“Are you sure this thing is on right?” Parker looked skeptical as I handed him Ariana to put in the wrap I just instructed him on how to use. ”What if she falls out?”

“She’s not going to fall out. She’s going to be snug as a rug all sound asleep before you even fasten the knot.” I reassured as he took her into his hands, looking ever fearful he would in fact drop her and that she would shatter like glass when he did so.

I had to give him credit, though. I’d been trying to get him to try the wrap for close to a month and he was always to terrified and today he was jumping in. Big tough alpha could go head to head with the most powerful of men, but was putty when it came to his daughter.

We were both figuring this baby thing out on our own. As a child, my grandfathers were such an integral part of my life those early years. I’m sure it was to help my mom figure all the baby stuff out, but looking back on the pictures I saw it as the gift it was to me, surrounded by all that love, multigenerational love at that. Parker’s parents had met Ariana a few times, but beyond a few presents, seemed disinterested in actually interacting with her. I hoped that would change as she got older.

I chose to believe that, in their sick way, my parents loved me even if their actions meant I could no longer allow them to be in my life. Our daughter would never have the kind of relationship I had with my grandparents before they passed and I was saddened by that, even if it was the right thing to do unless things drastically changed. She had Parker and I, and we would make sure she always felt loved.

“Now place her here, pull this part over and this under. Perfect. No pull the ends up.” He followed every instruction to a T until the last, where he would have to not have at least one hand beneath her. She was perfectly secure, but I got his trepidation. I was leery my first time as well and if I hadn’t been at a baby wearing class, she’d probably be in my arms exclusively.

“She’ll fall.” Parker shook his head vehemently. No, today was not his day for tying the wrap. Which was fine. Just the fact that he wanted to be here, wearing her, while I finished up an emancipation case I began before Ariana was born, meant everything.

Not once had Parker asked me to give up my career. Money was a non-issue for us, so it wasn’t that he needed my contribution. We actually “anonymously” donated my paycheck back to the omega house each month. Naheed knew where the money was coming from, but we kept it at that. I feared it would change how people saw me at work, and he understood.

Even as baby day came close, Parker supported my choice to be a working omega and on more than one occasion, I caught him bragging about how much I made a difference doing what I did. He was proud of me which meant every bit as much to me as his love did. From the outside, we might not appear to be equals, but in Parker’s eyes we were and that was ll that mattered.

“No,” I tried to reassure him. “She’s good and secure, but I can do it if you want and next time you can try it seated.” The relief on his face was all the answer I needed and I fastened the wrap with ease. Damn, he looked good wearing our daughter. “There. Snug as a bug, just like I promised.”

“She’s so perfect.” He brushed her one long curl off of her face. Marcus constantly teased us with the rhyme about there being a girl with a little curl, but no one believed for a second that the sweet babe we called daughter could ever be horrid.

“Gets it from her dad.” I stood up on my tip toes long enough to kiss his cheek. “So are you ready? It should only be an hour.” I hoped. In truth, this case should’ve been done two months ago, but there was a problem finding the poor omega’s birth certificate and that put things on hold. They were safe in Omega House as they waited for their hearing, but being free of the parents that beat you for who you were, that was a gift this one needed and I planned to give.

“I’ll be fine.” The confidence he held while at work was completely absent, his insecurities shining though. He’d be great. He always was. “You’re only going to be in the next room, after all.” He fluffed off, but that had been the key to him agreeing. I offered to let the baby stay with Jace, or even home with Parker, but he wanted the baby near me, sure she would starve while waiting for my return. It was inconvenient that she wouldn’t take a bottle, but she wasn’t going to stave in an hour, especially now that she was eating less frequently and with more gusto each meal. But I wanted her here too, so it was an easy concession.

At the time I took the job, I’d known I was pregnant. What I hadn’t comprehended was what a game changer the nursery and baby wearing at work was going to be. If I had taken the other offer, I’d have been on paternity leave for at least the next year. I just couldn’t be away from her for that long. Omega House had managed to give me a gift as big as the one I tried to give them. I could follow my career path where it led while being the best father I could. I owed Jace--big time.

“True, but you do tend to worry.”

“That’s my job.” All teasing was pushed aside. One thing no one could ever accuse Parker of was not giving his all to being the best alpha and father he could be. I loved him for it, even if he sometimes was ludicrously over the top, like when he called preschools the week after Ariana was born to secure her spot. Silly alpha. Wonderful alpha.

“No.” I squeezed his shoulder. “That’s where you are wrong, Alpha.”

“How so?”

“Your job is to love us.”

“And I do.” He kissed me before pushing the pesky curl from her forehead another time. ”With all my heart.”

What more could an omega ask for?