Page 207 of As The Shifter World Turns

“No. He was on his way to collect Charlie from daycare when the accident happened.”

“Thank goodness.”

“And that’s why I’m calling.”

“Sorry?”

“Adrian named you and your friend Daire as Charlie’s guardians.”

Guardians? That would be a temporary arrangement until they could find the alpha parent. But the lawyer squashed that idea. “I’ve been in contact with Charlie’s alpha father. Even though Adrian said he wanted nothing to do with his son, I needed to confirm that and make it official.”

“Huh?”

“The guy’s giving up his parental rights and is flying into town in the morning to sign the papers, even though it’s Sunday. You and Daire can collect Charlie after that.”

“Wait what?”

I must have yelled louder than I realized because Toby pushed open the bedroom door. “Neil, you woke me up.”

Martin sat up as I babbled, “Baby. Baby.”

Instantly, Toby was wide awake. “Has Archer had the baby? That’s so exciting.” He climbed into bed with his dad. Right now I needed Martin and Toby and I got under the covers and mouthed, “Hold me,” to Martin.

“It’s incredibly sad but Adrian was adamant that should anything happen to him, you and Daire would bring up Charlie. And when the time is right, you can adopt him officially.”

So much information was being flung at me, I was lost for words, but the guy was under the impression Daire and I were mated. Not that it mattered. What was important was little Charlie. After telling the guy I was out of town, I assured him we’d drive back now. We were only two hours away. He’d call me in the morning once the alpha father had completed the paperwork.

It wasn’t enough time to get my head around what had happened but Charlie was my focus.

“Boy or girl?” Toby asked as I ended the call.

“Boy,” I said without thinking. “A six-month old baby boy named Charlie.”

“Six months?” Toby and his dad repeated.

“Yeah,” I mumbled. “We have to pack up and go home now.” But neither of them moved and I managed to get out the relevant information

“You’re a dad, Neil. You have a baby. Can I play with him?” Toby wasenthusiastic while Martin was dumbfounded. I assured Toby he could while we threw clothes and toiletries in our bags and headed to the car.

“I’m sorry our weekend was ruined,” I told both of them as Martin started the car.

Toby was bouncing up and down on the back seat. “I can’t wait to meet Charlie. What about Patch? Will he get jealous if I spend so much time with the baby? Does this make me a big brother?”

Martin and I shared a glance. “How about you try and sleep,” Martin said to his son.

I had to phone Daire and while we’d be home soon when I could see him face to face, this news couldn’t wait. After waking him up and repeating myself a few times, there was a huge thump and Nate came on the line. “Daire fainted. What did you tell him, Neil?”

He also went silent as I repeated the story. “I’ll be there soon.” I wasn't sure if anyone in 3B was conscious and could hear me.

“Martin, I—” We’d been closer than ever since the nasty business with Xavier and we’d discussed mating. But now? Now my life was thrown into disarray and I couldn’t think about us, Martin and me.

He cut me off. “You’ll need things. A crib and bottles and clothes.”

I put a hand on his thigh as he negotiated a bend in the road. “The lawyer said we can go to Adrian’s rented apartment tomorrow and take all the baby stuff along with memorabilia that will be important to Charlie when he gets older.”

The rent was paid until the end of the month and anything we didn’t want, he’d donate, sell, or toss. And there was money. Adrian had saved a substantial amount but I told the lawyer to put that into a trust for Charlie. I earned enough and didn’t need to dip into Adrian's savings. Besides, Daire would be contributing, assuming he resumed consciousness.

“We’ll get through this,” I said. “It’ll delay things.” And by that I meant mating and moving in together. “But we’re already a family.” I jerked my head at Toby asleep in the back seat. “You two are my loves and now they’ll be a third.”

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