“Being strong is who he is. He lifts up everyone around him.”
Calder nodded. “After Denni died, I thought I was done with love for good. Zinn brought me back to life.”
“I never dreamed loving Zinn would eventually lead me to Assa and Wes. But I believe I was always meant to love them. That’s why you shouldn’t feel like you took anything from me. Having them, and still having Zinn…and you…”
Valentin didn’t continue. He didn’t need to.
We are a pack, Calder thought. We live in different houses now, but we are one family.
He stepped closer, until they stood face-to-face. He shifted Lachie back into Valentin’s arms. The baby stirred briefly before settling his cheek on Valentin’s chest.
“No matter what the future brings, I’m grateful Lachie has you,” Calder said.
In the quiet kitchen, side-by-side with Valentin, he thought again of his dream. He could wait for everyone to catch up.
But he knew the future he wanted.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Assa
Assa drove to the high school in a hurry, trying not to panic. The administrator’s voicemail wasn’t specific. He’d simply said that Ked needed to get picked up immediately, that he’d tried his father and his father’s partner, and that Assa had been next on the list. Assa didn’t know if Ked was in trouble, sick, hurt, or what.
It took a few minutes to get buzzed into the building and then he was directed to the administration office. When he walked in, he saw Ked in a chair next to the door, holding a cloth to his nose.
His very bloody nose.
“Assa?” Ked’s voice sounded rough. “What are you doing here?”
Assa squatted in front of him. “Oh my gosh, are you alright? … They tried to get a hold of your papa, but he’s out on deliveries. And Zinn took Lachie to an appointment.”
The omega admin looked up from behind his desk. “You’re Assa Pashuk, correct? You were on the pickup list. Are you a relative?”
“I’m one of his baby brother’s other half-brother’s fathers.”
Assa stood and winked at Ked.
The admin scrunched his face.
Ked rolled his eyes. “He’s one of my papa’s other partners.”
Assa squeaked softly.
“Oh,” the admin said. “Well, no worries with all that. We are a progressive institution. I’ll just make that note.” He pressed a few buttons on the keyboard. “I’m assuming Wes and Valentin should get the same memo?”
“Yes,” Ked answered before Assa could.
Assa glared at the teen, who shrugged.
The admin typed something else, then said to Assa, “Ked was injured during drama rehearsal. A legitimate accident when another student carrying a backdrop wasn’t very careful. But since his nose has been bleeding for a while and he complained of pain, we figured he should get picked up in case you want to take him to the hospital.”
“Thank you,” Assa said. He signed the form that the receptionist handed to him.
Ked picked up his backpack and they walked out. At the car, Assa asked, “Should we get you checked out at the ER to be on the safe side?”
“No. It stopped hurting a while ago, but since they’d already called, I figured I’d just go with it. Sorry if it was a hassle. I thought they would call Zinn.”
Assa was about to ask what Ked meant telling the admin he was Calder’s partner when a familiar SUV pulled up and Wes got out.
