Ch. 1021..1030

Chapter 1021 Doctor's checkup

Maya brought several baby outfits for Violet.

Violet barely stirred as they were putting a diaper on her.

"Shouldn't she wake up from this?" Talia asked, and everyone around her shrugged.

'There is nothing wrong with her,' Liseli assured Talia. 'She is just sleepy. Who wouldn't be after absorbing all those energies?'

Talia believed Liseli, but she wanted Violet to be checked by a doctor. She didn't want to waste time putting a complicated onesie on Violet, so she swaddled her in a receiving blanket while a how-to video played on the side.

By the time they were ready to leave the packhouse, Keith, Arya, Zina, Owen, Dawn, and George were there also. They all gathered around the bed where Violet was sleeping, unaware of the crowd.

Talia looked at Maya, Zina, Dawn, Arya, and Cornelia. They were all pregnant. But one female was missing. "Where is Mindy?"

The door opened, and Mindy waddled in. Actually, the first one to come in sight was Mindy's belly. One step behind Mindy was Gideon, whose arms waved around Mindy, ready to catch her if she lost her balance.

Talia hugged Mindy, and it took her a moment to see the ad-on Gideon had. "Is that a baby sling?"

"Sorry we are late, Lia," Mindy said. "It takes forever to put that carrier on properly. Gideon is practicing for when Lavender is born."

"Lavender? What a wonderful name," Talia said, and Mindy looked at Gideon with sparkles in her eyes.

Mindy picked the name Lavender because that's how Gideon smells to her. Gideon agreed with the condition that their second child has a pumpkin-inspired name.

Mindy looked at the bundle on the bed. "I see you went on your honeymoon and came back with a baby."

"Meet Violet."

"Aww… she is adorable," Mindy gushed and rubbed her belly. "They both have flowery names. Lavender and Violet will play together and be best friends."

Talia loved the idea, and she thought of asking, "Is it normal for babies to sleep so much? We put a diaper on her, and she barely moved."

Mindy put Talia's worries to rest. "It is normal. Travis told us to enjoy it while lasts because it's only the first week or two after they are born. After that, we will wish for them to sleep. When did you give birth?"

Talia was not sure. "A few hours ago."

"Woah. You are holding on nicely…"

Damon waved for Mindy to stop the chatter. "We are on our way to see Travis. He is expecting us."

Talia reached to lift Violet. Wrapped in a blanket, she resembled an adorable loaf of bread.

Talia's heart swelled as she cradled Violet in her arms.

Only now Talia realized how light Violet was. She turned to Damon to see him smiling at her.

"Do you want to hold her?"

Damon's eyebrows shot up. "Me?"

Talia could feel his excitement, anticipation, and the amount of insecurity uncharacteristic for her willful Alpha, but she knew that he was worried about not harming the child.

Talia stepped toward him.

"Hold out your arms, daddy."

Damon licked his lips nervously. Why was his mouth dry? Talia called him daddy, and he didn't dislike it. He was a father now.

"That's it," Talia encouraged him while placing Violet in Damon's hands.

Damon stood still like a statue, and Violet's lips twitched.

"Did you see that?" Talia asked. "She smiled because you are holding her."

"She likes it?"

"Of course, she does. She can feel your love and protectiveness. Do you want to carry her to the hospital?"

Before Damon could respond, Keith stepped forward. "You shouldn't carry any weight right after the delivery, Talia. If Alpha doesn't carry her, I will."

"I can carry Violet!" Arya volunteered while standing right next to Keith. She was pregnant, but her stomach was not showing yet.

Damon released a low growl, making Keith and Arya take a step back.

"I will carry MY child," Damon snapped while holding Violet closer to his chest.

Now that Damon looked around the room, it was crowded, and he wanted everyone out.

…

Damon and Talia stepped out of the packhouse and paused at the sight of the people.

Members of the Dark Howlers pack came to welcome their young Alpha.

People lowered their heads, and no one said a word as Damon and Talia walked through the path the crowd opened for them.

Damon held Violet with his left arm while his right one was around Talia, and his heart swelled with pride. That was his mate and his child, and their people were showing respect without being asked. The best part was that he could feel Talia's emotions. She was happy, and he was happy with her.

Maya, Caden, Mindy, Gideon, James, Cornelia, Dawn, George, Keith, Arya, Zina, and Owen walked behind Damon and Talia in a display of hierarchy.

