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He walks over and kisses me hello. “Do you think she’ll like these?” he asks, nervously. “I wanted to have something for her.”

I look down at the delicate pink flowers and my heart threatens to burst.

He’s so different now. Before, the idea of him buying flowers or even kissing me hello would have been absurd. But now…

“She’ll love them. Let me get a vase,” I say, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

I can’t stop touching him. My wolf and I have been starved for physical contact for the years that we’ve lived apart. Even casual touches, like brushing past him in the kitchen or the way he reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear, make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

“So, we’ll tell her at breakfast?” Austin confirms, sneaking a slice of bacon out of the pan. I swat at him playfully with the spatula but nod in agreement.

“She needs to know as soon as possible so she can adjust. There are a lot of changes coming up for her,” I say, biting my lip anxiously.

There’s a rustling coming from the hallway, so I shoo Austin away from me and hurry to put food on plates.

“Good morning, Mama,” Cleo says, sleepily. “Oh, chocolate chip pancakes!”

I walk over to give her a hug good morning. “We have a guest this morning,” I tell her, pointing at Austin.

He is holding the vase of flowers and looking uncharacteristically out of his element.

“Hi, Cleo,” he says, awkwardly. “I brought you these. Pretty flowers for the pretty princess!”

She brightens and comes over to look at them.

“Thank you,” she says politely. She looks at me, and then looks at Austin and a small smile creases her face.

“Austin,” she whispers, beckoning him to bend down. “Is today the day you tell me the news?” she whispers loudly.

Austin freezes and I stop what I’m doing to watch. He looks over at me and then back down at Cleo, and swallows hard, kneeling down so he’s at her level.

“What news is that, half-pint?” he asks carefully.

“You brought me the pink flowers, just like in my dream,” she says happily, “So I know you’re going to tell me news!”

Austin and I exchange a panicked glance, but before I can intervene, she launches herself at him, and he catches her in a big hug.

“My dreams tell the truth. Last time I dreamed that a big man with cookies would come visit me and tell me he’s my dad, and then you showed up and you had cookies”

Austin swallows hard. “And does that mean you think I’m your dad?” he asks, quietly.

She giggles and frames his face with her tiny hands. “Iknowyou’re my dad, silly!” she exclaims. “And I’m glad you are. You’re fun. And you make Mama all glowy and happy. I want you to do that all the time.”

Austin hugs her tightly to him and I feel a tear slip down my cheek.

“I love you, Cleo,” he whispers, fiercely. She pats his back and then steps back, looking at me expectantly.

“So, when are we moving back home?” she asks, walking over to the table.

Austin and I exhale and move to sit at the table with her, each of us filling our plates before we

answer.

“We’re going home soon,” I say, hesitantly. “We’re all going to live together, you, me, and…your dad.”

She beams and shoves a huge bite of chocolate chip pancake in her mouth.

“Is that where the wolves live?”