CHAPTER 13

LUCA

Anton and I’d made the decision to split up, and he’d gone with Miah and Hannah to pick up the other two visitors. Drake, Sam, and I continued on to the camp that Hannah had booked for us; we’d been met and made welcome by her friends, who thankfully were also shifters so they’d put us in the farthest tents away from the dining room, giving us privacy and easy access to the bush should we feel the need to shed our skin and go wild.

By the time we’d unloaded everything, a staff member had dropped off a tray with sandwiches and a cooler box full of drinks. I was ready to relax. It had been a long few months for all of us, and I was looking forward to having some time to relax. Bonus was that I was enjoying the company of the two males with me.

It had been a long time since I’d played tourist, and I was looking forward to the long walk along the falls. I know that Hannah had arranged a booze cruise at sunset tomorrow, which I knew our guests would enjoy.

The sun was setting when I heard the sound of Anton’s vehicle driving up the road. Drake and Sam grinned at the sound and both stood up. They’d been telling me all about their teammate and her father, who’d been their commander. I was looking forward to meeting them.

Little did I know that my entire life was going to change, but I should have realised it when Anton got out of the vehicle with a huge grin on his face. Through the windscreen, I could see Hannah, also with a wide smile on her face. Next to her sat a mountain of a man, who I assumed was their old commander. My animal was immediately on alert, which made me twitchy. He was usually quiet and easy-going, only making himself known when I needed him. I started searching the twilight, lifting my nose to sniff the air to find what had disturbed him.

And then there it was, her smell, my mate, an earthy smell with a hint of mint similar to the smell of the first rains. There was nothing to quite describe the smell of my mate. Then there she was. Stepping out of the vehicle, dark hair long and thick, slightly taller than me, large breasts straining against her olive-green T-shirt, narrow waist, and thick hips.

There was no way to stop the growl that rumbled through my chest as I stalked towards her. Ignoring everything and everyone else, my attention focused solely on her. The one that I’d been waiting for. Waiting for what seemed to be years, and now she was here.

“Mine,” I growled. Her brown eyes widened at the sight of me stalking towards her, and a blush rushed over her cheeks, her arousal scenting the air.

I had no idea what she was, her teammates hadn’t been forthcoming, and honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered. She was mine.

Stopping in front of her, I kept my eyes on hers, slowly pushing her back until she was standing with her back against the vehicle, and we were covered by the open back door. Leaning forward my nose close to her throat, I inhaled long and deep of her scent, allowing it to envelop me. My canines dropped, and I knew I had to wrestle some sort of control before I took her here and now, especially as she tilted her head slightly as if she was asking for my bite. My chest rumbled again with a growl, then she smiled, and it was like the sun coming out after the rain.

“Hi,” she whispered softly, resting a gentle hand on my chest but not to push me away. No, her fingers curled into my shirt, pulling me closer.

There was no stopping me now, running my tongue over her lips, I demanded entry. She didn’t disappoint me, opening her mouth to me, allowing me to devour her lips. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her tight into me, never wanting to let her go. Our spell was broken by a deep rumbling, Hannah’s giggling, and Anton’s amused voice in my ear.

“Brother, you may want to let the lady up for air and calm her father down. I don’t think any of us are going to be able to hold back a pissed-off grizzly bear.”

Pulling back, I looked into my mate’s slightly dazed deep brown eyes.

“Wow,” she whispered. “I knew it would be intense, but wow.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I said softly in her ear, making her shiver slightly.

“Cass,” someone growled.

“Oops,” she muttered with a blush. “I forgot my dad was here.”

Chuckling, I let her go, but not far. Hooking my arm around her waist and holding her to me as we turned. I got my first proper look at the man who, for all intents and purposes, was going to be my father-in-law.

His bear was rumbling, and my hyena was answering. Pissed that we’d stopped from what we were doing. I couldn’t say that I disagreed with him. Being human sucked sometimes, but I knew if I wanted a happy mate, I’d have to make nice with her father.

