Chapter 23 - Alex
The swarm of demons had been nothing on what flooded Harper’s cottage. Before I could tear apart the powerful demon, he had blown the summoning circle wide open, a larger portal for throngs of demons to enter.
But we had all been ready: my team, Adalyn, and me. She had warded us all, allowing us to fight the demons. I realized that there wouldn’t be a true end to this ordeal. The demons would keep existing unless one agreed to a deal to leave Azure Cove, but what could I offer in return? What could any of us offer without putting ourselves in the firing line?
I had shifted back and dressed quickly in my t-shirt and shorts that remained on the sofa from Harper sleeping down there one night.
“Our best option is to fight when they pop up, but otherwise, wards are our best friends,” Adalyn said. “We just need more power to protect the whole island, really.”
“How do we do that?” Zephyr asked.
I was too busy picking Harper up to keep on listening. The ground smelt of asphalt, scattered with scorch marks. But we were alive. We had made it out. I picked up my mate, hating her body fell limply over my arms, just like that day the demons had toyed with her, through their portals.
“ Amorcita ,” I whispered, laughing softly because I knew she had feelings about the endearing nickname. “Wake up.”
She didn’t respond, but her heart pounded viciously as if she was fighting some demons of her own.
“She’ll be okay,” Hector said. “Think of it as a magical fainting episode. She’ll come around in a few minutes because there’s no dark magic to sustain the blackout.”
We were on our way to Greta’s store. Harper was tightly secured in my arms when those beautiful emerald green eyes opened and my mate looked at me drowsily.
“You make a handsome dad,” she mumbled. “Beautiful husband.”
I had no idea what she was saying but I smiled. Dad and husband? I liked the sound of that and tucked those thoughts away.
“Regroup on the Lake Trail,” Adalyn called. “There’s a waterfall and a clearing of flat rocks. We can all talk about it there.”
“Copy that,” I called, veering off to Greta’s place to pick up the triplets. When I had them in my arms, and Harper groggily got off me to hold all three pale-faced children, I knew it was time to finally show my babies who their father was.
I stood back. Quickly, I text Zephyr to ask him to grab a change of clothes for me, too. He’d been a wolf when they had branched off.
“Stand back,” I ordered Harper. I met her eyes and she gave me a nod. I heard her murmur something quiet to the children, and they all watched, wide-eyed. I let myself fall calmly into a shift. I stood there, sat down, and watched them. Hallie squealed.
“Daddy’s a wolf!” she yelled. “It's true! You really are the prince!”
Joseph giggled and stepped closer to me, his hand outstretched as if waiting for me to bite but hoping I wouldn’t. He ran over and threw his arms around me when he realized I wouldn't. I stood up, letting him get comfortable on my back. Then Hallie was next, diving up onto my back, not one to be outdone by her brother.
Marie was carried over by Harper, who looked drained and asleep on her feet. I met her gaze. She stroked a hand down my fur around my neck, and clambered on, securing Marie in front of her.
Then I tore off to the Lake Trail on Azure Cove to the sound of my babies squealing.
***
Harper fell asleep the second I placed her down. I shifted once the children had crawled over to Frazer, who hadn’t yet shifted, and promptly fallen asleep against him. I dressed hurriedly before returning to my mate, pulling her into my arms.
Looking around at this makeshift family, I knew I had missed out on so much with Harper and the triplets, and despised myself for it. I had never known about the babies before leaving, and I shouldn’t have made peace with leaving Harper, thinking it would have been different had I known about them. I swore then and there that I would find a way to remain in their lives.
I didn’t care what I’d sacrifice. I’d keep my job, make it work, but I would not miss out on my family’s life.
I wanted to be a part of it so badly. Holding Harper’s hand, I smiled. One day, I would marry her. I would make everything right. If she honored me by becoming my mate, I would honor her human rituals and satisfy both parts of myself. One day, she would meet my mom and dad, and the triplets would know their grandparents.
I would give them all a good life, no matter what it took.
I was ready to right every wrong, every cowardly decision I had made.
Although I should have reported Diego that night to the military and not let him chase me out of town, I could have corrected that wrong.
Soon, laughter filled the clearing.
“Alex,” Sweeney said, “These are definitely your kids. They snore louder than you.”
I snorted, listening to Joseph’s snoring, his mouth parted. They were all asleep, their hands linked together.
“They’re my life,” I said simply. “Nothing will ever change that.”
Zephyr grinned. “Y’know, Commander Tylen will only be happy for you. She’ll accommodate your job.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m going to call her tomorrow.”
“See that you do,” he said with a smile. “Maybe, if I say I’m their godparent, I’ll be excused from more six-month missions.”
I gave him a side glare. “You love your job.”
“Yes, I do, but I did not like sand being in my ass for six months, Alex.”
“I didn’t choose the location,” I told him drily.
“I’m just teasing. We have to be light-hearted with those jobs sometimes, right?”
I nodded. “Right.”
“No matter what, we’re still brothers,” Zeph told me. It was the same thing we had said in the desert, night after night.
I fist-bumped him. “Brothers.”