Talia smiled at the sight of familiar faces, and she allowed positive emotions to wash over her. The joy was nearly tangible, and Talia basked in it.

The pack hospital was completely silent when Damon and Talia arrived with Violet.

The Alpha couple entered the pack hospital, and Maya, Caden, and the others stayed outside because the whole pack was following them, and if they got in, it would cause a mess.

Nurses, doctors, and patients stepped into hallways and stood with their heads lowered.

The only ones who approached Damon and Talia were Travis and Olivia, who ushered Alpha parents to the examination room.

Olivia beamed while looking at Violet, who was sleeping through the whole weight and length measurements, but Talia didn't miss the sadness in Olivia's expression.

"What are you thinking about?" Talia asked Olivia.

"It's just…" Olivia shook her head. "I am glad things turned out well for you and your baby." She didn't want to talk about her miscarriage because of Luis' violent ways. Her child would be about two years old if things didn't turn out as they did.

Talia wrapped her arms around Olivia. "I can feel your sadness," Talia spoke in a low voice, only for Olivia to hear. "I thought you would be happier now that you have a loving mate and a pup on the way."

Olivia's body stiffened. "What did you say?"

Talia smiled at Olivia. "Didn't you have your heat?"

"I did, but…" She turned to Travis. "A pup."

Travis didn't get it. "Yes, young Alpha Violet is a pup. She looks healthy, but we should still give her a full checkup."

"No, that's not what I was…" Olivia said weakly and pressed her hands against her stomach.

Travis' brows came together as he realized the meaning behind Olivia's actions. "Our pup?"

Olivia nodded, and Travis engulfed her in his embrace.

"Don't worry, Livi. I will take care of you and our pup. You will be a wonderful mother. I won't allow anyone or anything to harm you…" He spoke in a low voice as Olivia sobbed into his doctor's coat as happiness and insecurities overwhelmed her.

Talia tugged Damon to step aside.

'Let's give them a moment,' Talia said to Damon through their mind link.

Damon didn't like this. They came for a checkup, and now the doctor and his mate (aka assistant) were hugging and crying. What kind of a hospital was this? This is not what he is paying them for!

Before Damon voiced his displeasure, Talia's voice sounded in his mind again, 'Olivia has a lot of burden. She was abused and…'

'I know,' Damon grumbled back. He didn't like to be left to wait, regardless of the reason.

Talia looked at their little bundle of happiness.

10:59

"Our pup, Damon," Talia said dreamily while gently touching Violet's forehead.

Violet's eyes snapped open, and she looked straight at Talia.

"She has blue eyes, like her father," Talia said, and she knew that Damon was grinning even though she didn't look at him. Black hair and blue eyes. Violet resembled Damon and Talia loved it.

After a few long seconds, Violet's eyelids became heavy, and she went back to sleep.

"It's a girl, just how you wanted," Talia said.

"I would be OK with a boy also. I want us to have five pups. Three girls and two boys."

Talia blinked at him. "Did you ever see an Alpha family with so many pups?"

"Did you ever see an Alpha family with godly powers? In a way, I agree with Gregory. There are only a few of your kind, and we should do our share to ensure you don't go extinct, so… five pups. Six sounds even better. How about seven?"

Talia giggled when she realized that Damon was just thinking about sex.

After Violet's exam, it was time for Talia's.

Two nurses came in to help, and even though Travis was only looking at the ultrasound and did above-the-waist tests, Damon was growling and releasing a menacing aura, so they had to send him out of the examination room to wait.

Damon couldn't believe this. They kicked him out! He was the Alpha, damn it!

But Talia said that the longer her objects, the longer it would take, so he went out with an excuse that he needed to handle some important pack-related business.

Talia was glad that Damon obeyed without destroying the place.

A minute after he left, Violet stirred and was licking her lips, so nurses showed Talia how to breastfeed.

Talia was unsure how Damon would react because Travis was right there while Talia's breasts were exposed. It was medical, educational, and nothing sexual or pervy, but Travis was a man, and Damon was a possessive Alpha, and… it wouldn't end well.

 

Chapter 1022: A human member of the DH pack

Damon paced through the waiting room under the steady gazes of Keith and Arya, who didn't get too close to the room where Talia and Violet were with doctor Travis and the nurses, but the duo was keeping an eye on the door from a distance.

Damon was impatient. Why was Talia's checkup taking so long?

