CHAPTER 51

ALPHA MARK'S POV.

It has been a week since the memorable weekend I spent at Ava’s place, and I couldn't remember when last I felt this content and satisfied in my life as I do now.

The weekend was perfect in every sense, the endless chatter, laughter, and warmth from everyone, and the simple moment I had with Ava and the kids who filled me with an immeasurable amount of joy.

Though the weekend started with a rough patch which was Kendall falling into the pool at the park, I was glad that the incident did not affect the weekend in any way as everyone was quick to move past the event and was lively.

The peacefulness that had engulfed my soul from the weekend made the week go by smoothly, almost effortlessly, with little drama.

Even when the issues that happened at work raised their ugly head at me, handling it was a simple one for me.

That was all thanks to the positive energy I had entered into the week with.

Rounding up my work for the day, I went through the files submitted to me by my secretary after lunch.

My task was to check through it to see if there were any mistakes to point out so it could be corrected before it was passed out to the office concerned, and I meticulously did it as my mind wandered back to the weekend’s bliss.

I found myself smiling more than once as I allowed my mind to replay all the events that had happened.

I was still on the file assignment when my phone rang next right to me, and Ava’s name popped up on the screen.

“Hey Ava,” I said, immediately I picked up the phone, and my tone lightened up.

“Hi Mark, still at work?” She asked from the other end of the phone.

“Yes, is there any problem?”

“No, not at all. I was just wondering if you would like to come over to my place for dinner after work, you remember I told you I was going to celebrate your company’s achievement right?”

“Yes, I do remember that” I replied, beaming with a smile, I did not know she took it to heart when she mentioned celebrating me one of these days.

“So, what are you saying about dinner tonight at my place?”

A warm feeling instantly wrapped me, and I couldn't help but blusher harder at her request. “That is fine Ava, I will head over as soon as I wrap things up here.”

“Great! See you soon.” With this, she hung up the phone and I allowed myself to get lost in the moment for a little while before snapping out of it and getting back to concluding my work for the day.

I would rather not carry any work over from today to tomorrow because it is always stressful to deal with a pile of work.

Soon I finished up with the document, and I was set to leave the office.

The drive to Ava’s house this evening was shorter than usual, perhaps it was because my mind was clouded with the anticipation building inside me as to what Ava had for me, making me not focus on the drive.

When I finally arrived at my destination, I was greeted with the sight of a neatly set up dining table that was filled with various food fruits, different meals, and drinks.

It was a bit obvious that Ava had gone all out.

Everyone was already seated when I walked in, but at the sight of me, the children sprang up from their seats and ran toward me, their voices ringing with excitement as they wrapped their tiny hands around my leg in a hug.

I knelt to hug them better, my heart swelling with so much joy and pride, these children were the center of my world at this point, and the fact that they came into my life when the Pack was already impatient with me having an heir made me see them as the little saviors that were sent to light up my world in my darkest moment.

“Hey, you two! How have you both been doing?” I asked, my voice tinged with so much excitement, it had just been a week since I last saw them, but I missed them so much like they had been away for a year.

“We are doing just great,” They both choruses, their excitement matching mine and Ava just stood staring down at us, her face was also lit up with a smile as well.

After the round of pleasantries, we all took our seats, and Ava offered a short prayer. “Thank you, Lord, for this food and for bringing us together. Amen.”

“Mr. Mark, I will be representing my school in a painting competition, would you come to cheer me on?” Kendall asked as we started eating.

“That’s amazing Kendall” I exclaimed, genuinely excited, “Sure I'll come, I wouldn't miss that for anything.”

Kenny, who always doesn't like being left out of a conversation, started talking about his day at school, sharing every little detail about his class from his class teacher to his classmates at large and his friends with so much enthusiasm.

I listened intently with so much rapt attention like the good listener I was, asking questions along the way to keep the conversation going.

“So…”

“I think that is enough now Kenny,” Ava interrupted him, putting her fork down, “I have something to say, and I want you both to pay close attention to what I have to say,” she added pointing to the kids.

“Okay mummy.” they chorused.

“So Aside from setting up this dinner to celebrate Mom's friend for his hard work, I also want to do something really important.”

Ava paused and took a deep breath, the dining silent as everyone had their eyes on her, “Mr Mark like you all fondly call him isn't your uncle, but your father. From now on, I want you both to call him Dad.”

A more defining, stunned silence followed her words, and my head skipped a beat, obviously not expecting her to come blunt on the issue.

The children turned to look at me with their eyes wide open, and their jaws dropping, it was obvious that their young minds were trying to grasp the information their mother had just broken out to them without any hint whatsoever.

I was excited that Ava formally introduced me to them as their Dad, but I was surprised.

She didn't even tell me what she was planning to say to them.

What was I supposed to say?

“My real Daddy?” Kenny broke the silence that was dragging on as he questionably called me.

“But you said he wasn't my Daddy, Mom, so I call him Mr Daddy because I like him,” Kenny stated.

“Why haven't you been with us, Daddy?” Kendall's question followed, her voice filled with both confusion and curiosity.

“It is a long story baby, one that you would understand better when you are much older. But I want you to know that your dad loves you both so much.”

“And he was absent from our lives all this while?” Kendall went on quietly.

“It is not what you think Kendall,” I said, getting up from where I was seated, “Look Daddy made a lot of silly mistakes in the past, one…”

“I think that is enough Mark” Ava cut in, her eyes falling on her plate of food, she probably thought I wanted to fill the children in on what had happened, but that wasn't the case in any way as I wasn't even bold enough to say such a thing to them.

“I wish I could say it all, break the truth in bits for you both to understand, but that is impossible as your mind is too small to carry the weight of it.” I continued as emotion surged through me.

I knelt beside Kendall, Kenny came over to us and I proceeded to pull them both into a tight hug, struggling to hold back my tears.

“I love you both so much, I can't even explain how much love I have for you too,” I whispered with a voice thick with emotion.

They clung to me, the way they held onto me made me feel that they weren't holding any grudges against me for being in their lives over the years.

I held them for a long moment, soaking myself in the moment.

Eventually, we disengaged from the hug and went back to continue dinner like nothing had just happened.

After dinner, Jane came in to take the children up to their room to prepare for bed, leaving Ava and me behind to take care of the dishes.

“I wasn't expecting you to do that tonight,” I broke the silence that was between us as we cleared the dining.

“Yeah, I just had to, it was due already for them to know who you truly are to them” Ava replied.

“And these stunning revelations of yours also mean that you have accepted me back into your life?” I asked further.

Ava paused and set down a dish she was about to carry.

“No Mark, I did what I did tonight because the kids deserve to know who you are, but it doesn't in any way mean that I have accepted you back into my life, I have forgiven you that's why I told the kids’ about you.”

” So please just be part of the kid's life for now,” She stretched out to me.

For some reason, her words were like a knife to my heart, but I appreciated her honesty.

“I understand that,” I replied quietly, and we went on with clearing the dishes without saying any other word to each other.