“’Course I did.I always wanted to have something substantial to give my mate when I found them.I bought the apartments with my inheritance, but I always knew the renovation would take years.I wanted this to be a mating gift.”
“Imagine thinking we wouldn’t plan ahead,” Ford muttered, slurping at a forkful of noodles.“I got the forms for a transfer of living requirements the day I submitted the adoption papers.”
Chase darted his tongue out to swipe sauce from his lips.“Same.Once we accepted the bond, I asked my mother for the deeds to the house and arranged the bonds.”
Lucky choked on a piece of carrot.“What did you say?”
“I arranged the bonds,” Chase repeated, brushing at Lucky’s bottom lip to scoop up sauce.“I figured with your birthday coming up, we should be prepared.”
Lucky marvelled at his certainty that everything would work out.
“The bonds?”His papa rushed into the room with a beaming smile, only to perch on the coffee table.“You’ve arranged the bonds?”
Chase stared at his papa like he should feel guilty.“Sorry, I forgot that you’d want to be involved.”
“No, I don’t care!”His papa glanced at Lucky, eyes damp with the onset of tears, and shook his head.“The bond is more complex with three, I’m sure, and the arrangements need to fit your needs.I’m just glad you’re being smart.You’re right—you need to be prepared.”He reached for Lucky’s hand and gripped his fingers tight.“There’s no telling if the onset of your heat will reignite the OX in your system, even if there’s only a tiny amount left.It’s better for all of you that you have a plan already in place.”
Ford stared at his papa in shock.“Xavier, you’re a fucking spy.”
“I am?”He laughed, clearly confused, though Lucky could tell Ford meant it as a compliment.
Ford set his bowl onto the table beside his papa, then removed his phone from his pocket.“I got a call from headquarters yesterday, saying Lucky should go in for blood tests before his birthday to find out if there’s OX in his system.They could give him something to combat it, as it might complicate his heat.”
Though his papa flushed, like he hadn’t meant to be so brilliant, Lucky set his plate aside and hugged him.He’d always known he was loved deeply, but this just showed that he could never have asked Omha for better parents.
Being loved was one thing, but to beknownwas the true gift.
* * * *
Ford squinted at Pip’s drawing of three people and a boy.“That’s us, right?”he whispered to Lucky, so serious that Lucky could only roll his eyes at Ford’s attempt to be discreet.
“Your drawings are lovely, Pip.I love how you drew flowers in my hair,” Lucky approved, adoring the fact his number—for a new phone Chase had provided—was listed as ‘monster’.
Pip nodded on the video call and pointed to an indistinct block of colour in the middle of the tallest figure’s chest.“I added Tauri’s badge and I put a suit on Uncle…Papa, because Tiloo says he’ll run the family business.”
Chase choked on his coffee.“What?”He leaned over from where he sat on the arm of the sofa beside Ford.“I amnottaking over the family business.”Chase turned the phone to become the focus of Pip’s view.“You gotta keep this a secret, but I’ll tell you, okay?Because you’re special and you’re ourlyloo, aren’t you?”
Lucky’s breath hitched at the word ‘son’.Ford buried his smile in Lucky’s neck, clearly thrilled that Chase was invested in their future as Pip’s family.Not that Lucky had doubted him, but he’d worried Chase would struggle to transition from ‘uncle’ to ‘father’.
Pip sniffed and rubbed his eye.“I am?”
“You’ve always been my little man, right?”Chase rubbed his neck.“You’re our kid now.That makes you our lyloo, and you get to know secrets.It’s only for a short time, as a surprise.Promise not to tell anyone.”
Pip wiped at his nose.“Promise.”
Chase stage-whispered, “I’m going to run the ORT.”
Lucky was speechless at the news, although he’d known for a while that Chase planned to work within the ORT.He’d never expected him to run it.There had always been an omega at the top of the ORT leadership, but he supposed that would change eventually.It wasn’t like many omegas were allowed to train with weapons.The rumour was that most previous leaders of the ORT had been chosen from past victims or relatives, or hand-selected by the will of Omha.
Personally, he was pleased for Chase, who would do the role justice.He was both fair and kind, with a respect for omegas that Lucky hadn’t seen in an alpha his age, maybe ever.
When Wynna shouted for Pip to clean up before bed, he whispered, “I promise not to tell.”Then he waved and said goodbye.
Ford dropped the phone to the coffee table and lifted an arm around Chase’s waist.“Your mam is gonna flip.She’ll be fucking proud of what a sneaky fuck you were,” he approved, tugging Chase into his lap.
“Fuck off.I applied months ago, long before I knew she ran the place.I expected a round of interviews, where I could convince them I was right for the job in person.But I just got offered the job, pending a background check.Since I already knew my mum was in charge, I told her the truth.I kind of expected her to refuse, just on the basis I’m her son, to be honest.But the job doesn’t require an active role as an agent, and I can do what I’ve always wanted to without being away for years.”
Ford snuffed a laugh and rubbed a finger under his nose.“You gonna make me call you boss, meda?”
