Chapter 265
I pulled out the notebook where I’d been tracking Ella’s patterns. “She nurses every three hours during the day. If I feed her right before I leave and as soon as I get back, Marianne would only need to give her one bottle of expressed milk while I’m gone.”
Dominic nodded, scanning the meticulous notes I’d made. “And you’ve already started getting her used to taking a bottle occasionally.”
“Yes, though she prefers nursing,” I said with a small smile. ‘She’s stubborn that way.”
“Like her mother,” Dominic observed dryly. “What about Lucas?”
“Diana says he’s thriving in the preschool program in the mornings. He’ll barely notice I’m gone an extra few hours three days a week.” I chewed my lip. “But I should talk to him, explain what’s happening.”
“We’ll both talk to him,” Dominic corrected gently. “Tonight, before his bedtime story.”
I looked up at him, feeling a rush of gratitude for his steady support. “Thank you,” I said simply.
Dominic reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “For what?”
“For encouraging me to do this. For supporting me. For…” I gestured to the portfolio he’d assembled. “For believing in me enough to put this together before I’d even decided for sure.”
His expression turned serious. “Rebecca, you’ve transformed my life. You’ve given me a son and a daughter. You’ve united our pack in ways I never thought possible.” His fingers traced the line of my jaw. “Supporting your dreams is the least I can do in return.”
The night before my first day of classes, I found myself in Lucas and Ella’s shared nursery, reading a bedtime story to my son while Ella slept peacefully in the crook of my arm. Lucas had insisted on “Goodnight Moon,” his current favorite, and I read it for what felt like the hundredth time, making sure to point out each item as we said goodnight to it.
“Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere,” I finished softly, closing the book.
Lucas looked up at me with solemn eyes. “Again?” he asked hopefully.
I smiled, setting the book aside. “Not tonight, little wolf. It’s getting late, and you need your sleep.” I hesitated, then added, “And Mama needs to talk to you about something important.”
Lucas sat up a little straighter, his expression turning serious in that way that always reminded me so much of Dominic. “Important?” he repeated.
“Yes,” I said, shifting Ella slightly as I tried to find the right words. “Do you remember how Daddy goes to his office to work sometimes?”
Lucas nodded. “Daddy’s the Alpha,” he said with the pride of a child who’d been told many times of his father’s importance.
“That’s right. And I’m the Luna,” I continued. “But before I was Luna, before I was even your mama, I was something else too. I was a designer-someone who creates beautiful clothes.”
“Like your pretty dresses?” Lucas asked, reaching out to touch the sleeve of my blouse.
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Chapter 265
“Yes, exactly,’ I said, encouraged by his understanding. And starting tomorrow, I’m going to go learn more about making beautiful clothes. I’ll go to school in the mornings, just like you go to preschool
Lucas’s brow fntowed. “You’re leaving?” he asked, a note of worry entering his voice.
‘Only for a little while each day, I assured him quickly. “I’ll be gone when you’re at preschool, and I’ll be back in time for lunch and our afternoon together. And it’s only three days a week.”
Will you take Ella?” he asked, looking at his sleeping sister.
“No, Ella will stay with Grandma Marianne while I’m at school,” I explained. “And you’ll still go to preschool with your friends.”
“But you’ll come back? Lucas pressed, his small hand clutching at my arm.
“Always,” I promised, feeling a lump form in my throat at the concern in his eyes. “Every single day, I’ll come back to you and Ella and Daddy.”
“Why do you have to go?” he asked, the question I’d been dreading.
I took a deep breath, considering how to explain such a complex concept to a child. “Because learning to make beautiful clothes makes Mama happy,” I said finally. “Just like playing with your blocks and your toy cars makes you happy. And when Mama’s happy, I can be an even better mama to you and Ella.”
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14:34 Thu, Oct 2 M…
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
