Ascension of a Gamma

Chapter 80 Little Alphas

“I’m thinking of adopting,” said Gale as he ran a hand though his hair. “I haven’t talked t o Andrix about it yet, but he won’t be averse at the idea, would he?”

Rigel calmly drank his glass of bourbon, which was from Liam’s not-so-secret personal collection.

“A human kid?” he asked.

“No, you fucking dumbass. Do you want the kid to die?” Gale said, scowling.

Liam muttered under his breath, something about not having a moment of quiet time for himself as he scanned and signed through a stack of documents. Gray streaks dyed his hair, and lines had begun to show on his face. He had a stubble from having forgotten to shave that morning. It was because of the children jumping up on him before daybreak.

Sighing, he signed the last of the fist stack. Gale and Rigel were still bickering on how to make the adoption work.

“What if the kid’s a spy?” asked Rigel as he poured himself another glass.

The stress from work showed on the occasional drooping of his eyes. The Delta Unit were sent to a recon mission for the past week and they had just returned.

“You’re overthinking it! Don’t you want me to have a kid?”

Rigel filled another glass and placed it on Liam’s desk.

“Thanks,” Liam grumbled.

Looking after two packs was taxing work. He’d thought about absorbing the Black Mist Pack into the Red Claw Pack, and Carson and Andrix had proposed the idea to him. He rejected it. Anna kept the packs separate in honor of her father and he wasn’t about to ruin what she left behind.

A knock interrupted the three of them.

“Come in, babe,” said Gale, then turning to Rigel, “Not a word.”

Andrix showed signs of aging as well, but he still had that charismatic air around him. Gale walked up to him and pulled him into a quick kiss that had Rigel looking away.

“Hello, you. You’re here early,” said Gale.

“I was here earlier but I went to check on my nephews and niece,” Andrix said, chuckling. “Hey, Liam, Rigel.”

Liam grumbled.

Not a moment of peace.

“You didn’t give them chocolate, did you?” he asked, not looking up.

“I left the treats at the cupboard,” answered Andrix. “It’s like they were wearing diapers only yesterday, now they’re running around like they never tire.”

“They don’t,” muttered Liam.

Each one constantly seeked his attention for whatever reason, no matter the time, be it the middle of the night or three in the morning.

“You ready to go?”

Gale nodded, clasping Andrix’s hand. “See you all tomorrow,” he said.

Rigel raised his glass, smirking at Gale.

“So… how are you holding up?”

“Good.”

“It’s tough having kids, isn’t it?”

Liam sighed. It required immeasurable patience that he could just snap at times. If he wasn’t working, he was playing with the kids. He drank the last of the bourbon then rubbed his temples.

“It’s not always a piece of work. I love those kids, but the only time I get peace and quiet i s when I’m asleep,” he answered.

Rigel chuckled, put the glass down, then stood.

“You can say that again.”

Rigel observed him for a while but said nothing. His brother had been more and more absorbed in his work over the years. He took it as his brother’s way of coping with Anna’s loss.

“Carson proposed we all go out for a boy’s night. You can leave the kids at my place. Sabri loves having them around Raixel and Rasi.” 1

“I’ll think about it,” answered Liam, finishing another stack, then starting with another.

Rigel nodded, then left.

As the door clicked, the pen stopped moving. Liam set it down, then deeply sighed. They’d been worrying about him as of late and tried to get him away from his work. He wasn’t enslaved to his work, he simply found that when he did have some quiet time, it wasn’t to his liking.

Alone in his office, surrounded by stacked documents and empty furniture in the quiet, there were too many reminders of his inner condition.

Liam glanced at his watch; it was almost four. The kids would be home soon.

After cleaning up for the day, he grabbed his jacket from the rack then went to the kitchen. Minutes before five, a car stopped outside and in seconds, roaring laughter and loud voices pushed back the silence better than the simmering pot of sauce.

He heard small footsteps coming to his direction and the squeak of sneakers on the floor as two more sets hurriedly ran up the stairs. Liam’s lips pulled into a grin. They knew what they did today and that they were in for it, so they were going to use his weakness against him to soften him up a bit.

A little girl came into the kitchen, wearing Timberland boots and a thick jacket. She had a white bonnet on, which was a contrast to her long dark brown hair. Her honey glazed orbs sparkled when she saw Liam, white teeth flashing.

“Daddy!” she squealed as soon as she saw him.

Liam opened his arms to her while crouching. The little girl giggled, then dropping her bag to the floor, ran up to him that her bonnet dropped to the floor, and threw her arms around his neck.

“I missed you, Daddy!”

He hugged her tightly, feeling his tiredness leave his body. “I missed you too, baby. How was school?”

wa

She scrunched up her nose and stuck her tongue out.

“I don’t like school,” she whined.

“Why not, baby?” asked Liam, patting her head.

“The boys pulled my chair this morning. I fell and hurt my butt,” she said, her cheeks

blushing.

Liam held back his anger. “Who pulls your chair, baby? Does it hurt? We can call Aunty L,” he said worriedly.

