Page 24

Micah

Avery was tucked in his stroller, a warm blanket keeping his little hands and feet warm on the night of the grand opening. It had been a much longer haul than either my mate or I anticipated getting to this point, but as I sat at the registration table, speaking with all alpha and omega parents about their little ones and their dancing dreams, every bit of the work and money and worry was worth it.

Anything technical, of course, I referred to my mate or his assistants. Two dancers from his old troupe had joined him in the project, having had enough of the big city and wanting a better life. At first, he hadn’t been in touch with any of them, embarrassed and hurt by what Jacob did to him, but as his heart healed, he reached out only to find that nobody thought he was a fool or anything negative at all. His ex had bombed at his new group, unable to summon the magic they had created together. In fact, Edwin had been invited by several troupes to join, but he graciously told them he’d moved on.

Just like for the baby shower, the local restauranteurs had provided all sorts of delicious food for Edwin’s celebration, refusing any payment at all. So, all their little ones got a discount for their dance lessons. We just didn’t tell them for fear of causing offense.

My mate was in his element, talking to all his new students and their families. He wanted to set up an some events as well as giving lessons where he could invite guest performers to come and share their talents with the local students to raise funds for charity. So many plans. I’d never seen him so alive, and I blessed Fate for bringing us together and allowing me to be part of his life.

I’d have sworn I was happy before we met. But now? I had learned the true meaning of joy and fulfilment with my beloved mate an our son who, as if he heard me thinking about him burst into desperate cries of hunger.

“You’ll be fine, little man.” I unfastened him from his seat and relinquished my place at the registration table to one of Edwin’s assistants. Carrying Avery over to a chair in a quiet corner, I settled in to nurse and continue to enjoy the grand opening. It was a truly beautiful night, cold but clear, perfect for being indoors in the warm studio. A group of little children gathered along the wall near me, holding on to the barre and pretending to do dance moves. “As soon as you’re walking, Avery, you can take dance lessons. I bet you’ll be as graceful as your alpha father. He responded with greedy snorts, and I laughed. Maybe he’d take after me, who nobody but my mate had ever called graceful.

And it didn’t matter. As long as he was happy and healthy, we would support any of his choices for his own life.

“How’s our son?” While I’d been talking to the baby, my mate had approached. “Are you getting all filled up, little guy?”

I looked from one to the other, so filled with love my vision blurred with happy tears. One spilled out, and Edwin reached over and used his thumb to swipe it away. He opened his lips to speak, but a little girl ran between us an tripped. He helped her up, gently, and smiled at her before sending her on her way.

He was going to be as amazing a girl dad as he was with our little boy. It was too soon, but as soon as the healer permitted, we were going to try for our next. I could imagine a whole stage filled with little dancers born from our mating. “I love you, alpha.”

“Omega mine, you are the music to my dance.”

How did he always know just what to say?