Page 99 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Date Night Out

Sometimes, Vaughn couldn’t believe how much his life had changed. Less than a year ago, he’d been alone. No mate, no kids. One fateful phone call on a stormy night had changed everything. He’d truly been blessed by the Goddess.

Ollie’s words over breakfast had him thinking, though. He and Sam were about to celebrate their first Valentine’s as a couple, and Vaughn hadn’t even thought about it. They were always so focused on the kids. Vaughn needed to romance his mate the way he deserved.

And the thing was, he wanted to marry Sam. They couldn’t have the kind of celebration he wanted— the kids’ safety always came first—but they could do something. A commitment ceremony. And he’d ask Sam to marry him this week. Tonight. Vaughn made it to the clinic with an extra spring in his step. He’d never been happier.

“Morning, son.”

Vaughn wasn’t the only one who’d flourished in his new role. Just as he’d settled happily into his job as mate and father, Stuart Jerrick loved being a grandfather. Or Pop-pop as he’d asked the kids to call him. He’d never imagined his stern, former alpha, doctor father as a Pop-pop, but it suited him.

“Morning, Dad. How was everything last night?”

“Quiet. No calls. I sent Karen home early. We don’t have any appointments until ten, so I figured you and I could do rounds on our own. Your mom’s coming in at ten.”

His mom, Joanne—or Grammy as she now preferred to be called—absolutely loved spoiling the kids rotten. She’d asked them to change her schedule at the clinic, and now only worked as their nurse three days a week. The other two days she spent with Sam and the kids, working on schoolwork and getting them up to the education levels they should be at their ages.

It was going to be a long process, but they were doing great. Ollie had already caught up, and was pretty much at a kindergarten level. The other kids were catching up quickly, too.

Even Ben, their fourteen-year-old, had taken to reading like a duck to water. They rarely saw him without a book in hand, and every chance he had, he came to the clinic and stuck with Vaughn for the day. They’d started working on anatomy and physiology of different species. Ben soaked it all up like a sponge. Vaughn couldn’t be prouder.

“You think I could convince you guys to watch the kids tonight? I was thinking I’d take Sam out.”

Stuart grinned over at him. “I told you it was crazy to let Natasha plan our Valentine’s dinner.”

“It wasn’t crazy. She’s adorable. Come on. Like you were going to tell her no?”

“All that kid has to do is look at me and I give her what she wants. You’re going to be in trouble when she gets older.”

Vaughn laughed and grabbed one of the charts for a feline patient he’d been keeping his eye on. She’d had a rough pregnancy, but now had three adorable kittens to show for it. They’d managed to get her kidneys functioning better as well, and she’d be heading home in a week or so once it was safe for her to travel with her babies.

On the other side of the clinic, they had a really annoying tiger shifter who’d managed to break his leg while attempting to scale a mountain in human form. He’d shifted and managed to get to help— there had been a pack of wolves camping nearby and they’d transported him to the clinic— but he wasn’t able to shift back or he’d risk damaging his leg further.

Needless to say, keeping a tiger contained while he was in a foul mood was less than pleasant. He’d rather deal with the actual cat who was cranky, pregnant, and in kidney failure, than a shifter who wouldn’t behave.

“I doubt it,” Vaughn said as he double checked the cat’s most recent urine test. “You know she’s been working with Calli. She’s decided she wants to be fierce, smart, and pretty. In that order.”

“Like I said. Trouble.”

Vaughn couldn’t help but grin. “So much trouble. And being taught self-defense by a hellhound? Her teenage years are going to be wildly entertaining.”

“They certainly will be.”

“So, you okay with hanging out with them for a few hours tonight?”

“We’ll double check with your mom when she gets here, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Remind me to ask mom to add ties for the boys to her Valentine’s outfit plans. Ollie said he wanted to wear a tie like you.”

His dad made a very complicated face, a series of expressions, really. “I’ll ask her to find me one the same as his.”

“He’ll love that. They all will.”

Stuart cleared his throat and pretended not to be affected by Ollie’s cuteness. It was a fruitless effort. They were all wrapped snuggly around the little guy’s finger, and they all knew it.

Both Jerrick men got to work before they got more emotional and made it through charts and rounds without issue. By the time his mom arrived and confirmed they’d stay with the kids that night, Vaughn had gotten pulled into an emergency surgery. He made it out with only minutes to spare before his lunch time check-in with Ollie. He decided to go to the house for lunch and quickly cleaned up before heading over.

All the kids hurried over to him when he opened the back door and six voices began chattering at once. “One at a time. Emily, you first today.”