Chapter Thirty

I grabbed the claim wound tightly, it throbbed painfully under my hand. There was a silence in the air that had followed the loud boom of Shey slamming the front door. I hadn't expected open arms or even niceties but I hadn't expected her to claim the bond. My head felt overly full, like a part of me had been taken away but the space it left behind was filled with something else.

"Well... That was painfully justified." Azrael looked almost smug and I flipped him off. He was right, it was justified. I had done it to her and she was just returning the favor. I just didn't want him to be so smug about it.

"Want to punch you." Michael's voice was strained but slightly amused. "But know better. Shey needs to talk." He moved over and held out a small baggie of cinnamon hearts. "Give her only few. Heartburn otherwise." He shook the baggie and I took it with a frown. "Bad day today but talk to her. You need communication. Fix problems." He nodded at me and I looked at the baggie of cinnamon candies. They didn't look like they would be able to help me with anything, let alone a pissed off mate.

I slipped them into my pocket anyway. "And these are going to help how? She just made it pretty clear she doesn't want me here." If her telling me to got to hell before she slammed the door was anything to go by she wanted nothing to do with me.

"Does not feel good, does it?" He raised an eyebrow and I bared my teeth in warning. My wolf and I didn't like his tone. "Show dominance all you want. I take care of her since you leave. She hurt but hurt will fade and the caring will come through again. You need be there for her. Talk to her, let her know." He was more eloquent than I remembered and I felt a bit ashamed as I shifted my hand over the still bleeding bite. It was hard to even imagine a world where Shey could care for me, where she wasn't angry or upset with me but through the bond her feeling leaked into me. Hurt, sadness, betrayal, anger, relief and many other emotions swirled around her, as if she wasn't sure exactly what she was feeling.

"Just talk to her?" I studied Michael's expression carefully and he nodded, honesty radiated out of him.

"She will be in den. Go talk to her." He gestured to the house and the wording confused me slightly.

"Den?" I was fairly certain we didn't have a den in the house. We had the study on the main floor but not a den.

"Just go." He waved me off and I frowned slighty. "Before she starts thinking about anger more. Her wolf is back. You be careful." I jolted slightly at the words, that would explain the savage amounts of power that had radiated off of her. I swallowed. I didn't want to deal with a pissed off wolf but Michael was right, we needed to talk.

"I'm sure she won't chew you up too badly." Azrael chuckled before he turned towards Michael. "Lets go have a whiskey." He smiled brightly and Michael stared at me, his brown eyes letting me know he would fight to protect his Alpha Female. I was grateful that he had been there for her, to help her through the separation. With the claim in place I didn't feel jealous of it or possessive of her. Yes, I wanted to be the one there for her but I was grateful that the ones I trusted most had been there instead.

"You be careful. Words hurt and she is... sensitive, Luka. Do right by her." The warning was clear and I respected it, my wolf and I now understanding it was born out of a need to protect his future. I nodded at him as I took my hand away from my neck and pulled off my jacket. I pressed it to the slowly bleeding wound as I moved up the front steps and opened the door.

There was a faint cry and I was drew into a tight but warm hug. "Luka! You foolish, foolish băieţaş!" Gamgam sounded almost teary as she squeezed me. "You were gone for so long! And you didn't tell anyone where you were going." She shoved me away before grabbing my face. She looked both angry and relieved as she looked me over with frantic blue eyes. "Stupid băieţaş! I was worried sick! The pack was more than concerned and what the hell happened to your neck?" She yanked the jacket away from my neck, throwing into the floor as she prodded at the wound with her fingers. I hissed at the flaring pain and she shushed me.

"Someone tried to take a chunk out of you, didn't they? Good! You deserved it for worrying me, you little shit!" I was pulled back into another hug as she held me tightly. Her hands clutching my back, her fingers digging into my muscles. I relaxed into her embrace, I could feel the love in her arms. No matter how she yelled and screamed at me, I was family and she would be there for me until the very end. "You have no idea how terrified I was that you had died! Why can't you give your Gamgam a call, huh? What were you doing that was so important you couldn't make sure we knew you weren't dead?" She shoved me way again before grabbing my face again.

"I am happy you are back but you are a little shit and I hate you." She gave me yet another hug, her relief evident and I hugged her back tightly. "Look at you! I can sense the balance and you are holding quite a bit of power but never mind that." Gamgam let me go and wiped at her eyes, smoothing down her clothes as she tried to compose herself. "Oh Shey is going to shit a brick when she sees you."

