Chapter 13
Steve had come back from a run to the store, alarmed to see an unfamiliar car parked in front of his house. His in-law’s car was parked next to Tony’s, since the two had come for lunch but he didn’t recognize the ugly sports car out front.
He got his answer when he stepped out of the car and the front door to his house opened. He first saw Tiberius being dragged like a rag doll when he saw Howard behind him, hands on the Alpha’s neck before tossing him onto the lawn. Steve walked over, confused as Tiberius scrambled to stand back up.
“Howard?” he asked his father-in-law, who was only focused on the Alpha with a busted lip.
“You get the hell away from my son and grandpup! If I ever see your sorry ass even in the same hemisphere as those two and I will make you more bankrupt than you already are. I have friends in high places too, Stone. I’ll make sure your useless body ends up in a ditch.”
“You can’t talk to me like that!” Tiberius demanded, wiping the grass from his clothes as Steve walked over to hold Howard back. Who honestly looked like he wanted to rip the Alpha’s neck out with his teeth.
“Ty I think it’s time for you to leave, for good,” Steve said calmly, contemplating whether or not to let his father-in-law just go at him. Ty looked at Steve for a long moment, eyeing the other Alpha up and down before posturing. Even though Steve had a good inch and fifteen pounds of muscle on the guy.
“Fine. Whatever. You can enjoy my sloppy seconds -” Stone began before Steve’s fist collided with his face, knocking the pathetic Alpha back onto the ground. And when the sniveling coward tried to stand back up, Steve found it easy to use his Voice against him.
"Kneel," Steve commanded, satisfaction on his face when the confused Alpha dropped automatically. Clenching and unclenching his fists, Steve took a breath before further addressing the pathetic man in front of him. “I have been patient, Stone. Even when you let my son down with empty promises, even when you trash talked me to his face. I've even let it slide when you've pathetically flirted with my Omega. But now? Now everyone knows your true colors. They see what I see, a useless, pathetic excuse for an Alpha. And now you will leave our lives for good. So. Get off my property. And stay the hell away from my son,” the Alpha growled, fist curling and preparing to be the one to rip out the other man’s neck with his teeth should he try anything stupid. Luckily Stone had an ounce of sense left in him, not saying another word but instead scrambling up and leaving in his ugly car.
Steve watched the car leave, chest heaving as he worked on not turning fully feral. He could feel a little bit of red bleed into his eyes before a hand grabbed his arm to bring him back.
“He’s not worth it, Steve. Come inside, your mate and pup need you.”
“What happened?” Steve asked as he followed the other Alpha inside, anger slowly deflating from his body.
“Stone stopped by, asking to speak to Tony in private. Turns out he was only back to try and merge companies, since he went bankrupt flaunting around Europe and has no idea how to run his dead father’s company.”
“Well...that doesn’t really surprise me,” Steve said absently as they approached a frantic Tony.
“No, it didn’t surprise anyone. Except for Harley, who heard his father say he was only here for the money and wanted nothing to do with his son.”
“Steve!” Tony cried, anger and sorrow battling through the bond as the Omega rushed over to the Alpha. “That...that sonofabitch! Harley heard him and ran away! I can’t find him anywhere!”
Baby cries suddenly filled the house, Peter most likely upset by sensing his parent’s sadness.
“Tony, go to your Mama and help with Peter. Steve and I will find him,” Howard reassured the Omega, nodding to the other Alpha before heading to the boy’s room.
“Find our pup, Steve,” Tony pleaded, panic scent wafting off the Omega.
“I will, don’t worry Tony,” Steve reassured his mate, kissing the top of his head and giving him a quick hug before gently pushing him in the direction of the wailing baby.
He headed towards the backyard, knowing that they would’ve seen the pup if he'd gone through the front.
“Harley?” Steve called, walking towards the playscape and frowning when he didn’t see anything. He was about to head inside when he heard a whimper coming from the side of the house. “Harley?” he asked again, walking towards the noise and frowning harder when he saw the pup trying to control his whimpers. “Hey bear,” the Alpha said to his kid, sitting down next to him behind the bushes.
Harley’s eyes were red from crying, bottom lip quivering as he curled in on himself.
“Your grandpa told me what happened. I’m sorry bear, I’m so sorry you heard that.”
“My own father doesn’t want me. Am I not good enough?” Harley choked out, further breaking the Alpha's heart.
“No,” Steve said with ferocity, growling a little as well. He put one arm around his pup and drew him close. “No he isn't good enough for you, Harley. You’re the best most amazing pup I know. Tiberius...that man is a fool if he doesn’t want you in his life. And honestly...he is an idiot and a horrible judge of character.”