The little girl shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt now, Daddy. It hurt this morning. Then, w e had lunch and they said ‘sorry’ and gave me their cookies.”

you

cookies and I felt bad, so I gave them back their cookies,” she said proudly. “And if they pull my chair again, I’ll tell on them. I told them my Daddy was a big strong Alpha!” she exclaimed

laughed at her. Some of those

her arms and pouted. “I still don’t like them, Daddy. I’ll

brushed her hair and fixed the headband that

pull your

teary-eyed. “Everyone laughed at me and teacher didn’t see them. She

her to his side. “They won’t hurt you again, baby. And I’ll have a talk

her eyes

as she

huge serving ready for you when you come down,” he said, putting her down. “And call your brothers,

Daddy?” she asked slowly, rocking

if they won’t come down, they won’t

to be thinking about it as her

finally, picking up her bag

Liam quickly made his way up his room, not the faintest sound heard save for the click of the bedroom

to his relief, changed into a suit, then went back to the

them, adding lots of shredded cheese just as the kids liked it. Taking the bottle, he brought out earlier, he poured Chianti for

bowl at the center had Alia’s eyes

I love you!” she squealed, running to him to give him a hug. The skirt of her royal blue dress fluffed

to her level so

two boys inched their way inside the dining room while

she sat down. “Thank

welcome, baby,” he replied,

e had one hand hidden on a pocket of his black slacks, which was paired with a well ironed white dress shirt. His lips pursed. Then he took out his hand to

the other hand, Amiry looked to the side as if the wall was the most interesting

to tell which was who, they gave themselves away with the way they carried themselves. Unless they were playing a prank on Liam, again. Tonight, however, h e felt

demeanor making the boys more and more

them. They protected their sister from her bullies, but

sister at the table? Food’s going to get

stared at each other’s deep brown orbs, mirroring each other’s confusion. Aylan shrugged, then took his seat on Alia’s right. Amiry sat

directly opposite Alia.

your tie, Amiry,”

and untying until he got

as the kids ate their servings and gladly served them seconds. The chicken was devoured first, and

which he found funny but held back from laughing in front of them. For now, he just wanted to enjoy

last of his wine, then got up, and wet a napkin.

said Alia, then nudged

said awkwardly,

crossed

little acts as he collected the dishes to the sink, smiling

with her cheeks puffed up. She was mad, but she

in a strained voice said, “Thanks

Liam drawled. “Now, who wants to

exclaimed Alia. “It’s

What do you want

looked at their Dad with pleading eyes, but

movie you haven’t seen yet,” he

and shook her head. The boys

Liam pouted. “No?”

“Amiry and Aylan don’t like girl movies.

Amiry nodded in approval.

turn. You

out like claws and Liam gasped, stumbling

he said, and

“You go ahead and get everything ready, baby. Daddy has something to say

“But _“

baby. We

nodded slightly at her, accepting their fates. Their Dad was strict with them with training, simply because they were the next to take over as Alpha. Their cousins Raixel and Rasi were always training with them. Either of them could be the next Head

for them to take their seats. He sat opposite them, calmly observing their fidgeting

he said slowly. “Gale and Rigel had

at each other. “Being an Alpha means learning to take responsibility for your actions. Every

They nodded.

tell me why you were twenty minutes

on his lip, his gaze moving to the side to

“Lame humans,” Aylan muttered.

getting up slowly, the chair scraping against

Aylan nudged Amiry.

them and to make sure there would be no

answered Amiry, crossing his arms and puffing up his

it for

“Go on,” Liam stated.

the bathroom

That’s my boy!

Amiry said quietly. “They laughed at her when she fell. Humans

his glasses up. “Alia was smiling and saying

her ‘ugly’, Dad!”

A young kid called his adorable, sweet

to say ‘sorry’ to her and

“And if they hurt her again, we told them their parents will lose

was teaching

smirking. “Of course, they didn’t, bro.

been spending too much time

an Alpha protects the people he loves. I am very proud of you both for defending your sister,” he said and the two beamed. “But next time something happens, you leave it to the grown-ups, alright? They don’t know we exist, and it is very

than anyone in

of Alpha blood in your class, too,

Aylan. “And humans are lame. Why should we keep hiding?” “We’re not hiding, little Alphas. We are simply co-existing. Don’t show your strength unless absolutely necessary. Am I

“Daddy!” called Alia.

the opening was

“Am I?” Liam repeated.

The boys nodded.

“Yes, Alpha,” they responded.

Now go

all gathered on the couch, with him in the middle, the two boys on his right and his only daughter, who used his leg as a pillow,

his two little Alphas who would someday take over the Red Claw Pack. His little girl would grow up to be the Alpha of the Black Mist Pack. It went without saying that she’d be single until she was at least thirty since Liam would bar all boys from getting a meter close to her. They’d have to

chasing them all over the house. Now, they were already five, old enough to start getting involved

his own end. Although Liam was content with how things were, and that the boys and Lexy assured him he was doing well, the

matter the distractions he set for himself, it found a way to remind him that

get up from the couch. Holding her hands out, Liam had to carry her in his arms and bring her to her room, with the boys