Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
“Whoever is banging, if you don’t stop, you’re going to die.” Theo had had enough; he was tired, swollen, his ankles hurt, his hips hurt, and his head hurt. He wasn’t sure who the hell was making all of that noise, but he was done.
There had to be some benefit to being the person in charge of everything that Liam wasn’t in charge of. And this was it. He wasn’t going to listen to this nonsense pounding anymore.
Sam peered around the corner. “Sorry, man, I was hanging pictures.”
“Can we do it some other time? My head is killing me.” Was he whining? He might be whining.
Sam frowned at him. “Are you okay? You’re really kind of swollen, and your cheeks are hot pink. Should I get Liam?”
“No, I’m totally capable of being pregnant by myself.”
Sam frowned again but nodded. “All right, that’s cool.”
There was no question in Theo’s head that Sam’s immediate reaction as he ran off was going to be to go get Liam.
He had no doubt.
That was okay. At least that way the pounding would stop for a bit and he could breathe.
Gael was napping, so he could just lie there on the couch and close his eyes just for a second. Deep breaths in and out as he listened to the baby go in huge circles, kicking and pushing and trying to make room in an increasingly tightened space.
Mate, are you all right? Liam sounded all stressed and worried.
I’m fine, I’m grumpy, I’m tired, and I just wanted the banging to stop. Was that too much to ask?
That makes sense. Is it all right if I come see you? I’ll bring you some peanut butter cookies.
I like peanut butter cookies.
I know you do. Good balance of fat, protein, and carbs.
Theo snorted. It’s peanut butter. This is how wolves became domesticated.
And all this time I thought it was couches and fireplaces.
Don’t make me beat you. Deliver the cookies.
Liam’s warm mental chuckle sounded across the bond, and it wasn’t but about two minutes before Liam showed up in their quarters with a bag of peanut butter cookies. “Sara is making more ginger ones, too.”
Then Liam looked at him and frowned. “You seem awful swollen.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Pardon me?”
“I meant your ankles, dork, not your belly. I think maybe you need to just put them up. Relax. Try not to get stressed out.”
“Well, there was this pounding in the walls.”
“Ah. The hazards of pack living underground.” Liam shook his head. “Sam feels bad. He promises not to do any more hammering until you’re feeling in a more hammery mood.”
“Hammery?” He had to chuckle at Liam. The peanut butter cookies were helping his mood sort of drastically.
“Yeah. You like it? I just came up with the word.” Liam swept him, and his bag of cookies, up into his arms. “Come lie down. Put your feet up. You have cankles.”
“Don’t make me beat you, Liam.” It was true. He did have cankles, and he had basically a giant tube for legs. He figured it had to be because he was the size of a house. But he could stand a little bit of pampering right now.
“I love it when you threaten me.” Liam kissed his temple and then helped him stretch out on the sofa, feet up. “Now, what can I do to amuse you? I could read to you. We could play a game. You want to play cards?”
Did he want to play cards? He wasn’t sure he had enough brains for that.
“Do you want a massage?” Liam sat next to him, smiling as he raised Theo’s legs even more, putting them on his lap.
“Oh.” He gasped and nodded, tears coming to his eyes. “That would be amazing.”
Everything was sore and swollen and heavy, and he was tired. Liam’s hands felt perfect and comforting sliding up and down his legs, just loving on him. “Oh, that feels so nice.”
“Don’t cry. It’ll be all right. Hormones suck, huh?” Those hands just kept moving.
He nodded. “Everybody else says that you’re supposed to be all horny and excited, and I’m just fat.”
“Nonsense. I bet she’s a nice, big baby. Gael’s gonna love having a sister to play with.”
Liam nodded. It was true because Gael loved Bethany, Grisham, Nick, Lindy, and Charlotte, who were all much too old and super busy playing together. But those five little ones were going to be a pack of the very best friends. “I think you’re right. I think he’s going to be a great big brother.”
