adjective ~ readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness

PHOENIX

My feet pounded against the ground, claws digging into the earth and propelling me forward. The present blurred around me, heading straight toward the future. Time sped up. My lungs constricted with every breath as I ran. Low growls escaped my jaws, creeping closer and closer to my target.

My teeth scraped their hind leg moments before they snarled and pushed themselves further. I huffed, shaking my head with frustration as I picked up the pace.

I was an alpha wolf. I could catch them any time, place, day, week...

As Charlie would say, fucking get it together, Nix.

My growls amplified as I took a shortcut and cut the grey wolf off. He yelped in surprise as my body collided with his, and we rolled through the dirt. He fought me off, kicking and clawing his way out before shooting up to his feet. I didn't let him get away, unhesitating with my next attack. Within seconds, I had my jowls around his throat, forcing him to submit.

Got him.

'Fucking get off me you oaf, I submit!'

I retreated my teeth, my breathing heavy as I took a step away from Sean's crumpled form. He huffed, standing and shaking out his fur. His tongue curled into his fur, grumbling about catching him with my canines.

'Tell me why this was necessary again?' Sean grunted, facing me.

I have to keep in shape, Sean. You are the beta now; it is your responsibility to train with me. I mused.

He knocked his head to my side. 'I know, and I appreciate you giving me the temporary honour, but geez, you're heavy.'

I barked a laugh, nudging him back. Wait until you get the paperwork in October.

He groaned, keeping pace as we jogged around the borders. Since Charlie left, I had to rearrange a lot of my pack workings. It was difficult to weigh all of my options, and we ended up mixing tasks with responsibilities. I simply raised Sean to beta and Leo to gamma, but with that came difficulties of teaching each other the other's jobs. Leo was training with Sean the best he could to get to grips with patrolling, but Sean still handled a lot of the work. And to take the ease from Sean, I took on more beta work.

Nova insisted we should search for a new beta, or a delta, to help, but I refused. I would not let a stranger into our pack, not when so many people were at risk. Not when my family was growing once more.

I suspected the pregnancy when she told me she couldn't shift to fight against Calida. Then she kept having difficulties, ones that seemed too familiar. From there, her scent changed, but I assumed it was the twin's influence. But then her period didn't come, and I didn't want to jump to conclusions when she was already under so much stress.

After talking with her family about harnessing her power, Aldren agreed to weekly sessions over video call to help her control her visions. Weirdly, it has proven successful so far. In the seven sessions they've had since, she has handled a total of five visions. That was over a fifty percent success rate, and I call that impressive.

I think with the weight and fear of not knowing what was wrong weighed her down. Now, with reassurance from her family about her wolf and gift, she feels better. Oh, and discovering it was 'my fault', she couldn't connect strongly with Celimene definitely helped.

Yep.

My fault.

I can't help it; it takes two to tango.

Now she was twelve weeks pregnant with our next treasure. She had been in denial for a while, refusing to accept that she was so 'silly' as to let it happen. Frustrated too, because all of her work outs had to be toned down.

But then the morning sickness came, and that week of denial turned into a week of tears and vomit, and not just from the twins. Who, by the way, could giggle.

It was the cutest sound I ever heard. At twenty-five weeks old, they were so chunky and coming into their own. Mere days away from six months old, we have already started sleep training in the nursery. Freddy, as per usual, took to it like a duck to water. He settled perfectly, sleeping an entire ten hours before waking. Belle only woke once, which was a massive improvement. I told Nova it's because she was an amazing mother, but she'd roll her eyes; used to me by now.

But peace and tranquillity, and a mostly full night of sleep.

So, what do we go and do?

Have another baby.

Insane, right?

"What are you thinking about?" Sean wondered.

I blinked, not paying attention to what we were doing. We were in the gym, cleaning up before we head home for the night. September was fast approaching, and I was oddly looking forward to the cooler nights.

"Why?" I wondered.

"You're grinning like a buffoon." He laughed. "Let me guess, Nova?"

"Maybe." I couldn't help but laugh. "About what a fucking situation we got ourselves into."

"You did say you want a tribe. I didn't realise it would start so soon." He grinned, wiping the sweat from his face. "Three under one... Good luck, pal."

"That's we have babysitters." I grinned. "But, no, I'm... excited."

"Is tomorrow still on?" He wondered.

We put off having an early scan, Nova scatty at the best of times when coming to grips with the new scenario. But three weeks ago, she woke up one day and blurted everything on her mind. The bond buzzed with energy; an excited wholeness that stemmed from a raw adoration.

Just when I thought I couldn't admire her anymore, I get to wake up beside her and watch her face light up with glee. I got to hold her hair as she threw up, comfort her into peace and reassure her it would go away. I got to feed and groom her, be on her beck and call, and I did not care one bit how much Sean and the others teased me about it.

Nova was growing, changing, maturing, and blossoming into this wonderful woman. Every time I saw her, I couldn't help feel like a giddy teenager about to see their crush at school. The woman was my every thought, and I don't think she realised how much I would do to make her happy.

"Yeah, we're still seeing Kate tomorrow." I nodded. "I just hope for Nova's sake it's one baby."

Sean laughed. "Hey, what happened to wanting a tribe?"

"Not at the expense of my mate's health." I shook my head. "Have my whole life for a tribe."

