Page 44 of Lost in the Fog

He chuckled. “I am delighted with this turn of events.”

Her father stared. “You...”

“I am her match. I had to come to her aid when I did. It was partially for you but mostly for her.”

Her father smiled. “Would you stand up together?”

Gia shrugged, and as Ornolf stood, he helped ease her to her feet.

She looked at her stunned father. “You can stop worrying. I am a big girl, a very big girl, and what I can’t handle, Ornolf said he would help with. We will get used to each other, live happily ever after, I will work the financials, and maybe there will be grandkids for you one day. They look normal until their late teens.”

Her dad paused and then beamed. “Really?”

“Really. This isn’t quite the way things were supposed to be, but it is the way they are now.” Gia looked up at Ornolf. “I am not upset by it.”

Her father chuckled. “That is high praise from her.”

“I am beginning to get that idea.” Ornolf slid his arm around her back.

She laughed and leaned into him.

Her father had a dawning delight and a lot of relief in his expression. They sat back down, and he quizzed them about what it meant. They talked with him for over an hour. Tea and lemonade were served at one point, and Gia was yawning slightly by the time her father called a halt to the grilling.

“Well, Ornolf, you are the same man I thought you were, more or less. As long as I can visit whenever Gia will have me over, I believe that I can go home and sleep soundly for the first time in a decade.” Maxwell paused. “Well, we will have to have a wedding with family friends, Gia.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Okay, but I am going to appear like this, so folks will freak.”

Maxwell grinned. “I welcome it. I want you to be seen by everyone.”

Ornolf smiled. “As do I, Gia Zorat.”

She jolted. “Oh, right. I forgot about that.”

Ornolf chuckled. “My people took on surnames as is customary here. I must say, to call you by that name is rather interesting.”

She felt the hand on her back that had been rubbing her back and shoulders slowly. No wonder she was drowsy.

Her father stood, walked to her, and kissed her cheek. “I feel good about this, Gia. You are looking very content right now.”

Ornolf chuckled. “I will work to continue that expression.”

Gia blushed. “Um, right. Well, Dad, it was nice to have you see me as me for the first time. I was worried about your reaction.”

“Baby, I always knew you were something else. I just didn’t realize it was this. You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

She stood up and hugged him, looking down slightly. “You are still in possession of a full head of hair, Dad. Good to know if I ever have boys.”

Her father grinned. “Are you sure you are an omega? They are supposed to be small and weak.”

“Just smaller than the alphas, Maxwell. We need them stronger than those who are considered proper omegas.” Ornolf murmured, “We also enjoy our partners to be independent and assertive. It makes us smug that such strong women have chosen us.”

Gia looked at her husband and blinked slowly. “Right.”

“And if we can be of assistance, we are superheroes.” Ornolf grinned.

Gia paused and glanced at him. “We will see.”

Maxwell laughed. “That usually means no.” He hugged her, kissed her cheek again, shook Ornolf’s hand, and said, “I am going to leave you two alone to get to know each other.”

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