Page 138 of Wicked Savage Wolves
I laugh off his words and his touch with a roll of my eyes. “Don’t thank me yet. One of these days César is going to clock you in the face with a car and we’ll see then how you really feel.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I ignore the fact that his arm is still around me, that I’m still pressed against his side, and decide to just be. I rest my head on his shoulder and place my hand on our son, content to share this moment with the man I created this tiny little being with.
58
Jordy
“How goes fatherhood?” Desmond asks when I take my seat beside him in fourth.
“Amazing,” I tell him and pull out my phone to show him the pictures I snapped of César earlier in the week.It’s Thursday and I’ve been at Joaninha’s every day as soon I finish with my Pack duties. Antonio is keeping to his word. He’s been watching Sofia, getting her to and from school and making sure she isn’t alone while I focus on César.
Raul hasn’t been back since last week, and I’m hoping our luck holds out a little bit longer. Maybe this time, he’ll stay gone for good.
“There’s a lot of Joaninha in this reel,” he tells me, quirking a brow.
“She’s his mom and she’s there. Don’t read too much into it.” I haven’t told any of them that I asked her to marry me. And I sure as shit am not going to mention that she turned me down. She isn’t a shifter so I don’t expect to feel the pull of a mate bond but—my wolf raises his head, not rejecting the notion that she could be it for us, but not explicitly agreeing either.
“Don’t read too much into what?” Isa asks as she takes her seat, Rafael following suit beside her.
“The fact that most of the pictures Jordy has of César on his phone are also shots of Joaninha.”
“Oooo, let me see,” Isa says and without bothering to wait for me to hand it to her, she snatches my phone with shifter-fast reflexes and begins scrolling. “Oh, my God, he is so freaking cute.” She shows Rafael a few of the pictures and he gives me his nod of approval. Asshole. Though despite myself, I have to try and not puff up at his response. Rafael is the Alpha’s heir and the head of our little trio, err, foursome. Is that what we are now that Isa is around?
Hold up. Do Meiying and Zheng count? And if they count, what about Joaninha? She’s the mother of my child so she better fucking be included, right?
I rub the back of my neck. I’m not even going to try and figure all of that out right now, but whatever we are size-wise, Rafael is our fearless, asshole-ish leader, so yeah, him being happy for me gives me those warm and fuzzy feelings I won't admit to out loud. He might not be my Alpha, but he assumes that role often enough when his pops isn’t around and my wolf is all but preening over his approval.
I think back to Jo’s question the other day. If I cared that my son wasn’t a wolf. For me, it makes no difference. He’s mine and that is all that matters. Both man and wolf agree with that. But I have this nagging fear that my Pack will never accept him. That he’ll be treated as an outsider. So having Rafael, Des, Zheng, and Isa’s easy acceptance means a lot.
Rafael and Desmond, they’re my family. Just as much as Roberto, Antonio, and Sofia are. I want them to be a part of César’s life, and that they’re so clearly interested in my boy is a relief.
“My mom wants you to bring him by. She said she’s only going to wait so long to meet her first grandchild before she comes and hunts you down,” Rafael adds gruffly.
I grin at that. “Aww, you bitter I gave Mama Valdez a baby first?”
He snorts. “No. I’m hoping since you gave her a baby she’ll back off with her questions about when Isa and I will pop out some grandbabies for her.”
“Good luck with that.”
Isa laughs. “We have time.”
Rafael snorts. “Don't delude yourself. That woman wants babies. I vote we pimp out Jordy’s.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m cut off from responding when our teacher starts his lesson. I don't pay attention to most of it. All of this feels like a refresher coming off winter break and my grades are better than most, so I let my mind wander to my future now that César is in it.
The plan was always to work my way up in the Pack. Des, Rafe, and I figured we’ll eventually run things once Rafe’s dad chooses to retire. He’s a good Alpha so that won't be anytime soon, but Des is already training to be the Pack Hunter. I’m dominant enough for a Beta position.
The Pack has always been my priority. But I have César now. And Joaninha. Where do they fit in? How will Jo adjust to Pack life? I didn't miss the way she’d go quiet anytime I brought the Pack up or mentioned presenting our son to my Alpha. What if she wants nothing to do with the Pack? Or worse, what if she refuses to allow César to be a part of it?
A rock forms in the pit of my stomach. No. I’ll figure something out. I can convince her that this is the right move. She doesn't have to join the Pack. I get that might be weird for her as a psyker. She can be a friend-of-the-Pack like Isa, afforded all the same protections. But César, he’s mine. He’s Pack.
I can make this work.
I have to.
The bell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Isa’s gaze locked on mine. “Everything okay?” she asks.
