Semua Bab The Alpha's Regret : Bab 91 - Bab 100

Asher laughed for the first time on a Tuesday.Skyler was making breakfast, doing his usual terrible singing, when Asher let out a sound that stopped us both cold.A giggle. Clear, delighted, unmistakable."Did he just—" I started.Skyler did it again, singing off-key on purpose. Asher giggled again, his whole face lighting up."Oh my God," I whispered. "He's laughing at you.""He thinks I'm funny!""He thinks you're ridiculous. There's a difference."But I was laughing too, and Asher kept giggling, the sound filling our cottage with pure joy.---Three months brought changes faster than I could track them.Asher could hold his head up steadily now. He'd found his hands, staring at them like they were the most fascinating things in existence. He'd started reaching for toys, batting at the mobile above his changing table."He's growing up so fast," I told Sarah during our weekly coffee date. Both babies were on blankets between us, Claire showing Asher her toys."Wait until he's mobile

Asher rolled over for the first time during tummy time on a Thursday morning.One second he was on his stomach, frustrated and fussing. The next, he'd flipped onto his back, looking surprised by his own accomplishment."Did you see that?" I shouted to Skyler. "He rolled! He actually rolled!"Skyler rushed from the kitchen. "Do it again!"We tried for twenty minutes to get Asher to repeat the performance. He just stared at us like we were insane."I swear he did it," I said."I believe you. He's just making us work for it."---Of course, once he figured it out, he wouldn't stop.Back to stomach. Stomach to back. Over and over, like he'd discovered the greatest trick in the world."We're going to have to babyproof," Skyler said, watching Asher roll across the living room floor. "He's mobile now.""He can barely roll. We have time.""We have weeks, maybe. Then he'll be crawling, walking, running. It happens fast."The thought filled me with equal parts excitement and terror.My baby was

Asher's first birthday party was pack tradition meets Pinterest chaos.My mother had made a smash cake shaped like a wolf. Sarah had decorated with way too many balloons. The entire pack had shown up, along with half the human community."This is insane," I told Skyler, watching toddlers run wild through our yard. "He's one. He won't even remember this.""But we will. And the pack expects it.""The pack expects a lot of things."But watching Asher in his high chair, cake smeared across his face as he demolished the wolf-shaped dessert with pure joy, I had to admit—this was perfect."He's having the time of his life," Vera said, snapping photos. "Look at that face."Asher grabbed another handful of cake, squishing it between his fingers before shoving it in his mouth. Blue frosting covered everything—his face, his hair, his new birthday outfit."Bath time is going to be fun," Skyler muttered."Worth it for these photos."---One year. Twelve months. Three hundred sixty-five days since

The young couple stood in Marcus's office, practically vibrating with nervous energy.I recognized the look. I'd worn it myself once."This is Liam," Marcus introduced the male wolf. "And his mate, Sophie. They just completed their bonding ceremony last week."Sophie's mating mark was fresh, still slightly red against her collarbone. She kept touching it unconsciously, the way I had for months after my own ceremony."Congratulations," I said warmly. "How are you adjusting?""It's overwhelming," Sophie admitted. "The bond is so much more intense than I expected. I can feel everything he feels and it's just... a lot."Liam nodded. "We were hoping you could give us some advice. Marcus said you and Skyler might be willing to talk to us about the adjustment period."Skyler and I exchanged glances. When had we become the couple others looked to for guidance?"Of course," Skyler said. "What do you want to know?"---We met them at the cottage that weekend. Asher was napping, giving us time t

Present Day - Six Years After the Mating CeremonyI woke to chaos, as usual.Luna was jumping on our bed, singing a song she'd invented about pancakes. Asher was arguing with Skyler about whether six-year-olds could have coffee. And from my very pregnant belly, baby number three was doing what felt like gymnastics."This is your life now," I told the baby. "Loud, chaotic, and completely insane. Welcome to the family."A kick in response. This one was already opinionated.Due in two months, and I still couldn't believe we were doing this again. Three kids. A full house. Constant noise.I'd never been happier.---"Mama, tell Dad I'm old enough for coffee," Asher demanded."You're six. You're not old enough for coffee.""But Dad drinks it!""Dad is thirty-two. When you're thirty-two, you can have all the coffee you want.""That's forever from now!""Exactly. Now go brush your teeth."He stomped off, muttering about unfair parents. Luna immediately took his place in the argument."I want