He mind-linked her three times already, and she told him that it was almost done, but that was two "almosts" too many, and he was getting anxious. Was something wrong? It didn't feel like it because he could sense Talia's emotions, and she was a bit nervous but mostly happy.

"Is there something I can help you with, Alpha?"

Damon's steps halted at the sound of a familiar voice, and he turned to cock an eyebrow at an unwelcome man. It was Tatiana's obnoxious assistant. Mario. Did he address him as Alpha? What the heck?

Was Tatiana here? What about Maddox? But Mario seemed to be here on his own, and he wore a uniform like a nurse.

"Why are you here?" Damon grumbled.

The last time Damon saw Mario was before Talia's Luna ceremony, which was more than three weeks ago. At that time, Damon kicked Mario across the hall, which got the human hospitalized, but three weeks was more than enough to recuperate or be transferred to a human-run facility.

Mario paused at Damon's hostility. "No need to worry about anything, Alpha. I am one of you now."

Mario craned his neck, and Damon's eyes widened, seeing a mark. How could that be a mark? Mario is human! An annoying one!

"What is that?" Damon asked while pointing at Mario's neck.

"THAT is the mark of my mate. It means we belong together. I assume you know that, considering you wear Talia's mark."

Damon's brows came together. Sure, there were cases of werewolves marking humans, but they were not common. And most importantly, why Mario?

"Is he telling the truth?" Damon asked Keith and Arya, who nodded in confirmation.

Damon refused to accept this. "Someone marked you? How is that possible?"

"Thank you for your concern," Mario said with a smile. "We consulted the Shaman before marking, and I took medicine and attended a ritual to ensure it was safe. My mate is taking very good care of me."

What concern? Damon didn't care about Mario's safety. The idea of this guy staying in the Dark Howlers pack for longer than necessary was making Damon's insides churn. And if Talia found out, she would be all, 'aww, that's so cute!'. Damon needed to nip this weed in the bud before it started growing roots.

"You say your mate marked you. Who is she?"

"Not a she. It's a HE," Mario corrected Damon. "Neal."

"Neal?" Damon repeated blankly. Was that supposed to mean something?

Mario nodded. "Neil is one of the young doctors here, a resident. Thanks to you, I was in the pack hospital instead of attending Talia's Luna ceremony. Neal came to give me my second dose of painkillers, and the rest is history. I was waiting to hear you are back to thank you properly."

"No need," Damon said curtly.

"I see. Words are not enough. We will prepare dinner and invite you to our flat. I will need to see with Neil about our availability and will call to see what time works for you…"

Dinner? What nonsense was that?

Damon couldn't believe that this shrimp was acting like he belonged here. Yes, there were cases of humans being marked which made them as almost-members of the pack, assuming Alpha allowed it.

Damon would be an ass if he stood between fated mates. Talia would never forgive him.

And yes, there were cases of same-sex couples, and it's not that Damon discriminated against gays, but Damon was allergic to Mario.

Did Maddox take advantage of Damon's absence to dump Tatiana's irritating assistant here?

Or maybe this was a joke. Surely, Maddox will jump out of somewhere with a camera in his hand, and they will laugh about it… someday. But no one else was nearby, and Damon had to accept the possibility it was real.

Damon was thinking about kicking Mario and Neil all the way to the Blue Moon pack. Maybe they can come up with a program to exchange medical personnel. Damon managed to get rid of Nora and many others at Maddox's expense; surely, one Mario won't be a big challenge.

'Damon?' Talia's voice sounded in Damon's head. 'I'm done.'

'Coming,' Damon responded and rushed to Talia's room. He will deal with Mario later.

Later that evening…

Damon and Talia were in their bedroom, and Violet was sleeping in the bassinet. The nursery was set up in Damon's old room across the hall, but Talia wanted to keep a close eye on Violet, at least for a few days.

Talia's maternal instincts were boosted by her paranoia and fear of abandonment. Whenever Violet was out of visual range, Talia was on the verge of panicking, and a baby monitor wouldn't help much.

The day was over. It started on the beach, and they went to a different realm where they met Astraea and Valerian, and Violet was born, and they appeared in the Dark Howlers pack… checkups, congratulations, calls, and visits from friends and pack members… it was a long day.

Talia spoke to Axel and Yasmin on the phone, sharing the good news. Yasmin and Axel said they would visit the next day. Yasmin knew that Talia was exhausted and that new parents would like some alone time.

