Chapter: 62
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Both Conri and Leon paced the hallway of the hospital repeatedly, their heavy footsteps resounding like gunshots in the otherwise silent corridor. The Soulmates exchanged glances in between their anxious strides, a wordless conversation passing between them as they did so. "What's taking so long?" Conri asked impatiently, his voice sounding much more strained than he had originally intended it to be. They had waited for over an hour. Does it usually take this long? They wondered.

"You both need to sit down!" Phoenix yelled, but his words fell on deaf ears. The two continued to pace, never stopping in any one spot for more than a few seconds at a time. "I'm telling you both to sit down right now." His eyes widened as he caught sight of something across the hall; two men walking towards them. Phoenix made to run to them, but both Lycan and Lion beat him to it.

"Fucking Creiff!" Leon yelled, grabbing the man by the shoulder. "What was happening in there? You won't let us in!"

"I'm sorry," Creiff said in response, rubbing his shoulder where Leon's grip had tightened. "But, I couldn't have allowed you both in there cluttering my working space," he explained with his usual cheerful smile, although his eyes spoke of deep concern. He glanced around, checking whether anyone else was near. Finding none, he lowered his voice and leaned forward. "I could hear your footsteps across the hallway, messing up my concentration with your nagging in my head... They were having their pups, not a heart transplant for fucks sake!" He muttered, annoyingly, causing both males to smile sheepishly, Leon rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Leon cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to regain composure while looking anywhere but at the men standing in front of them. It didn't work out quite well. Clearing his throat again he looked away once more and to the floor. "Sorry," he mumbled quietly, before glancing back up at them, still avoiding eye contact. "So, Um... Are they-" he nodded with raised brows, "You know, ready now?"

Both Creiff and his co-surgeon exchange a pitiful glance, then turning back to ease both Alpha and Pride's minds, he nodded. "Yes, they are, and so are your pups!" his voice rising when they shoved passed him and ran. "How are they so hopeless?!" He asked, turning to smile at the Luna Phoenix in total bewilderment.

"Don't ask me, ask them!" Phoenix replied, pointing behind him to his mates.

*******

They followed their mates' scents down the corridor till they found the rooms they were in. Both males entered their respective rooms, slamming the doors shut behind them. Leon ran to kneel before Dare's bed, grabbing one of his hands gently and bringing it to his lips, and kissed tenderly. "Hey, honey," he whispered sweetly as he caressed Dare's knuckles softly.

Dare sighed contentedly, leaning his head against the pillow and smiling lazily. "I don't think I have heard you speaking so fast and so loud in our Links before," Dare teased, his voice soft yet amused.

Leon grinned, kissing his wrist. "I'm sorry, but it's not my fault, I was restless, my Omega was having a baby, how else was I supposed to have felt?" He whined cutely, and Dare giggled.

"No need to explain," he murmured affectionately as Leon peppered soft kisses on his knucklebones. "And you're already forgiven," he added, placing Leon's head comfortably on his belly. As if on cue, their cub started fussing loudly in his bed. "Are you ready to meet the new addition to our lives?" He asked and smiled when Leon inhaled sharply, nodding his head. "Well, go bring him," he encouraged his Pride.

Leon rose to his feet and gently approached the baby cot at the other end of the room, he felt the sheets moving as the baby shifted inside. "Oh my gods, he's so cute," he breathed as he reached the cot. A small bundle of golden hair and pink skin greeted him, and Leon gasped when Dare laughed in his ear. Leon glared at him playfully before lifting the infant from the cot carefully and bringing him closer to his face. The tiny shifter gazed curiously at his father and sniffed his nose. "Oh wow, he has your nose," Leon cooed in amazement, admiring his nose closely. "It reminds me of you when you scrunch up your nose in annoyance," he added proudly, wiggling the little cub slightly in his arms. His breath hitched in surprise when the newborn latched on immediately, burying his tiny nose in his chest and crying happily. "Hi, little guy," Leon crooned warmly, rocking him gently from side to side. "Welcome to our world, huh?" he smiled widely and gently kissed his forehead, eliciting a pleased gurgle from the infant. "Yeah, welcome to the world." He repeated to himself after a moment of silence.

Dare smiled fondly at them as Leon sat down on a sofa beside the cot, holding the baby securely in his arms. "We'll name him, Dirk," Dare decided aloud. Leon's bright gold eyes lit up at the suggestion.

"Dirk, huh?" he asked, stroking the baby's cheek with his thumb.

"Like my father," Dare replied.

"That's a good name. What do you think, Dirk?" He asked the baby, who stared back at him with wide, curious eyes. "Do you like that name?" He asked and received a loud chortle in response. "Dirk it is then," he chuckled and smiled lovingly at his mate. "You have made me the happiest Pride in the world," he confessed, giving his mate a soft kiss on the lips when he returned to sit beside him on the bed. Dare's cheeks flushed pink, and he shyly turned away so that his mate wouldn't see how red his face got. He would later deny that blush vehemently. "Thank you," Leon added gratefully. He placed his hands gently on either side of Dirk's tiny body protectively.

"I was really hoping he would be an Omega," Dare whined, and Leon laughed.

