Chapter 15

Lily

Thomas's potty-training incident was going to be a story we told for years to come. It was rare that my Alpha mate ever caused a scene or stepped out of line. Nearly jailed by a newbie cop had to be the greatest thing ever.

I didn't want him to know, but I'd snapped a pic and then sent it off to the Six Pack Mates text group. I probably shouldn't have because I knew he was very irritated about it all, but it was just too good not to share.

Feeling only mildly guilty about it, I looked over toward the field, watching my daughters play with their cousins.

As Thomas joined me, I leaned against him with a happy sigh. "This is my favorite weekend of the year. I love having us all together."

He laughed. "Yes, I know. You tell me a thousand times every year."

We had taken over Collier Pack as Alpha and Pack Mother at such a young age that we'd been forced to grow up quickly. We'd had our battles, far worse than this bathroom incident. Both of us were too stubborn for our own good, but things always had a way of working out for us. I knew this too would pass in time and we'd come out better on the other side—somehow. I didn't think Thomas wanted to hear that just yet though.

As we walked over to join the others, Thomas froze. I could feel his anger rising.

Looking around, I quickly found the source—Jack.

"Promise me you won't cause a scene."

"I'm trying," he said through gritted teeth.

"Look at Tessa by his side. Thomas, that's Jenna's twin. Look at her. See how happy he makes her?"

"It's not her that bothers me."

"But you lashing out at him will hurt her, and therefore Jenna, not to mention Maddie and Liam, plus Oscar. Do you really want to hurt Oscar?"

He sighed. "No, I don't."

"Of course you don't. You're an Alpha, Thomas. You deal with people you don't necessarily like all the time. So grin and bear it. Put on that Alpha charm and don't be the douchebag I once thought you were."

"Uncalled for."

"Probably, but it's the truth."

Hesitantly, we walked closer, and I tugged Thomas down into the chair next to me.

"I wish we could all get together more than just once a year like this," MC said as she and the others gathered around us.

"Me too," Kelsey agreed. "We never get enough time together, Lily."

I smiled at her sadly. "I know, but thank God for video messaging, right? I don't feel like I've missed out on quite as much in all your lives because of it."

Elise raised her wineglass, filled with sparkling cider from the chair she was sitting in. "Cheers to that! I don't know how I'd survive this pregnancy without you," she said, rubbing her little baby bump.

Thanks to modern technology, we could see each other every single day.

"And I will be there every step of the way," I assured her. "I'm already making plans to be here when you go into labor."

"That would be great, but if you can't, I'll understand."

"If I can't, then MC will be there in my place, face messaging me in. Regardless, I am not missing the arrival of my little niece or nephew."

"You want me to do what?" Maddie asked.

"No cameras," Elise protested.

"I'm not asking you to videotape it. I just want to be a part of it. So if I don't make it in person, I need you to be there and livestream me in on the action."

"Only if Elise says it's okay."

"She does," I said.

"Hello? I'm sitting right here."

"And you're going to agree to it, so don't bother pretending you won't."

"What are we agreeing to, love?" Patrick asked.

"Lily being in the delivery room."

"I thought we said no one in the delivery room but us."

I gasped and held my hand to my chest. "You're cutting me out of this? You wouldn't even know about this kid if it wasn't for me."

"I would have told him eventually."

"Would you have though?"

"Pretty sure I would have noticed eventually," Patrick argued.

"Really? Let's be honest here."

They both shook their heads at me.

"We'll think about it," Elise conceded.

It was a step in the right direction. I knew by the end she'd make the right decision and let me in.

Oscar came over to join us where we sat, all the grown-ups sprawled out on blankets and in lawn chairs just catching up. I was mesmerized watching the young man before me. He wasn't a child anymore, and it was hard to imagine when exactly that had changed, but at eighteen, he was a full-grown man now.

"Oscar, you still haven't shifted?" Thomas asked him.

I noticed he squirmed at the question and tried to avoid it. Pinned down by a dozen eyes waiting, he shrugged. "Still no wolf."

"Could be a tiger," Jack offered, sounding hopeful.

Thomas stiffened once more.

I reached over and linked his hand with mine, forcing his wolf to settle and for him to calm down.

Something seemed off with Oscar. I didn't ask right away. Instead, I waited until he got up and walked away, and then I excused myself to follow him. I cornered him, and the interrogation began.

"Spill it. What's going on?"

His eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"You're eighteen, and you've always had signs of a shifter for as long as I've known you. You're healthy, and—" He squirmed under my scrutiny—"You've already shifted, haven't you?"

Oscar turned his big brown eyes on me. I'd always been a sucker for those eyes. "Aunt Lily, you can't say anything. I'm not ready to admit it. I know Mom's going to be disappointed."

"Tiger, huh?"

He shrugged, his head dropped, and he slowly, sadly nodded.

"How long?"

"Huh?"

"How long since your first shift?"

Oscar looked around uncomfortably. "Almost two years."

"What? You've been keeping this from them for almost two years?"

"They're so certain I was going to be a wolf. I just, I don't want to disappoint them."

"Oscar Westin, you look at me right this second." I waited until he looked up. "You are not a disappointment. You never will be. Your mom isn't going to care that you shift to a tiger instead of a wolf. She's going to be proud of you no matter what . . . though I'd probably leave out the ‘I've known for two years' part for a while."

