Two Wrong Turns (Love Sync Mates Season Two #9)

Epilogue

Barrett

4 years later

“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” I shouted the words into the forest as I gave notice to my two favorite people in the world that I was coming.

I’d just laid down Octo, our newest family member, for his nap. Now it was time to play.

The wind made it hard to tell what was nature and what was one of my bears. Lenny’s favorite game was hide and seek. I think it was because he knew he could shift and climb trees without me being able to find him. It also gave him the best advantage.

Meanwhile, his papa would tease me through the mate bond to distract me in my search. The two were a pair, that was for sure.

Nolan had become an amazing father. Watching him interact with our sons made my heart melt in a way nothing else could. He was gentle and attentive, yet he knew just when to be stern. One had to have balance when bear cubs were on the loose.

Speaking of which, I needed to find my mate soon so I could tell him the news. He’d been so focused on Octo and keeping Lenny preoccupied, he hadn’t noticed my scent changing yet. For once, I was going to get to surprise him with a pregnancy announcement.

On top of that, he was going to lose it when I told him we were going to be girl dads for the first time. I was more than a little excited at the prospect. I loved my boys, but to picture a tiny princess floating around the yard splattered in paint and giggling at her silly brothers was a dream.

I just had to find the others first.

Lenny was in on my secret, as much as a four-year-old could be. He knew to yell out “surprise” when the time was right. Though I did have to agree to a game in order to get his compliance.

Ambling through the woods, I sent up thanks for my mother- and father-in-law for living close by. Mom has been curious lately. The looks she’s been giving me tell me I don’t have time to keep this secret. One more family dinner where I skip out on a drink, and I’m busted.

Thank goodness tonight will be the last night of hiding it.

“Where oh where are my bears?” I whisper softly.

With their shifter hearing, I’m positive they can hear me. A second of quiet passes before I hear it. Laughter.

It’s muffled, like someone is holding a hand over their mouth to hide their location.

Grinning like crazy, I rush in the direction I suspect my son to be. As I’m jogging, I feel a tug in the bond letting me know I’m getting too close.

Usually, I’d let my mate drag out the game. He’d tease me or poke at our connection while I pretended not to know where Lenny was.

But today is different.

I’m too keyed up. There’s too much excitement thrumming inside me that I’ve had to keep at bay.

I drop my walls a tiny bit to let a glimpse of it through. Nolan returns the emotions with confusion from his end. Laughing, I keep moving in the direction I suspect my cub to be.

“Hmmm. Little Lenny, cute and fluffy. Where could he be? Is here,” I paused for dramatic effect before leaping around a tree, “here!”

There was nothing on the other side. I did earn another giggle though.

This time, I heard the sound coming from my right. Taking off in that direction, I repeated the hunt process by jumping behind trees and looking under fallen logs. Our backyard is a mess of wilderness that’s only become a second home to the shifters I live with.

I spot a shock of dark brown fur and immediately know I’ve caught my target. Finally! My energy levels are sinking. Growing a cub is not easy business.

“Found you!” I said as I popped up behind what I expected to be Lenny. Instead, I found a puppy with a fake bear onesie on its body.

My jaw dropped as I took in the creature. How did he get here? And where the heck was my kid?

That’s when the forest came alive with voices. People jumped out from different hiding places.

“Surprise, Barrett!”

I squealed, jumping into the air as I took in the familiar faces. Half the town had to be here.

“What are you all doing here? And how in the world did you get up here? I didn’t hear anyone in the drive.”

Nolan moved from the back of the crowd to come forward. “They snuck through the woods. There are a dozen ATVs about two miles south of here. I snuck them in with Lenny while you were putting the baby to bed.

“Sneaky Papa,” Lenny said around a laugh.

I turned to look at him, only to find him in my father-in-law’s arms. The smile he wore made the ire I felt drain away. Still, I wiggled a finger at him just to tease.

“Sneaky Papa? Sneaky cub is more like it. You traitor!”

The people around us laughed, reminding me we weren’t alone. It also reminded me I had no idea why they were here.

“Not that I don’t mind a party, but what is everyone doing here? I’m still confused.”

“It’s our anniversary,” my mate replied. “We met five years ago today. I had to celebrate it, even if it’s not as big as a mating anniversary or birthday.”

Tears filled my eyes at how sweet he was. I rushed into his arms. When I wrapped myself around him, I dropped my walls and whispered, “Surprise, Papa.”

There was a gasp, then he was pulling me back to look me in the eyes. “Really? Already?”

“Already what?” Mom asked, her voice far too eager and knowing.

I turned to her. “You already know, don’t you?”

“Not until you tell me I don’t. I’m clueless. No knowledge in this brain.”

Dad laughed, then covered it with a cough at her smile. “Yes, sweetie. You’re empty air up there.”

The punch to his arm had all of us sharing amused grins. Nolan took the reins and shouted, “I’m gonna be a papa again! My mate is pregnant!”

Everyone erupted into cheers and congratulations. I accepted each with a smile, happy to have this moment with all of them. It wasn’t the original plan, but I loved them all like family too.

In the years since I arrived, the town had grown on me. So had its people. I knew more about shifters than ever, and honestly, I struggled to remember my life before coming here. It was just far too easy to be one of them, despite my very human form.

When Doc reached us, his smile was wider than the rest. “I have a surprise of my own,” he said.

I raised my brow. “Oh gosh. What is it this time? Please tell me it won’t turn my mate into an overprotective feral beast again.”

Octo was a blessing, but he also came with a bit of bedrest. Nolan had worried himself sick trying to take care of me, Lenny, and running the station. I was hopeful we’d get through this unscathed.

“Depends on how he feels about twin girls,” Doc replied. His expression told me he knew just how big a secret this one was. I swore to get revenge on him just as soon as I stopped needing his expertise.

So basically never.

“Twins.” The words were barely a whisper from Nolan’s lips. Then he repeated it louder. “TWINS!”

More applause went up, as did the volume of everyone’s excited chatter. I was rushed to a chair, then my mate began to fuss over me like I was some dainty creature incapable of walking ever again.

“Please don’t panic. Everything is fine.”

Nolan dropped to his knees in front of me. “I’m not panicking, baby. I’m thrilled. This is me worshiping the ground you walk on. You deserve to be pampered while we all celebrate how amazing you are.”