Page 17 of A Real Alpha
Laying Roscoe on top of it, I realized that his diaper had leaked and brown now soaked his onesie.
“Ugh.Okay, disgusting… but I can handle this.”
Roscoe screamed even louder, kicking his legs with a vengeance when I tried to get his clothes off without making the mess even worse. That turned out to be nearly impossible. By the time his clothes and diaper were off, I felt like I had to wipe him down from top to bottom—which he really didnotlike.
Once he had a fresh diaper on, I was sweating, and he was crying so hard I was afraid he was going to choke. I had never seen anyone get so red and flustered before.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, wrapping him tightly in the blanket.
The tight wrap seemed to help at once and guilt filled me realizing that he was probably cold—and maybe hungry, too, because he was still sniffling and fussing.
Unsure what else to do, I went to The Lunar Café, where Sage was about to start closing up. She glanced up, saw what I was holding, and her eyes widened.
“Wash this and fill it with warm water,” I ordered, handing her the small bottle I'd bought.
She arched a brow and did it without saying a word. With a heavy sigh, I sank down into one of the empty booths, feeling exhausted.
“You only left about an hour ago,” Sage said, returning with the bottle. “I don't think you're cut out for babysitting if you're already ready to fall asleep.”
I chuckled and took the bottle, shaking my head. “He's been crying the entire time.”
“Babies cry,” she said matter-of-factly. “It's kind of their thing.”
Shaking my head, I offered Roscoe the bottle. The second the nipple touched his lips, he rattled his face back and forth, mouthopen as though searching for the right spot and then eagerly caught it in his mouth and began to drink.
I stared for a moment while he happily gulped down the milk, overcome by the sweetest feeling as he finally settled down.
Sage made a noise above me and when I looked up, she was shaking her head, looking at me.
“You're getting attached,” she said.
I opened my mouth to deny it, but couldn't. There was something about both Connor and Roscoe that made a voice scream inside my head to hold them close, to protect them, to love them.
I bit my lip and looked down at Roscoe. His wide eyes were closed, those tiny eyebrows relaxed. He was so beautiful and the voice inside my head said MINE, loud and clear. Just as it had about Connor.
“I'm in trouble,” I mused.
Sage snorted and went back to sweeping, leaving me in awe of the little angel in my arms.
There was another angel upstairs in my bed, suffering alone.
I knew they hadn't asked for a hero, so why did I feel so strongly that it was my role? Why did I feel like it was—oh. Like it was meant to be...
I swallowed as the overwhelming realization became my truth.
I had never been so drawn to someone so quickly, and it was all consuming, hard to ignore or deny. My thoughts were about Connor, my desires were all about making him happy. My life felt as if it had been rewired the second he walked into my café and now everything just felt right... well, aside from one thing.
I glanced up at the ceiling, wondering what Connor was doing. Was he trying his hardest to work through his heat all by himselfwhile his fated mate sat in the café below him with the baby? The thought made me feel ashamed. I should be thereto help him. I should be taking care ofboth of thembecause suddenly everything felt clear. Roscoe was meant to be my child and Connor, he was meant to be my lover, my life mate, my everything.
Even if it was too much to say so soon, if I was right, he would feel it once he stopped fighting this connection I knew he had to feel, too.
I knew that he would.
Chapter 7
Connor
The soundof the door opening gently from the other room pulled all my attention like it was a lifeline.
