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The amusement park was buzzing with life. The laughing children running from one ride to another, couples on dates with matching headbands shyly holding hands as they wandered between the stalls. The scent of popcorn, cotton candy and fried dough mingling with the warm evening breeze.
Shen Wenlang, Gao Tu and their precious little one Shen Lele, were part of that atmosphere. It had been a while since Wenlang had been able to take their son out for a much-needed play day, but it was all because work kept piling up and the parents knew that it was unavoidable.
Even so, Shen Wenlang made sure that Gao Tu had time off—giving him a half day or a few days off whenever it was possible and not allowing him to work overtime—so he could spend it with their son.
Shen Wenlang knew that his Omega still had a hard time being away from their son for such long hours.
After three whole years without Gao Tu, Shen Wenlang had gotten accustomed to staying up all night or having long nights at the office, often due to having to stay and deal with many things himself, during those days.
No one was as compatible with him as Gao Tu was, whether it was at work or in their private life.
It was the reason why he didn’t mind working the extra hours now, especially if it meant his Omega could be at peace with their son, in their home. Shen Wenlang would exhaust himself a thousand times over.
As long as he knew Gao Tu was safe. As long as he knew he had the both of them to come home to.
He hadn’t realized how suffocating an empty house could feel until Gao Tu was no longer by his side. They were not a couple back then, but as boss and secretary, Gao Tu and him had ended countless days on video calls after hours when they were both in their respective homes, discussing the next day meetings or deals. Often times, Gao Tu would also be at his house till late, sorting out his clothes, organizing other parts of his home or just making him tea before leaving for the day.
Shen Wenlang hadn’t realized just how much of his life had depended on Gao Tu until he had lost him.
Never again.
Never again would he make the mistake he had made three years ago, of letting the Omega run away from him.
He had groveled, he had begged, he had done anything and everything he could to build some of the love, trust and acceptance that Gao Tu and Lele had bestowed on him right now. He was not going to let anything ruin it.
This time, he was keeping his Omega and their child forever.
And now, surrounded by laughter and flashing lights, he was finally living the future he had once thought lost.
Shen Wenlang let himself be pulled forward by the little boy that the universe had blessed him with to call his own, a perfect mini version of him, softened by all the gentle habits that he'd inherited from his Omega Dad. Gao Tu was on his other side, holding his other hand.
They’d all put on headbands, on Lele’s insistence. Shen Wenlang with the wolf, Gao Tu’s being a bunny and Lele’s was a hybrid of a wolf and bunny. It was just… adorably them.
“Baba! Look! Peanut, Uncle Yong and Uncle Shaoyou are right there!” Lele was jumping in place as he waved excitedly to the other couple’s son, one hand still held by his Baba. Peanut smiled and waved back with similar enthusiasm. Seeing his best friend always turned a great day into the best day. Today was extra special, not only were they were able to have fun at the amusement park, but his Baba had come along too!
For Lele, it was the best day ever.
He had missed him so much since his Baba had gotten extra busy last week.
“Baobao, don’t rush, we’re going to go greet them soon,” Shen Wenlang said softly. “Catch your breath first. Would you like something to drink?”
His mini-me nodded up at him, cheeks flushed with the thrill of the rollercoaster they’d just gotten off from.
Shen Wenlang had to let go of his Omega’s hand, reaching for the sippy cup in the bag that Gao Tu was carrying. Crouching down, he offered it to his little one, who held it cutely in both his hands, drinking like a thirsty kitten.
“Slow down, baobao,” Shen Wenlang murmured, ruffling his hair.
It was Gao Tu’s turn to be endeared.
Seeing Shen Wenlang be so… fatherly to their son always made him emotional. Sometimes he wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t run away, wondered how loving Shen Wenlang would have been to his little Lele had he given him the chance from the beginning.
It made his heart hurt, knowing that he kept so many precious moments of their child all for himself because he was scared of facing the Alpha, scared of the worst happening, without even having tried.
He knew now… Shen Wenlang had told him himself… “I don’t like omegas, but if it’s you, I’ll love you to the point of madness. I don’t like children, but if they’re yours, I would never want to see them hurt.”
Whenever doubt crept into Gao Tu’s mind, Shen Wenlang was right there to comfort him and whisper similar words all over again.