Now that the hectic day was over, Damon and Talia had time to process things.

With the arrival of Violet, they were a family. A true family. That was something none of them had for a long time.

"Will we be alright?" Talia asked Damon.

"Of course, we will."

"How can you be so certain?"

Damon looked into Talia's eyes seriously. "I will do everything I can to keep you and Vi safe. You know that, right?"

Talia nodded, and he added, "With your powers, who will dare to try harming us?"

"There is always someone stronger," Talia said.

"If such a person exists, and he dares to mess with us, you can use that necklace, and your mom will kick his ass."

Talia looked at Damon dreamily. He was a powerful and willful Alpha, saying his mother-in-law would handle bullies.

Talia placed her palm on his cheek. "You changed, Alpha Damon Blake."

Damon leaned in her touch. "The Moon Goddess blessed me with a mate with whom I don't need to pretend I don't care, and I don't need to try carrying everything. You are my mate, my equal, and I am glad to know that if I slip, you will be there to pick me up. When we are together, I can be Damon. Just Damon."

"I think this is the most romantic thing you ever said to me."

Damon smiled smugly, and his eyes darted toward the bassinet where a baby was sleeping soundly.

"How about we continue this conversation in bed?" Damon suggested.

Talia nodded in agreement and glanced at Violet before wiggling out of Damon's embrace.

Talia threw herself on the bed and scrunched her nose.

"What's wrong?" Damon asked.

"New bedsheets. New mattress." She knew that things were new because she messed up the previous ones with blood, but the lack of Damon's scent made it foreign and unpleasant. "It doesn't smell like you."

Damon smiled slyly and started unbuttoning his shirt in slow motion. "We can fix that."

The only thing that would stop Damon from getting his dose of Talia was if Talia said she was not in the mood.

Travis assured them that Violet and Talia were in perfect condition, and Talia's emotions confirmed that sex was on.

After a turbulent day, Damon and Talia craved physical intimacy to release tension and confirm they were together.

Talia watched Damon undressing, and her brows came together in disapproval.

"What?" Damon asked.

"Why do you always rip my clothes, but when it comes to you, it's the opposite?"

Damon chuckled. "That's because I am such a tease. I love to make you wait."

"What if I decided to make you wait?"

'Pak-pak-pak!'

In less than a second, the remaining buttons popped as Damon yanked his shirt open. "I would never make you wait."

Talia grinned as he crawled on the bed toward her.

"You are lucky you are handsome."

"And rich," Damon said matter-of-factly. "Don't forget my money. It's part of my charm."

"I would love you even if you are dirt poor."

"And that's why you are my mate." Damon's heart tightened, and he was unsure if those were his emotions or Talia's seeping into him through their mate bond.

The truth was that he craved unconditional acceptance, just as she did. Actually, Damon wanted it more. Talia was the only one who told him it was alright to make mistakes and that he was forgiven... and she forgave him a lot.

Even before he became the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, Damon needed to be strong, firm, confident, unyielding, resolute… always. No one questioned if he had those qualities. The image of undefeatable Alpha was wearing him down, and he wrapped himself in layers of ruthlessness to prevent himself from crumbling.

With Talia, he could be himself. The more he revealed his vulnerability, the more she loved him, and little by little, Damon learned to love himself as well. Even the soft and not-so-cool sides of him.

"Ahh…" A soft sigh escaped Talia's lips when Damon kissed his mark on her neck. "Is this OK? Vi is here."

"She is sleeping." Damon's words splashed on Talia's neck. "We will be quiet."

Before she could respond, his lips latched on his mark on her neck to suck her there, announcing a wild ride that kept them awake until late into the night.

 

 

Chapter 1023 Breastfeeding troubles

It was late morning and Damon was sitting on the bed and staring at Talia who was breastfeeding Violet.

Damon was wearing sweatpants. Normally, he wouldn't bother to put on clothes in the privacy of their bedroom, but now Violet was there, and he didn't want to show her things a little girl shouldn't see.

Talia's legs and midsection were covered with a bedsheet and her upper body was exposed.

The scene of two females on the bed was serene and heartwarming, but right then and there, the mighty Alpha went through all five stages of grief.

Stage one: Denial.

How could this be happening?

Damon remembered all the good times he had with those buds in his mouth, and now there was another person suckling on them.

Yes, it was a baby, and he shouldn't feel this negativity, but that was Talia, and she was his mate, only his, and this didn't seem right.