"She saw me outside." I shifted a bit sheepishly on my feet. My wolf felt just as satisfied with the claiming as Gamgam must have. He felt wanted by our mate despite the fact I knew it had been in retaliation to our own actions.

"Oh? Ohhhhhh, I think I know who the culprit of that little wound is." The corners of her mouth twitched upwards, a knowing smirk on her face. I couldn't even fault her for it.

"She wasn't happy." It was an understatement, Shey had been, quite frankly, pissed.

"Can you blame her?" Gamgam waved her hand around in the air. "You claimed her and then fucked off right afterwards to deal with everything alone. She had a rough time."

"I know. I was just going to go talk to her." I ran my hand through my hair, tugging on the strands. I was worried, an anxious knot had formed in my stomach at the thought of the coming talk.

"She's probably in the den." That was the second time someone had mentioned a den and I let out a sigh.

"Where is that?" I gestured to her slightly and she waved me off flippantly.

"Follow her scent." It was a rather cryptic response and I let out a huff of irritation. I couldn't talk to her if no one explained to me where the den was.

"Gamga-"

"I have stuff to do. You go talk to her." She turned and walked quickly away and I inhaled deeply, trying to find Shey's scent. I caught it closer to the stairs and headed up them quickly. The anxiety was growing worse the stronger her scent became. I didn't want our talk to devolve into in a screaming match or for it to end with her shutting down and shutting me out. I swallowed thickly as the trail led to my bedroom door. I frowned before inhaling quickly and opening the door. The room was empty but the scent of citrus and sweetness permeated every inch of the room.

"Shey?" I stepped inside and closed the door behind me as I looked around for her. I caught sight of a light on in the walk-in closet. I moved closer and frowned slightly when I saw the doors had been changed. "Shey?" I was certain she was in there but I wasn't sure why.

"Go away." Her voice was wavering and I could hear sniffling. My heart clenched and I ran my hand through my hair, tugging hard on the too long strands. I was a bit unkempt but the mountain shifters didn't much care for lowlanders traditions of constantly cutting hair or shaving.

"We need to talk." We did, we needed to work shit out. We could never move forward unless we addressed our concerns. Until we let everything out and worked through it.

"I don't want to talk." Her voice cracked and it took all I had not to break the doors down. However the rather oppressive waves of dominance that radiated out of the room warned me to stay back.

"We need to." We needed to work through all of our shit and it was better now than when it started coming out in anger.

"I don't want to talk to you right now. Go away." Her voice pitched upwards slightly at the end and her emotions were in a tangled knot that I couldn't even begin to untangle.

"Shey, please." I would resort to begging with her if I had to. I would get on my hands and knees and beg her to speak to me. As long as she gave it an attempt I would be happy.

"No! I can't talk to you. I can't!" Her voice had risen to an almost hysterical level and I fought hard against the instinct to go into the closet to help her, to pull her into my arms and make sure she was safe and comforted.

"Shey-"

"The dresser. Top drawer. I can't talk to you right now!" The instructions were strange and I stared at the doors for a moment before I did as she said. I pulled open the drawer and in the corner of the drawer was a stack of papers. I grabbed them with a frown and flipped them over. The top one was dated and addressed to me. I blinked when I realized they were letters.

"The letters?" I asked it tentatively and there was a long pause that made me think that she wouldn't answer me.

"Yes, now leave me alone!" The sniffling was still present and I looked at the first letter.

Dear Shithead,

Amber is making me write this stupid thing to express my feelings.

So, here I go. I hate you. I fucking hate you.

From, no one you need to ever concern yourself with.

The words stung and I leaned against the wall as I read the date. It was over two months ago that it was written. I moved onto the next letter, it was two days later than the first.

Dear Dickhead,

Nothing has changed. I still hate you.

From, go fuck yourself you ass.

The next few letters were the same, her words expressing her hate and how deeply the letters were, expressing an unseen anger. I felt my heart sink until I came across one that was slightly different.

Dear Fucktard,

I hate you because you showed me what it was like to sleep with you.

I can't sleep well anymore and it's all your fault.

I fucking hate you!

From, Amber's emotional playdough

The one after that was different as well.

Dear Prick,

I hate you but I hate myself more for missing you.

