Chapter 13: Chapter Thirteen: Ambushed

Laila wiped away the tears as she smiled at her Osprey.

“I promised Mekhi that his whole family would be tied to you and the twins, but he had to agree that his children would be the foreseen king’s guardians. Which meant as soon as one was created that Osprey would be sent to you. Hadn’t realized the spell would be so literal.”

All three pairs of eyes on the opposite couch blinked at the Shaman. He could see they were confused.

“I always thought the kings would come a year or two apart. Each of you being the father of one,” Vectore said.

Park nodded, “yeah. That’s what we figured too.”

“But that’s not so,” Vectore said, looking at Laila.

Laila placed her hand over her stomach. No.

If what he says is true, then the kings are twins...

“The spell was for Nova to go when Park’s son was conceived. Then Avel would go when Paxton’s son was conceived.”

Laila felt her heart flutter in her chest. Twins! She thought as she looked at Park. One is Park’s... She looked at Paxton. And one is Paxton’s.

She felt dizzy and took a deep, calming breath. Is she even ready to be a mother?

Vectore smiled at Laila. She’s smart. She has already figured out what he was telling them.

“To answer that,” he said, getting her attention, “yes.”

She scowled at him, and he knew it was for reading her thoughts. He just continued to smile at her.

“What does all of this mean?” Park asked.

“Laila figured it out,” Vectore said as he nodded towards her.

Both brothers looked at their mate.

“Laila?” Paxton asked.

Laila held both of her hands over her stomach as she looked at each of her mates then took a deep breath.

“Our first night together,” she whispered then looked at the two brown Osprey across the room from them. “They flew into the bedroom window.”

The twins stared at the Ospreys then looked at Laila.

“You’re pregnant?” Paxton asked.

She nodded, “I guess I am.”

Paxton looked at Park. “I had heard the bird hit the window around the time you’d gone into the bathroom.”

Park grinned, “that means it’s mine.”

“Of course, you get your son first,” Paxton sneered.

Laila’s eyes opened wide. She has never heard them argue over something before, they usually shared everything.

“This is why the Great Spirits gave them one mate. They do fine with sharing, but if one has something the other doesn’t, they will fight and argue about it,” Vectore said.

Laila took a deep breath. That is also why she’s pregnant with both of their children. God, she hoped they didn’t fight like this if they have more children.

“Boys!” Laila yelled at her mates, who were still arguing.

The twins stopped and looked at her.

“Sorry,” they said at the same time.

She took a deep breath. “Look over there and tell me how many Ospreys you see.”

They looked confused then looked over at the birds.

“Three,” they said at the same time, then their eyes widened in understanding.

Laila chuckled when both their heads turned to her; their eyes still open wide.

“I guess now we know why they had flown into the window. They were coming to me,” she looked down at her stomach, “us.”

“Twins,” Park said with wide eyes.

“And each of us is the father?” Paxton asked as he looked at Vectore.

“Apparently,” Vectore said with a nod, “they were each sent out to you when each one was conceived.”

“I was on the ground outside the window for a while, before Avel arrived.”

Laila repeated to the twins what Nova had just said.

“This is incredible,” Park said as he wrapped his arms around Laila.

“We’re going to be parents,” Paxton said as he leaned closer to Laila.

Laila smiled when she saw the look in her mate’s eyes. Paxton grinned then captured her lips in a loving kiss.

When Paxton lifted his head, Park turned their mate to face him and kissed her just as lovingly.

Laila sighed in Park’s arms. She’s the luckiest woman in the whole world.

~🐾~

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Laila asked Mekhi, who was sitting on a podium in front of her while the Shaman heated two black rocks.

“Yes.”

She smiled. “You know I love you, right?”

“Of course, it is why we are here.”

Laila chuckled, “right.”

Vectore turned to them and clapped the two rocks together. They split open, and inside were two small silver rings.

“With these rings, I bind you two for life. Mekhi, do you swear to protect your queen with your last breath?”

The large Osprey shook his wings and squawked.

“Of course, I do.”

Vectore nodded then turned to Laila. “Do you, Queen Laila, Mother of the Future Kings, accept Mekhi of the Ospreys as your Guardian?”

Laila smiled, “of course, I do.”

Vectore chuckled, then pulled the rings from the rocks and handed them both to Laila.

“May these rings protect and bind you.”

Laila took the larger ring and placed it on her left pinky. It glowed, and Mekhi’s name scrolled across the band. She smiled then looked at Mekhi. The Osprey held his leg up, and she clipped the smaller ring around his leg. It shrank to fit his leg, and she saw her name scroll across the silver band in gold just like the others. She looked at the underside of her pinkie ring and smiled as she read it out loud.

“My Guardian.”

“Mine says. My Queen.”

Laila looked at Mekhi with a smile. He knew what she was thinking before she even asked it.

Their connection was already stronger.

“How come I don’t have a guardian?” Riley asked with a pout.

Mark kissed her. “Because an animal chooses to be a shifter or their mate’s guardian. You just haven’t met yours yet. Neither have I or the twins.”

“Oh,” she said with a smile.

“You know. This jealousy of yours is starting to worry me,” Mark whispered into Riley’s ear.

Riley sputtered as she stared at him.

