Page 24 of Take Two (Valleywood: Season Three)

Declan

While Apate wasn’t my first, second, or even last choice, I’d agreed to the name because the goddess had made Phobos whole again, and you know, avoided the whole blowing-my-mate-to-smithereens thing.

And I’d grown to like it. Love it, actually.

Our little Apate was active when she was in my belly, and from the time of her birth, she was energetic. Her eyes flicked around, taking in her surroundings and the people in it. She was never still unless she was asleep. She kicked, shook her fists, gurgled and cried with what I’d described as “the intensity of a thousand suns.”

I’d worried about her future until Phobos explained little gods, goddesses, and even those with a smidgen of godlike powers, were frustrated in those early months, not being able to move around. Once she could walk or crawl, she’d be more content. I hoped he was right.

He suggested entertaining her by flitting about, both inside the house and out. And she was transfixed as I held her up. Apate squealed and kicked her chubby baby legs—the same ones I smothered with kisses every day.

Not wanting to be left out, my wolf shifted for our daughter. She stared at him, unblinking, as he nuzzled her tummy with his snout. And at my beast’s insistence, we dressed Apate in plenty of layers and a puffy coat and set off into the woods. I’d warned him not to hunt, or if he did, they wouldn’t follow. Whether our daughter was a shifter, a goddess, or a combination of both, she was too young to witness the mauling of an animal.

As the months passed and we settled into a family routine, I took a step back from the bar and handed over the day-to-day running of the business to Wren. She was more suited to that position than I ever was.

After brainstorming ideas for months and rejecting most of them, we came up with the idea of a wellness spa. At first when Phobos suggested it, I thought he was kidding. Me, a wolf shifter, involved in what I’d referred to as woo-woo, pretending drinking tea and being mindful would alter someone’s health and wealth.

I poo-pooed the suggestion even as he designed a concept and printed out reams of proposals and images.

“You start this venture. You’re more creative than me.” Though I worried that as a god of fear, he might create chaos.

But he said he needed my shifter skills to succeed.

And gradually, he’d convinced me, and the Celestial Spa and Wellness Center was born. Phobos channeled the skills he used to create fear into the opposite, relaxation.

My mate designed the building and the grounds—no baby-poop yellow on the walls here—using an online room generator that allowed him to experiment with paint color, furniture, and plants.

I foraged in the woods for seeds, plants, moss, and bark that my ancestors had used to treat wounds and relax aching muscles. We created the products used in the center according to ancient methods, thanks to Father whose great-grandparents kept meticulous records. And Phobos infused them with some of his essence.

My mate was the face of the business, while I was more behind the scenes, though I did lead full-moon walks in the woods, telling our clients about the celestial body’s healing qualities.

The center was open to anyone, humans included. And as Phobos never advertised he was a god and shifters weren’t allowed to tell the general public we had a beast inside us, there was no mention of our other personas.

Apate came with us, as we had a daycare center at the spa. Our staff didn’t have to worry about finding and paying for someone to look after their little ones.

Our daughter was now walking. She hadn’t crawled and never toddled. People often commented how her skin had a gentle glow and asked which spa products we used. She was stronger than other children her age, and if she fell—which wasn’t often—she’d bounce straight up, unbothered, with no bruises or scrapes.

“How will our daughter mingle with humans and also other shifters as she grows? People will ask questions.” I worried she’d never have friends because other kids her age might be scared of her, and I refused to expect her to tamp down who she really was.

Phobos didn’t see the problem. “Let her be who she is.”

“I agree. But I want Apate to mingle with kids who are not gods or shifters.”

“Our daughter is born to be a leader. With our qualities combined in her, she’ll never be a follower.”

I ran different scenarios in my head. Some people would gravitate to her and others would avoid her, just as they would for any human or shifter child. She might cry in frustration at some kids not liking her, but Phobos and I would teach her love, compassion, kindness, and empathy and eventually send her into the adult world.

“Why are you crying, love?” Phobos took me in his arms.

“I don’t want our daughter to grow up and leave home.” I wiped my tears on his sweater and sniffed.

“She’s 18 months old.” He pressed his lips against my head. “It won’t happen for a while. And I predict it won’t be a problem.”

I leaned back and studied his expression. “How can you say that? Also, you can’t predict the future. You told me that.”

“I can say with absolute confidence that if Apate, and any siblings we give her, leaves Valleywood, we’ll be right behind her.”

Rolling my eyes, I responded with, “We have to give her the freedom we enjoy.”

