Page 164 of The Heat of Us

“She’s great,” he enthused. “Sounds like she’s having no problems showing those rowdy lads who’s boss.”

I expected nothing less. “Remind me to message her after lunch.”

Remy brushed my cheek fondly. “I will.”

The rest of his family were much the same unfortunately. But at least I could provide Remy some support at his family dinners when his dad and brother got particularly underhanded with their comments.

I never dared to say anything directly to his mother about her bond, though. But I hoped that maybe she would see a healthy alpha and omega dynamic and realise she deserved it too.

Remy and I quickly jumped on a tram to cross the city to Chinatown. I leapt off and ran to give the tiny Russian woman beside Ben and Aleks a big hug. “Babulya, it’s good to see you.”

“Hazel.” She hugged me back. “You are prettier every time I see you.”

I blushed. “I’m just trying to keep up with you!”

“We are also here,” Aleks muttered. Remy gave his hair a ruffle and Ben broke up the ensuing scuffle before anyone was hurt.

I ignored them all and linked arms with his grandma. “Ready for yum cha? You’re gonna love it,” I assured her.

We had just gotten seated when Remy gasped, whacking my arm to get my attention. He directed my attention to what looked like the owner, talking to a couple of the staff with their trolleys.

“Wha—?”

The owner turned around and he had a huge moustache.

“Oh…my.” I was beyond impressed. How often did you see a Chinese man with such magnificent facial hair? “Aleks,” I hissed. “Aleks, it’s your new grandpa.”

We all turned to look. Aleks groaned, putting his head in his hands.

“Oh!” Yelena was a beat behind us. “That’s a very nice one, isn’t it?”

“Babulya, no.” Aleks looked so distressed.

“We have to come back,” Remy decided.

“Yes,” Ben agreed. “Weekly. Does that work for you, Yelena?”

Her low cackle was answer enough.

The cost of her care at Willowbrook was now split between the four of us. Ben had insisted it was a necessary pack expense. We didn’t want Aleks’ father to have anything to hold over his head.

We loved when she was doing well enough to take her out like this. I knew how emotional it was for Aleks to watch her come to an unfamiliar environment and thrive the way she used to. Sometimes all she was up for was a walk to the park down the road and back again. And that was ok too.

The brisk, no-nonsense trolley ladies swanned past us. Soon our table was laden down and the little slip of paper of our orders was covered in circles.

“You are dancing in your chair, Hazel,” Remy told me out of the corner of his mouth, looking amused.

Well, obviously. Did he not see where we were? The food on the table? Yelena’s eyes were wide as she took everything in. Ben flagged down the owner (Aleks wouldn’t look at him) and ordered steamed prawn rice rolls too.

“So they come around and you pick what you want?” Yelena asked finally.

I put some siu mai and Chinese broccoli on her plate before adding the same to my own. “Yes, it’s great, isn’t it?”

I knew it would suit her very well, considering every time we went out she was hellbent on making sure Aleks ate double what his stomach was capable of holding.

“How was your first class?” Ben asked.

Yelena’s eyebrows shot up. “First class?”

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