Ascension of a Gamma novel Chapter 80

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.”

Liam grinned. “What did you tell them, baby?” he asked.

“I said ‘okay’, then took their cookies. I had three cookies and they didn’t have 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 while pressing Liam’s cheeks together.

Liam laughed at her. Some of those kids wouldn’t understand what she meant.

She crossed her arms and pouted. “I still don’t like them, Daddy. I’ll never talk to them again. Ever!”

Liam brushed her hair and fixed the headband that was almost to her forehead.

“Don’t worry, baby. They won’t pull your chair again. I promise.”

“You mean it, Daddy?” she asked, almost teary-eyed. “Everyone laughed at me and teacher didn’t see them. She got mad at me. It hurt when I sit down.”

He kissed her forehead while getting up, holding her to his side. “They won’t hurt you again, baby. And I’ll have a talk with Mrs. Wilson. Don’t you worry.”

As she saw what her Daddy was cooking, her eyes sparkled. Her stomach let out a sound.

Liam chuckled as she blushed deeper.

“Go and change, baby. I’ll have a huge serving ready for you when you come down,” he said, putting her down. “And call your brothers, will you, baby?”

“Are you mad at them, Daddy?” she asked slowly, rocking on her boots.

“I’m not mad at them, baby. But if they won’t come down, they won’t have dinner.”

She seemed to be thinking about it as her gaze shifted.

“Okay,” she said finally, picking up her bag then leaving the kitchen.

After getting everything ready, Liam quickly made his way up his room, not the faintest sound heard save for the click of the bedroom doors. He took a quick shower, finally

shaved his stubble, much to his relief, changed into a suit, then went back to the kitchen.

Liam set the table for the four of them. He generously plated spaghetti for all of them, adding lots of shredded cheese just as the kids liked it. Taking the bottle, he brought out earlier, he poured Chianti for himself and for the kids, carbonated water.

The big bowl at the center had Alia’s eyes sparkling. It was filled with her favorite, fried chicken.

“Daddy, I love you!” she squealed, running to him to give him a hug. The skirt of her royal blue dress fluffed as she ran as fast as her short legs could let her, from the door to one end of the table.

Liam kneeled to her level so he could receive her hug.

The two boys inched their way inside the dining room while Liam pulled a chair for his little girl.

She giggled as she sat down. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re very welcome, baby,” he replied, smiling.

Slowly, he turned to face the boys. Aylan pushed his glasses up as he stared at the floor. H 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 tinker with the black bowtie which was already neatly worn.

On the other hand, Amiry looked to the side as if the wall was the most interesting thing. His dress shirt tucked on one side, the dark blue tie hanging down his shoulders.

While it was difficult 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 that they weren’t – even the two troublemakers wouldn’t dare.

He kept his face placid, his cold demeanor making the boys more and more uncomfortable each passing second.

Internally, Liam was glad and couldn’t be prouder of them. They protected their sister from her bullies, but he still had to reprimand them for skipping a few minutes of training. Liam cleared his throat.

“Won’t you join your sister at the table? Food’s going to get cold.”

The two boys 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 on her left. Liam was

directly opposite Alia.

“Fix your tie, Amiry,” said Liam coolly.

The little boy fumbled with the tie for a few minutes, tying and untying until he got it decent. Without being told, he tucked in his dress shirt, giving him a neater look.

Liam smiled as the kids ate their servings and gladly served them seconds. The chicken was devoured first, and the shredded cheese followed. Sauce smothered their lips and

cheeks, which he found funny but held back from laughing in front of them. For now, he just wanted to enjoy a nice dinner with his family.

Afterward, the kids were leaning back on their seats. Liam drank the last of his wine, then got up, and wet a napkin. Amiry scowled as Liam wiped his face clean. Alia was all smiles and giggling while Aylan was as rigid as a tree.

“Thank you, Daddy,” said Alia, then nudged her brothers.

“Thanks… Dad,” Aylan said awkwardly, looking to the floor.

Amiry just crossed his arms.

Liam pretended not to notice their little acts as he collected the dishes to the sink, smiling to himself.

The little girl nudged Amiry again, this time glaring at him with her cheeks puffed up. She was mad, but she looked adorable.

Amiry pursed his lips, then, in a strained voice said, “Thanks for… dinner, Dad.”

“You’re very welcome,” Liam drawled. “Now, who wants to watch a movie?”

“Me!” exclaimed Alia. “It’s my turn, Daddy!”

“Alright, baby. What do you want to watch?” he asked.

The boys visibly cringed. She always chose a Barbie movie. They looked at their Dad with pleading eyes, but he smirked at them.

“I know a movie you haven’t seen yet,” he said.

Alia giggled and shook her head. The boys were looking expectantly at her.

Liam pouted. “No?”

She pushed his cheeks together. “Amiry and Aylan don’t like girl movies. They like dinosaurs.”

Amiry nodded in approval.

“Are you sure, baby? It’s your turn. You can choose anything you like.”

“Rawr!!!” She held her hands out like claws and Liam gasped, stumbling back.

He brushed the strands of hair from her face and smiled. “You go ahead and get everything ready, baby. Daddy has something to say to your brothers.”

She giggled and said, “Goodnight, Aylan. Godnight, Amiry.”