Jax blinked. “What do you mean? Why?”
“It occurred to me we’re going to be completely fucked if anyone else has to take extended time off. Our numbers were just fine when Chico and the others were working, but we can’t expect everyone to not have life events while they’re off work.”
Jax tipped his head, examining Leo. “Did something specific bring this on?”
“I should be on omega leave right now, but we both know I can’t do that.”
“Omega leave?” Jax’s gaze swept over me, landing on the fresh bite that was partially visible above my shirt collar. “Oh, shit. Or, I guess, congrats. Did Jude freak out over that? He hasn’t texted me, but I feel like that would be something he’d freak out over.”
“He was right there when it happened,” I told Jax. “He didn’t seem particularly freaked out.”
“Cool. We love personal growth.” Jax beamed. “Okay, I’ll get rolling on recruiting some new folks to fill the gaps. You don’t worry about any of that. Should I cancel your lessons for the next few weeks? I can take a few of your students, but between your people and the ones Dylan was teaching, I’m pushing capacity.”
Leo glanced over to me. “Do you want to work while I teach, or should we cancel altogether?”
“I’m flexible. Why don’t we see how easy it’ll be for me to work from here before we make a decision?”
“Sure thing,” Jax said with a nod. “I’ll help you get set up.”
He and Leo made quick work of locating the desks in storage and rearranged the main office so Alve and I had some space. Leo went about some tasks, returning every few minutes to wrap his arms around me and inhale deeply. I wasn’t going to complain about that.
By the time other people started to arrive at work, Alve and I were fully set up and I was busy going through the previous designer’s notes. Word spread quickly about Leo’s new bondwith me, a dozen different heads poking through the open door to congratulate me over the afternoon.
“What do you think?” I asked Alve.
“We can work from here for a while and figure out a solution when it comes time to pick up orders and do the actual physical design portion.”
It wasn’t perfect, but we could make it work, and everyone being willing to put in the effort was all I needed right now.
Pack life was like tripping into the deep end of the pool. Shockingly, I found myself quite able to stay afloat. Boisterous sisters had prepared me for having a pack, even if I hadn’t realized it at the time.
Speaking of, sooner or later I would have to tell them of these new developments. I only refrained because I knew my family would have questions. Too many. In a loving way, butoverwhelming all the same. Before I opened that particular floodgate, I needed to assure myself that Madison was fully settled.
We navigated the next week awkwardly. Leaping around the various pack obligations made things difficult, but luckily, I owned the company I worked for, so when I announced I was changing my work hours to match Leo’s, there had been minimal fuss.
Madison thrived. Between the constant affection, the new bond, and throwing herself into her new job, she was blossoming.
Watching her grow and succeed fed a contentment I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt before. I was only part of providing that, but dammit, it was a pretty good part.
She tilted, letting her head rest on my shoulder. “I need a nap. Would it be bad if we went home early?”
I still adored each time she called my apartment home. “I suppose that would only depend on how you’ll feel if Leo isn’t with us.”
The bond had calmed, but not much. They could handle more than a few minutes apart now, though hours this early would still be a stretch.
“I was going to steal his shirt and leave mine just in case. He won’t be home too late today.”
Jax, bless him, had recruited a few friends he knew from the Renaissance fair circuit and they had stepped up so Leo wouldn’t have to do as many shows on top of all of his other duties. They were still training, getting the feel of the rest of the team, but to my uneducated eye watching their practices during lunch, they seemed to be progressing nicely. Their first show last night had gone off well, according to Leo’s update.
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. You and I have hardly spent any time together yet without everyone else around. We could take advantage of the quiet apartment.”
We let Leo know, so he and Madison could exchange shirts. She drowned in his and he tied her tank top in a loose loop around his neck to keep her scent close.
“I’ll be home soon.” Leo kissed her thoroughly, her sugary raspberry scent shooting straight to my cock. Luckily, I was able to strategically angle my laptop bag to hide the evidence.
Madison held onto me the whole way home.
