Page 376 of Alpha Mates

The world seems to slow down as Aiden and I stare at Levi. It’s the first time he’s talked about his family in all the time he’d been with us.

“Oh yeah,” Aiden whispers gently, and Levi nods a little. “You like limes?”

Levi nods again, eyes brightening as he looks at us. “We had trees with them. Lots and lots of them.”

A small smile plays on his lips, and my heart breaks. “Did you have a lot of fruit?” I ask, and he nods again.

“Mama liked fruits,” he whispers the words before his smile drops, and I feel his sadness like it’s my own.

“I guess that’s why you love them so much, huh?” Aiden whispers with a nudge that Levi barely acknowledges. “You know what? We don’t have any lime ice cream at home, but I happen to know someone who makes the best lime ice cream in the pack.” Levi’s eyes lift with interest, and that’s all Aiden needs to change course. “Let’s go on an adventure.”

We head for the markets and saddle up to the only person who makes ice cream in the pack. Lucky for us, there’s lime ice cream at the ready, and we wait for it together. Levi’s hesitant with his first taste, but his eyes sparkle with recognition and happiness before he quickly laps at the scoop of ice cream, his little heart beating so fast.

He finishes it all by the time we get home, so I let him have mine.

“Your mom sounds lovely, Levi,” I whisper as I stoop to pass a hand over his head. “I would love to hear more about her whenever you feel like talking about her, okay?”

Levi nods quietly, and I hope one day he takes me up on the offer.

Aiden and Levi spend the rest of the afternoon glued together, with Aiden helping him colour. It’s become their daily routine ever since Aiden started telling people that Levi had his artistic genes.

The comment always made Levi smile, even when he stayed quiet about it. Levi did love art, though, and without knowing it, he was helping Aiden find an old love again.

The night comes quickly and settles into place, and before I know it, I’m leading a pouting Levi to bed and tucking him under his quilt.

“Julian,” he whispers sleepily, as I smooth the sheets around him

“Yes, Levi,” I answer. He yawns, and I smile as I reach up to run a hand through his curls.

“Thank you,” he whispers into the night, “for today, for everything.”

“It was nothing,” I promise as I smooth his hair back. “I should be the one thanking you for coming into our lives.” His lips tilt up, pinching a dimple into his cheeks as he peers up at me. He’s looking at me like he did this morning. Like he’s got something on his tongue, but he’s scared to let it out. “What is it, pup?”

“I … I love you,” he whispers, and my heart stops in my chest.

Sleepy, black eyes stare up at me and blur in my vision as tears fill my eyes.

I couldn’t count the number of times I told Levi I loved him. It came easily and without thought, and I said it as much as I could, as much as I wished I’d heard it, but I didn’t expect to hear it from his lips so soon.

But here he is, telling me he loves me, and I don’t know if I’ve ever felt happiness like this.

“I love you, too, Levi,” I manage shakily, and his smile nearly kills me.

I lean down to kiss his head, letting it linger before I force myself to pull away and leave him in his room with his nightlights on. Back to his door, I grant myself a moment to savour the words and all the love warming our family bond.

“What’s wrong?” Aiden asks when I walk into our room. He’s already under the covers and staring up at me with a frown. “Is it the baby?”

“No. No, it’s nothing,” I promise as I wipe my tears away. I tug at my side of the bed and groan when I find him butt naked underneath. “Goddess, Aiden. Put on some clothes.”

Aiden does no such thing as he wiggles his brows at me, “I was thinking maybe tonight we could—”

“No,” I dismiss as I slide into the bed.

“Oh, come on!” he groans as he flops onto his side with his erection tenting the sheets. “It’s been an entire month, Julian! A month!”

“I already told you I’m not having sex until the baby is out,” I say, ignoring his cries as I position my pillows just right. They had to be perfect for me to sleep through the night nowadays.

“That’s not for another month! Two if Kat’s wrong,” he whines, and I wrinkle my nose.