32. Epilogue

Dalton

W aiting at home with the babies was hard, but Larken's place was with our Alpha and the others while he performed Deke's job. Mine was at home, watching over our family.

Poor Deke. I was relieved he would be okay. Larken had messaged me to tell me the news including the request to be godfather. After what he'd done, getting us out of there safely, risking his life for us, he could have pretty much anything he wanted.

"I should have been the one to go back," Ingal said quietly as he bottle fed Bima and Brayan. He had them propped up in front of them so he could manage it. He was always teaching me stuff to do with caring for them.

After I propped Reid up, I tried to do the same with Raiden, but he wasn't having any of it. I had to curl my hand in an awkward angle to get the nipple in his mouth while I aimed the other bottle at Reid .

"Why should you have gone?" I asked the elf.

"So Larken could have stayed with you."

"No offense, Larken is trained to fight shifters. He and Deke can communicate using the pack link. You were better off with me. Without you, I'd have been a mess, because there was no way Larken wasn't going back for Deke."

"The bonds you all have… I didn't understand them when I lived with the others. They were different."

"Because of their romantic bonds."

Ingal looked confused.

"They aren't like us. There were three couples there. Roan and Hiroshi. Tate and Hiroshi. Asher and Tate. They have history between them since Roan, Asher and Tate were bonded before they fell apart. They aren't just a pack, they are a family, a different kind from us, but still a family."

"Yes. I think you're right. Perhaps that is why I struggled to bond with the family."

"That and you came in later. You already have a fantastic bond with our babies. They look for you when you're in a room. They know what you sound like when you walk."

"Even though they are identical, I can tell them apart. Bima and Brayan each smell slightly different from each other. Reid and Raiden too. "

"Yes! That's something only someone incredibly close to them would know."

"I also know Raiden is about to kick your arm because your attention is off him," Ingal pointed out.

Sure enough, a little foot collided with my hand knocking the bottle from his mouth. He prepared to let out a cry, but I stuffed the nipple back in, silencing his protest.

Once burped, diapers changed and put into sleep vests, we put the babies down to nap.

"It's been a long day," Ingal said, rising from the sofa. "If it's okay with you, I might have a nap until the babies wake again."

"Of course! You don't need permission. I'm going to wait for Larken then maybe try to get some sleep, too."

Ingal paused, then blushed. "If you require a bit longer, I can see to the babies myself. I've been practicing using magic to hold their bottles."

"Why would I need longer?" The reason hit me. I grinned at the thought of some alone adult time with my sexy mate. "Oh, not a bad idea."

Our nanny blushed harder, his pale cheeks and neck reddened. "I will watch the babies. Enjoy your time with your mate."

Larken returned not long after. "Have you eaten? I'm starving." He went into the kitchen and went about assembling some grilled cheese sandwiches. "Should I make one for Ingal?"

"No, he's napping. Something we can do after we eat these and shower. I'll wash your back, if you wash mine." I tried to inject some seduction into my tone.

To give him the due credit he deserved, Larken caught on quickly. He ate the sandwich in three bites and waited, not quite patiently, for me to finish mine. I tried to tease him by taking nibbles, but I was hungry and demolished it. I hadn't thought to eat while I waited for him to return, too busy going over our escape.

My mate rounded the counter, and in a move reminiscent of our early days, hoisted me onto his shoulder and carried me upstairs to our bathroom.

We stripped while kissing, hands groping, as the water warmed up. Our lips barely parted as we got under the spray. I loved the feeling of his mouth on mine, strong arms surrounding my body. His chest was so toned, I just wanted to get my hands on him.

Larken's finger traced my hole.

"No conditioner needed this time," I joked.

"Hmm, I loved you as a beta, you know. Love you even more now." His finger pressed inside, it wouldn't take me long to be ready for his thick cock.

"Because we don't need lube?" I teased.

"No, because you are everything I've ever wanted. "

My words got stuck in my throat. I moaned as he pushed another finger inside me. My fingers tightened around his cock as I stroked him.

"I'm ready," I gasped at the pressure, wanting more of him. There was no way I could wait until after our shower.

"This is going to be a quick one. I need to feel you around me."

Part of our desperation for each other was a reminder that this was real. We were safe and together. Our family was fine and the nightmare was over for now. As long as we had each other, everything would be fine.

Twisting to give him my back, Larken kissed my neck as he sank inside me with a low groan.

He fucked into me with fast, hard strokes. The veins on his cock stimulated my prostate perfectly. After a few weeks of abstinence, thanks to babies and being so damn big, this was just what I needed, a reminder that Larken was made for me. We belonged together.

My fingers clawed at the tile of the shower as he continued to thrust. My knees felt weak, my orgasm rising.

"Close. More!" I begged, angling my hips to take him even deeper.

His fingers cupped my throat, his teeth nipping at the mating mark, and I was a goner. I came all over the shower wall and felt Larken's knot form, tying us together.

Larken grunted as he came. "Sorry, couldn't hold my knot back."

"It's fine," I muttered, feeling sleepy all of a sudden.

My mate stood holding me for a moment, then washed me carefully. He even did my hair, which was so sweet.

When his knot went down some, I pulled away, wincing as it tugged on my rim. Thank goodness for super healing. It wouldn't even hurt in a few minutes.