The joy Talia felt during this process only made Damon more confused about this whole thing. How can someone else suckling on her breasts be joyful?

Stage two: Anger.

Those chubby fingers were holding onto Talia's boob! And there was even some kneading going on! The little snot was doing it on purpose to taunt him!

He was aware Violet was his child, and that he and Talia were parents now, but the idea of anyone sticking close enough to Talia to put a part of her into his (or her) mouth was unacceptable! Babies were not an exception!

Stage three: Bargaining.

"Surely, there must be another way to feed the child," Damon whined. "Does she need to put my breast in her mouth?"

"That's MY breast, Damon."

He didn't see it that way. "You are mine, so everything yours is mine also, which makes both of those wonderful breasts MINE!"

Talia couldn't believe how childish he was. She didn't want to pour oil on the fire, but she couldn't let him throw a tantrum. "What are you expecting me to do, Damon? Should we let her go hungry? Or make her a sandwich? Or how about we let her loose in the forest, so she hunts her meal?"

"There is formula. I can buy some. The best one there is in the world. Violet won't be lacking anything. Or you can use one of those pump things to get milk out and we can feed her from the bottle."

"Nonsense," Talia shot him down. "Why feed the baby other things when I can breastfeed her? And why pump and use gadgets when it can be done naturally? It would be different if I have a job and I'm not available, or there is no milk, but I am available and there is milk."

Stage four: Depression.

'You don't love me anymore. Now you have Vi and I'm not needed. We have a perfectly good nursery, but you don't want to put Vi there overnight. Am I supposed to sleep there? Am I getting kicked out?'

Talia cocked an eyebrow at Damon. Why did he switch to talking through the mind link? 'You know I can hear that, right?'

'I know. But Vi can't hear me.'

'Why do you care if she will hear you?'

'I don't want her to hate me. I love her, but this… is too much.'

'She can feel your emotions and right now she is wondering why her father is not happy. She probably thinks I'm bullying you.'

'Kitten. I know this is the way it should be, but I am not used to sharing things, and I definitely don't want to share you. Seeing you holding Vi and being happy makes me feel like I'm not needed.'

He could feel Talia's emotions clearly. She enjoyed holding the baby against her chest, and the whole feeding experience made her happy. There was an ocean of love and care directed at Violet, but… What about Damon?

Talia would snap at him and call him ridiculous, but his grief was genuine, and she knew that he needed comforting. "I will always need you, Damon. If anything, you will be needed more because both me and Vi will be relying on you. How about you come closer?"

Stage five: Acceptance.

Damon scooted closer and looked at Violet who was suckling on her mother's bosom with her eyes closed.

"She is not taking me from you," Talia assured him. "I am feeding her. This is a chance for us to bond and learn about each other. Hold me, Damon."

Damon sat next to Talia and wrapped his arm around her.

Talia leaned on Damon and enjoyed the sparks that prickled her skin. Her mate was right there, and she was holding their child and life didn't get better than this.

"There, there… we are a family," Talia said. "Everyone is needed, and everyone is welcome. Vi is so tiny now and she is relying on us. Before we know it, she will be walking and playing on her own, running around, and making us worry. As she grows, our relationship will evolve. She is little, but she is learning that her parents are here to provide for her."

Damon didn't respond, so Talia decided to change the topic. "Do you think we could visit your parents today? I want them to see their grandchild."

"We can go if you are up to it," Damon responded flatly.

He couldn't think about anything other than a tiny person attached to Talia's breast. Everyone told him that once he sees his baby, he will be smitten and things will change and be fantastic, but this was not easy.

Sure, he loved Violet. That was his pup. But seeing that Talia's attention (and boobs) were dedicated to someone else hit him hard.

"It's OK, Damon," Talia said. "Whatever you are feeling, it is OK. Neither of us had an environment where we could learn to be parents. People express their emotions in different ways. Not everyone is a cuddler and not everyone is a sweet talker. If you are overwhelmed, it's perfectly fine to take a step back, release some steam, and then return."

Damon realized that Talia was telling him to leave. "Don't chase me away."

Talia smiled at the silly Alpha. "I am not chasing you away. I am only telling you that you have options."

"I don't need them. The only option for me is to be with you," Damon said resolutely.

"If you need a break, we can take it together. With the full packhouse, someone can keep an eye on Vi while we take a break."

