The Lone Wolf

~~THIRTEEN~~

"Gotcha!" He announces triumphantly after I accidentally corner myself in the closet, pinned against the wall whose paint is actually dry. I try to find a way to squeeze past him, but each exit route is blocked by one of his paint covered hands...I'm trapped.

"No, no, no! Dakota don't!" I protest with a squeal and laugh, shutting my eyes as I prepare to be covered with paint.

"What fun would that be?" He murmurs, sounding like he's right in front of me, and just as I open my eyes to confirm it, his mouth presses to mine in a deep kiss...to which I close my eyes again as I stand on my tiptoes to circle my arms around his neck...

I should've known better, because the second I let my guard down, I feel his hands grab my butt, no doubt leaving two handprints on the back of my khaki shorts.

"Dakota!" I cry out in surprise after pulling away a bit, and he laughs victoriously before lifting me off the ground, and I immediately wrap my legs around his waist to keep from falling...clinging to him with a squeak of surprise.

"Yes flower?" He asks, looking at me with a smug expression and a devious twinkle in his eyes.

"You got paint on my shorts! I'll never be able to get those handprints off!" I scold with a beet red face, and he only smirks wider.

"Good...that way when you wear them, everyone will know you're all mine..." He replies, giving me a playful squeeze that makes me squeak again. Goddess this man makes me blush, all this excitement can't be good for my heart.

He begins walking out of the closet, and noticing my confusion, he grins.

"I think it's time we cleaned up Flower, don't you think?" He purrs, and I can already tell from the hungry look in his eyes that cleaning up won't be the only thing we'll be doing in the shower this time...not that I'm complaining in the slightest.

"That sounds like fun..." I answer a little more confidently than I expected, and his answering purr is immediately followed by him kicking the bathroom door closed with his foot.

------A few days later----

"Where's Noah?" I call out to the pup, who is trying his best not to giggle as we play hide and seek in the house. I already know exactly where he's hiding, but I figured I draw it out so it would be more fun.

It's been a couple of days since Noah officially became a member of our family...I love that word by the way...family. And he seems to be adjusting well, already having explored most of the house with me. He especially loved his bedroom, and it made me really happy to see that wide grin on his face when I said it was all his, no doubt he didn't have his own room in the home he was living in. He couldn't decide what to go to first...

The little rocket shaped toy box filled with both the few new toys I bought him and the ones he already had, the bean bag chair that looked like Earth, the bed fitted with space themed bed sheets, or the giant teddy bear sitting in the corner that mema, as he's come to call Dakota's mom, gave him as a present. But needless to say he investigated it all, and was especially fond of the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling.

"Noah..." I call out again, smiling broadly as I hear him giggling from upstairs, and I slowly begin to creep up the stairs to the game room that Dakota's been redoing. Turning it from just a place to watch movies and play video games, to a play area for Noah...and other future pups. Having already put in things like a little table for him to sit and color at, pillows and a miniature cabinet filled with coloring supplies. Dakota decided to leave his turtle tank upstairs, and Noah loves to watch the little creature occasionally.

Creeping up the stairs, I peek over the edge to see his little tuft of blonde curls sticking up from behind the cabinet, and I grin as I slowly tiptoe towards him.

"Boo!" I call out as I lean over the top, and he jumps before bursting into a fit of giggles that's extremely infectious, leaving us both laughing as I scoop him up in my arms.

"Again! Again!" He cries out excitedly, but as much as I would love to fulfill his wish to play again, there is something else we have to do first.

"Maybe in a little while baby, but not right now." I answer, and his responding pout almost makes me change my mind.

"Why not?" He asks, but before I can answer, his tummy answers for me with a loud rumble of hunger, as does mine.

"I thought we could have lunch first, how does that sound?" I offer, and he bobs his head excitedly.

Once we reach the kitchen, I help him wash his hands and put on his bib before sitting him in his hook on high chair attached to the island countertop and preparing his lunch, consisting of some leftover grilled chicken we had last night for dinner cut into bite sized pieces, some soft cooked baby carrots, and his favorite cup of apple sauce with his small spoon. As he starts going to town on the chicken and carrots I set on his tray, I refill his sippy cup with water.

~Hello flower, how's our little man doing?~ Dakota ask through our link, and I grin as I hand Noah his cup, giving my mate a look at him just as he shoves a handful of chicken in his mouth with bits of carrot smeared on his chin.

~I'd say he's loving the food, don't you say?~ I answer, and my smile widens as he chuckles at the sight.

~That's my boy.~ He says with amused pride, and a wave of warmth spreads through me, much like the one I felt when Noah called Dakota 'daddy' just yesterday, the look on Dakota's face was so awestruck and happy...it literally made his day...and mine too.

~Are you going to be joining us for lunch today?~ I ask hopefully, though I have the feeling that since he isn't here already, he won't be joining us.

~No, unfortunately...my shift won't end for a couple more hours, sorry flower.~

I sigh externally as I watch Noah's messy attempt at eating applesauce, making me grin a bit.

~It's alright Ohpitsa, we'll be waiting for you.~

~You know I love it when you call me that...~ He purrs before his link disappears, and I sigh as I wet a wash cloth to wipe off my sons face and hands, him giggling at the sensation until I stop to wipe off his tray. Removing his bib, I sit on the stool beside him to eat my lunch.

"Where's daddy?" He asks curiously, and I smile at him.

"He's working sweetie, but he'll be home in a little while, I promise." I answer with a poke to his nose, and he giggles before going back to sipping his water.

"Can we go see him?"

I shake my head with a disappointment, and he pouts a little.

"Not this time, but I think we can surprise him tomorrow instead, what do you think?" I offer, and he bobs his head excitedly.

"Come on sweetie, I think your favorite show is about to come on." I say after I drop my empty plate in the sink, the time reminding me that Paw Patrol is about to start.

Just as I get into the living room and cut the show on, the doorbell rings. Hitting pause, I head to the door with Noah on my hip, him playing with a piece of my hair. Opening the door, one of the three people on the other side surprises me.

"Alpha Liam...what are you doing here?"