Always reminding him that he wasn’t the one at fault, that he had done what he had thought was the best for himself and his child, protected them the only way he knew how.
Always telling him that Shen Wenlang could never—would never blame him for anything.
Gao Tu hadn’t even imagined that Shen Wenlang was capable of such sweetness—not with an omega and certainly not with a child. He had loved Wenlang in his own mind for so long, imagining what the man could be, that he never believed someone like this version of him could truly exist.
After the life he had lived… expecting the worst had become a habit.
He truly thanked the universe for bringing them back together. He couldn’t deny it. Lele was so much happier with his Baba, and Gao Tu… needed his Alpha too. The only Alpha his body had ever chosen to accept as his own.
These days, Lele and him were always doused in Shen Wenlang’s Iris scent—always so warm, grounding and comforting. To the point that Gao Tu barely even smelt like himself anymore.
It was something that he had never allowed with Ma Heng—his body always reacting as if it was wrong, and it truly did feel wrong to Gao Tu, too. Sometimes he even thought Lele didn’t like it much either, although his Baobao rarely liked any alpha’s scent.
But with Shen Wenlang? Lele had accepted his scent within a week.
Gao Tu wasn’t surprised. It was expected. They were father and son, after all.
Shen Wenlang was their Alpha… their… home.
“You okay, baobei?” Wenlang looked up at his mate, who had been staring at them for the past few minutes.
Gao Tu smiled, nodding. He had never felt better.
Once Lele had drunk enough water to quench his thirst, he handed the bottle back to his Dad, pulling on his Baba’s hand again.
“Baba! Look! Peanut is in line for that big one—so high! I want to go too!” Lele exclaimed, excitedly pointing up to the Ferris Wheel.
The two families exchanged pleasantries and smiles as they met. Both happy that their kids were getting along so well. Hua Yong scrunched his face as Peanut called out to his “Wenlang Baba” but even he was endeared by the cuteness around him as the two little kids chattered animatedly about the twists and turns of each of the rides they had gone on as they stood in line for the Ferris Wheel.
At this point, Shen Wenlang telling his little jumping doll to slow down was more for himself than it was for the child.
Shen Wenlang, the alpha who had never known fear, usually the rock of anyone around him, was… slightly pale.
“The Ferris wheel is going to be fun,” Gao Tu teased, bumping shoulders, with a grin. “It’s slow, calm, easy. No surprises like the last one Lele dragged us onto, promise.”
Gao Tu noticed his mate looking a little too anxious. He nudged the Alpha, smiling at him once more. Shen Wenlang returned the smile, but his expression went blank again, causing Gao Tu to frown a little.
“What’s wrong?” the Omega asked, taking the Alpha’s hand this time. His mate shook his head, interlacing their fingers, but Gao Tu wouldn’t budge. “Baobei… tell me.”
Shen Wenlang swallowed hard, his hand tightening around Gao Tu’s. “I… I just… what if it falls?” he muttered under his breath. “What if Lele gets scared? What if—” He caught himself, eyes fixated on the two little ones buzzing with excitement.
Gao Tu stifled a laugh, grinning widely at his mate. He obviously couldn't dare to laugh at his big baby.
It wasn’t just him who had changed throughout the years, he realized. Shen Wenlang had become someone different throughout the years, too.
The man who had once lived on the topmost floor of the highest building in the city, and had only shifted his residence to a big villa with a large front and backyard when he’d finally convinced Gao Tu and Lele to come back with him, the same man whose presence intimidated entire boardrooms… was now nervous over a Ferris Wheel.
Gao Tu found it unbearably cute.
“Baobei,” Gao Tu said softly, stepping closer. He tilted Shen Wenlang’s face up with a hand on his cheek, looking him in the eyes. “Lele is a child. He’s going to have fun. You don’t need to put this fear into him for… something so simple.”
Shen Wenlang melted into his Omegas touch, subtly sniffing his wrist for the Sage scent that had once caused him pain, only for it to become the most calming presence in his life. The scent immediately grounded him, his anxiety fading a little.
Shen Wenlang blinked, placing a small kiss on the inner side of his mate’s wrist. Gao Tu’s thumb brushed soothingly against his jawline. “I… I just… now I have you and him,” he admitted quietly, voice tight, “and I can’t imagine losing you both.”
