Rian's POV
The call comes at 3 AM.
"Papa! Dad! She's in labor!" Kai's panicking.
Derek, his mate, is giving birth. They're having a daughter.
"On our way!" I'm already moving, waking Luca.
At the hospital, Kai is pacing frantically.
"Breathe," I tell him. "Derek's strong. Everything will be fine."
"What if something goes wrong? What if—"
"Then the doctors handle it. But nothing will go wrong." I grip his shoulder. "Trust the process."
Hours later, a cry echoes. Kai rushes inside.
When he emerges, he's crying and holding a tiny bundle.
"Meet your granddaughter," he says, voice shaking. "Aria Blackwood."
My granddaughter. I'm a grandfather.
Luca takes her first, cooing softly. "Hi, sweet girl. I'm your grandpapa."
Then my turn. She's tiny, dark-haired, golden-eyed. Perfect.
"Hi, Aria," I whisper. "I'm your granddad. Welcome to our family."
She yawns, tiny mouth opening, already comfortable in my arms.
"She's perfect," I tell Kai. "You did good."
"Derek did all the work." But Kai's beaming. "I'm a father. I'm actually a father."
"Best feeling in the world," Luca says. "Being a parent."
Watching my son hold his daughter—the next generation—fills me with overwhelming emotion.
Our family continues. Grows. Thrives.
That evening, just Luca and I at home, we process.
"We're grandparents," he says, still amazed.
"Young grandparents. Very young." I grin. "Grandpa is not sexy."
"You're absolutely still sexy." He kisses me. "Sexy grandpa."
"That's worse."
We laugh together, both giddy with joy.
"Kai's a father now. Our baby has a baby."
"Life continues. Our love continues." I pull him close. "Through Kai and Aria. Through all our children's children."
"Legacy."
"Love legacy." I kiss him deeply. "Started with us. Continues through them."
"Even with our rocky start?"
"Especially because of it. We proved love can bloom anywhere. Even in captivity." I cup his face. "And now that love has grandchildren."
"Grandchildren," he repeats, smiling. "Plural eventually. Luna and Asher will probably have kids too."
"A whole pack of grandbabies. We'll spoil them rotten."
"That's grandparents' privilege."
The next week, we babysit Aria for the first time. She's fussy, demanding, perfect.
"Reminds me of Kai," Luca observes, rocking her.
"Kai was easier. This one's stubborn." But I'm grinning, holding her tiny hand.
"Takes after her granddad then. Stubborn Alpha."
"And her grandpapa. Artistic troublemaker."
We spend the afternoon spoiling Aria—cuddles, songs, pure grandparent bliss.
When Kai picks her up, he's amused. "You two are naturals."
"We've had practice." Luca hands over Aria reluctantly. "Bring her back soon."
"You'll see her all the time. We live ten minutes away."
After they leave, the house feels quiet.
"Our granddaughter," I say, still processing.
"Our legacy," Luca corrects. "Our love, continuing."
"Best legacy ever."
"Agreed."
We're grandparents now. Our love spanning generations.
From forced claiming to willing forever to grandchildren.