"We can make another," he teased. Dare stuck out his tongue childishly at him, earning another laugh from Leon. "Did you forgive Conri yet?" He asked, a more serious expression on his face.

Dare sighed heavily and leaned back into the pillows. "No," he admitted honestly. "Not yet. But soon. We just have some things to sort through first."

"He's already apologized lots of times," Leon reminded him. "Don't hold him responsible for something that wasn't entirely his fault, he's my Soulmate, and somehow you've become such sweet friends with Caleb, it makes me sad," he complained, and Dare grinned smugly. That only seemed to further upset him. "You know what I mean, you brat!" Leon snapped, shoving Dare slightly.

Dare laughed delightedly, "Fine, fine I'll think deeply about it," he promised and leaned forward to give his mate a quick peck on the lips. "Let's just relax, okay? This is kind of overwhelming."

"Agreed," Leon sighed, sitting back against the bedhead, Dirk in his lap.

Meanwhile.
********

Conri barged into the room, startling his tired Mate, and their newborns as he rushed forward and knelt beside Caleb, holding his hands and kissing his lips, arms, and cheeks. "Caleb, my love! How did the procedure go? Are you alright? Did it hurt? Can you walk?" He asked frantically, his gaze fixed on Caleb's face the entire time, his hands roaming freely all over his face, touching his shoulders, his hands, his legs, his belly, just about everywhere.

Caleb giggled lightly at his mate's behavior. "I am perfectly fine, Conri," he answered calmly. "The surgery went surprisingly smoothly... Calm down baby, everything went great, I'm fine... Relax," he hushed him gently, reaching forward and placing his hands over Conri's. "Everything is fine. There's nothing to worry about."

Conri slowly let his Mate's hands go and looked down. "My heart stopped beating the entire time," Conri breathed out. "We are never doing this again!" He announced, crossing his arms stubbornly.

"What?! No! I still haven't had my Omega yet," Caleb protested.

Conri groaned irritably and rolled his eyes, leaning forward towards him and cupping his face in his hand, brushing away some stray hairs that had fallen on his cheek. "Maybe in the next twenty years," he joked.

Caleb chuckled and leaned closer to Conri's touch. "Or maybe we don't have to wait that long, hmm?" Caleb suggested teasingly, smirking when he watched the flush creep its way onto Conri's pale skin. "Let's say five years,"

"Oh please..." Conri said flatly. "Too soon,"

Caleb gave him a playful smirk. "Six,"

"No!"

"Seven?"

Groaning, he held Caleb's face cupped into his palms. "We haven't even begun to recover from this, why do you talk about having more?!"

"Eight. Eight is final," Caleb stated firmly, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Ten!"

"Done," Caleb smirked seductively at him. "There we have it! Ten is the winning number!"

"You little cheat," Conri stated, kissing him gently on the lips. "Time to say hello to the pups," he got on his feet and paused when he heard Caleb's reply. "What?" He asked, turning back to look at him with wide eyes.

"Pups and cubs!" He repeated.

"What do you mean?" Conri asked, looking puzzled.

"Go see for yourself," he replied, motioning for him to keep moving forward.

Conri's breath caught in his throat when his gaze landed on the newborns. "We have Double Shifters..." He trailed off, staring in disbelief at his beloved triplets. One of which yawned sleepily while snuggling comfortably into his brother's arms, nuzzling his face against his neck affectionately. His eyes sparkled brightly, and a broad smile spread across his handsome features.

"We have Double Shifters! How did this happen?!" His excitement could not be hidden, the sheer happiness shining in his eyes. "And they are all," He paused to sniff the air, smiling, "Alphas and Demigods!" His newborns were beautiful, a mixture of color filled their hair, their skin flawless, and when they blinked their eyes shone with matching colors like their Lycan father. Conri reached into the bed and picked all three of them up at once, bringing them to his face, he kissed each of their heads, and slowly placed them into the bed once again. They huddled up closer as if seeking each other's warmth, it brought a smile to his face, remembering his Birth Omega telling him he often did that with his sisters when they were infants.

He turned back to his mate, chuckling warmly, he walked toward him, and sat beside him on the bed, leaning into his embrace and resting his chin on his shoulder. "They're perfect, aren't they?" He whispered.

Caleb hummed and wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him closer until Conri was resting comfortably in his lap. "Yes, they are, just like you," he agreed quietly and rested his hands on Conri's head.

"Thank you," Conri muttered softly, feeling tired.

Caleb nodded, smiling tenderly down at his Lycan, and kissed him lightly on the forehead. "Go to sleep now," he encouraged quietly. "You need your rest,"

"Mm," Conri mumbled sleepily before drifting into a deep sleep.

He didn't know how long he stayed asleep, but the sudden commotion around him jolted him awake to find his Mate convulsing on the hospital room floor. The doctors surrounded him, trying to stabilize him. He had blood dripping from his nose, and when he had asked what was happening, Creiff could only name 'Kael'.

Conri went on his knees, shoving the doctors aside, he carried his mate into his arms, and bit down on his neck, filling his blood with healing energy, it didn't take long before Caleb came back to him.

"Take care of them," he ordered his Betas and Creiff, then dashed out of the room, Leon beside him.

*******

THE END...