Walking forward, I held out my hand and introduced myself. “Luca Russo, it’s good to meet you.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared at me before suddenly sighing, and his shoulders sank down from where they’d been raised around his ears, and he took hold of my hand to shake it, “Augustus Ford, call me Gus.”

“Gus,” I returned.

His gaze was on his daughter, and I could see he was struggling with something. From what I understood, he’d been her sole carer all her life. He’d also taken in his young niece. I was guessing his little girl finding her mate had shaken him a little and I understood that as much as I could. I’d probably be the same if I ever had a daughter.

Something passed between the two of them because suddenly Cas was pulling on my hand and walking towards the tents.

As we walked away, I heard him say to Anton, “Please put me as far away from them as possible.”

Cassie giggled at his words, her dark eyes flashing towards me. Deciding we were going too slow, I stopped, picked her up, threw her over my shoulder, and jogged to our tent. Cassie squealed, then gasped when I picked her up. I heard her muttering something about being too heavy. I had no clue what she was talking about; to me, she hardly weighed a thing.

It had been pure luck that I’d chosen the one tent on the outside farthest away from everyone else. Now I was glad because there was no way we were leaving here until we were well and truly mated.

Entering the tent, I slowly put Cassie down on her feet, holding her arms until she was steady. She looked at me with wide eyes, “You picked me up!”

I still wasn’t sure why she was so surprised; shifters were stronger than most. “I did,” I agreed.

“Wow,” she replied, eyes wide and a little stunned.

Deciding that I liked her being surprised, I picked her up again and laid her down on the bed with a grin. “I picked you up again,” I grinned down at her. “I’ll be picking you up often, so get used to it,” I told her.

“Okay,” she agreed, “will you kiss me again?”

“Oh, baby, I’m going to do so much more than kiss you.”

“Lucky me,” Cass whispered just as my mouth touched hers.

‘Fuck me,’ she is sweet.

After devouring her lips, I moved down her neck, sucking and nipping, marking. Knowing exactly where I was going to leave my mating mark.

Tugging at her shirt, I ripped it up and over her head, baring her beautiful large, bountiful breasts to me encased in olive green lace. My animal gave a deep rumble of delight; I had to agree our mate was gorgeous. Tugging the cups down, I moaned at the sight of her dark nipples peaked and ready for my mouth. Sucking one peak deep into my mouth, I growled at her whimper as she tugged at my hair with each suction of my lips. Her hips moving restlessly under me, making my aching hard cock weep with each movement. Ripping my mouth from her breasts, not wanting to wait much longer, I sat back on my knees and attacked the button to her trousers, ripping them down and off her legs, taking her panties and shoes with them. Inhaling a deep breath, I could almost taste her on my tongue. Settling down between her raised thighs, I ran my tongue along each thigh coated with her moisture, moaning as it coated my tongue.

“Luca, please,” she whimpered, shifting restlessly on the bed, hips undulating with each swipe of my tongue.

“It’s okay, baby,” I assured her. “I’ll take care of that ache you have.”

Keeping my word, I knelt on the floor, pulling her towards me until her luscious backside was resting on the edge of the bed, legs spread wide open, pussy wet and dripping on display. Running my tongue along the edge of her folds until I got to her hard little nub, flattening my tongue, I stroked it across her hard nub. Inserting my fingers, first one, then two, into her pulsing depths, growling in delight, as with each suck on her clit, her need gushed out and onto my hand. She cried out as her orgasm rolled over her, soaking my hand as she strangled my fingers.

My animal was making himself known, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold him back much longer. Ripping my shirt off, I pushed my shorts down, stepping out of them.

Cassie’s eyes were dark with need, a ring of gold letting me know her animal was close like mine. Even so, I was still more human than animal and needed to know she was okay.

“Are you doing okay, Cassie?”

