"You're going to push the whole thing over if you aren't careful," I say, not able to hold back my laughter.

Since it is winter- the snow falling outside cluing us into the season change- we decided that we needed a celebration after everything we have been through. So, for the first time in two years, we are going to have a Christmas.

Erik and Ethan had grumbled a little bit about it, but it was easy to see their excitement. None of us have celebrated a single holiday since the infected came around. Being able to sit back and watch as the twins and Nik tried to drag in a large, freshly cut Douglas Fir, makes a rush of happiness flood through me.

Now, Erik is sprawled out on the ground, half of his body hidden under the tree while Ethan tries to maneuver it into the perfect position. Matty is holding tightly onto Ethan's leg, his blue eyes wide as he watches his fathers work.

"Perfect!" Nik exclaims, a wide smile on his face. Ethan holds the tree steady while Erik screws it into place.

The fire is crackling nicely in the fireplace, giving off a comfortable warmth. Snuggling further into the arm chair, I watch as Liam and Taylor start to dig into the boxes of decorations Alpha Seren had brought out from one of his storage rooms.

It is comforting to watch as my pack mates move around the room: the twins hanging some garters and the others getting started on decorating the tree.

A small grunt causes me to look down at the two babies sleeping in my arms. Well, they were sleeping. Beckett is blinking open his eyes, meaning that Noah won't be asleep for much longer. The little boy is attuned with his brother, both of them insisting on doing everything together. I never knew that a baby could get so upset, but Noah won't stop crying if he is away from his brother for long.

Sure enough, Noah starts to squirm, his face scrunching up in displeasure. Knowing that they are hungry, just as they are every other time they wake up from a nap, I grab a blanket from the couch and a couple of throw pillows.

Once the blanket is situated, I lift my shirt, getting Beckett latched first before helping Noah. Instantly they quiet down, their little eyes drooping in happiness. Running my hands over their soft skin, I take in everything about them. They are both so perfect already, a piece of my heart.

I cradle them a little closer to me, reveling in their warmth and familiar weight. It is hard to even remember what it was like without them here since they have become such important parts of my life.

Looking up, I see that Avery is bringing in an old CD player, setting it down on an end table. Nik moves over to help him set it up, Olive and Grace 'helping' them by handing over a few CDs. Soon enough, Christmas music is drifting through the air, making it feel even more like the holidays.

It is nice to be able to sit back, watching as everyone else enjoys themselves, laughter ringing in the air. Smiles are everywhere, the room becoming more festive as my pack mates dance to the music.

It is because of me sitting back while the others decorate that I notice the twins, Erik leaning against his brother's side as they talk while hanging up some more Christmas decorations. Erik says something to his brother, making Ethan stop his motions completely, turning around so that they are facing.

Ethan has a look of surprise on his face, and Erik just looks at him expectantly. Finally, after what seems like forever, Ethan gives a shaky nod of his head, a smile spreading across his face. It makes him look younger, the look of delight on his face. Erik says something else, but Ethan cuts him off by wrapping his hand around the back of Erik's neck and pulling him in for an intense kiss.

My eyes widen significantly, quickly snapping away from the scene over in the corner. I did not know that the brother's relationship was like that, so seeing them kiss is a bit of a surprise. But when I look over at Liam who is watching them with bedroom eyes and a proud smile on his face, I can see that this isn't a surprise to him.

Well, to each their own, I guess.

Looking back down at the babies, I see that Noah has his hand clenched around his brother's, eyes that are becoming browner every day, focused on Beckett. Readjusting a little bit, a let out a sigh of relief once some of the milk from the back of my breast starts to release. Since I am feeding two babies now, my body is making much more milk. The pressure gets to be pretty bad sometimes, and embarrassingly, Jesse has had to help me a few times when I become too full.

"Brought you a snack," Taylor says, making me look up at him.

"Thanks," I say, taking the plate from him and quickly eating the proffered veggies and crackers. "I'm starving."

"I bet." He takes a seat on the couch next to me, picking through another full box of decorations. "I was always starving when I first started nursing Rosalie, not so much anymore since she is weaning."

My eyebrows scrunch in confusion. "She's weaning already?"

