Chapter 3

"By the way, where did you put that protective talisman you got for Leo? Is it in the study? Tony's a bit fragile; he needs it more. I'm going to take it to him for a few days."

Without waiting for an answer, Bruce went straight to the study, found the talisman, grabbed his keys, and rushed out the door.

The heavy wooden door shut with a thud.

Bruce was gone.

I stared at the closed door for a long moment.

Then I finished my sentence in a whisper.

"Actually… Leo and I don't need you anymore."

Only two days left.

At midnight, after everything was finally packed, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

My phone lit up. A message from Bruce.

[Tony loves the talisman. Fiona wanted me to thank you for her.]

At midnight, my Alpha was still passing on thanks from another Omega.

A bitter, humorless smile touched my lips. I wasn't even angry anymore. Maybe it was because I had no expectations left, but the old, familiar pain was gone.

I replied.

[You're welcome. But I didn't give it to her.]

[And that talisman is Leo’s comfort item. He can't sleep without it.]

After sending the message, I went into Leo's room. He was frowning in his sleep, unsettled. I rested my head next to his and slowly drifted off.

As for Bruce, I couldn't care less what he thought when he read my message.

The next morning at eight, Bruce came home unusually early.

He walked in, took off his coat, and froze when he saw the suitcases lined up in the living room.

"Do you really need this much luggage for a trip?"

He didn’t even put his coat down, striding into the bedroom with a hint of panic in his voice.

I was helping Leo into a new pair of leather boots and didn't turn around.

"We're going far away."

He immediately looked at Leo, who gave him a firm nod. Only then did Bruce’s expression relax.

He set his coat aside and pulled out three tickets to an amusement park.

"Weren't you upset that I never took Leo to the park?"

"I bought tickets for today. All three of us."

He laid them out in front of us like a prize, his face full of doting pride.

For a second, I thought I’d misheard him. It had been almost a month since that argument. He was only just remembering it now?

Then I remembered the flood of unread messages on my phone when I'd turned it on this morning.

Ah. A peace offering.

I said nothing and focused on tying Leo's laces.

Leo, however, was bouncing with excitement, his eyes fixed on me.

"Mom, I want to go!"

My eyes softened. Before I could speak, Bruce stammered, "But there's one condition. I've… I’ve picked Tony up from daycare a few times, and now everyone there thinks he's my pup. It wouldn't look good if people saw us taking a family photo, so… let's just… put that off for now."

He looked guilty as he said it.

He’d once told me he never wanted Leo to act entitled just because he was the Alpha's son, which is why he’d never once picked him up from school.

But now, he’d not only picked up Fiona’s son, he was asking Leo to make this sacrifice for him.

Leo froze. The light in his eyes visibly faded.

"Oh…"

He slowly lowered his head, his eyes turning red.

Bruce didn't notice. "It’s just one small thing Fiona asked for. I figured it wouldn't be a big deal," he continued. "We can always take the photo another time. Right, Leo?"

He had no idea that Leo and I were leaving tomorrow.

This was his last chance.

But neither of us said a word. We just nodded silently.

"Fine."

"Okay."

Bruce let out a visible sigh of relief. "Great. I'll go tell Fiona. See you at the amusement park at three."

He stood up and walked toward the door, then turned back.

"My moon, my son. You two are the best."

Leo and I said nothing.

After he left, Leo hopped off the bed and pulled his pre-packed little backpack out of the closet.

"Mom," he said, his voice small. "I don't want to see Alpha Bruce anymore. Can we leave early?"