Epilogue
LEYTON
Iknew I needed to let Evette rest, but damn, it was hard as fuck to see her in our bed, her soft hair splayed over a pillow and her belly swollen and round with our babies.
She’d only grown sexier as the pregnancy progressed.
And her need for me had become voracious.
Not that I had any complaints. But I’d worn her out the night before, and she’d been up early because the babies were playing a game of soccer in her stomach.
They’d finally settled down, and I convinced my mate to lay down and take a nap.
Ignoring my steel cock, I padded out of the bedroom and to the kitchen to get started on her lunch so it was ready when she woke up. Making sure my mate was well fed was a passion that had just grown when she got pregnant.
A bellow of anger from outside nearly shook the cabin, and fury raced through my body. I was gonna kill that motherfucker if he woke my wife.
Making a beeline for my porch, I spotted Artemis just as he was running out of his cabin, stripping on his way toward the woods. Before he could even fully undress, bones popped and wings sprouted, tearing the back of his T-shirt. Suddenly, an enormous dragon appeared and took flight.
I heard another door slam and glanced at Keane’s cabin to see him staring up at the sky with a glower.
“What the fuck was that about?” I called.
Keane shrugged. “No clue. He’s lucky he didn’t wake my napping cubs, or I’d be kicking his ass when he returned.”
I nodded my agreement, and we both huffed in annoyance. Then I lifted my chin at him before returning inside my home.
Evette was still sound asleep, so Artemis would escape my wrath…this time.
I went back to making lunch and was just setting everything up when I heard the toilet flush in our bathroom. Carrying the tray, I entered the bedroom just as she entered from the opposite door.
“I love carrying our babies, but I am definitely looking forward to not having to pee every thirty minutes once they’re born,” she sighed.
I chuckled, and she tossed a disgruntled look my way, but it morphed into eagerness when she realized I’d brought her food.
“Get back into bed, baby,” I ordered with a wink.
“I can eat in the kitchen,” she replied while her gaze strayed toward the bed.
I repeated my command with more authority, and her green eyes darkened as they swept over me. Her tongue darted out to trail along her sexy lips, and I nearly dropped the tray to throw her on the bed and feast on her delicious pussy.
“You and the cubs need food, baby.”
Her expression turned devious as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and sashayed back to the bed, then climbed onto the mattress after giving her ass a cute little wiggle.
I growled in frustration and swallowed my desire, reminding myself that I could ravish her after she’d had sustenance.
Evette smirked, but when she saw my hard expression, her shoulders dropped, and she heaved a resigned sigh. “Fine.”
I rolled my eyes because she licked her lips in anticipation when I set the tray of food on her lap.
“Eat, baby,” I told her, handing her half of her sandwich. My voice pitched lower, and I leaned in to put my mouth to her ear. “Then I’ll have you for lunch.”
I dropped my lips to the shoulder that was exposed since she was wearing one of my shirts. It was much too big for her, even being pregnant. It showed off her mating mark, and I gave the spot a little lick, grunting in approval when a shiver wracked her body.
“Not fair,” she pouted, making me laugh. Damn, my girl was cute as fuck.
“Just giving you the incentive to finish eating, baby. You don’t get my mouth until you’ve emptied that plate.”
I expected to see her glaring at me when I lifted my head, but her eyes had gone soft, and her lips were curved into a beautiful smile.
“I wasn’t sure whether to believe you when you told me you’d treat me like a princess and spoil me for the rest of our lives,” she murmured.
“From what I’ve observed of the world, it seems like after the honeymoon phase, men are no longer as attentive and loving.
” She traced my jaw softly, and her cheeks dusted with pink.
“But you make me feel special and sexy, and even more loved every day.”
I cupped her cheeks and softly kissed her lips before staring into her eyes.
“You are the most precious person in my world. And once you have our cubs, I will have three reasons to be grateful that the universe gave me such love and perfection. The only way I can show gratitude is by caring for my precious family the best I can.”
Evette’s green orbs were swimming in moisture, and I frowned, hating it when she cried.
“Stop that,” I ordered.
She laughed and shook her head. “They’re happy tears.”
“Don’t care,” I growled as I moved the tray of food to the floor and dragged Evette onto my lap. “You know that I don’t like it when you cry.”
“Then don’t say such sweet things,” she teased.
Eyes narrowing, I grunted, “Sweet is not a word that has ever been used to describe me. Except by you.”
My mate giggled. “I promise not to tell anyone.”
Unable to resist any longer, I closed my mouth over hers. Passion ignited the way it always did when I had my mate in my arms—or anywhere near me. Despite my best intentions, I devoured my lunch before she finally ate hers.
Even though the Wilderness Pack was formed by a bunch of shifters who preferred animals to people, there were definite benefits to being in one. Such as having several females around who’d given birth and could convince me not to freak the fuck out when my wife went into labor a month early.
The guys were never gonna let me live it down. Not when the doctor had specifically told us that it was normal for twins.
But when Evette waddled into the room we’d set up as a nursery—where Keane and I were putting together the cribs—to tell me that it was time, all of the preparation I’d done to be ready for their birth fled from my mind.
It didn’t help that she kept clenching and moaning in pain every time she had a contraction.
I wanted to fix it, hating that she was hurting, but there was nothing I could do.
“Leyton,” Laina said softly, her lips pressing together to hide her amusement. “Grab her bag from the bedroom, and Keane will drive you to the hospital.”
With a chuff that was more bear than man, I picked up my mate and carried her to the car, then ran back to grab her bag. By the time I’d returned, my common sense had as well, and I held her hand through each pain, whispering words of encouragement.
Luckily, the cubs waited until she was settled in a hospital bed before they decided to come into the world. Her reminders that she could talk us through the process if we didn’t make it there in time did nothing to ease my fear.
I was propped onto the bed next to Evette, and we gazed down at our girls with adoration as the nurse set one in her arms and the other in mine.
“They’re perfect,” Evette whispered, her voice filled with awe. And something else that I wasn’t sure about.
I glanced at her to see a slightly sheepish glint in her eyes. “Of course they are. Look at their mother.”
She blushed and beamed happily, but that glint was still there.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I just…” Her blush spread and darkened. “I was kind of wondering if…”
I raised an eyebrow, trying not to chuckle at how adorable she was.
“I kind of wondered if they might come out with…you know…a little…um…fur or something.”
I tossed my head back as laughter burst from my chest, then immediately slammed my mouth shut when the babies stirred.
Still, my shoulders shook with silent laughter, though I tried to stop since Evette’s face was tomato red.
“You are so fucking perfect,” I told her tenderly before leaning down to brush a kiss over her lips. “Even if some babies are born with hints of their animal, I never had any doubt that our cubs would be just as perfect as their incredible mother.”
Evette looked up at me with love shining in her eyes, and I kissed her passionately.
When I pulled back, my lips twitched, though I tried to keep my face serious. “In fact, I think we should start planning to make another perfect little cub as soon as possible.”
Evette’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes rounded. “We just had twins, Leyton!”
I grinned, and she shook her head in exasperation, realizing that I was teasing…mostly.
Or maybe I’d been predicting the future because the twins weren’t quite one when we found out she was pregnant again.
But I definitely hadn’t imagined another set of twins.
Neither of us was disappointed, though. It wouldn’t be easy, but our lives would always be filled with love and happiness.