Chapter 234: Family Moment.

April was not happy about the unwanted disturbance. Anita Goodman was becoming like a persistent fly that kept buzzing around her head, refusing to leave her family alone.

"Angel, let’s go outside and talk about our discussion," Anita said the moment she entered the apartment.

"My wife and I were in the middle of a discussion," April replied, shutting one eye at the Alpha in annoyance.

"Whatever coitus you two were about to have can wait. I want to talk to your WIFE."

April stood up from the couch, facing Anita fully. The woman’s shameless attitude was quickly wearing down her patience, and after everything she and her daughter had been through, the last thing she wanted was to deal with someone who found the situation amusing.

"I should be filing a case for kidnapping. You and your accomplices should all be in jail," April said firmly.

Angel had been about to respond, but she decided to remain seated and let her Omega handle the situation.

"Ohhhh, I’m so scared!" Anita chuckled, placing a hand over her chest as though April’s threat had genuinely frightened her.

She turned towards Angel, her smile widening.

"This Omega of yours is really something else, you know. I like her."

Anita sounded as though she were complimenting April, which she actually was in her own strange way, but that didn’t make the Omega any less irritated.

"Darling, this is River West City. You’re in the district, a lawless land. Whatever happens here, good or bad, happens in the district." Anita spread her arms as though proudly introducing April to her home. "I can literally pull out a gun, aim it at you and shoot. Pow, pow, pow!"

She demonstrated with her fingers, pointing them at April as though reenacting a scene from a movie.

"You die, I live freely, and life goes on. Nobody gives a shit if I kill you."

"Alright, that is enough, Anita. Let’s go outside," Angel interrupted, finally rising from the couch.

Anita might have been joking, but Angel knew better than to take her words lightly. That woman had always been unpredictable, and there was very little difference between what she considered a joke and what she was actually capable of doing. Angel wasn’t about to let her keep provoking April just to see how far she could push the Omega.

"That’s more like it!" Anita exclaimed. "Come on, Angel. I have a lot to tell you."

"She is not going anywhere!"

April stepped between the two Alphas, glaring at Anita.

"My wife is staying with me and my kids tonight. If you cannot wait until tomorrow to tell Angel whatever you have to tell her, then go shoot yourself outside!"

Angel stared at the back of her Omega, caught between wanting to pull April behind her for protection and feeling proud of her for standing her ground. April had no idea how dangerous Anita could be, yet she was willing to challenge her rather than let Angel leave her side.

For a moment, Anita’s smile disappeared.

She stared at April with an expression that was difficult to read, and the sudden change made the atmosphere inside the apartment feel heavier. Angel grew alert, ready to pull her wife away if the other Alpha decided to do something foolish.

Then, without warning, Anita burst into laughter.

"I see why you like this girl, Angel. She’s so funny!"

"I did not say anything funny," April replied, her eyebrows drawing together.

"Oh my God, the way you talk reminds me of my third wife Penelope! My Omega was so tough and dominant, just like you." Anita wiped the corner of her eye, still laughing. "Alright, alright, you can do whatever you want with your Alpha tonight. You have earned it!"

April looked even more confused, while Angel covered her face with one hand, already regretting every decision that had led her back into Anita Goodman’s life.

"I’ve been waiting twelve years to see Angel again. Maybe one more night won’t kill me." Anita turned towards the door, waving casually. "Have fun, you two, and don’t let the bedbugs bite or blow up! Hahaha!"

She reached for the handle but paused as though she had remembered something important.

"Oh, and the kitchen area is over there. If you want to cook something for your family, go ahead. You can find some simple ingredients in the fridge." She waved again. "Night-night! I better go call my wife."

Anita finally left, closing the door behind her.

April continued staring at it for several seconds before turning towards Angel, her mouth hanging open slightly in disbelief.

"That bitch is so, so crazy," she muttered, shaking her head. Even while challenging Anita, she had been terrified of what the woman might do, but she had refused to back down because she trusted her Alpha to protect her if things went wrong.

"Crazy isn’t even the right word to describe that woman." Angel shook her head with a tired sigh. "You have no idea."

April wondered how anyone could behave so casually after kidnapping people and threatening to shoot them. Before she could ask anything else, Angel pulled out her phone and tried calling one of the numbers she had been attempting to reach since arriving in the district.

Nothing happened.

She moved closer to the windows, then towards the balcony, but the call wouldn’t go through. Frowning, she checked her phone and discovered there was no network available.

"Are you serious?" she muttered, tapping the screen before trying again.

Still nothing.

Lulu followed her from one place to another, watching the screen with great concentration as though she could somehow help it find a signal.

