Page 135 of His Atonement

My heart flutters again as I nod, excited nerves once again taking flight inside all parts of me.

Today, today is a big fucking day for us and not just because of the human holiday we celebrate, a two week celebration that encompasses the Winter Solstice—for the shifters, my sister, and her mate—Christmas—for Casey, Allie and Frankie and because it's fun—and the New Year.

Though those things are wonderful and carry much weight, they are not at all why today is a big fucking day.

Today, Frankie and I officially become parents.

Parents to someone that is not currently covered in fur or feathers.

"I know, darling.” I absently stroke Thor's head. "It is a title I will hold with pride, one I will try like hell to live up to."

Frankie cups my cheeks as she once again stands between my knees. "You are going to be the best fucking father our little warrior could ever ask for.” She seals her words with a kiss, a firm kiss to make her point and I can't help but smile through my anxiety.

After all that transpired a few months ago, the many events that surrounded my brother wolf, Frankie and I chose to adopt the premature, orphaned wolf pup that we managed to assist Colt in freeing from that hell on earth.

When my mate set eyes on Akecheta—very literally translated aswarriorfrom Lakota-Sioux—she fell in love instantly.

He was so tiny and frail, a fragile little thing found amongst the wreckage still cradled in his dead mother’s arms, and my mate, being the fierce and bullheaded female she is, stormed through fire and rubble to save him.

I almost had a heart attack thanks to that, but once we were all safe and I saw my mate crying over the bundle in her arms, saw his tiny little fingers wrapped tightly around hers, I knew.

Akecheta, Chet as we call him for short, was our son and there was no way I wasn't going to embrace that ironclad fact.

It's been a long road to get here, one filled with ups and downs, tears and joy.

Chet was at least two months premature and because of that he has had to fight very hard to get to where he is now.

Henrich and Grace have kept him safe in the clinic, healed him with their power and knowledge in what they created as a NICU, and my mate and I have visited daily in order to build and strengthen our bond with him.

The first time he responded to our voices, a simple tilt of his head, we both cried.

When Chet first opened his eyes, eyes oddly similar to Frankie's, we cried again.

Basically there have been very few moments with our son that have not brought us to tears and that was only more evidence that he is in fact ours.

A demon and his human mate, the parents to a wolf pup.

A little deja vu for the asshole adopted by fae.

"You are happy, right?" Frankie searches my eyes. "Happy about finally bringing Chet home?"

I nod. “Absolutely.” Her eyes still search and I sigh. "I am happy, darling, of that I am sure, but I cannot help but be nervous. I don't exactly have the first fucking clue about how to be a father."

Frankie smiles, kisses me one more time then begins pulling her gorgeous mane of hair up into a high ponytail. "You aren't giving yourself nearly enough credit."

I roll my eyes, and wind up looking directly into Loki's as the creep stares at me.

"Zan, baby, you don't even realize it but you are already the best father ever. You spoil our fur babies rotten despite the fact that you deny it."

"Because it is not true."

Frankie snorts. "And with Chet… baby, you took to him just as quickly as I did."

I rub the back of my neck and poke Loki in the butt on accident. "But what if… what if I'm not good enough? What if the fact that I am demon, regardless of having a soul, means that I cannot love anyone but you? What if I only fabricated the idea of the bond between Akecheta and I because it reminded me of my parents? Because it was something you so desperately longed for? What if… what if I am incapable of being all that he needs, all that he deserves?"

"And that..." Frankie smiles as she points to my chest. "Is exactly why you are already the best daddy ever."

I frown in confusion.