Chapter 34
Waking up before Fionn, Hunter looked at his wolf, relieved to find him curled up with the white dragon.
Whatever upset him last night after their afternoon of successes was gone, making his worry seem silly.
His White Knight power was going to take some time to get used to, so he could tell the difference between the real thing and a false alarm by his wolf, which obviously was the case last night.
Thankfully, by the time they left for dinner, his wolf had calmed down, spending the rest of the evening cuddling with his mate.
“I had a great time last night, mate,” Fionn’s sleep laden voice mumbled.
“Me, too.”
“Being up so high in that restaurant was just like flying.”
When their driver had stopped at a very modern hotel, Hunter wasn’t sure what to expect, but Dylon and Cody assured him the restaurant inside had great food.
Helping Fionn out of the car, Hunter tucked his mate tight against his side as they followed their dining companions inside to an elevator.
When it finally stopped and the doors opened, Hunter’s lips parted at the stunning sight outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
It was his mate’s gasp, followed by a “holy fuck” that brought him back to reality; Fionn’s face was alight with wonder.
Dylon had reserved a table next to one of the windows so they could enjoy a bird’s eye view of San Francisco. It was an unforgettable dinner.
Now, as the morning light crept through the curtains of their room, Hunter said, “I can’t wait until you teach my wolf to fly so I can see your world. It must be so peaceful up there.”
Turning over to face his mate, Fionn couldn’t resist licking Hunter’s nipple, grinning at the moan it caused.
Cupping his mate’s face, Fionn murmured, “So quiet, mate, when I’m flying…
it’s what you’ll notice first. Then the stars above, calling to me, urging me higher up into the clouds, blanketing me with their softness and mist until I break free, soaring into the blackness lit only by moon glow.
There’s nothing like it anywhere else. The peace my soul finds when I’m up there washes away my problems, makes me forget the hatred on earth, even how cruel my father was to me and my mother.
“During the times I was sick, my mother would move my bed so I could stare out the window and I imagined I was flying, leaving behind the pain of my illness. And after I’d recover, we both would shift and spend a night flying over Scotland…
so many amazing times I had with her. When she died, I wanted to shift and fly up to the heavens to join her… to make sure she was finally happy.”
“Pet, I never met your mother but I know she was happy on earth because the gods gave you to her.”
“That’s what she said, but I can’t see how I ever made up for the suffering she went through in life.”
“Trust me pet, you more than made up for it. To have a child she could love with her whole heart and have that love returned ten-fold from him…that made your mother’s life richer than all the gold in the world. And if given the choice to do it again, I know your mother would say ‘yes’.”
“Do you really think so?” asked Fionn, staring intently at Hunter.
“I do and what’s more, I know so. Your mother raised an amazing man, one who is generous, loving, loyal…someone who avoided the darkness surrounding him and instead stayed true to the values your mother gave you. What mother wouldn’t be proud of that? And a chance to do it over again? Absolutely.”
Pulling his mate’s face to his, Fionn’s tongue flicked out, licking Hunter’s lips before kissing them. Then, snuggling his face against his mate’s chest, he whispered, “I love you, mate. So. Freaking. Much.”
Hunter tugged Fionn’s body tight to his, murmuring, “Pet, my world changed when I found you…no longer was it shrouded in gray, with me merely existing. Instead, it became filled with light…giving me a life worth living…a purpose I desperately needed. I. Love. You…now, tomorrow, and forever and when our time on this earth has come to an end, you and I will fly among the stars for eternity.” Gently, Hunter grasped Fionn’s chin, lifting it until their eyes met, locking their gazes together.
Then he slowly lowered his lips to his mate’s.
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“Hey guys, need any help?” asked Steel.
Tickling Jessica’s belly, Theo grinned at her before looking up. “Nope. They both slept through the night.” Picking up his charge from the changing table, he gave her a stuffed toy before setting Jessica down in the playpen. “Pooh bear and I have everything under control.”
Glancing around, Steel grinned at the mess. “Good. Is Dakota expecting you to help him this morning, Theo?”
“Yes, I was just about to leave.” Joining his fiancé, Theo watched as Norm finished changing Jake and then helped him dress the pup in the onesie Kieran had picked out for his uniform of the day.