Cassie nodded frantically, “I am, but I need you in me soon. I didn’t realise that it would feel like this.”

“Me either, baby,” I assured her. “Turn over for me and walk your knees up the bed so I can watch your luscious arse sway for me,” I ordered.

With no hesitation, Cassie flipped onto her stomach, rose to her knees and crawled towards the middle of the bed where she stopped to look at me over her shoulder.

With a groan at her lushness, her weeping pussy glistening in the late afternoon sun that came in through the window of the tent. Wrapping my hand around my cock in a firm grip at the sight.

“Fuck me, I love your arse,” I ground out. “Lower your chest to the bed and spread your legs so I can see my pussy.”

Cassie whimpered at my order but did as I asked, bending low, chest to the bed, arms straight out in front of her as she thrust her hips up towards me, pussy glistening with her need.

“Perfect, baby,” I growled at her. Kneeling on the bed, I made my way towards her until I was flush with all that deliciousness. Inserting my cock into her cunt, my eyes rolled to the back of my head as soon as I was enveloped in her heat. Waiting a beat, I didn’t move until Cassie thrust back against me. Gripping her hips in a bruising hold, I drove my cock into her welcoming depths spurred on by her cries as we reached for the pinnacle. Covering her back and wrapping my arms around her, I lifted her torso up, banding my arms tight around her waist and across her breasts. Allowing my hyena free reign, he didn’t disappoint as he struck, piercing her shoulder as he bit down. Blood filled my mouth as I felt my cock swell and knot inside her, as pulse after pulse of cum left me. Our bonding snapped into place as I laved my tongue over the puncture wounds left in her shoulder. The bond would get stronger as soon as Cassie bit me, marking me as hers.

Lowering my one hand, I strummed slightly at her clit, her hips still writhing against me, and felt her come again, her pussy pulling hard at my cock that wasn’t going anywhere until the knot had dissipated.

“Jesus, Cass. Jesus,” I whispered against her damp temple.

Her eyes fluttered open as she turned her head towards me, mouth blindly searching until she found mine. Whimpering slightly as our tongues moved against each other until she weakly leant back against my chest. Forehead resting against my throat.

“Just a few more minutes, baby, and the knot will disappear, then we can lie down.”

“It’s okay,” Cassie whispered. “This is nice, but my bear is demanding I mark you. I’ve told her she needs to wait.”

Chuckling, I pressed a kiss to her shoulder as her bear rumbled deep in her chest, my hyena answering her call.

“Soon,” I said softly, already feeling my cock start to go back to normal.

No sooner had I disengaged from Cassie, and she was on me. Manoeuvring me onto my back, she threw her leg over my hips as she centred herself over my still hard cock and sank down onto me, head thrown back, breasts thrust up and out.

‘Holy fuck, she is an absolute delight. All lush fullness and hips that I can grip onto and hold as hard as I want while I fuck her and breed her.’

Gripping onto her hips with tight hands, I thrust up into her, knowing I am going to be leaving bruises on her hips. Possessiveness fills me at the thought of marking her not only with my teeth and my cum but also with my fingers, so she’d be feeling me for days. I’ve never felt this need before, it is all-consuming, the need to fuck her, mark her, breed her, so that all know she is mine and I am hers.

With that thought in mind I sit up, holding her gyrating hips tight, my cock filling her. Tilting my head so that my neck is exposed for her claiming, “Bite me,” I demand.

Cassie didn’t wait. I knew she was close; I could feel it by the way her pussy was gripping my cock in a vice. We came together as her teeth sunk into my shoulder and jets of my cum filled her up.

Wrapping my arms around Cassie, pulling her down with me to lie on the bed as we waited for my cock to soften enough to pull out without hurting her. Running my hand in a lazy pattern up and down her back as she relaxed into me with a contented sigh. Both of us were replete for the moment. Our animals were content now that we’d fully mated and they’d retreated.