He hummed with agreement, staring at a spot on the ground as he pulled a clean top over his head. I observed him, waiting for him to finish before leaving the gym together. The sun was going down soon, and I itched to be in the comfort of my mate's warmth to watch it. It was a clear sky, and the summer sun always made the most magnificent of colour pallettes. Today was already shaping to be an orange and red canvas.

"How's things with Rose?" I wondered.

"Still the same." He shrugged.

"Okay, let me reword." I cleared my throat. "How's your wolf dealing with holding back?"

He grunted a sad laugh. "With difficulty. I sometimes bite the fucking pillow when we... you know. It's hard. I don't know how Charlie made it seem so easy."

"Charlie and Calida were at it like rabbits. It's no surprise."

"I've known Rose longer. It's just... difficult. I can understand why Pollux felt odd." He sighed.

"How so?" I frowned.

"Everyone is maturing and moving on. I feel like I'm stuck in a loop."

My steps faltered and, with a shake of my head, I curled my hand around Sean's shoulder. He grunted as I pulled him to a stop mere feet away from his home.

"A mark does not define a relationship, Sean."

"It goes against my wolf." He sighed. "My very instinct screams at me; I have to mark her because she will be safer."

"She is safe."

"Is she?" He quirked an eyebrow. "I've seen the letters, the threats of war."

"They've gone quiet. I have appeased them." I shook my head.

"Have they? Or are they just planning, Phoenix?"

My hand tightened on his shoulder before I dropped it to my side. A heavy weight settled in my chest, one I have been avoiding for months now. I understood why wolves were angry; I had land, power, and the gift of life in my grip. I was a royal blood, and people did not like that I gave up so willingly. So many desire a fight between my cousin and me, but I wasn't one for harming him when I did not even want the position of king.

Imagine having all of this workload and then double it when adding royalty to that factor.

"I'm handling it as it comes." I murmured. "It's all I can do. Charlie's leaving has left a lot of... gaps that I fear people may see through. If they find out that he is gone... I fear they may act upon our weakness."

"Speaking of, anything else from Nova?"

I shook my head. "Only the past. She has seen Calida's first shift three times now, and each time she gets a bonus of what happened to her after."

"What happened?"

"Zero thoughts. Just instinct." I stated. "She saw Charlie and had to come out of it to cry. I don't think the timing with everything has worked out how we wanted it to."

"Having a baby at the prime of the drama around here? Hardly suitable."

The front door to his cabin opened, and Rose peered her head through the door. The two of us straightened our spines, and Sean took a hesitant step toward Rose.

"Rose." Sean breathed. "I won't be a moment."

"Everything okay?" She wondered, glancing at me before settling her gaze back on her mate.

"Yes, everything is great. Was just talking about the scan tomorrow."

Her eyes lit up, her nerves forgotten as she looked over at me. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes." I mused.

Rose was infatuated with my children, and I knew she would make the perfect parent. Before she could ask another question, I interrupted.

"Nova wanted to meet after." I reassured her. "I'd text her. She's probably forgotten."

Rose nodded eagerly, taking Sean by the forearm and dragging him closer. He nodded a curt goodbye before the door shut behind them. I blinked, dumfounded at the dark wood before shaking my head and walking away.

It was a pleasure to be surrounded by so many people who cared so greatly for my mate and our children. The pack was really feeling like a home, with more and more wolves wanted to get involved with the way things worked. As per usual tradition, alpha pups were raised amongst the family for the first few months. The rest of the pack would slowly get more involved the more the babies get around, and I just knew that next summer would be one full of joy.

Speaking of joy.

Reaching my front door, I inhaled the tender scent of home. With my hand on the doorknob, I eagerly stepped inside and searched for my mate.

She was singing.

That meant only one thing; bed time.

I missed it. This was the first bedtime I've missed since she fell pregnant. I was eager to help her with it; the bathing, lifting and feeding, and the damn conversation with Sean overran.

Fucking shit, I am.

Calling her name, her voice faltered in its soft tone. The twins didn't hear, their hearts remaining as steady as the walls surrounding us. Wandering down the stairs, the soft glow of the nursery light called to me. Quietly, I crept inside, grateful for the clean hinges and their lack of noise.

Adoration filled my body, my stomach rolling and curling like the clouds in monsoon season. The setting sun burst through the crack in the curtains, the dull orange glow of the lamp illuminating the blonde tendrils of her hair. My eyes ran over the curve of her nose, the fullness of her cheeks, and the soft smile across her lips. A peaceful serenity blossomed with the soft rise and fall of the twin's chests. A mother, natural in her surroundings, beautiful without even trying.

Belle's nose twitched at my arrival, rolling over in her crib. Nova paused, hands hovering as she waited for her to settle. When she did, she continued to hum, patting Freddy's back with her hand.

'Are you going to sit down or just stare at me?' Her voice filtered through my head.

I grinned, moving further into the room. Staring at you is my favourite thing.

The bond flared with amusement, Nova shooting me a glare. 'You'd say everything is your favourite.'

Only if it involves you.

'Wait until I tell the twins.' She grinned.

I chuckled softly. Tell them that their dad loves their mum so much that it's admirable? Surrounded by love? How horrible.

She rose from the chair, curling her hands around my waist. My hands automatically fell to her stomach, feeling the bump.

They're growing fast.

'Molly said second babies grow faster.'

I hummed, curling my hands around her waist. I doubt it's that accurate. Now come on, the sun is just going down.

Her smiling face melted my heart, and there I was, lost in her ocean as I searched for something to grasp onto.