“And we will.” He paused and pursed his lips. “But we’ll be lurking in the bushes ready to leap out and protect her if something goes wrong.”

“We’ll see about that.” I lay my head against him again, hoping we’d muddle through and Apate would thrive both growing up and after her coming of age.

“That reminds me, I’ve invited my family and your father for tea this afternoon.”

I shot up, thinking of the food I had to prepare, but Phobos was a step ahead of me and had ordered everything we needed and more. Gods never did anything by halves. We’d end up donating most of the food to a charity because my mate would have ordered enough for a hundred people.

“That’s nice you want everyone to get along.”

Father had taken a while to warm up to my in-laws, but he was trying to make up for the past and accepted every invitation. He and I had come to an agreement that I’d attend more pack events and sit on the council. And in years to come when he was ready to retire, I would take over as Alpha.

“Yes to that, but it’s a special occasion.”

“Someone’s birthday? Did you order a cake?” Gods celebrated mementos like “First Tooth Day,” and “First Time Their Feet Left the Ground.” I couldn’t keep up, and it occurred to me it was any excuse for a party. But I was grateful Apate was surrounded by a loving family, something that had been missing from my own childhood.

“They’ll be here in 30 minutes.”

Ahhh, and I was still in my PJs, while Apate was building a house with blocks. Every time it collapsed, her cry of frustration had me wanting to build it for her. But I held back, proud that she never gave up, simply started again. The parenting gig was hard.

When I emerged with wet hair—no time to dry it—everyone had arrived, even Father. “I thought you said 30 minutes,” I hissed to Phobos.

“That’s gods for you.”

I bit my tongue, not pointing out my father wasn’t a god. After hugs and kisses and pouring of tea and sampling of goodies my mate had bought, Phobos stood and asked for everyone’s attention.

“Thank you for coming.”

Deimos held up a cupcake slathered in cream cheese frosting. “This is food for the gods. I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good, because tomorrow is the anniversary of your father’s and my first kiss,” his mom announced.

“Apate has a little surprise.”

My heart constricted. I didn’t want her to levitate or bring about a change in the weather. She was sitting on my lap looking at a picture book, but when she heard her name, she held out her arms to Phobos.

He picked her up, and I hugged a cushion because there was no going back. Perhaps I’d remember this time, the moment before her enhanced abilities changed our lives forever.

“This is something for Declan because our little one exhibits so many godlike qualities, and we’ve been nurturing this very special skill.”

Are we going to see Apate’s wolf? My beast was intrigued but grappling with meeting our daughter’s wolf years before other shifter children.

No time to wonder, because whatever it was, it was about to happen.

Apate strolled toward me, and I got off the sofa and squatted so I was close to her height.

“What do you want to show me, my darling?”

My heart hammered with such force against my chest, the pain spread throughout my body.

“Look closely,” Phobos instructed.

We stared at one another, my little one and I. Her eyes grew dark, and a wolf appeared in the forefront of her gaze.

“My sweetheart. You have a companion.”

Phobos picked up our daughter and the three of us hugged.

“Maybe you can stop worrying about her future because she has a friend and a bodyguard.”

As a parent I would always worry. Our daughter was unique, and she would find her way through life, with our guidance.

And yes, some of that assistance might come from us hiding in those bushes.

Check out Deimos and Cameron's story, The Chosen Son .

No one can resist their fate—but they can sure try.

Omega human Cameron used to be a Chosen One?, just one of many children throughout time who’d been selected by fate to save the world. He should’ve died in the process like the others before him—heck, maybe he did—but he didn't, and there was no protocol for what to do with these chosen saviors after everything was said and done. Ten years later, when Cameron begins to get sick, his lingering powers wild and unpredictable, the government doctors don’t have the first clue how to help him. Deimos, however, might have a few ideas…

Alpha Deimos is a Greek god of fear. He and his twin brother Phobos were born and raised to be their father's sidekicks, riding into battle with Ares, the god of war, to instill dread into the clashing armies—but the times have changed and so have they. Now Phobos has donned tights and a cape and has hired a sidekick of his own, a sweet young omega by the name of Cameron, and Deimos wants him for himself—not just in his bed but also for the power that simmers within him. The brothers stand on either side of a bitter dispute, and Cameron is stuck between them. But which of the alphas has his best interests at heart?

And what does fate have to say about it?

The Chosen Son is a slow-burn mpreg romance featuring a morally gray alpha with a broken heart driven to extremes in the name of revenge, an omega who will do anything to overcome his illness (even if it means making a deal with the devil himself), and a standoff between hero and villain—and the man they both want.