We finished our shower with gentle touches and sweet kisses and, once dry, collapsed into bed.

"The mayor called Blake."

"Yeah, what did he want? To blame us for the mess in Northarbor?"

"He wanted to form a better relationship and apologized for putting us in danger. Ulrian said he was deeply sorry Deke got hurt and the babies were at risk because of a policy he pushed through. He did some digging after our last meeting and knows now we've been telling the truth."

"Pft," I scoffed. "A bit late. Like he didn't know they'd attack us. We told him and he chose to ignore that information."

"Well, we knew it was a trap, so why didn't he? Anyways, he's imposing sanctions on Northarbor after the data breach at the registrar and then the attack, which they clearly instigated. Not that he can deny it, people recorded it. We're all over social media running away with the babies!"

Larken had to take a deep breath to calm down before he could speak again. I felt his fury, it matched my own.

"People are calling for harsher punishments for the aviary but who knows, they seem to have friends in high places. Not the mayor anymore. He thanked us for our kindness to the staff we met. They vouched for us, FYI."

"As they should. I know it wasn't their fault but I can't help feeling angry. We were in so much danger! If Deke… and Farryn! She was amazing!"

"Right? We were also thanked for moving the fight off the main streets and keeping casualties to a minimum."

"He's such a fucking hypocrite!"

"Yeah. I don't think that's the last we'll have to deal with him."

"No, I don't think so either."

My ears pricked as I heard Reid fussing. "The babies are up. I know he said he can handle them, but I feel guilty."

"I'll go get them. Want to shift together? Try re-settling them in bed with us? "

"Sure, get Ingal to join us, too. There's enough space."

Our elf nanny wasn't sure about joining in with our pile. The raccoon kits and ora hatchlings soon convinced him with their cuteness. He lay down on the edge of the bed and was soon surrounded, not only by the babies, but by me and Larken.

We need to get him on the pack link soon, I sent to Larken.

Hopefully he'll get his animal form.

We drifted off as one big family. Of course, we had young babies, so we were up and down through the night. Working as a team, we got through it and we all caught a few hours of much needed sleep.

The smile on Ingal's face as he fed Brayan, made it clear we were doing right by him. He belonged to us now.

Larken

A few days after the attack, I left Dalton and Ingal sitting outside in our sunny backyard with Axel as Teárlach and I headed together to the clinic.

I wanted to stay with my family. Dalton looked blissfully happy. He and Axel had whispered together about a promise they had made to each other. Seeing them as close friends again made me happy. Whatever feelings Dalton used to have for Axel were nothing like the ones he had for me. I knew beyond a doubt my mate loved me with all he had. I had given him his dream, turned him into an omega and a papa, just like I offered to.

Our temporary arrangement had suited our healing hearts at the time, but had grown into something so strong nothing could tear us apart.

Having the kids get together with a new friend was awesome. Rieka loved playing with our boys. She was bigger than them for now, it wouldn't take long for our hatchlings to overtake her in size though.

Teárlach and I were going to visit Deke, whose condition had briefly worsened. In all the chaos, a head injury had been missed. He was briefly put in a medical coma to get the swelling in his brain down, and though he was out of it, he hadn't woken up yet. He would. We'd make him. He never gave up on us, so we wouldn't give up on him. Plus, I needed to remind him he had godfather duties to fulfill.

Just in case, I'd spoken to Jasper, who affirmed that Deke would be okay. He said the goddess was being unusually coy about Deke, so I wondered what she had in store even as I was relieved my friend would be okay.

We were all taking turns sitting with Deke and going over any pack news. I was acting Head Enforcer for some reason. I thought Teárlach or even Farryn would be better suited to the role, since a lot of it involved liaising with the elven guards, but Blake had insisted I take it on while Deke recovered.

He was going to recover. It was just taking longer than we hoped. I had to remind myself of that often.

People, shifters, witches, demons, and elves, all greeted us as we headed along the path towards the mansion. There we would make a turn and head to the clinic. The mansion was busy as usual, with people coming and going. I caught a glimpse of Chase speaking to Rudi. Chase liked his new assistant, though he still hoped Dalton would return to work before long. I knew my mate intended to take a couple of months leave so the babies were sleeping through before he started work again.

Teárlach didn't fill the walk with idle chatter, which was a relief after so much noise first thing in the morning. I would never change my family, I just needed earplugs or something to survive four growing boys.

We were crossing over the grassy area when a shout of alarm went up.

"The portal!" was all I heard.

My head automatically snapped in that direction, my feet paused their steps. Then, I watched as somehow it expanded, tripling in size.

More and more elves were yelling while backing away from the growing portal, terror on their faces. These were soldiers, they had seen all sorts. What was making them react like that?

It all happened within the space of a minute, maybe less.

A form pushed through the portal, exiting into the sky, flapping massive gleaming white leathery wings.

The portal broke behind it, collapsing back into its usual size as the form took shape on our side.

The pearlescent white dragon roared above us. A sound of fear and anguish. A stream of fire lit the air.

Dragon. There was a dragon in Sweetwater.

Then it shifted, dropping from the air to land on two feet. It took on a decidedly male form.

He looked around furiously, the threat of violence in every movement. In a low growl, which traveled, he asked a question that rocked us all.

"Where is my mate?"

The End