He couldn’t help but think of Gael’s omega—how scary that whole situation had been. He was so lucky that he was sitting here crying like a fool, and he had a mate and a home and friends—everything he needed. “Do you think that we should tell him about what happened to his real parents one day?”
“We will, yes. You knew them enough to give him some details, yeah? He deserves to know they loved him. That he was given to your care because they wanted him safe.”
“They deserved better than what they got. I just did my best.” He had so much guilt about why it was him who had lived, but the simple fact was he was the one who survived, pure and simple.
“I’m glad you’re here, baby. I was always looking up the mountain for you.”
“I was so glad you heard me. That day that you came, I thought for sure that Gael was done, and I wasn’t going to be far behind. I was beginning to despair a little bit.” Theo stared into his mate’s eyes. “Thank you.”
“I love you. And I feel awful that I took so long.” Liam rubbed and pushed, not too hard and hurty. Just right.
“I guess we both have things that we feel bad about, and we both feel amazing that we’re together. Right?”
“Correct. Lean back, mate, and relax.”
He just closed his eyes and did as he was told, settling back, letting Liam see him and send him flying.
It was so weird because sometimes he felt as if he was helping to lead this pack and was strong and sure and sensible and respected. And then other days were like right now when he felt like a child who was wearing his father’s clothes, trying to pretend to be something amazing that he wasn’t.
It simply wasn’t fair.
Liam chuckled. There were hands sliding up his thighs.
“Are you saying you have imposter syndrome, my love?” he asked.
“Think about me. I thought for all my life that I was human, even though I knew wolves and dragons existed. I always thought I was just normal and not magical at all, and now I have a pack? They are letting me have a pack? Is that wise?”
“Not only that, but you’re having a daughter. A little cub of your own.” Now that she was moving, kicking and rolling constantly, she was more and more real to him.
Less of an idea and more of a promise.
“Yes. At least that I feel a tiny bit more comfortable with. My parents were good to us, raised us up well, and helped us be good men.”
“Good wolves,” he corrected.
“Right. Good wolves.” Liam chuckled softly. “Our own daughter. We’ll have one of each.”
“You think so?” He had to laugh at that.
“After all of this swelling, hobbling, and being miserably uncomfortable, I may just tell you no.” Which was utter bullshit.
Theo knew he was never going to tell Liam no.
He loved his mate too much, and the idea of having Liam’s children made him so incredibly happy that he could hardly bear it.
Liam leaned in close, whispering, “I meant Gael. But we can have two more of each. Six is a fabulous number.”
“I think you could have four through six.” He winked, even though his cheeks were warm with blood. “And, oops. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I would never tell, not in a million years.
I think it’s easier for me,” Liam admitted, “because I never met Gael’s omega or his birth family.
They’re not real to me. The only thing that’s real is you and him.
” Liam stroked Theo’s belly with a gentle hand.
“And this little one, of course. This is what’s real to me. ”
Like she could sense him, she kicked him right in the middle of his palm. Bang!
Liam’s eyebrows went up and he grinned, “And that was definite.”
“It was. She loves her papa very much. Just like I do.” Theo felt so much better now, and he was sure part of it had to do with getting his feet up in the air, but Liam made things so much better, always.
And now, with them together and their little one showing off her kicking skills, he just wanted to relax and enjoy this time.
“Oh, I do love that smile.” Liam stole a soft kiss. “You need to relax more. We need to spend more time together, I think. Just being together, not being so busy.”
“That’s what winter is for, isn’t it? You, me, our babies, resting. Recharging for the spring that is coming up.” It was time for this. Time for all of them to learn to be a pack, a family and together.
“Yes.” Liam bent to kiss his belly. “We’ll play games and watch movies and have long meals with the pack.”
“And then we’ll have a baby.” He patted his belly again. “It’s going to be amazing.”
Liam nodded. “It is. It’s already that way.”
All he could do was smile and nod. Even being this swollen wasn’t so bad as long as Liam would love on him.