Pressing a kiss to Cassie’s temple with a smile, inhaling our combined scents. While she wasn’t fertile yet, she soon would be. It was our way to fill our mates up with our seed until they were with young. There was something in our sperm when we knotted that helped our mates become fertile.

It made me all the prouder of Anton and the strength he’d shown holding off with Hannah. I’m not sure I would have been able to show the same fortitude.

Turning us slightly as my cock slipped from her body, I got up from the bed. Cassie opened sleepy eyes at my movement.

Bending, I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, “Don’t move, beautiful. I’ll be back.”

“Okay,” she agreed softly. I felt her eyes on me as I walked naked to the entrance of the tent where my bag was. Rifling through it, I found a soft pair of shorts and pulled them on.

Walking outside, I found the jug filled with warm water, a dish for the water and cloths that only Anton would have known I’d need. Taking it all back into the tent with me, I set them on the bedside table. Dipping the cloths into the water, I squeezed the excess water out.

“What are you doing?” Cassie whispered.

“Taking care of you,” I inform her as I gently part her thighs and wipe her clean.

“Oh,” she said softly with a small hitch in her voice. Lifting my head from my task, I note the sheen of tears in her eyes. Finishing up, I throw the cloth in the laundry basket in the corner of the room.

Leaning down, my hands on either side of Cassie, I nuzzle into her neck, pressing a soft kiss to my mark on her shoulder that’s already healing.

“Why are you crying, baby?”

“I’m not really sure,” she laughed. “I think it’s all just hit me that I’ve found my mate where I least expected him to be and he’s not only gorgeous, but he’s also kind.”

Frowning down at her, “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re my mate and you’ll always come first with me. It’s my honour to take care of you. Just wait until you’re with young. Between my family and yours, you’re going to be spoilt as fuck baby.”

“Young?” she rumbled in surprise.

Grinning at her, I lie back down on the bed and pull her up until her head’s resting on my chest. “I’d better tell you what you are in for. I hope you want babies, Cass, because we won’t be leaving this tent until you’re knocked up.”

“What?” she spluttered.

“Yeah, we best be having a talk about how my animal works,” I inform her. “My brother and I are hyena shifters, and along with being strong and loyal to a fault, family means everything to us. We’d do anything for our family and our friends. Once you’re in our circle it takes a lot to break that loyalty.

“Our mates, on the other hand, will have to put up with us being fiercely protective and possessive. Baby, just so you know, I’m going to be all up in your space all the time, so you best get used to it now.”

Cassie laughs huskily at my words.

“I’m not kidding,” I tell her.

“I’m fine with that,” she assures me, tilting her head back to smile at me, brown eyes sparkling with laughter.

Happy that she seems to be taking it all in her stride, “We’ll see how you feel in a few years’ time, when you want to get together with the ladies for a night out and I tag along,” I tell her.

She snorts with laughter, burying her face in my chest, shoulders shaking. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Still laughing she wipes at her eyes, “What else? Tell me about this baby thing.”

“Yeah, that,” I mutter, running my hand over my face. Wondering how to explain it in a way that she won’t freak out. As far as I was aware, we were the only shifters who needed our mates pregnant to be fully mated. “We have sex as often as we can until you’re pregnant, only then will my animal be able to let you around other males that aren’t my family.”

“Holy fuck,” Cassie exclaimed, sitting up. “Say what.”

“I have to fuck you often, and I’ll knot every time until you’re pregnant. Once you’re pregnant, my animal will ease up some. I warned you that you didn’t know what you were getting. Possessive, demanding, loyal, and I’ll constantly want to breed you for the first few years,” I tick off every point.

“But,” I hold up my hand at the shock on her face, “you will also be loved like you never have been before, I’ll never cheat, and you and our young will always come first in my life. My brother and I would lay down our lives for you.”