Taylor nods his head, a fond smile on his face as he looks over at his baby, who is fast asleep in the play cot that moves from room to room. "She is really loving solid foods, which is fine by me. She doesn't wake up anymore in the middle of the night, and only wants to nurse after she wakes up and before nap and bed."

"Do you think you'll have another baby?" I ask, the question slipping out before I can think better of it.

Taylor lets out a soft laugh, sitting back as he pulls out some stockings. "Tate is definitely interested, but we both decided to wait for a while. I want to have my body back completely before even thinking about getting pregnant again."

"That sounds wonderful," I say, and Taylor gives me a grateful smile.

We sit there in a comfortable silence, him writing names on blank stockings while I try not to fall asleep. Noah and Beckett are done eating, mostly asleep as they just comfort nurse. Picking up their pacifiers from the end table, I carefully get them unlatched and slip the pacifiers in their mouths before they can protest.

Taylor helps me to get resituated, laying the blanket across us once I have the babies laying fast asleep against my chest.

"Thanks," I say, and Taylor nods his head.

I am just drifting off when the crackling fills the room.

"Wolves have arrived, over," a scratchy voice says before the crackling comes back.

Peeking open an eye, I watch as a flushed Erik picks up the walkie-talkie sitting next to him, pressing the button on the side before bringing it up to his mouth.

"Preparing for wolves, over," he says, quickly stumbling to his feet.

The twins make their way over to the hallway, the front door opening and closing behind them.

We have been waiting for this moment for weeks now, anticipating the werewolves that we had rescued from the humans to return sooner. The houses and some of the rooms in the main house have been set up and supplies have been set aside. Everything has been ready, waiting for them to arrive.

Alpha Seren has been antsy about their tardiness, going to pace the main gate for most of the day. Usually one of us goes with him, not wanting to risk something attacking him while he is so distracted. It happens to be Jesse's turn today, something that me and the babies don't appreciate.

Looking out the window, I see that the snow is starting to fall even heavier than before, the ground now a complete layer of white. It makes it easy to spot Alpha Seren, my mate, and the new arrivals walking towards the house.

Shaking off my tiredness, I pull myself out of the chair. Noah lets out a small whine of protest at the movement but settles when I press soft kisses against his cheek. Liam picks up Matty- who, without the distraction of his fathers has managed to tip over a box of decorations and climb inside- and comes to stand beside me in front of the fireplace.

"Am I the only one feeling nervous about a bunch of new wolves moving here?" Liam says, patting Matty's back as the boy lays against his father's chest.

"Nope," Avery says from across the room, turning down the music. "But I guess there is safety in numbers."

"As long as they aren't all a bunch of traditionalist alphas, then I'm okay with them," Taylor says.

Grace and Olive start to argue about something, and Avery takes both of their hands, leading them out of the room. Honestly, it is probably better if they are out of here. They are safest away from the newcomers.

Erik and Ethan walk down the porch steps and over to their father. They talk for a few minutes, Alpha Seren gesturing at a few of the newcomers. The brothers nod their heads after their father is done talking, walking over to an older man and woman, who seem to be dragging something behind them. The twins start to speak with them, taking the heavyweight of whatever the couple is dragging and leading them over to one of the houses that we had set up.

The other werewolves follow Alpha Seren as he comes to the main house, moving out of sight of the window. Jesse's voice becomes immediately recognizable to me out of the rest of the chatter, and I want nothing more than to tackle him down. We still haven't completed the mate bond yet, and everything inside me is thrumming for it. We decided to wait until my next heat to exchange bites, and I am counting down the days, wanting every piece of my mate that I can have.

A familiar voice makes my heart pound, my ears ringing from the intensity. Choking back a sob, I quickly turn to Taylor, who just gives me a confused look as I carefully move my babies into his arms.

My feet carry me out of the room and into the hallway, skidding to a stop when my eyes land on a person I never thought I would see again.

"Levi?" I whisper, my voice shaky from the tears I am trying to hold back.

Because standing in front of me is my brother. The brother who had always been overprotective of me, practically raising me and Ally since our parents weren't around much. My earliest memory is of him messily making me a cake for my fourth birthday, him only being ten at the time. Our parents had been gone for a conference with another pack, leaving behind some presents for me to open, but all I had wanted was for them to be there. Levi had brushed away my tears, kissing my cheek and telling me that he would never leave me behind for anyone.