"Mommy, is it working now?"

"No, baby. Not yet."

"What about here?"

Angel checked again before shaking her head.

"Still nothing, little Alpha."

Lulu stayed beside her for a while longer, determined to help, until her attention shifted to something more important.

"Mommy, I’m hungry."

Angel immediately lowered her phone.

"Alright, sweetheart. Let’s see what we can find to eat."

She wasn’t going to let the lack of network ruin their night together after everything that had happened. Besides, she had two little girls and a big girl to feed, and neither of them could survive on cuddles alone.

Angel headed into the kitchen and examined the refrigerator. There were chicken thighs, eggs and a container of parboiled rice, along with a few other simple ingredients Anita had mentioned. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to prepare a proper meal.

After washing her hands, Angel got to work. She seasoned the chicken and prepared the rice, moving around the unfamiliar kitchen with the confidence of someone who had spent plenty of time cooking for the people she loved. The sound of food sizzling soon filled the room, accompanied by the delicious smell of the meal.

April joined her, carrying Ocean on her hip, while Lulu stood nearby, eagerly watching her mother cook.

"Can I help, Mommy?" Lulu asked.

"You can help by keeping your sister company and making sure she doesn’t try to eat anything before it’s ready," Angel replied, glancing at Ocean, who was already reaching towards the food.

The toddler began making impatient little noises, much to April’s amusement.

"Your daughter is hungry," April announced.

"Our daughter is always hungry," Angel corrected her, earning a playful look from her wife.

By the time Angel finished cooking, the meal looked far better than anyone would have expected from the limited ingredients. She served everyone, making sure the children had their portions before sitting down with April.

Lulu took a bite and immediately broke into a delighted smile.

"Mommy is the best cook in the world!"

Angel laughed, reaching over to wipe some food from her daughter’s mouth.

"Really? The best cook in the world?"

"Yes!" Lulu declared confidently before turning towards Ocean and feeding her little sister a bite.

April and Angel exchanged a look, unable to hide their smiles as they watched the girls. There was something comforting about seeing Lulu proudly praise her Alpha mother while taking care of Ocean in her own little way.

Their creations were the most precious treasures in the world, and neither could imagine a life without them. Whatever Anita wanted from Angel, whatever secrets the district held and whatever dangers awaited them, they would do anything to keep their family safe.

After dinner, everyone got ready for bed. Since they had no idea how long they would be staying in the apartment, they decided to share the same bed rather than separate into different rooms.

Angel and April settled at opposite edges of the mattress, leaving their daughters comfortably tucked between them. Ocean quickly found a comfortable position, while Lulu remained wide awake, apparently remembering something important.

"Mommy, bedtime story!"

Angel turned towards her eldest daughter, smiling as she remembered their usual nighttime routine. No matter how tired she was, Lulu always looked forward to hearing a story before falling asleep.

"Alright, little one. What story do you want to hear?"

Lulu thought about it before shaking her head.

"Any story!"

Angel glanced around the unfamiliar bedroom, realizing there were no books available. However, that wasn’t going to stop her from entertaining her daughter. She had always been good at making things up, so she decided to create a story of her own.

She began telling Lulu about a little family of animals who lived together, loved one another and always stayed close, even when they found themselves in strange places. As the story continued, April realized that the characters sounded suspiciously familiar.

The little Alpha was brave and protective, the little Omega was clever and stubborn, and their two babies were always getting into trouble.

It didn’t take long for Lulu to recognize what her mother was doing.

"Mommy!" she giggled, covering her mouth. "That’s us!"

Angel pretended to look surprised.

"Is it? I wonder how that happened."

"You’re the Alpha, and Mama is the Omega, and we’re the babies!"

April burst into laughter, shaking her head as Angel continued with a completely innocent expression, clearly enjoying herself far too much.

When the story finally came to an end, Angel turned towards her wife, looking rather pleased with her performance.

"So, Bebe, how was my story?"

April smiled, reaching over to squeeze her hand.

"It was wonderful. You know, I might have to hire you at my company. You could become a professional storyteller."

Angel raised an eyebrow.

"Really? How much are you willing to pay me?"

"Hmm, I’ll have to think about that."

"Unbelievable. I’m your wife, and you’re already trying to underpay me."

April laughed, and Angel soon joined her. Their quiet conversation filled the bedroom with the warmth they had desperately needed after the frightening days apart.

As their laughter faded and the girls settled down, Angel reached across the bed to hold April’s hand. Her wife moved closer, making sure they remained connected even as sleep began to take over.

For that night, at least, they had each other, and that was enough.

Before long, all four of them finally dozed off.