CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

From the first delivery of sweet tea for Mir and Tav to bottles of warm milk, then a big, multi-pup sized cot and a changing table that took up most of the remaining space, Mir’s sibs kept finding excuses to come into the bedroom. Once the task was completed, each lingered, staring at the babies with awe before almost shaking themselves and leaving with a murmured, “Better get on, things to do.”

Tav pressed a kiss to Mir’s bare shoulder as the door closed behind Toren after they’d collected their dinner trays. The curtains were still drawn, and Mir relaxed in the shadowed room infused with the scent of their mate and babies.

“I like your siblings.”

A huff of amusement broke free. “Yeah, they haven’t turned out too bad, although don’t expect me to say the same back.”

The easy silence of the last few minutes vanished. “About why I didn’t come after you straight away. I wanted to, but—”

“Not now,” Mir snapped, apprehension coiling in their belly that their cozy world was about to implode again. “Not unless telling me right now is vitally important. I just want to enjoy this and let the outside world fuck off for a while.”

Tav’s lips pressed against their shoulder again, although this time, they curved into a smile. “Done, but you’re going to have to curb the swearing around the pups.”

It hadn’t been phrased like an order, although that’s what it felt like. “Why should they be denied the stress relief of turning the air blue when they feel like it? It’s not as if they aren’t going to come across idiots who can’t keep their mouths shut about things that don’t concern them. A well-timed ‘fuck off’ might work wonders.”

Tav fell silent, and Mir could almost hear his mind ticking away. “You know, you’re right.”

A huff of amusement broke free at his surprised admission. “Don’t sound so surprised. It happens sometimes, not often, but it does.”

Mir bent to take in the scent of Merriment’s hair as they held him in their arms. They couldn’t get enough of the subtle differences in the babies’ scents. Cinnamon underlay all of them. Merriment’s hinted at a warm, sleepy summer evening. Echo’s scent felt like the promise of a spring dawn, whereas Justice’s held the ice of a moonlit winter night.

Tav’s tanned, muscular arm reached around Mir, and they watched him stroke a finger down Merriment’s face with all the care in the world.

“I didn’t think I could love anyone this fast, but I do, I really do.” Emotion too vast to deal with thrummed in his voice.

“I’m sure Tor and Cor will be happy to hear that. Especially Cor, his ego is bigger than he is.”

“Idiot,” Tav said fondly, and another kiss landed on the same spot on the back of Mir’s shoulder.

A shiver went up Mir’s spine. “You like that spot?”

“Uh-huh. It’s where I’d like to put my bond mark.” Yep, Tav wasn’t going to give up on the big declarations, and perhaps, this was the right time to discuss things. It’d been quite a day already.

Despite their aching body protesting, Mir shifted to face him, careful of the baby in their arms and the two sleeping beside them.

They looked deep into Tav’s dark eyes and saw only love and honesty. “Why?”

“So I can see it and kiss it whenever I want, but it won’t be on show for everyone because it’s private, not a mark of ownership. You can put yours wherever you—”

Mir’s finger landed on his lips, silencing him. “Why do you want to bond with me?” Seconds stretched, and Mir began to think Tavish didn’t have an answer, that he’d said it because he thought he should.

His broad hand reached up and enclosed Mir’s as their exhales mingled, and the outside world faded away until it was just the two of them. “Because I never want you to do that again, wonder what I’m thinking and if I’m telling you the truth. I never want to worry about whether you’re ok again. I want to know; I need to know.” He offered a slow smile. “And if my paranoia isn’t enough, I also happen to love you, and no one is going to keep us apart ever again. Because I’ll know what’s here,” he leaned in and placed a tender kiss on Mir’s temple. “And you’ll be in here.” He touched the side of his own head. Mir began to pull away. No way did they want Tav to know everything that’d—

“And that’s emotions we’ll sense, not thoughts.” He smiled again. “Although, I have a pretty good idea what went through your mind just then. I won’t pressure you into bonding, but know that when you decide it’s the time, I’m all in.” He brushed a finger over Merriment’s sticking-up dark blond hair. “Just like with these three.” He rolled his eyes. “And yes, your goofy little sibs too. I can’t believe I’ve become Pa to three and a brother to twins in less than a day.”

Mir leaned in and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to Tav’s lips. “Know where I’m going to put my marks?”

His eyebrows rose. “Marks? Plural?”

Mir grinned as mischief coiled around them. “The first will go in the same spot as yours—when I take your ass—and the second will be right here.” They bent to kiss a spot on the side of Tav’s neck, just under the point of his jaw. “So everyone can see just who owns this fine alpha.”

A hesitant knock came on the door. Mir hastily turned. “What’s up?” they called out.

Tav’s breath warmed Mir’s ear. “Me.” Mir slapped at his leg with their free hand, feeling like a teen caught making out by a parent.

“Can we come in?”

Mir frowned at the tentative tone in Cor’s voice. “It’s your damn house, Cor, of course you can come in.”

“Thought we’d bring the last feed up,” Corish announced, his eyes averted from Mir’s chest where the blanket had slipped down, exposing their puffy nipples. Cor held two bottles. Behind him, Toren hovered with the third.

