Page 69 of Escalating Alpha

My eyes got watery as I took him out of the stroller and hugged him. “I know, I know. I missed you too. Mama will take a whole night off and it will just be us. Want to take another fun bubble bath?”

“There’s no way he understands that,” the president whispered, his eyes too wide.

“I’m a clairvoyant. He was thinking of it and I just agreed. A child this age can know simple words like bath,” I told him. “Plus, he’s a smart one.”

“And Sera’s already diligent with his education,” Brian bragged. “Do the thing, babe.”

I chuckled and started softly singing a German children’s song as I danced with Topher. Then I switched to one in another language and Topher squealed when he realized the change in language. I did it a few more times and the two humans were beyond stunned.

“You might not have had the right role model on how to be a mother, but the wayyourbrain works makes you the perfect mother,” Maya praised. “I’ve talked to several of our elders about your working with Topher so early on recognizing languages and they say you are setting him up for success. Not only is it a bonding game you share, but—well done.”

“Thanks, Maya.” I felt my face flush, but then I went back to singing and danced towards Brian. I met the president’s gaze. “I get your concerns. We don’t talk about it all publicly, but Brian still doesn’t come around Topher alone near the full moon.” I nodded to how he was standing behind me while touching Topher. “We are careful.”

“But you want him to become a wolf like you one day. That is my problem,” he admitted. “It’s like indoctrinating a baby into a cult that…” His eyes went wide as Brian growled and immediately stepped across the room from Topher.

“It’s not a fuckingcult,” he bit out. “And your prejudices make youcruel.” He gestured to Topher when they were confused. “We’reimmortalnow. All of his parents are. And you are saying it’s better for us to all suffer him getting older and dying because ofyour beliefs. Are you insane?”

“Let’s not get into this debate around Topher,” I interjected, feeling how upset he was because Brian was. I kissed his face. “It’s fine. Dad’s defending you.” I met the president’s gaze. “We all agree he doesn’t make any choice until he’s at least thirty and his brain is fully developed and he’slived. If something happens to him—that’s different.”

“And you’ll accept if he wants to stay human and you have to watch him die like he just pointed out?” he pushed back.

“Yes,” I said firmly—immediately. I sighed when Brian and Hagan went tense. “Yes. We agreed on this.”

“I know, but thinking about it is…” Hagan rasped, his eyes only for Topher. “I can’t think about watching him getting older and dying, Sera.”

“If it’s what he wants, then we do, and we know he’ll be taken care of by your parents. Brian’s grandpa. All the ones we’ve lost,” I reminded them. “And we have twenty-nine years for this to be the conversation even. We know people who didn’t choose tobecome a vampire until their forties and fifties.” I kissed all over Topher’s face. “Will you be a salt-and-pepper fox?”

“You might be a better person than I am,” the president whispered. “I don’t know that I could accept that if the situation was reversed.” He cleared his throat. “You’re definitely a better person than I thought.”

I gave a half shrug. “Women have to be bitches to survive the FBI and public spotlight or we’re weak and get taken advantage of. You’re praised all of the time for being young and assertive to have risen so quickly and with new ideas—all of it. What would I be? Be honest.”

He nodded, clearing his throat as he glanced around. “I’m surprised he has his own apartment.”

“That’s never to be disclosed,” I warned him. “But yes. Given the target I am—if we are ever breached, they will know the owner’s huge pad and think he’s there. That gives us an edge.” I decided to fib. “He also doesn’t stay here always. We move him.” I shrugged when they both gave me shocked looks. “How big of a target is he?”

“Especially now after the former First Lady’s madness,” Hagan growled but then changed his attitude when Topher got upset. He took him from me and twirled around. “Sorry, buddy. Dad’s fine. I even special-ordered some new fruit for us to try. Your great-grandma hooked me up and it’s coming in on a plane with… I forgot.”

“You are too adorable,” I chuckled as I rubbed his back. “Did you get enough to share?”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, and it wasnotcheap, and Eva is a bad influence on me spending-wise. So I apologize for your credit card bill this month.”

The others chuckled, but I snorted. I rolled my eyes at him. “You think I even notice or pay attention? Vinn is the adult of all of that. And it will be lost among the tens of thousands ofdollars I spend a month buying food for everyone. Seriously we use UberEats so often they need to wave all fees.”

“I would recommend switching apps every few months so you have a different pool of drivers and no one figures out your patterns or preferences,” the agent said. “With the way you guys eat, it would be one of the best ways to get at you.”

“Thank you, that’s helpful,” I accepted… Knowing we already did it. I promised Topher that I would be back for a nap with him and handed him over to Maya, gesturing to the others it was time to leave.

And handle the fun part of why they were really here.

17

“There’s still a lot to discuss,” the president hedged when I brought him towards the elevator to leave.

“There’s really not, but we can stop by the party room and take a breather,” I said with a chuckle as I stepped on, making it clear he needed to as well.

He was less than thrilled, but at least he did it, glancing around when the doors opened. “Now that we’ve come to an understanding, there are things—”

“Yeah, this is where you’re having a misunderstanding. There’s no understanding,” I drawled as I stepped off and went for the fridge. “I’m not calling the presidents of Iran or Bolivia. I’m not telling Greece we’re good.” I grabbed when I wanted and left the door open, gesturing for them to take what they wanted. “You have to prove that we’re good first.

---