Chapter 27 - Senna

My entire being felt the need to go right back to sleep, but hearing Jet's voice just now had been so welcome that I wouldn't let myself pass back out. I needed to see him, to know he was right there with me.

I lifted my hand, looking for Jet's head where it rested on my chest. His leather and pine scent was flaring strong, and I could sense my own waft forward like it had a mind of its own and was seeking out Jet's fragrance, wanting to tangle in it.

"Senna," I heard Kenzie's voice at my side, and I cracked open a lid to see her standing right next to me. "You're finally awake. Oh, thank the Gods, I thought I was going to have to put up with Jet's moping forever."

His head shot up at that, and he growled playfully. "Hey."

A light chuckle rocked me, and I worked to get the other eye open. Jet's silver hair was what greeted me. I reached out, stroking my fingers through the locks. They were more tangled than normal, and I could pick up the faint scent of blood as I moved them.

"Are you still hurt?"

Panic gripped my chest, and I tried to shoot forward. It made me immediately dizzy.

Jet whipped around to face me, steadying me with his grip, and then I was up against his chest.

"Am I hurt?" He held me tight, and I could feel the swirl of nervousness and relief flood through our bond. "You're the one who's been unconscious for eight hours."

I melted into the embrace, letting the weight of Jet's presence grounded me.

"He's fine, Senna. Healing up great. He just hasn't showered."

Another short, playful growl cut through Jet, and he angled back toward Kenzie.

"One of these days, you're going to remember that I'm your alpha, and you'll stop throwing me under the bus like that."

She snickered, grinning as she walked closer and put a hand on my free shoulder.

"I doubt it," Kenzie whispered, and then she looked up to a pole that was next to me. "I'll just adjust this now."

I tracked the long tubes coming off of it and realized I'd been hooked up to an IV. Cocking a brow, I nodded at it.

"Just some fluids. I didn't want you to get dehydrated."

Nodding again, I let Jet put his forehead against mine. Something told me I wasn't going to be able to keep him off me for a while, which I was actually fine with.

"Right. Fluids. That makes sense. I probably need more since I'm—" At once, memory struck me, and I surged up in the bed, gripping at Jet. "The baby!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Kenzie held out her hands, and Jet smoothed his fingers across my cheek. "It's okay. I'm sure everything is fine. Jet wanted to wait to do a scan until you were awake for it. Would you like me to—"

"Now," I nodded. "I want you to do it now."

MacKenzie laughed, nodding her head back at me with obvious empathy.

"Okay. Hang tight. I'll get Kaiden to help."

She stepped away, and I was left with Jet, who was still holding me tight against his chest.

"Jet, if the baby…" My throat constricted, cutting off my words as a sob threatened to tear through me.

"Hey, don't think like that. I'm sure it'll be fine. Wolf pups are strong. You'll see."

That calming purr of his rocked forward, rumbling through me and making the angry rush in my veins die down. After a moment, he leaned back, and I met his eyes as he looked down at me.

"I…I was so damn worried, Senna. I thought—" His words cut off, a familiar choke stealing them.

I reached for his face, sweeping my thumb back and forth against his stubble. "I'd never leave you, Jet. Not if I could help it. Oh Gods, I'm so glad that Terrance—And you were not supposed to go out back! Listen to me next time."

I knew I'd only just reached Jet in time. He'd nearly died. And whatever this strange power was had come out of me on instinct, I still didn't understand it or what it meant.

"I know. I know." He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I saw Reginald running that way, and…revenge got the better of me."

There was a long pause, and I wanted to be mad at him, but I honestly just didn't have the energy.

"I don't know how you did that, Senna, but damn. It was one of the most impressive things I've seen in my life. You're…you're incredible. And that was true before the time stop."

"Gods, Jet. I thought…don't ever leave me like that again. Got it? I can't stand the thought of not being there for you."

He lowered himself, planting a kiss on my lips that was equal parts desperate and gentle. The way it felt to have him right there with me was everything. My heart hammered against my ribs, and that delicious pull between us heightened. We hadn't lost it.

As Jet leaned back, I stared up into those forest-green eyes.

"I trust you, little Omega. You're a V?lva, and I'd be an idiot to not see how powerful you are."

I chuckled, laying my head against his chest.

"I…I love you, too, Senna. You're my everything."

Shooting up to face him, my eyes went wide. "I didn't know if you'd heard me."

He nodded. "I heard you. And I love you. Forever."

Tears burned in my eyes, dripping down my cheeks as I pulled him close for another kiss. And then I heard the sound of the door.

"Oops! Did you want me to come back?" MacKenzie was wheeling in a sizeable computer-like device that I had to imagine was the ultrasound machine.

Laughing against Jet's lips, I sat back, and he gave me the space I needed on the bed to be checked out. I shook my head at Kenzie, smiling easily, and saw Kaiden behind her.

"No. Everything's fine." I met eyes with Kaiden. "Hey. How are you? Any lasting issues with your tastebuds?"