“Oh shit,” Cassie flops back down on the bed and my attention is diverted from her trying to wrap her head around everything I’ve told her to my need to be inside her again as her breasts bounce at her movement. Leaning over, I wrapped my lips around her nipple and sucked hard before moving onto the next. It doesn’t take Cassie long to reciprocate, and by the time I’d kissed my way down her body to her already wet folds, she told me she was okay with me fucking her until I put my young in her.

It was late in the night when I finally let her up because we were both starving and thirsty. Anton had come earlier and dropped off a cooler box; rifling through it, I found sandwiches and water.

Settling back against the headboard, we devoured our food in short order, replenishing our energy for what was going to be a long few days. Already Cassie’s scent had changed, and I knew by tomorrow she’d be fertile and ready for my seed to take root.

“So, tell me about this breeding thing and how it works. When I eventually fall pregnant and have our young, will you need to breed me again as soon as possible?”

“No,” I reply, shaking my head, then taking a long drink of water. I think how to best answer her question, “According to my parents, it’s just the first time. Once we’re mated fully, my animal will be in tune with yours, and between them, they’ll know when you’re ready. Don’t forget our animals live within us. My mum was content just with my brother and me and as such, they never had any more. I’m not hundred percent sure how it works, but I can already smell that you’re more fertile now than you were when you arrived. There’s something in my sperm that helps make you fertile when I knot. Knotting doesn’t happen unless we’re trying for young, and honestly, I’m not in control of that. More my animal is. He’s built to breed his mate, but he’ll also take her feelings into consideration.”

Cassie is quiet as she thinks on all that I’ve told her. I get it. It’s a lot to take in. Most people think shifters are all the same, and for the most part, we are, but we also each have our idiosyncrasies for each breed; it just so happened that my type was very family-oriented.

“Is that why Hannah and Anton haven’t fully mated yet?”

“Yeah, Hannah’s body isn’t ready yet. But she’s getting stronger, I don’t think that it will be much longer before she’s ready. Anton is struggling more and more to hold back the stronger she gets. I admire the fuck out of him for being able to. By the time we’re back home, it will be my turn to make sure they are fed and watered.”

Cassie smiles at my words, “You and Anton are close?”

“We are,” I agree. “There are others that we are just as close to, though.”

Setting the leftover food back into the cooler box, I put it on the floor. Patting the bed next to me, I say, “Come and get comfortable and I’ll tell you about the four families and what you can expect. Oh, and also about Miah and Renee, although he’s under the impression that Renee and I have something going on.”

Laughing, I hold up my hands as Cassie growls at my words, her eyes flashing gold, fingers turning into claws as she digs them into my thigh.

“I don’t have anything going on with Renee, baby, I promise. She’s like a sister to me, always has been. Miah is her mate but she’s being stubborn about it.”

“Come,” I say softly, pressing kisses to her face as she calms down. “Let me tell you about her family and the curse they’re under.”

Once my mate is calm once again and tucked up next to me in bed, I bury my fingers deep in her thick hair, massaging her head as I tell her about the four families and the curse.

The sun is rising as I finish. Looking down into Cassie’s sleepy brown eyes, I can’t help but be thankful that somehow she made her way to me from the other side of the world.

Laying her down on the bed, my mouth sealed to hers as I enter her body slowly this time, gently rocking in and out until she pulls her face away from mine to gasp in a deep breath of air. Her head thrown back, neck exposed. Laving at her scar, I gently bite down, moaning deeply in the back of my throat as her channel contracts around my cock, pulling at me as I knotted. A knowing came upon me that this would be the last time for a while as my seed found its home.

We’d been holed up in our own little world for a while, and I’m sure her father would like to know his daughter was okay. But that would have to wait until we’d slept. Tucking Cassie tighter into me, wrapping my arms around her, we slept long and hard.

Waking the next morning just as the sun was rising. Burying my nose in Cassie’s neck and inhaling deeply. A smile splits my face at the change in her scent. Pressing a kiss to the back of her head and cupping my hand over her belly, where I knew our young now lay.

