My Defender(55)

He shook his head. "No, but I wanted to catch you before dinner. Can we go inside?"

"Sure," Ellie opened the door, and they headed to the small family room. Once seated, Stefan fidgeted nervously.

"Whatever it is, just spit it out. We won't judge you for not sounding like an Alpha," Grant said.

Stefan collapsed back in the chair. "Thank the gods. I feel like I have reached my Alpha limit for the day."

"It's been a very long day," Ellie said gently.

Stefan sighed. "Yes, it has." When he looked up, Ellie could tell that even though he was relaxed, he was back in Alpha mode.

"As you know, Susan and Tobias left Noctem Falls today. Neither could stay surrounded by reminders of their daughter, not with the other children still sick. If they remained here and we lost another child--" Stefan shook his head. "They went to stay with her parents' pack in Boston. Before they left, they met with me to let me know that they could no longer foster Benji."

Ellie gasped. "Where is Benji?"

Stefan smiled. "He's with my mother. Though your reaction only confirms what's been discussed. Susan and Tobias put your names forward to be Benji's new foster parents."

"No," Grant said, shaking his head.

Ellie turned to him, tears in her eyes. "Why not? You love that little boy, and don't try to tell me you don't." Grant opened his mouth to respond, but she kept going. "And if you're going to say that he wouldn't be safe around you, you're wrong." Ellie stood up and began to pace between the two men.

"Ellie..." Stefan leaned forward.

She whipped around. "Hush!" Stefan sat back in his chair, looking a bit shocked.

She whirled back to her mate. "We would be wonderful foster parents for him. I know we have a lot going on right now being newly mated..."

"Ellie..." Grant held up a hand, but she ignored him.

"I won't be here much because of working at the hospital, but you can be." She paused. "Oh. You may have to do patrols. Maybe a papoose..."

"Ellie..."

She stuck her finger in his face. "I won't let you give him up, not when I know you already love him so much!"

"Ellie!" Grant shouted.

She stepped back. "You don't have to yell."

Grant scrubbed his hands over his face. "What I was going to say was I don't want to be his foster father; I want to be his actual father."

"Oh." Ellie stared at the floor, twisting her hands. She peeked over her shoulder at Stefan. "Sorry."

Stefan's eyes were sad though he smiled at their joy. "I know that the deep grief from losing Clara is the only thing that prevented Susan and Tobias from moving forward with the adoption. It will be a long time before Susan recovers from her daughter's death. But I want you to know the pack, along with my parents and I, agree with Grant. Benji is yours if you want him. We couldn't think of anyone else who would give him more love."

Ellie looked at Grant, her eyes filling. "Really?"

He stood and pulled her into his arms before turning them to face Stefan. "We'd be honored to be Benji's parents."

"Wonderful. I'll let Mother know. She'll bring him by later tonight; you both have a dinner to go to." Stefan stood. "I know it probably won't be said nearly enough, but thank you both for everything you're doing to help my pack." He stretched. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a date with a bathtub and some junk food." He let himself out, leaving them standing in the middle of their borrowed family room.

"We're parents," she whispered then broke down in tears. "I always wanted to be a momma." She covered her face with her hands and cried.

He pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Someone needs a hot shower and some tea."

"I'm g-g-gonna be a good mom!" she wailed.

"I know, love," he said, steering her up the stairs.

"I'm okay," she sobbed, unable to hold on to any one emotion. Everything she had experienced today seemed to be hitting her all at once.

"Of course you are." He gently stripped her of her clothes and walked her to the bathroom. Once she was seated on the toilet, he quickly undressed and started the shower.

"I love you," she sniffled.

"I love you too."

"I'm usually better than this at handling things."

He looked down at her, an amused look on his face. "If you handled things any better, you wouldn't be alive, you'd be a robot."

Ellie clutched at her chest. "We don't have anything for him!"

Grant shrugged. "All he needs are diapers, food, and us."

"We need clothes and pacifiers and blankets and toys and those reader book thingies."