It didn’t get a laugh from the pup, but he did look up wide eyed at the Alpha. Steve was tired of making excuses for that man. He was glad he was out of their lives for good.
"How stupid is he to pass up on the opportunity to raise such a wonderful pup? The best thing he ever did for you was sign his rights away. You won't have to worry about him anymore." Steve kissed the top of his pup's head, sitting in silence for a moment before a thought popped into his head.
“You’re wrong by the way,” Steve said with a smile, enjoying the confused look on the pup’s face. “Your father? He does want you. And he has loved you since the moment he saw you jump off the monkey bars.” Steve smiled as the pup rearranged himself, turning to fully face the Alpha.
“But…” Harley said, confusion on his face as he looked back up at Steve before realization dawned on his face. “You mean...you?”
“Yeah, me,” Steve said with a warm smile, reaching over to brush some of the blonde hair out of the pup’s eyes.
“But…” the pup said with tears in his eyes before looking down at the ground. “But I’m mean to you.”
“Oh, bear,” Steve cooed. “You were only mean to me cause you were protective of your Daddy. And of yourself. I don’t blame you for that, Harley. And lately you’ve been nothing but nice to me and the world’s best big brother to Peter.”
“But he’s your pup,” Harley pointed out quietly and with an adorably confused expression, as if blood mattered when it came to family.
“That’s true but so are you. You were my first pup. Baby bear to my Papa Bear,” Steve said as he pulled the pup into his lap, kissing his blonde head. “I love you Harley. Just as much as I love your Daddy and Peter.”
“You do?” Harley squeaked out, wrapping his arms around the Alpha.
“I do. I really do Harley. You know how I’m your legal guardian? Well, I’ve been wanting to adopt you, but I wanted you to be okay with that first.”
“Yeah?” Harley asked again, voice shaky from his tears.
“Yes Harley. I love you son.”
“Oh I, I would love that. And...I...I love you too...Papa.” Hearing the name Tony had been telling Peter these last few weeks...coming out of his other pup’s mouth...got tears out of the Alpha. “Was that okay?” Harley asked shyly, probably noticing the change in Steve’s smell.
“Absolutely. I am and always will be your Papa, my sweet baby bear,” Steve choked out, squeezing the boy until he giggled in protest. “Alright, let’s get you back inside. Your Daddy was worried about you.”
“Okay Papa,” a sleepy Harley replied, snuggling closer into the Alpha as Steve stood the two up before walking them back inside. He spotted Howard first, who smiled at the pair before turning to the living room.
“Tony, Steve found him,” Howard called as footsteps quickly approached them.
“Harley! Bambino there you are,” Tony cried as he saw them, grabbing Harley from Steve’s arms to hug the pup. “How are you my love?”
“I’m okay Daddy. Papa made me feel better.”
“P-Papa?” Tony asked skeptically, hope and happiness in his voice as he turned to the Alpha.
“Yup, Papa Bear reminded him that his father has loved him since he saw him jump off the monkey bars,” Steve cooed, rubbing his son’s back and feeling the love radiating off his mate.
“That’s absolutely right,” Tony said with a shaky voice, eyes on Steve as the blonde felt a vast amount of love pushing through the bond. They looked at each other another moment before the fourth member of their little family cried out for attention.
Leaning over to kiss his mate, Steve then followed the sound to see his mother-in-law rocking his crying son.
“I’ll take him, Maria,” Steve said as he took the pup from her, bringing Peter up to his neck to calm the squirming baby.
“You’re a good Papa, Steve. My bambinos are all lucky to have you.”
“Thanks Maria, sorry about lunch.”
“Oh nonsense, Howard ordered Thai and it should be here any minute. And you aren’t to blame for anything dear, so don’t apologize,” Maria said as she sat back down on the couch. Just as Tony and Peter joined them, the doorbell rang. “And that would be lunch. Want me to take him so you can eat?”
“No I’m okay, go help yourself.”
“You hungry Harley? Grandpa ordered your second favorite kind of noodles,” his mate asked their pup who seemed to stir again at the mention of food.
“And I’m going to eat them all,” Howard teased as he passed the others in the hall, carrying multiple bags of food.
“Better not Grandpa!” a revived Harley called, squirming from his Daddy’s arms to chase after the chuckling older Alpha.
“And how are you, my sweet perfect Alpha?” Tony asked, squeezing the blonde’s arm and kissing Peter on his little head.
“I’m pretty great, my sweet perfect Omega. We’ve got some great pups, don’t we?” Steve asked as he leaned down to kiss his mate on his plump lips.
“We do,” Tony purred back, returning the kiss before leading the two to the dining room.