“I erm…” Corish shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Thought I’d better get used to helping.”

Toren barged past him. “I just want to hold one,” they announced and stopped by the side of the bed, fingers flexing with the urge to touch. “Can I?”

“As long as you don’t take them out of the room, knock yourself out. They’re happier when they’re being held.”

Without hesitation, Tor climbed on the end of the bed, and sat with his knees bent and ankles crossed. They scooped up Justice, who was beginning to fuss at the scent of milk.

“I’ll take a bottle,” Tav announced. “It’ll be less confusing for them if Mir doesn’t try to give bottles for now, although the colostrum should dry up in the next week or two, then we can all bottle feed.” And back to doctor mode. It was annoying, but it was part of Tav, and they wouldn’t change a thing about him.

Mir handed the Amber-eyed Merriment to his Pa and watched while he expertly tickled the baby’s cheek with a finger, causing the baby to open his mouth and turn toward the stimulation.

From his reluctance to hold a baby so far, Mir expected Corish to grit his teeth as if going into battle, instead, when he eased his huge alpha hand behind Echo’s head, his soft smile expanded Mir’s heart more than they thought possible.

“Come on, Echo, open up for Untie Cor,” he murmured, gaze fixed on the tiny person in his arms. The beatific smile that shone on his face a moment later as the green-eyed infant took the bottle while gazing up at him warmed Mir’s soul. That wasn’t just family obligation. That was deep-seated love. The soft sounds of sucking, of alpha and beta murmurs of encouragement and affection, prickled Mir’s eyes with tears.

They’d spent years imagining what it’d be like to actually get to hold their babies, but they’d never imagined anything like this universe-level love that bathed all of them. This was what family should be.

When the babies were fed and changed into soft cotton gowns that could be knotted at the bottom to keep tiny feet warm while giving easy access to change them, Mir’s sibs still hovered.

“We should be going,” Corish murmured, looking over Tor’s shoulder as his beta sibling still held Justice after changing him. Neither twin looked remotely like they wanted to move.

Tav squeezed Mir’s shoulder, and when they met his dark eyes, Tav’s head quirked toward the completely besotted pair. “It’s a big bed.”

Mir frowned, not sure he was suggesting what they assumed, but hope bloomed in their chest. “You mean they can stay in here with us?”

“Great idea,” Toren announced, and put the baby down before reaching for the button on his pants as his twin’s wide eyes, they asked, “What, you don’t expect me to sleep in pants, do you?”

Corish’s shoulders slumped. “Have a good night, folks. I’ll, erm, go do some more research on the case.”

“Where do you think you’re going?” Tavish’s voice held a hint of playfulness.

“Duh, to my room? Alphas don’t share beds with each other.”

“Why not?” Tav asked.

“Because all alphas are rivals, we don’t like being vulnerable around each other.”

“Do you feel threatened by me?”

Corish’s brows drew together. “No, but—”

“And I don’t feel threatened by you. Not sure why. Having us all together feels… right.”

“Mir’s my sibling, and you’re their mate. It’s not appropriate—”

It’d been a damn long day, and exhaustion dragged at Mir. “Just get in the damn bed, Cor, or leave. I’m pretty damn sure you aren’t going to be woken up by us humping. This is sleeping, as a family, like we did when we were pups, nothing more.”

“Well, if you put it like that,” Cor grinned, pulled off his shirt and unbuckled his kilt, letting them drop to the floor, before climbing up beside Mir. His bright green shorts almost lit up the room, proving that under the formal fa?ade, Cor remained an exhibitionist at heart.

As the twins got themselves settled, Tav announced, “Same rules as they had in the beta house back home. This bed is for sleeping and for our family only. If anyone wants to do anything else, they go elsewhere, even if it’s across the landing. Agreed?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Tor mumbled. “Is he always this bossy?”

Mir smiled at Tav, then pressed a chaste kiss to his naked shoulder. “Yep. You just wait until he checks the cupboards downstairs and starts you all on a healthy diet.”

Corish groaned. “I regret everything.” But he didn’t move.

Silence slowly overtook the room, and Mir basked in unadulterated contentment that infused every cell as they lay on their side, staring down at the three babies who’d been inside them less than twelve hours ago. Tavish lay snuggled against Mir’s back, looking over their shoulder at the babies. Corish was opposite Mir, on the other side of the babies, nose almost touching Echo’s head, and Toren curled on the end of the huge bed, one hand reaching up to brush Merriment’s foot, even though both were deeply asleep. Mir knew how they felt. Not touching at least one infant sent anxiety bubbling.

Justice. Echo. Merriment. The rightness of the names sank into Mir’s soul.

Living in this moment forever would be perfect, no past, no future, just happiness with their family. Justice scrunched his face, yawned so wide his jaw had to hurt, opened his dark purple eyes, and blinked at their Dad. This moment was just for the two of them.

Mir couldn’t stop themselves from reaching out and running a finger down his downy cheek. “You are loved, and you always will be. No matter what the future holds, your family will fight for you.” Justice’s tiny hand caught Mir’s little finger and squeezed.

Ha, I did it to you again, didn’t I? Did you hear an evil laugh?