Rian's POV
Kai is three months old, and life has settled into comfortable chaos.
He smiles now—big, gummy grins when he sees us. Coos and babbles constantly. Growing fast.
"He's going to be big," Luca observes, watching Kai kick vigorously on his play mat.
"Alpha genetics. He'll be strong." I lie beside our son, and he immediately grabs my finger. "Hi, Kai. Hi, baby boy."
He gurgles happily.
"He loves you," Luca says. "Lights up every time you're near."
"The feeling's mutual." I kiss Kai's chubby cheek. "Love you so much, little one."
That evening, for the first time since Kai's birth, we have a date night.
Sara babysits while Luca and I go to dinner—just us, alone, adult time.
"This is weird," Luca says. "Being without him."
"I know. Keep wanting to check my phone."
We both do. Multiple times.
"We're pathetic," I laugh.
"We're parents." He takes my hand across the table. "But this is nice. Remember when we were just us?"
"We're still us. Just... expanded."
"Expanded," he repeats, smiling. "I like that."
After dinner, we walk under the stars. Like our early dates, but different now.
"Happy?" I ask.
"Exhausted, overwhelmed, constantly worried." He stops, turning to me. "And happier than I've ever been. This life with you and Kai—it's everything."
I pull him close, kissing him deeply. "Love you. So fucking much."
"Love you too." He grins. "Ready to go home to our baby?"
"Absolutely."
We rush home, finding Sara asleep on the couch, Kai sleeping peacefully in his bassinet.
"He was perfect," Sara whispers. "Only woke once. Ate and went right back to sleep."
After she leaves, we watch Kai sleep together.
"We made this," Luca whispers. "This perfect little person."
"We did." I wrap my arms around him from behind. "And I'd do it all again. Every moment."
"The kidnapping?"
"Especially the kidnapping. Led me here. To you. To him. To this perfect life."
He turns in my arms. "One year ago, I hated you."
"And now?"
"Now I can't imagine life without you." He kisses me softly. "Thank you. For forcing me to see what we could be."
"Thank you for giving us a chance. For loving me anyway."
Kai stirs, making small noises. We both move instantly, checking on him.
He's not crying—just dreaming, tiny hands reaching for something only he can see.
"He's perfect," I breathe.
"Like his daddy."
"Like both his parents," I correct.
We stand there, watching our son sleep, and everything feels complete.
One year ago, I kidnapped a stranger. Forced a bond. Made every wrong choice.
But it led here. To love, family, happiness.
"Worth it?" Luca asks quietly, reading my thoughts.
I look at him—my mate, my husband, the father of my child. Then at Kai, sleeping peacefully, our perfect son.
"Worth everything," I answer honestly. "Every mistake, every wrong choice, every terrible decision. Because they led here. To you. To him. To us."
"That's the most honest answer you've ever given me." He leans into my embrace. "I feel the same way. Hated how we started. But love where we ended up."
We stay there, watching Kai sleep, both of us overwhelmed with love.
"Want to know something?" I whisper. "I'd still do it. If I could go back, knowing everything—the pain, the resistance, the fear—I'd still claim you. Still force that bond. Because losing you was never an option."
"That's unhealthy, possessive, and controlling." He turns to face me. "And exactly what I needed to hear."
I kiss him deeply. "You make me better, Luca. You and Kai. You're my everything."
"We're your everything," he corrects, gesturing to our sleeping son. "And you're ours."
That night, after putting Kai down, we make love for the first time since the birth.
Slow. Careful. Reconnecting.
"Missed this," Luca breathes as we move together. "Missed you."
"Had me every day." I kiss him tenderly. "But I know what you mean. Missed this connection."
"Not just physical. The intimacy. Just us." He arches against me. "Love you so much."
"Love you more." I move deeper, careful with his still-healing body. "Thank you for our son. For our family. For everything."
"Thank you for kidnapping me." He grins through pleasure. "Best terrible decision ever."
We finish together—reconnected, renewed, perfect.
Later, wrapped in each other, listening to Kai's soft breathing through the monitor, everything feels right.
"This is it," I whisper. "This is happiness."
"This is home," Luca agrees. "You, me, Kai.
We fall asleep tangled together, both dreaming of the future—watching Kai grow, maybe more children,