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They kissed, which eventually led to even more lovemaking. Once they were spent, they finally got up to eat their dinner, which was cold, but none of that mattered.
Nothing else would matter to Owen but his family, ever again.
FORTY-TWO
REIKA
Reika walked slowly across the soft, pale carpet, the bright sunlight hitting her full in the face and warming her body as she walked up to the wall-length windows. She was in the penthouse of one of the main Raff pack buildings near the center of the city.
She had a lot to get used to, being the wife of an alpha. It was a massive change to her peaceful, single life in her small apartment. She and Owen lived in the main apartment block because meetings were often held in the function rooms below, and Raff pack business was conducted at nearby organizations.
Gunner stirred in the infant bed behind her, waking with a light, annoyed cry. She hurried to the bed and swept her son into her arms, snuggling him against her chest as she prepared to sit and nurse him.
Thankfully, she wasn’t expected to attend every meeting or be very active in the pack business because it was the duty of the pack to protect and nurture alpha pups. As Gunner grew, she’d be expected to attend more, and so would Gunner as he got older.
Gunner would have a tremendous responsibility. It would fall on him to make peace between the packs as he got older, representing both sides so that fair decisions could be made. She stroked his soft head as he nursed, thinking about all the days to come.
For now, she was more than happy just to contemplate today. The future would come … she didn’t need to hurry it along. She wanted to take Gunner into the city today, and as a change of pace, she was thinking of going to the old café where she used to work.
It had been months since she had contacted anyone from her old life. There were things about it she would miss, but she wouldn’t trade her mate or her newborn son for anything in the world. Visiting the boring old café that she used to complain about so much was a form of closure for her … a way of saying goodbye and embracing her new life.
When Gunner had finished nursing, she dressed and made him up in his cute, blue suit. She set up her stroller and baby bag and headed out into the city.
The entire world looked different to her. The sun shone brighter, and there was a promise in the blue sky that felt like it had already been fulfilled. Her heart was complete now, and the funny thing was that she had never even known how empty it was until Owen and Gunner came along.
It didn’t take long to make her way to the little shop. Gunner cooed and grabbed at beams of light that filtered across his face as she pushed his buggy along the streets. Many people paused to smile at him and congratulate Reika on having such a beautiful baby.
When she reached the café, she saw her old manager behind the counter and Sarah, one of her coworkers, cleaning a table out front. She paused, not sure now if she wanted to go in.
“Reika!” Sarah looked up to see her and dropped her rag and spray bottle as she came running across the pavement to throw her arms around her friend. Reika felt her eyes getting warm with unshed tears as she realized how much her friend had missed her.
“Where have you been?” Sarah asked, looking between Reika and the adorable bundle of cuteness waving at her. “Don’t tell me … this is your baby?”
Reika nodded, grinning as she picked up Gunner. Sarah bounced up and down and eagerly took Gunner to snuggle him against her chest.
“Oh, he’s beautiful,” Sarah murmured, looking into Gunner’s eyes and stroking his head.
“Thank you,” Reika said. “I’ll just pop in and see the old boss if that’s okay.”
Sarah was caught up in Gunner’s giggles and waves and barely noticed as Reika went in. When she saw her old manager look up sharply, she winced, wondering if this had been such a great idea.
“Reika!” Karen cried. “Where in the world did you disappear to?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I mean, really sorry,” Reika said. “Some big things went down, as you can probably tell.”
She pointed at Gunner, and Karen raised an eyebrow. “I’m definitely shocked. I’m just happy you’re okay, though.”
“Yes, I’m fine, better than fine.”
“You’re fired, though.”
They both laughed. Reika’s coworkers urged her to come back when it wasn’t so busy, so they could properly catch up, and Reika headed home.
She had barely arrived at the apartment when Owen came in. He was wearing rough, dirty clothes and had a distinct woodsy scent to him.
“Ah, you’ve been hunting with the boys!” she said.
He came over and kissed her gently. “I sure have. We even joined up with a couple from Lovell … just as a good faith gesture. It was a great hunt.”
