Forty-Three

Dedicated to @LeahWhitcombe because just a couple hours after I updated she already asked for more!! So here it is!!

And to @Shadow_crow_44 because I haven't stopped smiling!! You're comment encouraged me to get this done as fast as possible!!

You both rock!!

And thanks for all the votes!! Love y'all!!!!

CoffeeAndABook6

******

It had been two days sonce the doctors office and Caden hadn't let me out of his sight, he's officially more overprotective than ever.

The doctor told me not to reach up, so naturally Caden deicded that instead of me climbing on a very-not-dangerous-and-super-sturdy-chair he should just be my arms.

In some ways I am sick of feeling useless and constantly being watched but ina nother way it's great that he's spending time with my childhood friends from that half of the pack, so he's now hung out with Jess, and we're spending time with Daniel and Sam and other friends from Bluelake.

One day we spent time with all of them at the pond and it was lots of fun. Definitely a day I will never forget. And the fact that Caden met everyone I grew up around and now laughs with them and talks to them like friends is a great feeling.

I got out of the bathroom as Caden hung up the phone in the room. He took it up here since the office is too far from the slippery-and-overly-deadly shower. Caden and his paranoia.

"Bee if you don't feel up to it today-"

I sat on his lap and pushed him backwards until he was laying on the bed, "Caden I'm fine. Please stop treating me like the flimsiest piece of glass out there."

"Bee you're my whole world."

"As you are mine. But I don't put a bubble around you so you don't get hurt."

He sighed, "I'll try babe but I can't make any promises." He paused, "Does it bother you that much? I'm sorry-"

I laughed lightly, "Sometimes it's just overbearing. I know you only want to protect me, and I love that you care, but hovering is excessive."

He chuckled, "I'll give it my best shot. But-"

I know, no promises. I placed my lips to his chest, "I love you. And I love that you'll do this for me even though it hurts you."

I'd do anything for you. Anything.

I smiled and laid on him, "Thank you."

It fell quiet before I rolled off of him and we slowly made our way off the bed.

There was nothing new in the last two days. The tunnels were almost completely searched but every opening and bunker was not only searched but the area around it was as well for any scent or evidence of them being there.

Any day now.

I put on a loose semi-formal shirt and shorts. Caden wore his signature jeans and black just-tight-enough-to-be-teasing shirt.

We went downstairs to meet Paul.

An hour later the perimeter was being guarded and everyone had slowly trickled into the area central to both packs. The new pack house was close by, hence why we chose here, and it was symbolic too.

But it was also perfect in that there was a big clearing with the lake and so we had set up a barbeque and room for football for after the ceremony.

Paul walked up to Caden and I as we slowly worked our way through the crowd meeting everyone personally and answering the simple questions. I noticed a few people mingling that were from the two different packs but not many. Yet. They would soon though. Hopefully.

"Paul this is David and Lucy from the Blackthorn half of the pack. David, Lucy, this is the eldest council member, Paul. He'll be performing the ceremony today."

They all said hi and we spoke for a few minutes before Paul, Caden, Daniel, Ben and I walked up onto a raised platform. It was only two feet up, we didn't want to be looking down on people, but we wanted to be seen to everyone, even those at the back of the clearing.

Caden cleared his throat and silence followed, "Thank you for coming, we all appreciate your attendance. We know in a time as rare as this one it is difficult to predict what will happen, my mate and I have realized this as well. I wpuld like to start with: You will not be forced to do anything unless it has to do with the pack's safety. I promise you all that. We all do." He paused and held me to his side as he continued, "We have received permission from council to have two acting Beta's at all times until one of their children takes the position. We wanted all of you to have an additional familiar face to talk with, although you can come to us directly of course, with anything and everything."

He let this sink in and a male voice yelled out, "Where are you living? Which pack house?" A few people 'yeah?'d and asked similar questions.

Caden smiled and calmly spoke, "We also have permission to buold a new pack house central to both packs, in fact it is behind this clearing. We will be there until the Alpha house is done."

Everyone seemed to like that, which made me happy.

Caden turned to Ben and continued, "This is Benjamin, originally from the Blackthorn pack. He is so my mate's brother and I knkw he's answered many of your questions already. Don't hesitate to talk to him, no matter where you grew up."

Caden repeated a sentence similar for Dan before holding my hand and stepping slightly away from me as he motioned to me.

Caden just move on.

Right after I introduce you.

Caden.

Beautiful.

I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Out of everyone here I can say with confidence that my mate, your Luna, knows more people here than any of us. Thanks to her these packs are being joined and all of us get to be one."

"Have to be one!" A different male voice called and Caden tilted his chin down.

"Sir? Could you step forward?"

A man about six foot stepped forward and stared right at Caden.

"Why do you say that?"

"We don't have a choice in the matter do we?"