It seemed our lives were changing, and I couldn't wait to get her back to our property, where I knew she’d be safe.

My thoughts were interrupted by my gorgeous mate rocking her hips back against my hard cock. I’d been ignoring it so that she could get more rest.

“Mhh, morning,” Cassie mumbled sleepily.

“Morning, baby,” a rumbling growl left me as I tilted my hips against hers.

“Mmh,” Cassie hummed throatily, eyes still shut she reached behind her, grasping my cock and lining it up with her pussy.

Realising what she needed and wrapping my hand around her knee, I hitched her thigh up, giving me better access to her pussy. I lined up my cock and slowly pushed into her welcoming warmth.

“Feels so good,” she sighed sleepily, thrusting back against me. “Don’t stop.”

“I’m not stopping, baby,” I assured her as I drove my cock into her, until we were both panting. Reaching around, I ran my fingers around where we were joined until they were wet, then up to her clit. With each thrust, I ran my fingers across her clit until we were rocking in sync. Planting myself deep, I thrust into her one last time as she pulsed around me. We both moaned as we came, long and hard. Breath heaving, I buried my face in her hair, my arm wrapped tight around her.

“Fuck, baby, I’m looking forward to doing that with you forever,” I growled against her neck.

A laugh peeled out of her as she tilted her head back to look at me, “I’m not sure if I can keep this up, even with shifter healing,” she admitted.

“Are you sore?” I asked in concern.

Cassie frowned as if thinking, then shook her head, “Not sore, just a bit stiff. I’ll be fine. Also, mister, don’t think that I haven’t noticed you didn’t knot that time. Guess that means I’m knocked up, huh?”

“That it does,” I answer a little proudly that it hadn’t taken long. Then, realising that she’d gone quiet, I asked in concern, “Are you okay about that?”

Cassie let out a little sob. Concerned, I turned her in my arms and tilted her face up, “Talk to me, baby.”

“What happens if I’m like my mum? She was a shitty mother.”

“Oh, baby, there is no way you’re going to be a shitty mother,” I reassure her. “You’re the medic for your team. From everything that Drake, Miah, and Sam have told me about you, all I’ve heard is about how nurturing and caring you are. We all have doubts, but I promise you’re going to be a fantastic mother. Plus, having one like you did is a bonus because you’ll know what not to do.”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, her sadness crushing me.

“And you have me, baby, you’ll never be alone, I promise. If you ever feel like you’re falling, let me know and I’ll catch you. We’re a team.” Pressing soft kisses across her brow, eyes and cheeks until I get to her mouth where I leave one last soft kiss before pulling my head back to study her face, which was looking more relaxed at my words, “Okay?”

“Okay,” she agrees with a small smile, “I like that we’ll be a team.”

“Me too, baby, me too. Now how about we get up and find a shower, then I’m sure your dad will want to see you.”

“A shower,” Cassie groans, stretching out across the bed, breasts thrust up and out, making me bite my lip, knowing she needed a break but fuck me if my mate wasn’t gorgeous.

I’m broken from my reverie by Cassie pushing my against my chest, “Nope, shower and then feed me. I’m starving,” she orders, getting up from the bed.

“You can’t blame me that all I want to do is keep you in bed. You’re so fucking beautiful you take my breath away,” I grin at her but drag myself off the bed, knowing we both need food, having decimated the food that Anton had dropped off.

Taking the robes from the hooks by the door, I wrap Cassie in one before pulling one on. Taking her hand, I lead her out the tent and to the outdoor shower.

It doesn’t take us long to finish, both our stomachs growling with hunger. Hurrying back to the tent, we get dressed and walk towards the dining room where the rest of our party is sitting having breakfast.

“Nice of you two to join us,” Cassie’s dad growls, reaching for Cassie, who leaves my side to be wrapped up in her dad’s arms, a happy smile on his face until he sniffs and growls loudly.

