"Okay, I'll definitely listen to Mommy and not make her angry," Jared nodded firmly, his small voice carrying the kind of pack-loyal certainty that always softened my instincts.
"Good boy. Go on, have fun," I said, watching him retreat deeper into his room with the Lego set he had chosen, his excitement already pulling him into his own little den space.
Once he disappeared, I began storing the remaining gifts into the cabinet, each item carefully placed as if organizing order would calm the strange warmth still lingering in the room. Elliot stood nearby, his Alpha presence filling the space without effort, and I finally glanced at him properly.
"Have you gotten over your cold?" I asked, noticing the subtle improvement in his scent and energy compared to before.
"It's gone," he replied with a faint smile. "All thanks to you."
I lowered my gaze immediately, unsettled by the weight of his stare. "I didn't do anything."
