FREYA
I am at the bottom of the stairs before I realise I have moved.
The kitchen is not empty with some Omegas prepping for today’s dinner but I do not expect to see Max on the floor. On his knees.
He has Martin propped against the leg of the kitchen table on a cushion and the two of them are surrounded by a small army of wooden carved animals lined up in formation across the floor tiles.
Max is in his off-duty linen, his hair untied, one of the carved bears in his hand and his voice low and serious, narrating something that has Martin laughing so hard the boy has the hiccups.
He hears me push the door before he sees me. His head comes up and his eyes find me.
He sets the bear down and says low to the boy, "I'm going to talk to your aunty for a minute. You guard the line, okay? Do