Why did you make me miss you? It isn't fair.

What you did wasn't fair.

From, the only sensible Lazera.

I blinked slowly as I leaned against the wall and slid down.

Dear Luka,

Its hard to deal with all this shit.

I hate you for leaving me to deal with it.

I hate you for dumping it all on me.

I hate you for not telling me you are alright.

I hate you for making me miss you.

I hate you.

From, the person who is going to roast your balls in a hibachi if you get back.

Dear Luka,

The pack is a mess. Everyone is clinging to me like little barnacles.

I hate it but I think I get it. They must miss you too.

From, a person wondering if she is capable of being what they need.

PS: I still hate you more than I miss you.

Dear Luka,

I'm fucking terrified, okay? I don't know what the fuck I am doing.

I feel like I'm going to fuck everything up and I can't fucking think.

Are you happy now? Was this all some sort of punishment for Lily?

I loved her too, so much, and I am so sorry she died.

Even if this is a punishment, please just come home.

I can't do this on my own.

From Shey

Dear Luka,

I hate you. Seriously.

Disregard my last letter. Stay gone you prick.

From, Shey

Dear Luka,

I'm sorry for the last one. It's just I'm really scared.

Amber keeps telling me to write how I feel but I can't even begin to express that.

I'm a fucking mess and I can't do this on my own.

Please, come home.

I miss you.

From Shey

Dear Luka,

I'm scared about what is going to happen.

The future is coming quickly and I feel like I'm not prepared.

I need you here to help me through this.

Come home.

Please, just come home.

From, someone who secretly misses you

Dear Luka,

Fuck you twice you utter bastard. When you get back I will murder you in your sleep.

You deserved to be killed twice for this! I swear I will do it too. You can't stop me.

Better yet, I'll let Gamgam deal with you. She will make it hurt.

Prick, you better stay gone!

From, Fuck you twice more you shitstain!

Dear Luka,

It has come to my attention I have neglected to tell you how everything is.

Amber is a bitch and I hate her but she is supervising me so I have to be honest.

The pack still misses you and wont leave me alone. Ainsley is in therapy with Sombro.

I still can't sleep at night and I'm stressed to hell about everything.

However, my appointment went okay yesterday.

Despite my reservations Doc Howard says pregnancy is progressing as it should.

I 'm only telling you because Amber is a bitch.

Shey

I froze before I read the letter again and again, my heart beating in my ears and disbelief filling me.

Pregnancy.

Pregnant.

Shey was going to have a baby. I didn't know what to say as tears filled my eyes at the thought of having a small piece of me and Shey growing inside of her. "I'm going to be a dad?" My voice cracked and I shifted closer to the door, the letters forgotten in my discovery. "Shey? Am I going to be a dad?" I sniffled and tried to wipe my eyes. There was a long pause, one of the longest I had ever felt before, my heart thudding in my chest as I waited for her answer. She could destroy me with it, crumple my hope into something irreparable.

"Yes, you undeniable asshole." Her voice cracked and I couldn't help the smile that split my face in half. I was going to be a dad. Shey carried a part of me inside of her, something that was growing and would change our lives forever. I couldn't help the sob of sheer joy that escaped at the thought of being able to hold a mixture of the two of us.

"I'm going to be a dad." My hands shook and I stood on trembling legs. "I'm going to be a dad." The doors to the closet flew open and a red eyed, teary Shey stared at me through narrowed eyes.

"Yes. Be fucking happy. You left me to deal with this on my own! I was so scared. I was going to have a baby and you weren't there for me!" She wiped at her eyes furiously and my heart sank a bit as her words registered. "I never wanted a baby or kids. I didn't know what to do and you weren't there to help me!" A flurry of sobs escaped her as she clutched at her belly protectively. My eyes were drawn to the significant bump and my heart stuttered in my chest at the sight.

"I had to go through this by myself. I didn't want to be scared of this. I didn't want to panic about it! All I wanted was you and you weren't here!" Her tone was hysterical and her words were punctuated with slight sobs. My chest hurt as I looked at her. I had left her to deal with a lot of shit. I should have been here for her or even talked to her. Guilt rose up in me sharply. "You weren't here and I was worried about you! I was so scared and I just wanted you to hug me and tell me it would be okay! That you would help me through this but you weren't here. You left me. You abandoned me!" One hand wrapped around her belly her other one was lifted to cover her mouth as she shook.