"But Aunt Lily, I'm a cat in a pack of dogs. How can they not be disappointed?"

"Aunt Jenna is a cat in a pack of dogs. Do you love her less than me because of it? Wait, don't answer that, of course you love me more, cause I'm your favorite aunt. So, do you love her less than Aunt E?"

Oscar laughed. "No. I love you all equally."

"But me just a tiny bit more, right?"

He hugged me. "I love you, Aunt Lily."

"Love you too, tiger."

He groaned. "I don't want to ruin the weekend, but I promise I'll tell them soon."

"I'm going to hold you to that, you know."

He rolled his eyes. I never realized just how annoying that could be till I had little ankle biters mimicking me with it. I hated eye rolls now.

"Hi, Oscar," a voice called, and I looked up to see a pretty blonde girl wave our way. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen and was obviously happy to see my nephew.

"Who's that?" I asked. "She certainly doesn't seem to mind that you're a . . ."

"I get it. I'll tell them. Mind if I bail and go hang out with Bailey?" he asked.

"Bailey, huh? She's cute."

He grinned, looking back at the girl and waving. "Yes, she is."

"Go on. I'll cover for you."

He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. "That's why you're my favorite," he said as he ran off to catch up with the girl. I smiled after them. I always knew I was his favorite.

"Where is your mother?" I heard Thomas ask one of the girls.

"Lily?" he called.

Where the hell did she go this time? I clearly heard him say, but I was staring right at him and his lips never moved.

Thomas? I thought, and he turned my way.

"Oh, there you are. Kelsey needs you to help Peyton set up for dinner. Something about Zander daring little Jason to climb a tree and now he's stuck."

We walked back over to where the group was congregated. I laughed as Kelsey passed by.

"You know how many times I've told him wolves don't climb trees? He looks up to Z so much, but all Z wants to do is terrorize his little brother. Be thankful you have girls," she murmured.

"It really doesn't help that the twins take after their mother and taunt him from above," Chase added proudly.

I looked up, and sure enough, Charlotte and Victoria were on the limb above Jason, heckling him. Poor kid was getting it from above and below.

Thomas? I thought in my head as he turned around to face me.

"Yeah? What is it, Slugger?" he asked, still using the nickname he'd granted me since our initial mating. All these years and he still wouldn't tell me why he called me that.

"Why do you call me that?" I asked him aloud.

He smirked, giving me that sexy crooked grin that could still melt my panties or piss me off at any given time.

As if I'd ever tell her. My little Slugger, whose mere words could cut me down and smash my heart into a million pieces. Man, if she knew what kind of power she truly had over me, I'd be screwed! It would tear her up if she ever learned just how bad her initial rejection of me had hurt during our mating period . . . so bad that I granted her the nickname that I still use just to bug her.

He called me Slugger because I'd hurt him? Did I say something to hurt him every time he used it? I thought back through the years. No, that wasn't possible. He used it too frequently and usually with a smile on his face. But knowing it all stemmed from me hurting him was too much to bear. I started to cry and walked away, hoping he didn't notice.

Shit! Damn pregnancy hormones. What's wrong with her this time? Thomas thought, and once again I heard him loud and clear.

He walked up behind me and hugged me. I turned in his arms and cried into his shoulder. I'm sorry. Stupid baby hormones . Before I could stop myself, I thought, I never wanted to hurt you.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, pulling me back so he would look at me. "You could never hurt me, babe. What's all this about?"

I looked at him and without opening my mouth to speak, I said, B ecause now I know why you call me Slugger. I never wanted to hurt you, not even all those years ago. I'm sorry.

His eyes kept staring at my mouth that wasn't moving. He shook his head in confusion. "What did you just say?"

I gave him a watery smile. You heard me, big boy.

Lil? he asked without speaking.

I smiled and nodded.

Shit, you set me up, he accused.

I grinned and shrugged . Maybe you should pay a little more attention to your mate.

It's really happening. I can't believe it. Our bond's complete?

Looks like, I admitted, jumping up and wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. This is the coolest thing ever!

He pulled back and didn't look so convinced. This is going to take some getting used to.

Just think, now I don't have to give subtle hints that you often miss when I want the girls to go to bed early so I can have you all to myself. I can just secretly tell you. I had a momentary flash of him naked, making love to me.

He grinned from ear to ear. I saw that, you know.

You did? How about this one? I remembered how he used to wake me up every morning pre-kids. Certainly put a smile on my face.

If you can convince Cammie to actually sleep in her own bed, I'd be happy to reinstate that particular tradition.

Liam walked by us and stopped. "Why are you two just standing there, staring at each other with those goofy looks on your faces?"

Oh, wouldn't he like to know? I thought, cracking both of us up.

"Jesus, you'd think you were newly mated or something," Liam continued. "You're supposed to be helping Peyton in the kitchen, Lil, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I'm on my way," I told him, giving Thomas a quick peck on the lips and turning to leave for real.

I had an instant flash of my behind walking away. Damn, I'll never get sick of looking at that.

I turned and grinned, shaking my booty for him. Even though I'm fat and gross?

Girl, you are incredibly sexy carrying my child. You have no idea what that does to me. All round and beautiful. He growled in my head.

Good to know, but this is still our last pregnancy.

We'll see about that.

I laughed.