He chuckled. "Thankfully, no. I'm just here to help with the machine. It weighs a ton."

Kenzie sidled up next to me, laying a hand on my shoulder. "He's not kidding. That beast is something. But very useful. So, if we're doing this, I need you to lie on your back and hike that shirt up for me. If you could unbutton your pants, as well?"

I nodded, and a low growl rumbled as I bared my skin. I looked up at Jet, who quickly shook the snarl away, but he was still gripping my hand and staring between me and Kaiden.

"Sorry. Just…yeah. Could you—"

Kaiden began to turn around. "I'm on it, boss."

Jet smiled, his shoulders relaxing. "Thank you."

"All right." Kenzie sat down on a little stool she'd pulled up next to the bed and held up the transducer over my stomach. "Here we go."

Cool jelly was squeezed out onto my skin, immediately creating goosebumps. Then, as the device made contact with me, images appeared on the small screen of the large machine. Gray and white outlines and shapes appeared in the sea of black, and I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"Holy shit," Kenzie whispered, and my heart rate skyrocketed.

I squeezed Jet's hand and stared wide-eyed at her. My gut twisted as her mouth hung open, still not speaking.

"What, Kenzie! You can't just say holy shit and then nothing. I'm freaking out."

She seemed to snap out of it and looked over at me with a smile. "Sorry, sorry. You're okay. You're all okay. Umm, okay, see those?"

She pointed at the image of my uterus on the screen, twisting the probe to a different angle. As she did, Kenzie revealed something that looked like two distinct halves or chambers in there. My heart skipped a beat as my entire being absolutely flared, white-hot like the sun.

"Wait, is that…"

I couldn't finish, but Kenzie swiftly took over for me.

"Two sacs."

Jet's hand tightened on mine, and he sat forward, closing in on the screen. "Two?"

Kenzie nodded. "Two."

"We're having…" His voice trailed away.

"Twins?!" Kaiden hurried over from his spot across the room, looking at the screen with his brows up to his hairline.

His stare went to Kenzie, and she held his hand. I chuckled through the shock, looking at Jet with a smile. Disbelief and joy swirled together, and in one collective sound, the room filled with that powerful word.

"Twins."

Suddenly, the room erupted into cheers, and the stragglers who'd clearly been at the door this entire time burst into Jet's bedroom. I could barely think over the chorus of hoots and hollers as Geo and Orion rushed up to Jet. They pulled him to his feet, bouncing up and down with him as they yelled congratulatory howls.

"Congrats!" Geo and Orion hugged him in an awkward twofer, and I laughed as the tears fell. "You've done damn well, Alpha!"

Multiple pregnancies were once commonplace with wolves, but with the declining rates, I'd assumed we'd be lucky to conceive at all. My heart was so full I thought it might burst, and Jet looked over at me with a dumbfounded grin.

"Twins. Okay, then," he chuckled, shrugging.

MacKenzie was at my side, speaking into my ear as she hugged me. "It's a good thing wolves aren't pregnant for that long. I wouldn't have been able to tell this early if it were a human. Also, yay. Seven months is much better than ten."

I laughed again—and again and again. The entire world was light and life, and I just didn't know how I was going to fit all this love inside me.

Kaiden was at my side for a hug the next moment, and I smiled as Grayson patted Jet on the shoulder.

"Our family is growing, Alpha. We will be sure to protect it." Grayson bowed his head, and I could see Jet struggling against the well of emotion.

"Thank you, Grayson. You're going to have a big hand in that as the leader of the scouting party. And as beta, of course."

My packmate cocked his head. "What?"

"I need you leading the charge to find those wolves who ran off—Reginald and Leon as the top priority. Anyone who attacked this house will face retribution. And I want you to give all your findings to Kaiden."

The hug was cut off as Kaiden stood up and nodded at Jet. "I'll do whatever I can to help, Alpha."

"I know you will. You've proved yourself ten times over. And there is a gap in power among the Collins pack now. It'll be a challenge. They're practically feral and need to be whipped into shape. But I believe you have the power to do it. As their Alpha."

The room slipped into a hushed gasp, and Kaiden's mouth fell open. I smiled up at him, then grinned over at MacKenzie, whose hands flew up to her mouth.

"Me? Are you serious?"

"Of course. You defeated their alpha, Terrance. The position is rightfully yours. And we need all the help we can get if we're going to bring the packs together."

Kaiden's eyes went glassy, and Jet circled around his bed to embrace him. He clapped him on the shoulder, nodding. When he pulled back slightly, Jet put his hand on Kaiden's cheek, leveling him with an intense gaze.

"I know you'll make any pack proud, son." Kaiden's jaw flexed as he fought to maintain his composure. "And I don't want either of you to think that I'm going to forget the first children who became a part of my family."

Jet opened his arm toward Kenzie, and she rushed over. The three of them crowded in, hugging with everything they had, and tears spilled down my cheeks. My babies would have a wonderful father; I knew that already, but I knew for sure now that they'd have some fantastic older siblings as well.