"If we need a break after only one night, it will make us appear incompetent," Damon grumbled. He didn't want to be away from Violet. He only wanted Violet to let go of Talia's boob.

"Will you help me?"

Damon snapped to look at Talia. "What do you need?"

"Vi is sleeping. Can you put her in the bassinet?"

Damon looked down to realize that Talia was right. Violet's eyes were closed, and her mouth loosely hung around Talia's areola.

He jumped off the bed without making a sound and extended his hands for Talia to put Violet there.

Gently, very gently, he lowered the little bun into the bassinet. He was proud of himself that she didn't wake up.

'There, much better,' Damon said victoriously to Talia through their mind link. 'Vi had her cuddles, now is my turn.'

Damon turned to Talia and his eyebrows shot up when he saw Talia sitting on the bed with her breasts exposed. Her left breast had some glistening moisture around the nipple, and Damon swallowed hard.

"Come here," Talia called, and Damon obeyed.

"I need your help."

"With?"

"Uhm… if you don't want to, you don't have to."

Damon was curious. It's been a while since Talia was so bashful. "What is it?"

"At the pack hospital, they told me that the best thing to increase milk production is to empty both breasts. So… can you help me?"

"You want me to help you empty your breasts of milk?" Damon asked, confusion obvious on his face.

"Vi had her meal and will sleep for a few hours. If you help me, there will be plenty of time for new milk to come in." Seeing that Damon didn't react, Talia said it outright. "Do you want to suck on my breasts? Please? It will be good for…"

Talia stopped talking when Damon moved closer to her. He sniffed the sweetness that still lingered there and he would think it was from Violet's saliva if not for the strong scent of freesia. Was it possible that her milk smelled almost as good as the juices her pussy released? What about the taste?

Damon licked her nipple and the citrusy sweetness exploded on his tongue.

He looked up at Talia. "Are you sure?"

Talia nodded.

Without breaking eye contact, Damon put his lips around her areola and sucked reluctantly.

"Ah…" A shaky breath escaped Talia's lips.

The sparks of their bond made Talia's arousal swell and Damon sucked harder. Her milk was addictively sweet, and he stopped only to switch breasts.

Damon gathered Talia against him with one hand, and his other worked on removing his sweatpants. His mate was needy, and he had no intention of letting her wait.

Talia laced her fingers into his raven-black hair and allowed herself to be lost in the lust.

She didn't lie. Nurses told her that emptying her breasts will be beneficial for milk production. They didn't say how she should accomplish it, but this seemed like a good way to go about it. Other than boosting her milk production, Damon was part of the process, and Talia hoped that he will be more enthusiastic about the next breastfeeding, knowing that his turn was next, followed by inevitable carnal pleasures they both craved for.

 

It was late morning and Damon was sitting on the bed and staring at Talia who was breastfeeding Violet.

Damon was wearing sweatpants. Normally, he wouldn't bother to put on clothes in the privacy of their bedroom, but now Violet was there, and he didn't want to show her things a little girl shouldn't see.

Talia's legs and midsection were covered with a bedsheet and her upper body was exposed.

The scene of two females on the bed was serene and heartwarming, but right then and there, the mighty Alpha went through all five stages of grief.

Stage one: Denial.

How could this be happening?

Damon remembered all the good times he had with those buds in his mouth, and now there was another person suckling on them.

Yes, it was a baby, and he shouldn't feel this negativity, but that was Talia, and she was his mate, only his, and this didn't seem right.

The joy Talia felt during this process only made Damon more confused about this whole thing. How can someone else suckling on her breasts be joyful?

Stage two: Anger.

Those chubby fingers were holding onto Talia's boob! And there was even some kneading going on! The little snot was doing it on purpose to taunt him!

He was aware Violet was his child, and that he and Talia were parents now, but the idea of anyone sticking close enough to Talia to put a part of her into his (or her) mouth was unacceptable! Babies were not an exception!

Stage three: Bargaining.

"Surely, there must be another way to feed the child," Damon whined. "Does she need to put my breast in her mouth?"

"That's MY breast, Damon."

He didn't see it that way. "You are mine, so everything yours is mine also, which makes both of those wonderful breasts MINE!"

Talia couldn't believe how childish he was. She didn't want to pour oil on the fire, but she couldn't let him throw a tantrum. "What are you expecting me to do, Damon? Should we let her go hungry? Or make her a sandwich? Or how about we let her loose in the forest, so she hunts her meal?"

