and turns her attention to Kadeem.

“Deem, you bastard, you’re going to be a good fucking dad.” Her eyes become watery again and she mutters an expletive under her breath.

Kadeem’s expression grows cautious. “Don’t give me too much credit yet,” he says. He takes a step toward Julia while motioning her to him. “Plenty of hugs to go around, though,” he says, wrapping her up.

I gape at the two of them.

What planet did I just land on?

Julia lets go of Kadeem and wipes away her tears, leaving trails of smudged mascara around her eyes. She grimaces, "I look like a racoon, don't I?"

“Yes,” the kids giggle.

She laughs despite herself. “Let me beautify myself again,” she says, and heads down the hall into the bathroom.

“Does this mean you’re going to live with us,” Milo squeaks out. His eyes shine with hope.

Immediately, I feel like I need to dampen their big-hearted expectations. I loosen my arms from my chest. “Kadeem will always be your dad,” I say, “But that doesn’t mean he and I will…” The sentence dies on my lips when I catch sight of Kadeem, who is frowning in response.

Silas picks up his little toy space shuttle from the floor in the corner of the room, and stuffs it in his pocket. “My friend Michael stays at his dad’s house sometimes, and then his mom’s house other times.”

He looks over at me. “Is that how it works?”

Kadeem walks further into the living room and collapses onto the couch with a heavy sigh. “There are no definite plans,” he says, “We’re just figuring it out as best we can.” He glances up at me. "Without crashing and burning, I hope."

No promises there.

Kadeem pulls me aside later. "We'll pick up where we left out soon, I hope?" His voice is soft.

I feel my heart speed up a few notches, wishing we were alone to fall back into my bed.

Kadeem and I are standing out front. Julia left a few minutes ago, and now the kids are clamoring around the front yard, eating fudge bars. As we were waving her off, an ice cream truck was cruising through the neighborhood and Kadeem reluctantly gave into their desperate pleas.

They're already slathered in chocolate drips and cackling with joy.

Kadeem snags the broom from my hand as I attempt to sweep dirt and leaves from the porch.

Leaning back against the railing, I release a heavy sigh. "I sure hope so."

"You know, Mateo's moving out," Kadeem utters quietly.

My brow furrows. "Is he?"

Kadeem props the broom up against the wall. "This is probably terribly rash at best, and at worst, damaging for the kids, but would you...?"

His gaze meets mine, waiting for an answer to his unfinished question.

I spot Erbao across the lawn. He's just switched on the garden hose. I yell sharply at him and he freezes. He turns off the spigot dejectedly.

I turn back to Kadeem.

He frowns before speaking, brushing a hand over his chin. "At the risk of sounding neurotic, can I tell you something?"

A wisp of hair tickles my cheek in a gentle rustle of wind. "Yes," I say, brushing away the rebellious lock and retying my ponytail. "But if you're about to tell me you'll be lonely at Chateau Kadeem without Mateo, I will never let you live it down."

Kadeem grins. "It's not that. I've had some troubling dreams about you and the kids. One a few months ago, one more recently. I'm not trying to pressure our relationship by moving it too fast. I just want to be able to keep you safe." He shifts uncomfortably, his hands fidgeting with his shirt.

"I have a counter-offer," I say. "Why don't you start by coming here more often? You can stay the night, even, or check on us whenever you'd like." I push my hands into my pockets. "We're a lot closer to the gym and the council headquarters, anyway."

"I guess." Kadeem shrugs. "My place is more secure, though. It's out of the way for a reason."

"Give me a more tangible threat than a dream, and I'll... consider it," I say, frowning. I don't like the idea. Maybe I should, since it means a lot more time with Kadeem, but something holds me back.

Kadeem is frowning right back at me. He's ready to argue, but Ezra and Lottie start up towards the porch. Her eyes are teary and Ezra has his arm around her waist.

Ezra and Lottie start up toward the porch. Her eyes are teary and he has his arm around her waist.

"Lottie fell," he says.

She's scraped her knee, so I run in and rummage for a couple of Band-Aids and ointment. When I come back out, I sit down on the steps of the porch and doctor her knee before sending them back to play.

I stay sitting on the steps and watch the kids race about.

"There was a vampire attack," Kadeem says behind me.

I swivel around. "Really? They killed a human, or...?"

"Human," Kadeem says. "A few miles outside of town." There's an edge to his voice when he continues. "The vampire was a child."

"No," I say. My stomach knots in dread as understanding dawns on me. "Wait, you think-"

Kadeem nods.

"That's why you asked me about Jack," I say flatly.

"Right."

I shake my head stubbornly. "Kadeem, if Jack's little sister was going to eat me, she would have done it that night I was with her!"

Kadeem shrugs. "Maybe she had already eaten."

"Oh come on," I say, rolling my eyes.

Kadeem takes my hand, lacing his fingers with mine before he helps me up. "I'll let it go for now," he says, his eyes meeting mine. "But if more attacks continue, I won't be asking, I'll be telling."

I plant my hands on my hips and cock an eyebrow at him. "See how far you get," I counter, "Trying to pull Alpha rank with me."

He leans in to kiss me. Unwillingly, I kiss him back - my body, clearly, at the helm of the ship.

"I'm not beyond going that route," he murmurs.

I shake my head, but I can't help but stay pressed against him and I let him kiss me again.

"But maybe," he says, "We could skip all that and you'd settle for knowing I love you and that I'm privy to some things you're not, so you'd just trust me." A lopsided smile curves on hips lips. "Is there any chance we could go that way, instead?"

I scowl as I step back. "Fat chance," I scoff.

He laughs. "I had a feeling that would be too easy."

He climbs down the steps, heading for his car.

"You're wrong," I call to him. "About Jack and his family."

"I have a feeling," Kadeem says grimly, "That, either way, we're about to find out."