“There you are big fella, fed, changed, and looking sharp,” Theo said, lifting Jake into his arms, cuddling him before putting him down next to his sister.
“I’m impressed, guys,” Steel said. “You’re going to make great parents.”
Beaming in appreciation, Theo was grateful that Steel’s compliments had included pooh bear, who was still doubtful about having cubs, even though he’d agreed to it. “Pooh bear is a natural,” Theo bragged, giving his fiancé a hug and a kiss before leaving.
Watching Theo leave, Norm felt his nervousness return, stronger now that he was left alone with the twins.
Trying to hide it from the Alpha Mate, he turned to the changing table, straightening it up.
Suddenly, he felt Steel’s hand on his shoulder.
Turning slightly, Norm looked up at him, wondering if he was doing something wrong.
“The most important thing about being a parent is making sure your cub knows he’s loved. If you do that, the rest will all fall into place.”
Shaking his head, Norm said, “I’m not sure.
Honeybunch knows so much more than I do…
which makes me feel dumb. How can that be?
Both of us were our parents’ only children and yet, he walks in here as if he grew up doing it.
Me, I’m worried all the time about making a mistake that will end up hurting Jake or Jessica. ”
“I felt the same way when Jackson was pregnant.”
“You did?” Surprised at Steel’s confession, Norm’s face reflected his doubt.
“Yes. I was freaking out when Daniel was born and you know what a very wise person told me?”
“What?”
“My mother assured me that every new parent felt exactly the way I did…scared to death of doing something wrong.”
“That’s how I feel about the twins.”
“Been there, but I can assure you, your fear will help you get through the first few weeks by making sure you’re careful…until you gain more faith in yourself. So don’t look at it as a weakness, but nature’s way of helping you navigate parenthood.”
“That’s what happened with you?” asked Norm.
“Yup, and I know it’ll be the same for you.”
Glancing over at the twins, Norm nodded. “Yesterday, I didn’t know how to change a diaper and this morning, I did it all by myself.”
“See, babysit the twins a few more times and you’ll be an old pro when your cub arrives.”
“That’s a good idea.” For the first time, Norm could see himself as a parent.
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Lying in bed with Dylon, Cody was enjoying the laziness of the morning as his fingers lovingly carded his mate’s thick hair. “Who do you think was on the roof?”
“Hmm, hard to tell but my guess is it was Fionn’s uncle or one of his cohorts. Not sure what he hoped to do, though.”
“Did Fionn sense any other dragons?”
“No. I asked him when we arrived and the only one he could find in Northern California was his uncle’s dragon, which makes sense since he’ll be at the hearing to make his bogus claims.”
“Do you think we should warn Hunter…about what to expect?”
“Uh-uh, not necessary. Once you do your magic, the judge won’t dare accept them.”
“True, but it pisses me off that we know the judge is crooked and we can’t do anything about it.”
“Not now, but Dad has ordered an in-depth review of all of his cases, looking for other instances when his rulings didn’t follow the law.
I’m pretty sure the High Council will find enough of them to prompt a full scale investigation.
It’ll just take a little longer, but he’ll get what’s coming to him. ”
“I wonder how Theo and Norm are doing with the twins.”
Rolling over to face Cody, Dylon grinned at his mate. “Are you worried about them or the twins?”
Pinching his mate’s nipple, Cody replied, “The twins, of course.”
“According to the latest report from Steel, our twins are just fine.” Dylon smirked. Twisting his shoulders, he reached for his phone on the nightstand. “Here, see for yourself.”
Taking the phone, Cody opened up the messages app, scrolling through the numerous texts from Steel which began an hour after they left. “You asked him to do hourly reports?”
“Absolutely, except during the night when they were sleeping.”
“No wonder you were so calm about leaving.”
“Hey, I did this for you, too, cause I know how much you hate to leave them.”
“And like you don’t?” Cody said, snorting at his mate’s excuse.
Taking the phone from Cody’s hands, Dylon threw it back on the nightstand before grinning and gripping his mate’s hips, holding him still as he began to grind their cocks together—enjoying the moans filling their bedroom.
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