"I love you both," Jet whispered, and when the group separated ever so slightly, I could see the tears staining all their faces.

I pulled my shirt down while the room was distracted with continued bouts of congratulations and fastened my pants. I was feeling much more like myself now, and I took advantage, pushing myself up into a sitting position and then standing up.

Jet was at my side in a flash, and I had to swat him away as he tried to get me back down.

"Stop that. I'm fine. You won't be treating me like a porcelain doll just because I'm pregnant. Or any time after, for that matter."

I stepped into the ring of family members, letting Kaiden and Kenzie hug me tight against their chests.

"I love you, too. I couldn't ask for a better family to help me with these babies. If they're anything like you, I'm going to need all the help I can get."

They laughed, and Kenzie swiped a tear from under her eye. "Ugh, well. Only problem is now that he's alpha of the neighboring pack, Kaiden's going to be insufferable."

He knocked her with his shoulder. "Hey!"

Laughing, I pulled our circle open, welcoming the others in the room. Orion and Geo had been kind, Grayson was indispensable, and the entire Edwards pack had given me so much that I never thought possible.

The songs of howls rang out all the louder, and even without a wolf, I tipped my head back, leaning on my family, and howled out into the sky. Our voices rocked the entire compound, and the love I felt reached me down to my bones.

As the cry died down, Jet was taking me in his arms. He pressed me against his chest, lowering his forehead to mine. I breathed in that heavenly leather and pine scent, letting myself fall entirely into his strong hold.

"I love you, my Alpha, my mate."

He kissed my lips gently. "I love you, Senna. I love our children."

My hand went to my lower belly. "I promise to be the best mother I can be to our twins. I'll learn these powers. I'll be strong for them. For all of us."

"I know you will."

Jet kissed me and kissed me and kissed me. Joyful tears slipped down my cheeks, and I clung to him with all my strength. In the middle of all the chaotic happiness swirling through the room, there was just me and him.

And I didn't need anything else—ever again.

***

Seven months later

"I'm as big as a house. Get them out of me." I leaned heavily on Kenzie's shoulder, pulling myself up from the latest scan of my growing twins.

She laughed, helping me to get settled on my feet, which had swollen as well.

"I told you. Everything looks great. They'll come when they're ready."

I groaned, putting my hand on my lower back for some support.

"There's nothing I can do to speed things along?" I tilted my head at her, frowning as I studied her bouncy red curls.

"Well," she smirked, "there's walking, which I think you've been doing nearly nonstop, and then there's…"

Furrowing my brow, I eyed her. "What?"

"You could have sex. Sometimes the hormones in semen can help, and you know, all the contracting."

My brows shot to my hairline, and I let out a pained chuckle.

"Sex? Really?" MacKenzie just nodded. "Well, I mean, I haven't been…I'm not exactly the shape I was before, now, am I?"

Kenzie snickered, licking her lips and she ducked her eyes down to the floor briefly. "Not that I love thinking about this, but you're telling me you haven't been sleeping with Jet?"

Burning set up shop in my cheeks. I knew it was weird for Kenzie to consider her pseudo-father as a sexual being, and the truth was not helping, either.

"Not lately, no. I'm massive. Everything hurts. And who'd want to get busy with all this?"

I gestured at my massive tummy, and one of the twins gave a solid kick in return, making me hiss.

"Ow, I didn't mean you. I meant me," I said to the stomach.

Kenzie smiled, laying a hand on my shoulder and rubbing it up and down. "I promise you, Senna. Jet isn't going to turn you down, ever. You're his mate. And he's probably been dying for a chance to get with you."

"He hasn't said anything."

She eyed me, an amused frown twisting her mouth. "Umm, does he ever? He probably wants to give you your space. Look," she walked me toward the door, "go talk to him. It'll be good for both of you to connect, and you might just get those babies out."

I laughed, pausing at the threshold. "Fine, fine. But don't think I didn't notice how you've been trying to shove me out of here this entire time. Or how nice you look for a random Wednesday."

As I raised my brows at her, Kenzie's mouth fell open, but then she sighed and nodded gently.

"Okay, okay. Guilty. I…I have plans."

My mouth fell open, and I gasped. "A date?! Is it Grayson?"

"Dammit! How did you know?" Kenzie balked at me before erupting into laughter.

"Oh, I've seen how you two act. You're not as sneaky as you think." I gave her a quick hug. "Have fun. I'm sure it'll be great."

She sighed, Kenzie's eyes going to the floor. "I hope so. This is the first time he's asked. I was beginning to think he never would."

"Well, men can be stupid. Cut him a break." I started down the hall back to my room. "And if he's a jerk, tell him I"ll freeze his ass and kick his damn balls till they fall off."

Kenzie snorted with laughter behind me. But I wanted to get back to the bedroom. Apparently, we both had a date.