New Alpha – New Rules(68)

“She’s too young.” Ryder interrupted her thought.

“She won’t always be too young.” Harper grinned. “We’ll see. You said to trust my instincts and my instincts are telling me that there are possibilities there.” Ryder sipped his coffee. “Give her ten years or so.” He nodded and watched them throw seed out to the chickens. Lucy loved having a job to do. She would feed the rabbits next then it would be time for breakfast. Sidney had that duty this week so no one was in a hurry to get to the table. She tried. Harper thought about the burned potatoes that nearly set the kitchen on fire yesterday. Harper heard a pup crying below them. Justin was awake. Curtis would be up to take care of him any second. He was such a doting father.

Sidney got pregnant the first time they were together but not Harper. She was terrified that it would never happen and that she wouldn’t be able to chase her pups through the yard someday. Sid was nearing Justin’s birth when Harper finally got pregnant. Ryder always said that it didn’t matter if it was now or later or never. She knew that he was as worried as she was about it. They both wanted them so much. Cindy and Sidney kept saying that she was carrying a girl since she was low and round. Sidney carried Justin high and all in front. He looked like a beach ball in there. He came out beautifully though. All dark hair and wicked gleaming eyes like his mother. He would break some hearts that was inevitable.

“Let’s go eat.” Ryder said standing and taking her mug. He put them in the sink on the wet bar just inside the door. He had his balcony facing the sunrise. He had his coffee pot and his porch swing. His office was on the other side of the attic and finished. The closets were in and full of clothes. They’d finished Cindy and Matt’s house. They completed the barn last summer, and their next project was a house for Sid, Curtis, and Justin. Curtis wanted five bedrooms because he insisted he was having at least six pups. Even Sidney looked horrified when he’d made that statement. Six didn’t sound so bad to Harper. There were plenty of rooms in this old house. She wanted to fill them up as soon as she got the pack out of the house.

Ryder wanted to get plans for a small apartment building and house them there. One building would keep them together but they would have their privacy for entertaining. It sounded like a frat house to Harper, so she insisted that it was very far from her house. Sure, they behaved themselves now but if they were in their own building, there would be a lot of partying. Single wolves were single wolves after all. “I smell bacon. We’d better hurry before she burns it. Maybe you should put her on the laundry detail instead.” Ryder winked. “I could eat another one of those frittatas.

“Does that go with duck?” His eyes gleamed. “I’m kidding. Stop.” She squealed when he licked his lips. “If you want duck we’ll get it but do not eat Wallace.” Ryder growled and nipped at her neck as they walked.

This was everything she’d ever wanted when she’d dreamed of mating in her youth. She rarely thought of Bronson anymore because most of the memories were bad. Only when something mildly good happened did she remember how perfectly awful things could be if he hadn’t had his accident. He taught her one thing and that was to appreciate a great mate. She looked up at Ryder and smiled. “You’re thinking about that duck on a spit too aren’t you?” He winked.

“I was thinking about how wonderful you are and what a great father you will make.” Ryder stopped on the landing and pulled her close. “I love you Ryder.”

“I love you too Sweetheart.” Ryder kissed her softly at first then more deeply.

“Get a room you two.” Curtis said squeezing past them with Justin in his arms. “Don’t look Justin. You’re too young for sex ed. We have to hurry, mommy is burning the bacon.” Ryder grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the stairs.

“Ryder!” She squealed laughing. “Slow down.”

“Nope, nobody is burning bacon in my house. It’s a rule.” Harper dropped his hand and let him go. He and Curtis were in a foot race now. They hurried but were careful about the baby. Harper shook her head. The baby kicked then and Harper hurried after them. Burned bacon or not, this was the best thing that ever happened to her. No matter how often Sidney ruined breakfast, she had Harper’s eternal gratitude for dressing her up and dragging her out to the bar. Her life turned out better than anything she could have imagined thanks to her pushy friend and that magnificent Alpha.

~The End~