Page 85 of Nitro

1 Year Later

Juggling two bags of groceries, I wrestled the door open with a grunt.

"I'm back!" I announced.

Interestingly, there was no answer. Nitro would usually help me out with the groceries. A year had passed since Marc’s kidnapping.

Plenty of things had happened since then. Marc had made the official move to Moon Burrow.

Nitro and I had also relocated to a more spacious apartment close to town. The decision had been a good one.

The neighborhood was ideal—close to schools, the main town area, and for Nitro's convenience, only a fifteen-minute ride to the MC compound.

The place suited us perfectly, and we never regretted the decision. Finally, I spotted my mate and baby in the living room.

Nitro was in the armchair, his eyes closed in peaceful slumber, cradling Freya in his arms.

A surge of warmth and affection filled me at the sight.

Deciding not to disturb the two, I tiptoed to the kitchen, gently setting down the bags of groceries.

As I unpacked the groceries, I couldn't shake the feeling that Venom had played a role in expediting the adoption process.

We had faced rejection once before, but this time, it felt as if unseen forces had nudged the wheels of bureaucracy in our favor.

Nitro's lead alpha would never openly admit his involvement though and that was fine with us.

Sorting through the groceries, I noticed the familiar envelope I had hastily discarded into the trash earlier that morning.

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered if Nitro had seen the letter from Gin and Benji.

But as I glanced at Nitro, who had since entered the kitchen with Freya in his arms, I realized there was no need to ask.

Nitro had moved beyond the shadows of the past and so had I.

Seeing the grin on Nitro’s face, eased the tension that momentarily gripped my chest.

Freya's giggles filled the air as she saw me, and her laugh was infectious.

Leaning in, I planted a gentle kiss on Freya's little cheek. Another kiss found its way to Nitro's waiting lips.

"You took so long, we fell asleep," Nitro complained, his voice carrying a teasing tone that made me chuckle.

"Well, maybe next time you can handle the groceries while I babysit Freya," I countered.

Gosh, but I couldn’t get enough of our playful bather.

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked.

"You take a long bath, and I'll make dinner," Nitro suggested. He gave me a once over. "You look a little beat."

"Are you sure?" I asked, appreciating the genuine offer.

Nitro had certainly come a long way in the kitchen.

While not a culinary expert, he had mastered the art of preparing basic meals. Well, at least he no longer burned everything.

"Of course," Nitro assured, gently placing Freya in a nearby baby seat.

"How about some mac and cheese, plus some leftover chicken?" Nitro asked.

"Perfect," I replied.

Leaning in, I planted a tender kiss on Nitro's lips.

"Love you,” I whispered.

“Love you back,” Nitro said automatically.

THE END