“Well, you should all get going. You’ll want to get home before dark,” Vectore said, interrupting Mark and Riley.

They thanked the Shaman then set out for home.

~🐾~

“Is she doing all right?” Park asked as he ran beside his brother.

“Why don’t you ask her yourself,” Laila mumbled.

“I’m sorry, love. I forgot that you could hear us now,” Park said with a chuckle.

She smiled at him.

“So, are you doing all right?” Park asked.

She nodded. “Much better than yesterday.”

“Good,” Park and Paxton said at the same time.

Laila chuckled. She loves her bears so much.

They stopped for lunch and had fish again this time with some juicy berries Ryce had found.

As they were relaxing after their meal, the three Ospreys squawked above them.

Laila sat up away from the twins. “Mekhi!” She shouted.

“A group of wolves and hyenas are close!”

Laila told the others what Mekhi had just reported.

“Fuck. We shouldn’t have stopped,” Park said as he jumped to his feet.

“No,” Ryce said as he stood, “if we had been traveling, they would have surprised us. This way, we have the advantage of knowing they’re on their way.”

Laila nodded in agreement. “Mekhi! How close are they?”

“Less than a mile.”

“They’re less than a mile away does that give us time?” She asked as she looked around the group.

“It might,” Ryce said with a nod, “if Paxton takes you and Riley around the group while Park and Mark distract them.”

“What about you?” Paxton asked Ryce.

“I will have your back,” Ryce said.

“I don’t like this,” Laila said as she wrung her hands.

“Me either,” Riley said as she clung to Mark.

“This is the best way to keep you both safe,” Mark said, then kissed his mate’s forehead.

“I want...” Laila started to say, then stopped when Park kissed her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, this may be the last time she sees him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

With a heavy sigh, Park raised his head and pressed his forehead against hers, then closed his eyes. “You need to keep our sons safe.”

Laila cried. She knew he was right, but she couldn’t live if she lost one of her bears.

“Hurry!” Mark called out. “Less than a mile won’t take long for a pack of shifters!”

Paxton shifted, and Park helped Laila onto his back, then Mark helped Riley onto Paxton’s back behind Laila.

Riley watched her mate back away, then shift.

“I love you!” Laila screamed at Park.

Park smiled at her, then shifted. “Keep her safe,” he said to his brother, then he and Mark were gone.

Laila cried as she leaned over Paxton’s back and held onto him.

Paxton sighed. He hurt as much as Laila, but he needs to concentrate on keeping their mate and children safe. Paxton moved through the woods with amazing speed.

“I’ll lead you around them.”

Laila sniffled as she looked up into the sky. “Follow Mekhi,” she said, then laid her head back down and sniffled again.

“Hey,” Paxton said as he followed the Osprey, “drool was one thing, don’t get any snot on my fur.”

Laila chuckled as she squeezed him tight. She knew he was trying to make her laugh and keep her mind off Park. He was probably doing it for himself as well. She hurt even more as she thought of what Paxton would lose if they lost Park.

His brother, his twin.

~🐾~

Park and Mark found the two packs of shifters. There were too many of them to fight.

“What do you think?” Park asked, looking at Mark.

“Too many to fight,” Mark said.

“That’s what I was thinking. So how do we keep them from following our mates?”

“If only we had some help,” Mark said with a heavy sigh.

“Maybe we’re far enough ahead if we let them see us, they will follow us, and Paxton can get Laila and Riley home.”

“It’s worth a try,” Mark said, his large black head nodding.

They moved out into the field so the wolves and hyenas could see them. They took the bait and chased them through the woods.

But Park hadn’t noticed the part of the packs that had run in the opposite direction.

“Where are we running to?” Mark asked as he ran beside Park.

“Not sure. If we make it back to the Shaman’s cave before they overpower us, Vectore can cast a spell on them or whatever the hell he does.”

“Let’s fucking hope so,” Mark said with a growl.

Park came to a complete stop, and Mark had to turn around and make his way back to him.

“What’s up?” Mark asked.

“They’re somehow in front of us.”

“What?” Mark spun around and watched as the wolves and hyenas stepped out of the bushes in front of them. “How the fuck did they do that?”

“They’re with the Dark Wizards,” Park said with a growl. “Should have known Stephaun would unite with them.”

“What now?”

“Run,” Park said, then turned and ran back the way they had come.

They made it back to the field and found wolves and hyenas waiting for them, baring their teeth and growling. The hyenas hackled, and Park’s blood turned to ice.

Fuck!

Park just hoped Paxton got their mate to safety.

“I guess this is it,” Mark said as they stood side by side.

“I wish we could hear their thoughts,” Park said.

Mark laughed, “that would make things easier.”

“Which Great Spirit thought it was a brilliant idea, for shifters to only hear thoughts from their own kind?” Park grumbled.

“No time to think about that now,” Mark said as he turned around to find more wolves and hyenas coming up behind them.

“Fuck,” Park said with a grunt as they watched the wolves and hyenas circle them.

“Well, it has been fun,” Mark said.

Hyena laughter filled the air as they attacked the bears.

Park and Mark held their own for a good long while tossing one hyena after another off their backs.

But then the wolves joined in, and the two bears went down.