I couldn't fight it anymore and took two long strides and wrapped her in my arms tightly, burying my face into her hair. "I won't ever again! I promise." It was one promise I would keep to the very end of my life. I would never leave her to deal with any of my shit by herself. She would forever stand beside me. I would make sure of it.

"No. No! You left me! You left me alone!" Her fists thumped against my chest as she sobbed. Her emotions were distinctly overwhelmed, anger, hurt, and a rather strong confused fear warring for dominance.

"I'll make it okay. I promise." I didn't know how, I didn't know how I could even begin to make to make it okay but I would spend the rest of my life trying to figure it out.

"I hate you! I hate you so much!" The words cut me deeply but I deserved them. She was allowed to hate me after everything that I had done to her. It was justified.

"I know." I smoothed down her hair, trying to offer her comfort in her sobbing.

"Please." She buried her face into my chest as she said it, tremors wracking her frame. "Don't leave me." It was a whispered plea that brought the guilt up sharply in my chest.

"Never again." I didn't even try to fight the tears that filled my eyes. Her hurt radiated out of her so sharply that it was nearly cutting. Her hands clutched at my shirt, as if afraid I would pull away. Her rather belly was pressed into me, a reminder that we had created life. I held my future in my arms and I realized I would rather die then ever let it go again. I tightened my arms around her as she continued to cry into my shirt.

"I missed you." The words were barely audible through her tears and muffled by my shirt but I still heard her. She pressed herself closer, her shoulders shaking with shuddering breaths. I wanted to make her happy, to make her laugh so she wouldn't be so soul-tearingly sad.

"If it makes you happy... I was getting repeatedly punched in the face for a majority of the time I was gone." I said it slowly and she gave a watery chuckle and untangled one of her hands from my shirt to wipe her face.

"That does make me happy." She nodded at me. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, her nose was red and her cheeks blotchy but I had never seen a sight more beautiful. I pressed my forehead to hers, just relishing the feeling of having her in my arms, having her scent surround me.

"I-I'm not expecting you to forgive me, Shey. What I did and what I said was unforgivable. I just want a chance to be the male that you deserve." I let out a heavy sigh as I searched her gaze.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, "I'm very mad at you and I'm currently really upset and can't discuss that with you." She let all the air out in a giant whoosh as soon as the last word exited her mouth. I felt my heart sink but she inhaled once more. "But we will talk about it. I just need time to calm down and I want you to meet your girls first." Once again she let the air out in a whoosh and I paused, believing I had misheard her.

"Pardon, did you say girls? As in plural?" I stared at her, needing and explanation She nodded as she wiped at her face. "Okay, back up. What does that mean?" Plural. She meant plural.

"Twins, you asshole. You knocked me up with two babies." She punched my shoulder with a scowl and my mouth dropped open in shock. Twins, not one baby but two. She was having two babies. We were going to have two babies. Two girls. Shey started laughing, clutching at her stomach as my arms dropped from around her in shock. "I had that same look on my face when I found out too!" She snorted and her face flushed red before she started laughing all over again.

"Twins. We are having twins." It seemed almost surreal. I found out I was going to be a father but then I was informed I would be a dad twice. I was floored.

"Yes, there are two babies in this belly. It explains how big I'm getting." She rubbed the belly, looking at me almost self-consciously. I stared at her for a moment before I smiled brightly and grabbed her, pulling her into the bedroom as I danced around her in excitement.

"Females! I'm going to have daughters! I'm going to be a dad!" Happiness surged through me so sweetly that it felt like everything had a glow. Shey giggled slightly, covering her mouth as she watched me make an utter fool of myself. I didn't care. I was going to be a dad.

"Do you want to meet them?" Her question was asked hesitantly and I stopped, staring at her as I blinked rapidly. Meet them? There was nothing more that I would want to do besides kiss their mother senseless.

"Can I?" I watched as she reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling her shirt up to expose her belly. She pressed my hand to the side of the bump with a concentrated look on her face. Her skin was still soft and smooth, the only difference was how it was stretching to accommodate our children.

"Come on. Say hi to daddy." It was a soft plea and nearly immediately afterwards I felt a strong kick to my hand that was followed by another one. Tears sprung to my eyes as I caressed the spot where my child was kicking. "That's Heidi." She slid my hand to the other side of her belly where a softer kick happened almost immediately.