"I can't argue with that. But I can tell you that if you have no interest in being loyal to your new pack you are free to come see one of us and we will help you transfer to a new pack. This one will join swiftly and we can only hope you participate. Like I said first, we will not force you. You always have a choice."

The man hesitated before nodding. He went to step back but then he knelt on one knee and bowed his head, "I am loyal to you Alpha."

Bee do you know his name?

Harris.

Thank you, "Harris, sir, I appreciate that. But please stand, you are not below me so don't act it."

Harris stood and nodded before he returned to his spot.

"Any other questions?" At the silence he returned to what he was saying, "Anyways, to wrap up what my introduction, our mating allied these packs and after the death of the Blackthorn Alpha, we were asked by council to run these two as one. Both packs were relatively small and now we are a fairly large pack. We have great potential."

Caden glanced at me and smiled before raising an eyebrow to me Would you like to take over? This seems more like your area of expertise.

No way. You're better. But I spoke up, "Our goal is to run this pack as my grandfather and Caden's parents ran this pack. We have every intention of treating it as a family. Starting with the one combined link, the barbeque and a few games of football we are hoping everyone will try to get to know people from both halves of the pack, for lack of better words."

"We have two questions to ask before we go ahead with the ceremony if that's alright." At the silemce he went on, "Is anybkdy opposed to anything said so far and would like to join a different pack befkre the link is formed?" Everyone looked around hut after two minutes of nobody speaking up he nldded with a smile, "The second is really a favour, we are looking for a name for the pack, whether we combine them, hyphenate them, or come up with a whole new one, we would like suggestions."

As everyone clapped we knew people liked getting a voice.

"The most liked name will be chosen if council approves, if not the secknd most liked name and so on. This seems the most fair." Nobody oppsed and Caden welcomed Paul on the stage.

Many bowed to him as a sign of respect since most knew he was on council. Everyone, Caden, Daniel, Ben, and I included, knelt down and faced Paul as he began.

Five minutes later there was an audible collective sigh across the clearing as Paul ended the cermenoy and the linm was formed.

Some young children began to cry at the confusion and mothers calmed them as they explained what was happening. Others were looking around as if they realized just how many of us were now connected. Paul placed one hand on Caden's forehead and another on my own, Caden holding my hand, as we knelt in front of Paul.

Everyone else was still kneeling and remained quiet as Paul made us the Alpha and Luna of the link, this way we had a bit of control over the link, making it so we could address everyone at once, etc. Alpha perks.

Afterwards everyone clapped as we all stood.

I glanced at Caden to see him staribg at me blissfully happy.

We're living our dream Bee, how does it feel?

Better than I imagined. Thank you Caden, for doing this.

Two out of four, right?

I mentally laughed causing us both to smile. We faced the crowd and Caden sloke to everyone through the link, The lake is warm, the barbeque is being fired up, the football is blown up, and it's a beutiful, clear day. My mate and I encourage you to take advantage of it.

Everyone cheered before they separated. I was happy to see them mingling between both packs as they swam, played football, and talked. Caden and I thanked Paul and our guards rook over the others' posts befkre Paul left.

Half hour later Caden and I sat down with our burgers at a table with my family and Daniel and Sam. I'm glad they all get along.

Me too Bee, and everyone seems to like this so far.

Yeah, it'll be a change for some, but they'll all come around.

He nodded and we began eating. All lunch we laughed and talked.

I couldn't help but notice that Caden seemed happier since we got the news from the doctor. I'm so glad he wants pups.

As we finished our food Caden brought me onto his lap and Dana nudged my shoulder, "So how's my favourite neice/nephew?"

Caden smiled widely and I glanced up at him, You didn't tell then Bee?

I shook my head, It's our surprise not mine.

You're perfect.

I roleld my eyes and Dana coughed, "Earth to Blake, we're waiting on an answer. Do you knkw the gender?"

We both nodded and laughed lightly.

"Boy?" Ben guessed as Sam said, "Girl?"

Caden and I both nodded, "Yeah."

"Which one?" My mom asked and I couldn't take it any more. I laughed and looked up at Caden.

He spoke happily, as if life couldn't get any better, "Both. Bee is blessing me with twins."

"TWINS!?" My mom yelled happily and everyone started clapping as the news went around.

Bee it still feels surreal.

I guess we're going to be talking about a third sooner than I thought. Caden's face lit up and he  kissed me passionately.

I love you.

I love you too.

I love all three of you. Bee you're my whole family, the cargo is more precious than I thought. Twice as much.

We were pulled out of our private conversation as everyone asked the genders and when they were due. People from both packs seemed happy about this, after all, one of then was the heir.

******

TWINS!! I hope that wasn't a let down!!

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I wrote this in less than an hour and it's midnight after that endless studying so no promises on grammar or editing.

I wanted to get this published as wuick as possible since you guys are THE BEST READERS EVER!!

Stay tuned for the parents...

CoffeeAndABook6