Page 174 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Naw, it's all good. I needed to start processing that shit. I’m still having a difficult time believing it's all real.” He pushed open the door. “I only ordered a small pizza, but I can order another and we can eat together.”

“That sounds great.”

We had a nice lunch and by the time we got back home it was almost time for Ivor to be picked up from work, which was great. It meant I didn’t have a ton of time to concentrate on the wholewhy am I not more successfulthing.

“Hey, omega mine.” I greeted him as he came out of the building. “How are you?”

Ivor pointed to his belly. “Someone thought it was a good time to play trampoline on my kidney.”

“So you want to see the doctor?” I didn’t know a ton about kidneys, but that sounded painful.

“Nope. I already talked to the nurse and she gave me some advice and told me what to look for.” He took my hand. “And baby stopped after that. I think she didn’t want to get in trouble,” he teased. “How was your day?”

I told him about my lunch as we meandered our way back to the car.

“Pizza sounds good.” He got into his seat. “Maybe we can order tonight?”

“We absolutely can, but I also bought you one.” Ivor loved cold pizza lately and had ordered some to stick in the fridge for the morning more than once.

“Olives?” he asked hopefully.

“Yeah, olives.” I kissed his cheek and then shut his door for him, walking around and climbing into the driver’s seat.

The entire ride home, I just kept waiting for an opening to discuss an idea I had brewing about work, but none came. When we finally got home and into our apartment, I just spit it out.

“I want to expand my business.”

He just blinked, his eyes wide.

“Not a ton, but some.”

“You haven’t thought this through, have you?” he said, and he wasn’t wrong. Not really. “I thought things were going well the way they were.”

He patted the seat on the couch beside him and I went and joined him.

“They are. And I thought…”

“You saw Daire and Micah strike it rich and somehow that reflects badly on your business? Isthat what you think?”

“Yeah.” I let out a sigh. “I guess… I don’t know… I want to be what you and our growing family needs financially and I’m holding steady, but my business isn’t setting the world on fire.”

“Fire burns.” He leaned into my side. “Maybe put this on hold?”

“Yeah, okay. You’re right. We should. I just… I want to be everything you deserve.”

“Oh sweet alpha, don’t worry about that. You are.”

Micah

“Hello, Patch.” I knelt down to give scritches to my fur baby. “You look like you’ve been waiting for me.” That earned me some doggie kisses on my cheek. “Where’s Dad?”

I righted myself, surprised to see Archer not coming out to greet me.

“Is he with Elune?” I asked, and Patch being Patch just wagged his tail in response.

I’d been out getting an oil change, nothing too exciting. It was still weird to me, not having a job. Was it great that we sold the business and made buckets of money? Absolutely. Did it feel magnificent coming out better than I did when things went awry with my ex? Also yes. But now I felt almost like I was without a purpose. Sure I loved spending the day with my family, but that sense of accomplishment that came with working, it was gone. I needed to figure out what I wanted to do next.

“Hey honey, I’m…” I stopped dead in my tracks as the sound of Archer puking ripped through the air.

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