And he never did, always coming to all of my soccer games and school recitals. He even learned how to braid hair so that Ally didn't have to keep going to school with wild hair. He was the one to comfort me when Jesse and I had our failed mating run, which resulted in the biggest fight they ever had.

Because even if they had been best friends since they were in diapers, Levi was still my protective older brother. He took on the world for me and Ally, and that was why it was so hard when we lost him.

The Warriors had attacked our pack lands, and Levi had been struck hard by some of the deranged alphas. I had watched him crumple to the ground, his eyes wide open as Ally and I were carried away.

But now...

Now, he is standing in front of me, his dark brown hair peeking out from the hat he is wearing, and his blue eyes that are identical to my own standing in stark contrast against his pale, freckled skin.

"Levi?" I say again, stumbling forward. "Is that really you?"

"Yeah, Micah, it's me," he says, voice just as warm and comforting as I remember it.

I can't stop myself from quickly closing the distance between us, launching myself at my older brother. He doesn't try to stop me at all, instead catching me in his arms and wrapping me in a tight hug.

It's been years- hard to believe it's been that long- since I have seen him. My tears flow even harder as I bury my face against his neck, his scent a comfort from childhood.

Levi just holds me close, brushing back my hair like he used to do whenever I would cry when I was little.

"I- I thought you were dead," I eventually manage to choke out, finally pulling myself far enough away so that I can meet his eyes. "I thought the Warriors killed you."

"No," he tells me. "But they almost succeeded. I managed to slip away when some infected attacked them, and I have been looking for you guys ever since."

His eyes fall then, his smile slipping from his face. "But I guess I was too late to save Ally."

"She's gone, but it isn't either of your faults," Jesse says from behind us. "So don't even think about hopping on the guilt train, because I will sick Alexis on you."

"Lexi." Levi's eyes widen marginally. "Is she here?"

It is easy to see the excitement in his voice, and I can't help but smile. I had completely forgotten about the 'thing' they had before the outbreak, and it is great to see that she wasn't just another of my brother's many flings. Besides, now he has someone to distract him so that he won't get too overprotective.

Because knowing my brother, he is only going to be more overprotective than before.

"Levi," I say, pulling away completely. "Before you and Alexis reunite, I have some people you need to meet."

"Lead the way," he says, a huge smile on his face as I pull him into the living room.

My blood runs cold though, when I see a woman, around the same age as me, practically growling at a murderous looking Taylor. He looks like he is seconds away from attacking her, probably only holding back because his arms are full of sleeping babies right now.

"What the hell?" Jesse murmurs.

"Jesus, Ellen," Levi says, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "Why in the hell are you attacking the man holding the babies?"

"Yeah, you need to take a large step back," I say, walking over to put myself in between the woman- Ellen- and my babies. Taylor's scowl doesn't lessen at all, and I am happy to see that he is just as untrustworthy of this woman as I am. "I don't take kindly to people trying to hurt my children."

"Your children?" Levi says, his eyes widening as he looks in between the babies, me, and Jesse. "So you two finally pulled your heads out of your asses and mated?" Jesse mumbles something under his breath, causing Levi to let out a hearty laugh. "Oh man, I've missed your grumpiness, Jesse."

Rolling my eyes at my brother's antics, I look back over at the women, taking in her dark hair and oddly yellow eyes. She would be gorgeous if her face wasn't twisted in such an unattractive scowl.

"Why are you attacking Taylor?" I say, not looking away until she answers me.

"He wouldn't give him to me." Ellen's eyes meet mine, the hostility clear in her gaze.

"He won't give me my baby."

My stomach drops, my heart pounding at her words.

"What the hell did you say?" Jesse growls, coming to stand next to me.

"Oh no," Levi mumbles, a look of exhaustion coming over his face.

"He has my baby," Ellen says, not backing down. "And I want him back." She looks over at Taylor. "Now."

*****

This is the most anxious I have ever been about posting a chapter since you get more insight into Erik and Ethan's relationship. I have actually been delaying posting this chapter since I didn't know how people would react. I have always left their relationship more open-ended on purpose, so it is weird to go against the ambiguity.