The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate
Chapter 402
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We want to, Leah insisted. “You’re going to have your hands full witwins. Let us help where we cas
“The’s right.” Kaara added. Plus, it gives everyone an excuse to come it these two. They’re already the most popular babies is town
A nurse came by to do the babies afternoon care routine–changing diapers, taking temperatures, adjusting monitors. We stepped back to give her room to work.
“Can I and you something? Derek said quietly, pulling me aside slightly. As a new father.”
“Sure,” I said, curious
“How do you do it?” he asked. “How do you handle the fear? They’re so small, so fragile. There are so many things that could go wrong
I looked at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his question. “Are you and Kiara…?
“No, no,” he said quickly. “Nothing like that. Not yet anyway. I just… seeing them like this, seeing how much you and Athena love them, how scared you must be… I don’t know how you’re holding it together.”
I’m not, I admitted honestly. Holding it together, I mean. Inside, I’m terrified every second of every day. What if something happens? What if they stop breathing? What if they have complications? What if I’m not a good enough father?”
“But you seem so calm, Derek said.
That’s for Athena,” I said, glancing at where she stood with Kiara and Leah, laughing at something. “She needs me to be strong, to be her anchor. So I am, even when I’m falling apart inside. That’s what you do when you love someone–you be strong for them when they can’t be strong for themselves.”
Derek nodded slowly, processing that. And the fear? Does it get better?
I don’t know yet,” I said honestly. “Ask me in eighteen years.”
He laughed at that, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. Fair enough.”
“Why are you asking?” I pressed. “Really.”
He glanced at Kiara, and something in his expression shifted. “Because being with her, seeing how serious this could get… it makes me think about the future. About what I want. And seeing you with your kids, seeing how much love there is even with all the fear and uncertainty… I think I want that someday. With her.”
“Then tell her that, I advised. ‘Don’t waste time being scared of what might happen. Life’s too short, and happiness is too rare.”
“When did you get so wise? Derek asked, smirking
“When I became a father,” I said. “Apparently, it comes with the territory.
Before Derek could respond, Arianna let out a cry–small but insistent Athena was at her isolette immediately, reaching through the
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porthole to soothe her.
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“She’s hungry,” the nurse said, checking the feeding schedule. “Right a time too. This one likes to eat exactly every three hours.”
“Can I feed her?” Athena asked hopefully. We’d been practicing bottleeding with both babies, though they still tired easily and often needed their feeding supplemented through their feeding tubes.
Absolutely. Let me get her set up.”
The nurse carefully lifted Arianna from the isolette, managing all the wires and tubes with practiced ease. She settled Arianna in Athena’s arms and handed her a small bottle of fortified breast milk.
We all watched as Athena carefully positioned the bottle, and Arianna latched on immediately, sucking enthusiastically.
“She’s doing so well,” the nurse praised. “Look at how strong that sucks. She’s getting the hang of this.”
“Can Adrian eat too?” I asked, seeing our son starting to fuss.
“Sure. Dad can feed him.”
A few minutes later, I was settled in a chair with Adrian in my arms, his tiny mouth working at his own bottle. He was slower than his sister, taking breaks to rest, but he was trying.
“They’re beautiful,” Kiara said softly, watching us. “You two are really lucky.”
“We are,” Athena agreed, not taking her eyes off Arianna. “So incredibly lucky.”
After the babies finished eating–Arianna drank almost her whole bottle while Adrian managed about half before tiring out–they were
settled back in their isolettes for their afternoon nap. The excitement of visitors and feeding had worn them out.
“We should go,” Leah said reluctantly. “Let these little ones rest.”
“And let you two rest,” Marcus added. “You both look exhausted.”
“We are, I admitted. “But it’s a good exhausted.”
“Before we go,” Kiara said, “Derek and I wanted to ask you something.
“Okay,” Athena said, looking between them curiously.
“Would you both be okay with us being Adrian and Arianna’s godparents?” Kiara asked. “I know it’s traditional to choose family, and we’d understand if you want to ask Sarah and Orion instead, but…”
“We’d love that,” Athena interrupted, smiling. “Both of you. You’re family too, in all the ways that matter.”
“Really?” Derek asked, looking genuinely touched.
“Really,” I confirmed. “There’s no one else we’d trust more.”
Kiara’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. Both of you. We won’t let you down.”
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Chapter 402
“We know, Athena said.
After our friends left, Athena and I stayed in the NICU a while longer, just sitting between the isolettes, watching our babies sleep.
“Today was good, Athena said softly. “Telling everyone their names. Seeing how much everyone loves them already.”
“It was, I agreed. Adrian and Arianna are very loved babies.”
Addy and Ari, Athena said, testing out the nicknames. ‘I think those suit them.
“Me too.
Arianna stirred in her isolette, making a small sound before settling again. Adrian slept on, completely peaceful.
“Different personalities already,” I observed.
“She’s going to be the talker,” Athena predicted. “And he’s going to be the quiet, thoughtful one.”
“Like their parents,” I said.
“Exactly like their parents.” She reached over to take my hand. ‘We made them, Tristan. Together. These perfect little humans who are going to grow up and have their own personalities and dreams and lives.
“It’s terrifying,” I admitted.
“It is,” she agreed. “But it’s also the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to us.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
A nurse stopped by. “You two should head home soon. Get some real rest. The babies are stable, and we’ll call if anything changes.”
“Five more minutes,” Athena requested.
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“Five more minutes,” the nurse agreed with a smile.
We sat there in the quiet of the NICU, hands clasped between the isolettes, watching Adrian James Hayes and Arianna Rose Hayes breathe. Our son and daughter. Our miracle twins who’d come early but were fighting so hard to grow strong.
“Addy and Ari,” I whispered. “Your mom and I love you so much. More than you’ll ever know.”
“We’re going to take such good care of you,” Athena added softly. “We’re going to give you the best life. Fill it with love and laughter and
family.
And sitting there, watching them sleep, I believed it. Despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, despite everything we still had to face, I believed we were going to be okay.
All four of us.
A family.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
