| J O S H

Darren's head whipped to me. He closed the distance between us, resting his forehead against mine. The only show of affection we had time for.

"I need you to run ahead of us." He said, the growl still in his voice. His eyes were just barely dimming and still a violent gold. "Get the pack mothers together."

"Roger that," I smirked. Darren's lips tilted up, his hand moving to cradle the back of my head, fingers gently tangling in my blood-damp hair. He growled at me sweetly before letting me go.

I stepped back taking one last look at Jared. Then moving my gaze to Kaleb. His face was paler than normal, sweat beaded his brow, lips curled in a pain-filled snarl. Tears beaded his normally happy grey eyes. Zev had him cradled in a protective embrace, his entire essence was focused on his mate. And I didn't blame him. There couldn't have been a worse time for the twins to decide to make an appearance.

But the cards were dealt and there was no point in crying over them.

I shifted and ran like hell.

I made sure to keep a lookout for rogues that were too dumb to high tail it out of my territory. It was clear the whole way back.

I ran past Nick, just as the house was beginning to come into view. He was in his second form, and the large charcoal-grey wolf immediately took off after me.

"Lunos?" He asked, concerned. I mentally groaned. Mostly because it was still strange to be called that even though the pack has made a point to do it for the past few days. It was a constant reminder of my new position and all the ways that I wasn't quite living up to it. Something I had been building up the nerve to talk to Darren about before...before shit hit the fan for the second time.

Anyway, I shoved down those thoughts for another day. Instead, focusing on the bullshit I needed to handle right now.

"Nik, do a border run with the enforcers. Break into groups of three and divvy up the patrol range into thirds. Each group takes a section. Thirty wolves per section."

Nik didn't even question me.

"Yes, Lunos.," was all he said before peeling off in the opposite direction, letting loose a rallying howl. Upon hearing it, everyone not an enforcer ran with me to the house, scooping up pups as they went. I howled as well, joining my voice with his. I stopped at the steps letting everyone else inside before me.

Maryn! I called through the link.

"Yes, Josh?" She asked softly.

"Kaleb's gone into labor. Darren and Zev are bringing him back now. Can you please gather the pack mothers, fast as you can?"

"Yes, Lunos. I'll get the room prepared with the others. Make sure they bring him straight to us." She paused, voice softening. "And Lunos..."

"Yes?"

"I am very glad you're back, love."

"T-Thank you." My chest tightened and for a moment I was a pup again, waking up in Maryn's hospice confused and scared. Only, I was full grown and yet I still felt all the love and nurturing she'd shown me then, now. Second to Darren she was the first to assure me that I was welcome and wanted in the pack. It was a weird moment to have a blast of nostalgia but I appreciated it for what it was anyway. My feet felt rooted in the spot, my palms were clammy, but a small smile eventually speared across my face.

It was my wolf who nudged me into movement again. I immediately went in search of more shorts for the idiotic, overbearingly dominant duo. I was just walking back to the front when the door slammed open with Zev careening in behind Darren, clutching Kaleb protectively.

I automatically toss a pair to my mate, keeping the other one in hand since Zev's hands were full. Both of the large males thundered behind me as I lead them to the pack mothers.

"Maryn and the others are in Samira's room. She said it was the best place for him to give birth." I told them.

Zev walked into the room while Darren and I stayed near the door. He put his mate on the small bed that had been brought in with a scowl. As soon as his arms were free I tossed him the shorts and he slipped them on before kneeling at the bed and bringing Kaleb's hand to his lips.

I felt like fidgeting. My fingers kept clenching and uncurling. Even my wolf paced in worry. Darren brushed a hand down my spine, and I almost flew out of my skin. I whorled my head to look at him, glaring. My mate just gave me a small sure smile making my annoyed expression crumple completely.

He gets on my nerves.

I stepped closer into his warmth, letting him control me. I really don't like him. By the time I looked back over Atalia, a woman with dark skin and tight coily hair, was dabbing Kaleb's forehead with a wet cloth. Bravely, might I add. The overgrown tabby kitten was not happy that his distressed mate was being touched, he sat through it grudgingly anyway. At least he's well trained.

"Keep your tiger in check, or you will be kicked out," Maryn snapped as she shuffled over to them. She stood next to Atalia as she met Zev's emerald gaze head-on. He nodded with a clenched jaw. Now that would have been a very one-sided fight and definitely not in the tiger's favor.

"Take deep breaths, Kaleb," Atalia said as she continued wiping Kaleb's brow. His face was so pale and twisted into snarls of pain. I swallowed thickly. I didn't like seeing it at all. All at once I was hit with worry stemming from a thousand different places. He's too small, his belly is too big and he's too fucking pale! Is he losing too much blood? Concern had my feet moving and my mate shadowed my steps.

"Runt..." I barely got it past the lump in my throat. "You better make it out of this okay, you and my godchildren." I say, holding his gaze. "Who else am I gonna complain about Darren to?" Kaleb laughed, though it was soft and ragged. I felt it as Darren pressed himself behind me.

"I heard that." He growled, pulling me into his chest. "It's going to be fine, Kaleb. We'll see you in a few hours," Darren encouraged softly. Kaleb nodded; it was a quick dip of his head but it was enough. I took a breath. My mate was right. Everything was going to be fine.

