Chapter Seven

Karl

"How are you three holding up in the house on campus?" Wolf Ramano sat across from me in the conference room. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask; we will get it for you. I know it's hard to be away from home, and it must be tough for Georgi."

"It was for the first few nights, but he seems to be adjusting better. Playing with the other kids downstairs in the daycare area has helped him feel less anxious and lonely." I leaned back in my chair and remembered his smile the first night he had played with the Survolar-Ramano brood. "He probably will never want to leave."

"Well, about that." Wolf grabbed a red folder off the stack to his left and tossed it to me. "I was talking to my mate, Ollie, last night about the project we are working on, and he mentioned that the GSC might be willing to spare a few more agents to the training center for special projects, especially newly mated agents. The folder I gave you has all the information about the position and the type of activities we would expect of you."

I flipped through the benefits package, amazed that it was even more generous than GSC. "This looks like an incredible offer but I'm unsure I would want to leave GSC, however. They have been a great organization to work for, and I'm not sure what the future holds right now. What if Peter, Georgi, and I need to move again because of his psycho ex? With GSC, I can take cases from all over the world. With the training center, you only have a couple of locations."

"That is true, although we are looking to expand further if we can get more trusted trainers. But I also have some news on the crazy ex front." Wolf took another folder off the stack, a royal-blue color. "I don't think we need to worry about him any longer."

"What do you mean?" I looked at the folder's contents, shocked to see the signed divorce papers and pictures of the ex with a new omega wearing a rather large engagement ring. "I know that omega. He is from one of the families out east. Frankie, I think."

"That's him." Wolf stood up and refilled his mug of coffee. "I remember that the families wanted those two to marry, but then your omega got in the picture, and the alpha tried to leave his family. But after his brothers all died in that accident a few years ago, he started getting sucked back into the life. It seems the families are finally getting their way."

"I have to go tell Peter." I stood, thinking about how relieved my mate would be once I told him. "This is excellent news, considering he's carrying my baby."

"Excuse me." Wolf coughed up his coffee. "Did you just say that Peter is pregnant, and I am only now finding out?"

"Well, to be fair, we only found out a few days ago and have been letting the news sink in. Being in hiding and expecting a child while raising the handful who is Georgi was a lot of stress. We needed to let Peter wrap his head around it before adding in everyone around us knowing and bombarding him with questions or advice."

"That makes a lot of sense." Wolf clasped my shoulder and squeezed, slapping the red folder to my chest with his other hand. "Congratulations, man. You are going to be an amazing father. Give Peter my regards. And here, take this and discuss it with your family. Let me know by the end of the week. I look forward to working with you."

"I will do that." I chuckled and walked out the door. I had a mate to surprise with some excellent news.

***

"Honey, we're home." I let Georgi and myself in and put the keys in the bowl next to the door. If I didn't, I would never find them tomorrow morning. "Where are you?"

"In the kitchen." Peter poked his head out from around the corner and smiled. "Why don't the two of you wash your hands and then meet me by the oven. There just might be some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies waiting for taste testers."

I never saw a kid run faster than Georgi did to the bathroom to wash his hands.

"I take it those are his favorite." I stopped to kiss Peter's cheek.

"Actually, no." My mate grinned widely. "He prefers sugar cookies. You should see him run then."

"So, you are saying that he needs to join a track team, but the finish line needs to have sugar cookies waiting for him."

"That should work. And don't forget a glass of chocolate milk."

"I wouldn't dream of it. Let me wash my hands, and I'll join you for some treats and good news."

"Good news?"

"Wait. It'll be worth it, I promise."

After using some fancy coconut-and-lime sea salt soap that the apartment came with, I met Peter and Georgi in the kitchen. Georgi's face already sported a chocolate mustache from the treat.

"You have to have one, Karl." Georgi handed me one of the most delicious-looking cookies I had ever seen. They are still warm and gooey. You will love Papa's cookies."

"I am sure I will, buddy." I took a bite and almost groaned at the heavenly sensation in my mouth. If I weren't already head over foot in love with Peter, these cookies would have pushed me over the ledge. "These are amazing."

"Told you." Georgi snagged another off the cooling racks when his papa wasn't looking.

"I saw that." Peter shook his head at his sheepish son. "Go ahead, but that is the last one until after dinner. I'm making spaghetti."

"And meatballs?" Georgi bounced on his feet.

"Of course." Peter tilted his head.

"And garlic bread."

"Who eats spaghetti without that? Of course. Now, do your reading for the day in your room, and I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"Okay, Papa. Love you." Georgi hugged Peter before running off to his room.

"He's a good boy." I came up behind Peter and wrapped my arms around his waist. "You are a great papa."

"Thanks." Peter leaned back into me and sighed. "I tried hard to raise him to be the type of man I would be proud of. It was hard sometimes around his father's family and friends. But we kept Georgi and me away from most of it. I hope I did enough to keep him from becoming the type of man that—"

When Peter didn't continue, I turned him around and lifted his face so he could look me in the eyes when I spoke. "You are the best man I have met, and the best papa Georgi could have wished for. That boy doesn't show any signs of being in danger of becoming the type of adult you wouldn't be proud of. Trust that you did your best and that everything will be okay."

For the next few moments, Peter just stared at me with a small uptilt of his lips. I stood there holding him, letting him see no lies in my words. "I love you, Karl. I am so happy to be carrying your child."

"I love you too. We will be amazing parents to all our children—Georgi, this one, and any others that may come. Now, do you want the good news I promised?"

"Yes, please. But can we go sit down? My back is starting to ache. We have a few more minutes until the garlic bread is done. Hit me with the good stuff."

"I spoke with Wolf today, and he had some news on Alessandro." I led Peter to the kitchen table and sat beside him. "According to the information they received, your ex has signed the divorce papers, and a judge has already reviewed and put through the decree. Having friends who can pull strings and speed up the process must be nice. But you are officially free with sole custody of Georgi."

"Are you serious?" Peter closed his eyes, wiping a tear from the corner. "This seems a bit too easy. Doesn't it?"

"It does." I reacted similarly to the news when Wolf showed me the folder, so I couldn't blame Peter for being wary. "But it seems that he also has found a new omega and put a ring on his finger, so I'm cautiously optimistic that this is over for you."

"Oh no. That poor omega."

"Don't feel too bad. Frankie knows a lot about what he is getting himself into. I bet the families are all rejoicing right now, and it's part of the reason why Alessandro is letting you walk away so easily."

"Do you think we can stay here for a little bit longer? Until we are confident Alessandro is out of our lives for good?" Peter grabbed my hand and searched my face. "I am just nervous."

"I don't think they mind us staying here. We will keep you guys safe." I squeezed his hand. "Wolf also had a proposition for me today."

"Oh yeah?"

"He asked if I wanted to start working at the training center on a special project they are developing. The benefits are amazing, and the position sounds like something I would love to do. He told me to talk it over with you and let him know by the end of the week."

"Do you want to take it?"

"I think I do." I grabbed the red folder and handed it to him. "Here. Let's review the information together and decide as a family. It will affect all four of us, after all."

"True." Peter flipped through the pages, eyes wide with excitement. "But I think I might already be all in. This looks incredible."

"I know." I kissed his forehead and stood. "You keep looking over the information, and I'll finish dinner."

"Deal."