𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓸 𝓔𝓿𝓲𝓵 [√]

Part Thirteen

Dinner had ended, and Zach picked up the plates and brought them to the sink. He couldn't just put them in the dishwasher, but he wanted to avoid the others asking him questions.

"So, who is your mate?" He heard Chris ask, and the plate he was washing slipped from his hand.

"No one," Zach said, continuing to wash his plate.

"But daddy, you said.." Junior began, but Zach rushed to him and covered his mouth.

"So Junior knows who your mate is," Chris said, and Zach shook his head.

"No, he doesn't," Zach said, removing his hand from Junior's mouth.

"Is it another villain?" Martin asked curiously, and Zach glared at him.

"I wouldn't have those despicable people around my son," Zach said harshly.

"Then who is it? I want to know who you have around my son." Chris said, and Zach glared.

"My mate's business is none of yours." Zach hissed.

"But Papa is your mate." Junior blurted out, and Zach could feel himself grow paler.

"Junior!" Zach exclaimed, and Chris yelled, "Me?"

"Junior, bedtime," Zach said, picking up Junior and bringing him upstairs. He took him to his bedroom, which was decorated with animal stickers, and brought him to the bathroom. He stripped him down and filled the tub before placing him in.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Junior said, looking up at Zach's frowning face.

"It's ok, Junior," Zach said, washing him.

Zach finished Junior's bath, dried him, and dressed him in His Pajamas. He then put Junior in bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.

"Good night, bud," he said, kissing his forehead.

"Night, Daddy, night, papa," Junior said, and Zach looked over to see Chris looking at them.

Chris came forward, and Zach moved away, leaving the room. He made his way back to his room, shut the door, and locked it behind him.

He took a shower and sat on his bed. He heard a knock on his door but ignored it. "Zach, open the door." He heard Chris call from the other side of the door. The other man knocked some more before Zach finally heard him go away.

Zack went over and silently unlocked the door when he heard movement in the room next to his. He climbed into bed.

Zach woke up to the sound of screaming. He shot up in bed just as his door banged open, and tiny feet came running towards it. He reached over and turned on the bedside lamp as a tiny body jumped onto it.

"What's wrong?" He asked Juniors as the boy sobbed.

"I h-had a n-nightmare." Junior stuttered out, and Zach held him close.

"What happened?" He heard Chris ask and looked up at him.

"He had a nightmare," Zach said, and Chris nodded, closing the room's door and coming closer.

He hesitated at the edge of the bed. Zach sighed and parted the bed beside him.

Chris climbed onto the bed, leaned over Zach, and looked down at Junior. Running his fingers through his hair caused the six-year-old to look up at him.

"Papa, are you sleeping here too?" Junior asked, rubbing his tiny fist over his eye.

Chris looked up at Zach in Question. "Can he stay, Daddy?" Junior asked, and Zach sighed, cursing his inability to deny Junior anything.

"Ok," Zach said, he pulled junior under the blankets and held him close, he waited for Chris to get under the covers before turning the bedside lamp off.

🌘~🌗~🌖~🌑~🌔~🌓~🌒

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Word count: 548

Re-published: April 26, 2024, 12:30 pm

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