"Alpha, if you wouldn't mind giving us the room?" Leia, a slim brown-haired woman asked, gesturing towards the door.

"Of course." Darren agreed, "Look after him." Leia nodded.

"We will, Alpha," Leia assured him.

I was tugged pliantly out of the room. Darren's grip on me was firm as if he thought I was going to randomly disappear on him. Which is fair, I guess. I had disappeared on him again. If the roles were reversed, I'm sure I'd have Darren chained to me somehow.

I wasn't exactly prepared to be alone with Darren. It's not that I didn't want to be...but my nerves were shot and if we went upstairs to do anything other than shower and go the fuck to sleep, I might throw myself out of the window. Long, drawn-out, soul scouring conversations were not allowed. I just want to curl up with my mate and not have to think.

My skin felt like it was being stretched thin and I didn't really know what to do with myself. Today was too much and if I was going to emotionally combust, I'd rather it be in my own space with only my mate as a witness to my wreckage. Darren held me the whole way up the stairs, his grip firm and reassuring.

As soon as the door shut behind us almost every muscle in my body relaxed. My breath left me in a whoosh as my legs crumpled under me. Darren caught me. Like he always does.

That's when the hyperventilating started. I fought for every breath as everything crashed into me at once. Jared is dead. Kaleb is in labor - he's too small...and there's nothing I can do... Jared I could protect him from... but I'm useless right now.

And-And my mate was holding me. Whispering something in my ear. It seemed like whatever he was saying is supposed to be comforting. His voice was a steady thrum that vibrated through my chest. I melted into him completely, ears ringing.

"-okay. You're okay, Josh. I got you. That's it, breathe for me. Good job, pup. I have you," My mate murmured encouragingly. I sucked in a breath. Fuck me, I do not need this right now. I let my head loll back onto Darren's shoulder. My chest's heaving slowed but my stomach was still tied up in knots. "What's wrong?"

"I think-I think my brain is collapsing," I grumbled.

Darren huffed a soft laugh, pressing his lips gently to the side of my neck right over where he marked me.

"Okay. That's okay. You can collapse now. Let me take care of you."

I may or may not have melted a little more. My body made the decision for me. My full weight ended up in my mate's arms as my legs gave out almost immediately. Darren chuckled again, maneuvering me like a sack of potatoes. He carried me to the bathroom, somehow managing to undress us and turn the shower on, all without moving an inch away from me.

"I love you," I mumbled, staring at the side of his face like a love-sick puppy. The corner of Darren's full lips pulled up into a grin.

"I wish 'I love you' was enough to describe how I feel about your crazy ass," Darren smirked as he guided us both under the warm spray of water. I hissed a moan as the hot droplets met my skin. "It isn't though," He continued, grabbing the soap and a fresh rag before taking it upon himself to wash me. I let him. "It'll have to do."

He's such a dork. I smiled, closing my eyes as his thick fingers washed the blood and dirt from my hair. Relaxing into the safety of my Alpha's touches, I let my mind buzz with only the most random, bullshit thoughts.

"You...You came for me this time..." I muttered happily, still zoned out.

"I should have gone after you as soon as you went missing the first time." I can hear the frown in his voice. "Whether that was to rescue you or to capture you. You've always been my responsibility. Now you're my whole world. I'm obsessed."

"Possessive...buttface." He grabbed my hip, his grip tight and punishing. I whined submissively.

"Very," Darren's wolf growled.

"I know I'm yours," I assuaged quickly. Maybe now wasn't the time for joking. Darren's wolf was clearly more on edge than his human counterpart.

Darren cleared his throat, almost sheepishly. "Sorry, pup. I'll keep him in check," My mate promised, rubbing the still stinging area of my hip. "Are you hungry, pup? Sleepy?"

I turn towards my mate to face him. My legs still felt like unreliable stilts, but I managed. "Let me wash you, Alpha.," I said, avoiding his gaze and his questions.

I didn't feel like thinking about what came after the shower. I don't want to face the thoughts that are going to swarm me as soon as we leave this bathroom. I just want to get clean with my mate. Taking care of each other in such a simple way was soothing my fucked-up nerves and that's all I need right now. Darren growled at me softly, eyes shifting gold for a flash.

"Josh." Darren raised an eyebrow at me. "Food or sleep."

I rolled my eyes. "You. Just you." I grabbed another rag and went about putting soap on it, proceeding to reciprocate the grooming my mate had given me. Even if it was a poorly concealed excuse to affirm that he was fine and whole and with me. The same reason he'd bathed me himself.

Comfort.

Assurance.

Darren grabbed my wrist, forcing my movements to a halt. "I'll let you use me as a human body pillow if that's what you want." He smiled, my grabbing my chin so I would have to meet his soft brown gaze. "First, is my mate hungry or sleepy?"

"I'm not hungry. Now stop making me use my brain."

"But are you slee-"

I pressed my lips to his softly, sighing internally as my whole being released its tension. My lids fluttered, all the weariness I'd been denying settling into my bones. I rocked back, my smile drowsy. 

"Okay, sleep ain't sounding too bad."

"Then hurry up and wash me. I have to get my mate to bed." He smirks. I grunt a laugh but follow my Alpha's orders. Once we were both fully washed, we took a moment to enjoy the hot water along with some nuzzling and strategically placed kisses.

We were both fine. And with each other.

Right where we belonged.