"This is Amelia. She's a bit more sensitive than her sister." Her warm hands cupped mine as I felt another small kick. Shey suddenly hissed, one of her hands going to the other side of her belly. "Share, Heidi!" The words were scolding before she grabbed my other hand and pressed it to the side she had grabbed. There was a flurry of strong kicks that bounced off my hand and there was a faint tick from underneath my other hand. I started at it in shock and Shey laughed softly. "Amelia gets the hiccups." The ticking was rhythmic and I looked from where my hands lay to Shey's face. She was staring at the bump with a rather soft look of motherly adoration.

"They're wonderful." My voice cracked and I didn't care that my eyes were teary or that my shoulders were shaking from sobs that wanted to escape. I had never felt anything like what I was currently feeling. I felt like my heart was overflowing and I felt overwhelmed.

"They scare the shit out of me." Shey looked at me and I could see it and feel it. The faint panic that had underlined her emotions for the past two and a half months suddenly made sense.

"I'll be here." I said it slowly, letting her hear the truth. It would take nothing short of death to separate me from her and I would fight him every step of the way to get back to her. I would fight Mene eternally just for a chance to be by her side once more.

"You better be." She sniffled but her face was serious. Words never worked on Shey, actions meant everything to her. I would prove myself to her that I would always stand next to her. I would never leave her behind again.

"I will." I would spend the rest of my life proving that to her.

"They will need their dad." She looked away, rubbing her rounded belly. There was a soft sadness to her tone that sent faint longing through our bond. I wondered if she was thinking of her own parents, of what her father did to her mother.

"I'll always be here, Shey." I rubbed her stomach, feeling my daughters shift and kick out at me. "I will be there for them every step of the way. I promise you that."

"Even if something happens to me, will you still love them?" The question wasn't one I had expected but I could tell it mattered to her. She was touched by the Old Ways, her mind tainted by their customs and she was scared that our little females would be treated the same as her mother had been.

"How could I not? They will be a piece of you and I would cherish it every second of every day but if you think I will let Mene take you from me you're mistaken. I will rally an army and storm her gates to get you back." Conviction strengthened my words as I locked gazes with her. "I love you, Shey." I watched as her face paled slightly, she started swallowing convulsively as her eyes darted around as if looking for an escape.

"I can- I can't- I just-" She looked anxious and panicky, her dominance shoving at me.

I shushed her gently, removing my hands from her bump, smoothing her shirt down before grasping her arms. "Don't feel pressured, Shey. I love you and I know there will be time before you can love me back." I ran a hand through her hair, tangling my fingers in her hair before cupping her cheek. "Never feel the need to explain to me why you don't love me. Just remember that no matter what, I will be at your side because I love you." It was all I wanted her to know, despite my heart pounding in my chest at the thought of her never being able to love me. It didn't matter because I would still be with her. She was my mate, my love, the mother of my children and I would stand with her regardless of everything around us. There was a warm glowing feeling that erupted over our bond.

"I-" She looked around, her face paling slightly before she inhaled deeply. "I care about you but I'm very angry and you have to understand that it will show at times." She exhaled and stared at the ground as if expecting me to rebuff her. I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face. I could take caring. I could live with her caring about me. It was more than I had hoped for.

"I understand. Now what did you call them again?" I knew. Heidi and Amelia. Beautiful names. Heidi was my grandmother's name and I figured Amelia meant something to Shey. The diversion was successful as her face brightened as she looked at her belly, stroking it gently.

"Heidi Abigail, after your grandmother and my family name. Then Amelia Lily, after my grandmother and your mother." She looked at me, I could feel her slight self-consciousness and I blinked slowly. She had named one of the girls after my mother. Tears once again flooded my eyes. "I know it's strange but I just wanted a little piece of her." She said it almost shyly and I shook my head as I reached out and touched one of her hands.

"No, no. It's perfect. I'm sure mum is more than happy with it." I felt a surge of love fill me for the female who had decided to have my mother's memory be carried forward through the future generation. That was a gift I wasn't sure could ever be matched.

"I miss her." Shey sounded slightly choked up and I nodded.

"I miss her too." It was the truth. I missed my mother so incredibly much. I was more than saddened that she wouldn't be here to meet her granddaughters. I was torn to shreds over the fact that I could have spent just a few more minutes a day with her.

