Page 139 of Alpha's Redemption

Zoe giggles and I lean a little closer, peering out.

“He still hasn’t noticed,” Zoe laughs. No sooner than she says it, Valen removes the peg, then sniffs the air before looking at his hand like he suddenly grew extra fingers. He blinks, ripping a glove off and wiping his face on the back of his hand.

“Go! Go, now!” Everly squeals, then groans when he loses his stomach on the window he was trying to clean. Valarian wanders over to his father standing at the huge bay windows, holding his sister out like she’s contagious, a peg on his nose too—she’s naked, legs kicking, and we realize who the poopy culprit is that removed her diaper and decided it would be fun to paint in it.

“Darn it,” Everly groans, tossing her door open. I follow, climbing out after her while cackling my head off when she stops abruptly. She points up at the window. “No, Valarian! Hold–”

He doesn’t hold it in. Turning green at seeing his father puke, he just adds to the muck on the window as he, too, loses his stomach. Little Claire just cackles, clapping excitedly and patting Valarian on his head.

“You would think he would have a stronger stomach by now,” I tell Everly with a shake of my head as we head inside.

Everlyn and Summer are sitting on the mat with building blocks while Marcus—with Noah over his shoulder—tries to stop Taylor and Casey, who are playing tug-o-war as they fight over a book.

“Geez, we’re gone for an hour and the place is in chaos,” I mutter.

The girls freeze from their fighting, hearing my voice, and I narrow my eyes, giving them both the look. They straighten up, turning into perfect little angels and batting their eyelashes, knowing I don’t mess around when it comes to the naughty corner.

“Thank the Goddess!” Marcus says as Everly rushes up the steps to sort her out her kids and Valen.

Zoe waddles in and collapses on the couch, Tatum coming in behind her and passing her some cushions as she lies down.

Suddenly, Tatum claps his hands loudly, drawing all the kids' attention. They immediately stop and stare at him.

“Time to play a game,” he cries out and they jump excitedly, “called, find the house!” he continues.

They groan, though Casey and Taylor start cleaning up the mess they had made. Everlyn and Summer plop back on their bottoms, tossing their blocks back in the bucket, just as the doorbell rings and I peer over my shoulder to see a figure through the stained-glass. Wandering over to the door, I pull it open to see Alpha Daxon, John, Derrick, and Kalen.

“Grandpa!” Taylor squeals behind me and rushes over to her grandfather. He scoops her up, propping her on his hip and stepping inside just as Valen comes down the stairs, drying his face with a towel.

“Dad! Great, you’re just in time,” Valen exclaims.

“I am?” Kalen asks.

“Yep, shit explosion upstairs. I nominate you to take my place,” Valen says, and Kalen looks at John.

“Rock, paper, scissors?” he asks John.

“He’s your son,” John says.

“He’s your son-in-law!”

John raises an eyebrow at him and I watch as Daxon steps closer and pecks my cheek.

“Afternoon, love,” he chuckles, moving to help the girls clean up. Just as I’m about to close the door, I see Ava’s car pull into the driveway and step aside to wait for her, too.

Ava wanders in, a bottle of wine clutched in her hand, and stops in her tracks, watching her father and Kalen argue over who is helping Everly upstairs. They stop as she enters, both turning to face her.

“Ava! My favorite-est daughter,” John exclaims with exaggerated delight.

“What?” she groans.

“I’ll give you–”

Kalen sifts through his pockets as Ava pops her hip and places a hand on it. He pulls out some cash—a few fives and a ten. “$25?”

“Nope! Whatever it is, no!” she says and Kalen nudges her father, who starts fishing in his own pockets. He pulls out a twenty.

“I’ll add $20 and a peppermint,” John says.

---