“And you won’t,” Gao Tu said simply, as if it was the most obvious fact in the world, his other hand squeezing the Alpha’s. He knew there were some eyes on them, but they had waited so long to be so comfortable, so… loving with each other. Gao Tu couldn’t care less about what the random people around thought of them.
Nonetheless, Gao Tu knew exactly how to comfort his big bad wolf.
“Wenlang, you chose this amusement park because of the safety right?” he asked, and before the Alpha could answer, he continued, “And I trust you. You’d never let any harm come to us.”
The words settled over him like a balm. That was all Shen Wenlang needed to come to terms with getting on the ride.
Yes.
He’d never let anything or anyone harm his mate and child.
He was hellbent on giving Lele the life, the loving parents, that neither he or Gao Tu had.
Shen Wenlang exhaled, letting some of his anxiety slip away. He looked at Lele, whose eyes were shining as he waved at Peanut who had boarded one of the cabins, utterly carefree.
It was their turn next.
He could do this. He could protect them, and he could still have fun with his family.
Shen Wenlang smiled down at his Omega, who was already smiling back, and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Gao Tu instantly blushed, cheeks and ears turning red. Shen Wenlang adored it. He couldn’t help but thank the heavens for blessing him with someone so lovely and beautiful inside out.
“Okay,” Shen Wenlang said, voice steadier now. “Let’s go.”
Gao Tu laughed, ruffling his hair. “Useless, Shen Zong,” he leaned down to whisper, “but it’s okay. I love you anyway.”
They climbed into the Ferris wheel cabin, Lele sitting between them with wide eyes, pointing at the colorful lights below, getting smaller and smaller as they went higher. Shen Wenlang held him close protectively, and Gao Tu’s eyes crinkled as he smiled with every giggle he heard from their child. For a moment, the world felt perfectly safe.
“Baobao! Look here!” Gao Tu exclaimed, taking out his phone and opening the camera app. “Let’s take some pictures!”
Their baby turned around, beaming at the camera as his parents leaned closer, as they snapped multiple photos, capturing their smiles, the glow in their eyes… their own little world.
“Let me take some with you and Baba only,” he instructed, and Shen Wenlang tightened his hold on his baby as Lele laughed excitedly at being kissed on the forehead.
Gao Tu was so glad he got that picture. It would definitely be his phone’s new lock screen. And then he captured a rare moment between the father and son duo, one with Lele giving his Baba a big sloppy kiss on his cheek, bursting into giggles as if he had done the funniest thing ever.
Then it was time for couple pictures. Gao Tu leaned into Shen Wenlang, and Shen Wenlang, still slightly nervous about the height, found himself laughing as Gao Tu whispered sweet, teasing things in his ear.
Shen Wenlang became the photographer next, taking a few candid shots of Gao Tu and Lele together—Gao Tu leaning down to ruffle Lele’s hair, Lele giggling uncontrollably, the city lights sparkling behind them. He too, had found a new lock screen picture.
By the time the Ferris wheel completed its circuit, all three were laughing, cheeks sore from smiles and kisses.
Towards the end of the night, Shen Wenlang held both of them tightly, finally letting the fear go completely.
Gao Tu rested his head on Shen Wenlang’s shoulder, Lele fast asleep on the other as he was carried by his Baba.
They walked slowly towards the car, careful not to wake their son up.
“See?” Gao Tu whispered, eyes closing as he nosed at his Alpha’s neck when they’d all settled into the vehicle, placing feather light kisses on his scent gland—almost feeling it as the Iris being emitted turned sweet. “We’re all safe.”
Shen Wenlang kissed the top of Gao Tu’s head, taking a deep breath to smell his thickening Sage scent. “Thank you, baobei,” he whispered back, holding the back of Gao Tu’s head, tilting it back so he could bring his Omega’s lips to his. “I love you.”
Gao Tu leaned into him, their shoulders pressed together, Lele’s soft sleepy sighs between them like the sweetest melody.
Shen Wenlang felt something settle inside him—soft, steady, certain. The day, the lights, the warmth of their tiny family… it all wrapped around him like a promise he never thought he’d have. And for once, the big bad Alpha wasn’t afraid of anything—not heights, not falling, not the world itself—because he had the two most important people in his life right there with him, safe and sound.