Shey sniffed as she discreetly wiped her eyes before she gave a small jolt. "Oh... I have to show you something." She looked at me, her green eyes watery. She took my hand and pulled me towards the closet. She pulled me through the threshold and I blinked. They weren't lying. It was a den. A den for our pups to be safe.

Every inch of the ten foot by ten foot space was used and I could see it was organized with a tender and loving touch. Shey dropped my hand as she moved over to a rocking chair. I looked around the room, only Shey's scent was prevalent. A true mark of a den, only the parents were allowed inside. It hit me that she had allowed me into her den, into her pups' future. I inhaled, fighting back the emotions that were suddenly swarming me.

"Okay. You watch this. I'm going to get you a cloth and a new shirt." Her voice was trembling slightly as she shoved a phone into my hand and left the den. I stared at the small square before looking at the screen. It was set on a video and I pressed play.

My mother appeared on the screen and I found myself reaching for the wall as she sat behind my father's desk. She smoothed everything down, her hair and clothes as if she was at an important interview. "Luka, my baby boy. I'm going to start this off simple. I love you. So very much. My illness will not change how much I love you. It will simply change how I express it." She adjusted her hands on her lap. "Yes. I'm not stupid. I understood what Doc Howard was telling you. My memory is slipping and I am fading as an individual, within years I will more than likely not even remember my children or my own name. I know how hard it will be for you to see me fade but remember that I will always love you. Even if I can't remember my own birthday, I will still love you." I could see her eyes were glassy and I landed on the floor, huddled against the wall, clutching the last remains of my mother tightly in my hands.

"The love I have for you cannot be forgotten. I know this deep down. Even if I forget everything around me, I will not forget how much I love you. You are my last little Sterling, my pui de lup, my Luka. And it tears me up inside that I will not grow old and meet your future mate. That I will never get to hold you children. I can't capture a touch. I can't keep a caress in a box but I have something I can do." She wiped at her face as she bent over in her chair and lifted a stack of books. "I don't want your children to ever think that I did not love them because I did not know them. So it is my goal to read to them. I will read every childhood book that you and your brother's loved. So that your children can hear their Gramma's voice and know that she loved them so much." She looked at the camera and I felt like my heart was twisting and pulling in my chest.

"I will lose myself, Luka, but I want to preserve this small piece for your children and for you. To remind you that my love will never, ever, fade or be forgotten." She wiped at her eyes again and my hands shook as I watched the female who raised me. "I will always love you. From this point until my last I will always love you." The video cut off and I couldn't help it as I pressed a hand to my forehead and cried. I cried in sorrow for the mother I loved and lost. I cried in relief for my children who would have a piece of the female who raised me and I cried out the grief that I had that I hadn't had enough time with her.

Warm hands pried my fingers off of the phone and I curled inwards into myself, losing myself to the grief that swamped me. "Grief is okay. Crying is allowed." Shey's tone was factual, as if it had been told to her numerous times before. "She gave us a gift. The twins love the videos." I looked at her through watery eyes and she wiped at my face with a warm wet cloth, clearing away the tears that had fallen. Her touch was gentle as she moved the cloth from my face to clean up the blood from around her claim mark. I felt a touch of satisfaction swirl from her bond as she gently cleaned the area.

"The twins love Fox in Socks. Just like their daddy." Her tone was light as she slowly started to undo the buttons on my shirt. "Heidi likes to play this game where she tried to knock the phone off of my belly. I don't appreciate it because I'm getting too big to bend over and pick things up." I understood what she was doing and I appreciated it. She was distracting me, bringing me out of the grief with the positives.

"She also likes to try and blame things on Amelia. Softer kicks to try and fool me but Mama knows all your tricks, doesn't she?" She patted her stomach before she pulled the shirt off me completely and grabbed her cloth again. The tears had left, making my eyes feel gritty but I was able to see Shey clearer. She had washed her face, the redness still remained slightly in her eyes and nose but she looked better. She started wiping away the rest of the blood.

"What are you doing?" I appreciated she was taking care of me, I loved that she was, but I was confused.

"There's a baby shower I need to attend for the pack. They have been planning it for months. As I get serious social anxiety and my wolf and I usually feel unsafe, you're coming with us." She didn't seemed to flinch as she said it and my wolf growled at the thought she felt unsafe in the pack and our power radiated out of us. "Enough of that. The pack's fine. It's you that was the problem. Without you, our first defence and protection, we got anxious in crowds. Mates are supposed to be there to make sure their pregnant females are protected. You weren't there." Her words were a calm reprimand that had me feeling instantly ashamed. I had abandoned her in her time of need.

