Page 59 of Mating Mia
“Where’s Mia?” Liam asks, setting the bottle down on a small stone table.
“She’s resting,” I reply, keeping my voice neutral despite the memory of how thoroughly we exhausted her earlier. “She needed some time to recover.”
Liam’s eyes narrow slightly, clearly reading between the lines, but he doesn’t comment. Instead, he begins gatheringAsh’s things—the small stuffed wolf he refuses to sleep without, the extra clothes, the special blanket that still carries Mia's scent.
“I’ll help you get this to the car,” he offers, packing everything into the diaper bag with surprising efficiency. For a man who missed his daughter's entire childhood, he has adapted remarkably quickly to the role of grandfather.
My heart rate picks up as I recognize the opportunity presenting itself. A private moment with Liam, away from the others.
I follow Liam through the passage that leads out behind the waterfall, Ash tucked securely against me.
We walk in silence toward the car, Liam carrying the diaper bag while I balance Ash, who's now trying to grab at passing branches with gleeful determination. When we reach the vehicle, I secure Ash in his car seat, making sure the straps are properly adjusted before turning to take the bag from Liam.
“Before you head back,” I say, my heart pounding. “There’s something I wanted to ask you. If you have a moment.”
“Ask away,” says Liam, nodding.
I close the car door, leaving Ash safely strapped inside while we move a few paces away. The box in my pocket seems to pulse with each beat of my heart, my hand automatically reaching to touch it through the fabric of my jeans.
“It’s about Mia,” I say, forcing myself to meet his gaze directly. His eyes are so like hers—the same shape, though a different color. “About our future together.”
“Yes?”
I take a deep breath and decide to simply say it. “I want to ask Mia to marry me. To make our union official in human terms.” My hand slips into my pocket, fingers closing around the velvet box. “I wanted to ask for your blessing first.”
For a long moment, Liam says nothing. His eyes search mine, looking for what, I’m not certain.Weakness? Insincerity?Doubt?Whatever he’s searching for, he won’t find it. My commitment to Mia is absolute, unshakeable.
“Marriage,” he finally says, the word heavy with consideration. “That’s a human custom.”
“It is,” I acknowledge. “But Mia was raised in the human world, even if under terrible circumstances. She deserves every security, every affirmation of commitment we can give her.”
Liam steps closer, his presence commanding despite his relaxed stance. “And if I say no? If I withhold my blessing?”
My wolf bristles at the challenge, but I keep my voice steady. “Then I would still ask her. But it would hurt her to know you disapproved, and hurting her is the last thing I want.”
A smile suddenly breaks across his face, transforming his features. It’s the same smile I’ve seen on Mia when she’s particularly pleased, the same smile Ash gives when he's accomplished some new feat.
“Good answer,” he says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You’d risk my disapproval for her happiness. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
Relief floods through me, so intense I almost sway on my feet. “Then you…?”
“You have my blessing,” Liam confirms, his grip on my shoulder tightening briefly before releasing. “You three have given my daughter something I feared she'd never have. Security, love, a family of her own. How could I possibly say no?”
“Thank you,” I say, glad to have done this for her.
“Well,” Liam says, extending his hand. “Welcome to the family. Officially.”
I take his hand, the gesture sealing more than just his blessing for the marriage. It’s an acknowledgment, alpha to alpha, father to son-in-law. An acceptance I didn't realize I'd been seeking until this moment.
“Thank you,” I say, meaning it with every fiber of my being.
He releases my hand with a nod, then gestures to the car. “You’d better get going. That one gets cranky if he’s in his car seat too long without moving.”
I chuckle, the tension of the moment breaking. “Don’t I know it. His lungs are as strong as his grip.”
We say our goodbyes, and I slide into the driver’s seat, checking the rearview mirror to see Ash watching me with curious eyes. His tiny face is so serious sometimes, as if he’s contemplating the great mysteries of the universe instead of just wondering where his next bottle is coming from.
“Well, pup,” I say as I start the engine, “that went better than expected. Your grandfather approves of my plan to marry your mother.”
