Page 132 of Knight Life In Vegas

Poor Charlotte barely had a moment to breathe before my family descended. They didn’t fuck around with the concepts of step-, half, or in-law. You were family or you weren’t, and Charlotte was mine, so they’d all accepted her instantly.

I slid through the crowd and settled myself at her side, wrapping my arm around her waist. Feeling her immediately settle in the bond at my touch had my alpha instincts preening.

I had hoped to make some calm introductions, but Mamá had laser focused on Charlotte the moment she had arrived and everyone else had followed her. Everyone wore name tags to make the day easier. Sammy was practicing his penmanship and filled them out for each new arrival, being the first in our new family to have everyone gush over him. He was a little shier than his brother, but he seemed to take it in stride with Chico by his side to offer comfort and answer questions. Ollie was over the damn moon with all the attention.

“Let’s go see your papi.” My brother, Juan, hoisted Ollie up and brought him over to us.

“What’s a papi?” Ollie asked.

Juan tutted. “Not even teaching your son Spanish yet?”

“He’s only been my son for, like, a week,” I said with a laugh. “Give us a little time. Ollie, papi is the Spanish version of daddy. You can call me whatever you like.”

“I like papi.” He tipped out of Juan’s arms, reaching for me, and I gathered him to my chest. I knew he got overwhelmed by crowds after a certain point, so hopefully some cuddles would mitigate that and we would be able to stay longer.

My parents were chatting up Charlotte, though I’m sure it was closer to an interrogation. A loving one, but still intense. One of my fathers, Sol, took notes. We simply had too many people in our family not to have notes on important details. I made sure Charlotte was officially introduced to everyone from my parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, and the handful of cousins who had joined them: another reason the arena was a blessing for hosting events, even if there was a time cap to accommodate the shows.

Once everyone had officially arrived, Chico’s mom claimed Sammy, carrying him around while he talked her ear off about knight lessons.

I couldn’t imagine what a shock it must be for these boys to have gone from so little family to an absolute horde. Chico’s family was the smallest, his parents having been a pair rather than a pack and him being their only child. Dylan’s siblings were globetrotters who I was sure it would trickle in over the next year to meet the new additions to our pack. His parents politely waited their turn, but I knew if they didn’t shove in, it could be hours before my family stopped monopolizing Charlotte.

I whispered in Ollie’s ear and the boy yelled out, “I need to meet Daddy’s daddies!”

Laughter rippled through everyone and I held him aloft so he could wave to Dylan’s parents—a pack of alphas with a rare male omega.

Dylan appeared at my side and introduced Ollie to each of them. He was instantly swallowed up in a group hug.

“Did you leave our girl alone in the crowd?” Dylan asked.

“Only for a minute. Ollie will be fine with you.” I ruffled our youngest’s hair and backtracked to pull Charlotte to me, feeling her relax again.

My mom had gotten Charlotte onto telling everyone about her equestrian career. I loved hearing the pride in her voice as she spoke. Maybe she would never go back to competition, but I would bet my last dollar that she could train another champion or two.

When I felt her exhaustion butt up against her politeness, I knew she wouldn’t make an excuse for herself, so I did it for her. “I’m going to steal Charlotte for a few minutes. We’ll be back.”

I drew her away from my family and into the stables so she could breathe.

“Thank you.” She melted into my arms. “I don’t know why I’m so tired.”

“You haven’t rested that much since the heat,” I pointed out.

“I have things to do.”

I chuckled and nuzzled her hair. “Querida, if you don’t pick a time to rest, your body will pick it for you.”

She sighed and planted her face against my chest, grumbling a few words I couldn’t quite understand.

“Why don’t you fuss over Eclipse and I’ll make you a plate?”

“Unfair, using my weakness against me.”

“I have to use the weapons available to me.” I fetched a folding chair and planted it outside of Eclipse’s stall before setting her on it. “Wait here and rest.”

The catering we had ordered was spread out along one of the arena rows so people could easily walk by with their plates before finding anywhere to sit. I filled up Charlotte’s plate with potato salad, baked ham, and grilled vegetables to get her started. Hopefully it would prompt her appetite and revitalize her enough to take on the crowds again to get more. If not, she could eat where she was, or in Chico’s office. My family were used to crowds and not the best at noticing when someone had topped out their capacity for socialization.

I traced my gaze over everyone gathered, finding Beau deep in conversation with Dylan’s dads, Ollie looking like he was about two seconds away from falling asleep in Dylan’s arms. Sammy was still chatting away with Chico and his mom, my own family following behind me to fill up their plates now that I had broken the seal as the first one to do so.

Charlotte brightened when I returned. “I could’ve done that.”

---