"No pity parties, dickhead." The familiar use of the nickname made me smile sightly. She threw a new shirt over my shoulders and did it up after I slipped my arms into the sleeves. "Come on, get up." She shoved at me and I frowned at her slightly when she made no move to get up. She rolled her eyes. "I'm getting too fat to stand up on my own. You have to get up so you can help me to my feet." She gestured to me and I nodded before standing up. It made sense. Her center of balance was off and getting up off of the floor would be difficult with the added weight of the twins.

I stood up and carefully helped her to her feet. "Can you grab that stuff?" She gestured to my bloody shirt and the cloth she had used to clean me up. I grabbed them quickly and she lead me out of the room before closing the doors behind me. I dumped the clothes into the laundry basket and Shey grabbed my arm, slipping her hand into my own, holding it tightly. "Let's go." She said it with a fair bit of strength but I could feel her anxiety and slight fear. I lead her out of the bedroom and towards the stairs. I was aware that there were a lot of people in the house and Shey's grip tightened on me as we started down the stairs, quite a few pack members were mingling in the foyer and they all smiled and waved. Shey leaned closer to me as if for support and my wolf and I couldn't help the dominance that radiated off of us, warning those in the house to keep their distance. Our mate was feeling anxious and the feelings mixed in with my own. I would never let her feel as though she didn't have protection. Never again.

Necks were bared in submission as we hit the bottom of the stairs. Silence fell through the house, a hush that was like a bated breath. I bared my teeth in warning but Shey's anxiety slowly slipped away and she lifted her head high and slowly moved away, showing the pack she was strong and letting me know that it was alright. The radiating dominance fell to it's usual state and Shey greeted several of the pack members with a smile. I did the same, her hand still clutched firmly in my own. I let down the wall I had built and mindlinks flooded me, it was a comforting feeling to have them all there.

"Luka!" Davin's voice was loud over the crowd and I caught sight of his mop of black hair as he pushed his way through the pack members. "I didn't think you had it in you." He sounded amused and as he reached my side I turned to look at Shey, her hand firmly tucked into mine, our fingers laced together. She was hugging Ainsley with one arm, the girl's red hair was unmistakable.

"Neither did I." I watched as Shey kissed Ainsley's cheek and let her touch her belly. Ainsley's tinkling laughter filled the hall and my eyes were drawn to her mate, Samuel. His head immediately turning toward the sound of his mate's joy.

"So, male or female?" Davin nudged me and I looked at him with a small smile.

"Females." I watched as his eyes went wide and he choked slightly on his drink.

"Holy shit! More than one?" The look on his face was one of shock and disbelief and I chuckled slightly. I could see why Shey had been so amused by my reaction.

"Yup, twins." I felt stupidly proud of that. Twins, were were going to have twins girls.

"Wow... That is... Just wow, male. Congrats." Davin looked like he was at a loss for words for the first time in his life.

"Thank you." I nodded at him before I gently tugged Shey back to my side. She came willingly but her green eyes were filled with a sharp annoyance.

"What do you want?" Her voice was slightly snappy and I frowned before I remembered what Michael had given me. I stuck my hand into my pocket and retrieved one of the cinnamon hearts. I held it out and Shey's entire demeanour brightened as she saw it.

"Play nice." I whispered into her ear and she smirked as she took the treat I offered.

"I don't play nice, dickhead." She kissed my cheek before she disentangled her hand from my own and stole the little baggie of cinnamon hearts from my pocket. I smiled after her as she ran to Ainsley, waving her bag of stolen treasures over her head.

"Heartburn, Shey! No!" My guardian's voice was reprimanding and I watched as she and Ainsley weaved through the crowd. The pack members moved to let her by, smiles followed her wake and I became aware that she would glance back at me as if to reassure herself that I was still where she had left me. "Luka! Help." Michael sounded exasperated and I watched as Shey evaded Michael's attempts at capture as the pack closed ranks around her, sensing her need and protecting their future. My future.

I knew we had a ways to go but as I watched Shey slip a candy into her mouth, her head turning to glance at me once more.

I knew we would be okay.