“You’re pregnant already,” he rumbles, then looks at me as if he’s ready to kill me. I get it; she’s his baby, but she’s mine now, and I won’t have him upsetting her, father or not, as I take in her crestfallen face.

Going to pull her away from him, we’re interrupted by a happy squeal from Hannah.

“Yeah! You’re having babies. How exciting!” she claps, leaping up from her chair and running over to Cassie, throwing her arms around her. It’s the most animated I’ve ever seen Hannah. Looking at Anton, who’d stood when Hannah jumped up, he’s smiling at his mate’s genuine happiness.

Her exuberance has stopped Gus in his tracks as he watches the two women, his face softening.

Anton walks over to me and hugs me, “Congratulations, brother. Happy for you.”

“Thank you,” I reply, a little choked up.

The rest of Cassie’s teammates join us, and I have to hold myself back when they hug her, understanding that they see her as nothing more than a sister. It would be the same as me hugging any of the Moores. Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, though.

I take it for as long as I can, but eventually, I have to pull Cassie away from them, insisting that she needs to eat. Seating her at the table, I dish up a plate and set it before her.

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, immediately starting to eat.

“My pleasure, baby,” I assured her, sitting down next to her.

“You’re going to be a grandpa,” Hannah beams at Gus before exclaiming when she suddenly realises. “I’m going to be an aunty again.”

Anton laughs, pressing a kiss to her temple, “You seem thrilled, baby girl.”

“Oh, I am. I had a shit family, and my new family is amazing, so I’m excited to be the best aunt that I can and eventually once I’m up to it maybe you and I can have babies. Although I think three at a time is a bit much. Can we maybe stick to two at the most?”

Anton threw back his head and laughed, while the rest of us chuckled, then it hit me what she said. “Wait. What? What do you mean three?”

Hannah looked up with surprise at my words, “Um, when I hugged Cassie, I saw three young. Not sure if they’ll be cubs or pups, though.”

“You could tell that by just hugging Cassie?” Gus asked stunned. “Are they okay? Is she okay?”

Hannah’s face softened at the concern in his voice, and it went a long way to calming my animal down who’d not been happy ever since the way he’d spoken to Cassie earlier.

Reaching across the table, Hannah pats Gus’s hand, “She’s fine and the babies are fine as little as they are. All I could tell is that there are three.”

“Three,” Cassie whispers, looking a little green at the news before turning to me, “Three? You knocked me up with three babies.”

I tried; I truly did try to stop the grin that spread over my face at her words but there was no way I could. I was fucking thrilled. “It would seem so.” Turning back to Hannah, I asked curiously, “How did you know?”

Hannah shrugs, finishing off her mouthful of toast before answering, “I don’t know, it’s something I’ve always been able to do. I just know when I put my hands on a pregnant person. It’s why I was training as a midwife. It works on both humans and shifters.”

“Oh, Jesus,” Anton rolls his eyes. “Jett is going to be fucking thrilled. Not only has he now got Julie, but he’s also going to pull Hannah in too and then there’s Cassie, who’s a medic. Somehow, he’s going to end up with all our women helping him.”

“Yep,” I agree. Needing to reassure Cassie, I turn her face towards me with the tip of my finger, “It’s going to be okay, baby. I promise. Once you meet the rest of our family, you’ll see. You won’t be doing this alone.”

“No, you won’t,” Gus agrees. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. Like your mate says, you aren’t alone.”

Cassie takes a deep breath and lets it out, “Okay, we can do this. Now tell me what you’ve all been up to and what we’re doing today.”

Today we were doing all things touristy, so we set off to see the Victoria Falls and tonight it was a booze cruise on the Zambezi. This would be the second one some of our group had been on as Hannah had originally booked one for our first night, but Cassie had missed it because we’d been mid-mating. However, it was something that I thought she’d enjoy.

In a few weeks’ time, we should be back home on our land. I couldn’t wait. I needed Cassie where I knew she would be safely surrounded by our families and the Chief’s guards.