6
Flint
Aweek passedin complete bliss. For the first time in my life, I felt whole. No longer was I a lone alpha, living in seclusion from my pack. Now I was an alpha with an omega; one half of awhole.
Ever since that first night of intimacy with Charlie, a new feeling of power and protection rose up within me. I had a new purpose in life - to protect my omega, and my newfamily.
Neither of us had told Casey the news yet, since we weren’t quite sure ourselves. Charlie wanted to hold off telling her she had a little brother or sister before he took a pregnancy test. Meanwhile, I was getting more impatient by the day. The suspense was driving me nuts. I called up the guild and planned a hunt for today, because the sitting around and waiting was making me stir-crazy.
I woke up early with Charlie cradled in my arms. He was still asleep, with his chest slowly rising and falling peacefully. I smiled and brushed the hair out of his face. He looked so content like this, I almost didn’t want to wake him. But I didn’t want him to wake up and wonder where I’dgone.
I roused him gently. “Charlie. Youup?”
He mumbled and stirred. “Yeah.” He blinked one eye open curiously. “What isit?”
“I’m going on a hunt today with the rest of the party,” I told him. I reached over to stroke his belly, which was still flat. “We want to keep the fridge stocked for the possible little one, don’twe?”
He smiled. “Wedo.”
“Come on. I’ll make you both breakfast before Igo.”
After Charlie woke up Casey and prepared her for the day, I created a huge breakfast for my family. It felt strange, calling them that, but not in a bad way - it feltnatural, like my whole life was leading up to this moment intime.
Casey gasped as she saw the breakfast spread. Scrambled eggs, sizzling bacon, buttered toast and - of course - a stack of blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes awaited them. She planted her bottom in the chair so fast I’m surprised she didn’t topple over. Casey was already stuffing her face by the time Charlie took hisseat.
“Slow down,” he told her with a chuckle. “It’s not goinganywhere.”
“But daddy, I’mhungry!” sheprotested.
“Maybe she’s going through a growth spurt,” I offered, patting her on the top of thehead.
Her eyes glinted hopefully. “Iam?”
“I think so. You look taller than you didyesterday.”
She beamed. “I want to be as big and strong as Flintdaddy!”
Warmth filled my chest. I still wasn’t used to Casey referring to me as her father. It made me so happy to hear her call methat.
“Flint is going out for a hunt today,” Charlie told Casey, “so that he can bring us morefood.”
Casey gasped. “Can Icome?”
I ruffled her hair. “Maybe some othertime.”
She frowned and swatted my hand away. “I want to comethistime!”
“Honey, it’s dangerous out in the woods,” Charlie said, trying to soothe her. “It’s no place for a pup yourage.”
“But I want to go with daddy!” sheprotested.
Charlie and I exchanged a glance. He shrugged. I figured the choice was up tome.
I kneeled down so I was face-to-face with Casey. “I’ll tell you what. This time daddy will go hunting with the guild. Next week, you and I can go alone and bag a big buck of our own. How aboutthat?”
Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She threw her arms around my neck. “Yay! Thanks, Flintdaddy!”
With Casey placated, they returned to finishing their breakfast while I got ready for the hunt. I tossed a light leather bag over my shoulder, filled with a skinning knife and gloves. The bag also functioned to hold my clothes while I was shifted. As I headed out the door, I glanced back at my newfamily.