"There is formula. I can buy some. The best one there is in the world. Violet won't be lacking anything. Or you can use one of those pump things to get milk out and we can feed her from the bottle."

"Nonsense," Talia shot him down. "Why feed the baby other things when I can breastfeed her? And why pump and use gadgets when it can be done naturally? It would be different if I have a job and I'm not available, or there is no milk, but I am available and there is milk."

Stage four: Depression.

'You don't love me anymore. Now you have Vi and I'm not needed. We have a perfectly good nursery, but you don't want to put Vi there overnight. Am I supposed to sleep there? Am I getting kicked out?'

Talia cocked an eyebrow at Damon. Why did he switch to talking through the mind link? 'You know I can hear that, right?'

'I know. But Vi can't hear me.'

'Why do you care if she will hear you?'

'I don't want her to hate me. I love her, but this… is too much.'

'She can feel your emotions and right now she is wondering why her father is not happy. She probably thinks I'm bullying you.'

'Kitten. I know this is the way it should be, but I am not used to sharing things, and I definitely don't want to share you. Seeing you holding Vi and being happy makes me feel like I'm not needed.'

He could feel Talia's emotions clearly. She enjoyed holding the baby against her chest, and the whole feeding experience made her happy. There was an ocean of love and care directed at Violet, but… What about Damon?

Talia would snap at him and call him ridiculous, but his grief was genuine, and she knew that he needed comforting. "I will always need you, Damon. If anything, you will be needed more because both me and Vi will be relying on you. How about you come closer?"

Stage five: Acceptance.

Damon scooted closer and looked at Violet who was suckling on her mother's bosom with her eyes closed.

"She is not taking me from you," Talia assured him. "I am feeding her. This is a chance for us to bond and learn about each other. Hold me, Damon."

Damon sat next to Talia and wrapped his arm around her.

Talia leaned on Damon and enjoyed the sparks that prickled her skin. Her mate was right there, and she was holding their child and life didn't get better than this.

"There, there… we are a family," Talia said. "Everyone is needed, and everyone is welcome. Vi is so tiny now and she is relying on us. Before we know it, she will be walking and playing on her own, running around, and making us worry. As she grows, our relationship will evolve. She is little, but she is learning that her parents are here to provide for her."

Damon didn't respond, so Talia decided to change the topic. "Do you think we could visit your parents today? I want them to see their grandchild."

"We can go if you are up to it," Damon responded flatly.

He couldn't think about anything other than a tiny person attached to Talia's breast. Everyone told him that once he sees his baby, he will be smitten and things will change and be fantastic, but this was not easy.

Sure, he loved Violet. That was his pup. But seeing that Talia's attention (and boobs) were dedicated to someone else hit him hard.

"It's OK, Damon," Talia said. "Whatever you are feeling, it is OK. Neither of us had an environment where we could learn to be parents. People express their emotions in different ways. Not everyone is a cuddler and not everyone is a sweet talker. If you are overwhelmed, it's perfectly fine to take a step back, release some steam, and then return."

Damon realized that Talia was telling him to leave. "Don't chase me away."

Talia smiled at the silly Alpha. "I am not chasing you away. I am only telling you that you have options."

"I don't need them. The only option for me is to be with you," Damon said resolutely.

"If you need a break, we can take it together. With the full packhouse, someone can keep an eye on Vi while we take a break."

"If we need a break after only one night, it will make us appear incompetent," Damon grumbled. He didn't want to be away from Violet. He only wanted Violet to let go of Talia's boob.

"Will you help me?"

Damon snapped to look at Talia. "What do you need?"

"Vi is sleeping. Can you put her in the bassinet?"

Damon looked down to realize that Talia was right. Violet's eyes were closed, and her mouth loosely hung around Talia's areola.

He jumped off the bed without making a sound and extended his hands for Talia to put Violet there.

Gently, very gently, he lowered the little bun into the bassinet. He was proud of himself that she didn't wake up.

'There, much better,' Damon said victoriously to Talia through their mind link. 'Vi had her cuddles, now is my turn.'

Damon turned to Talia and his eyebrows shot up when he saw Talia sitting on the bed with her breasts exposed. Her left breast had some glistening moisture around the nipple, and Damon swallowed hard.

"Come here," Talia called, and Damon obeyed.

"I need your help."

"With?"

"Uhm… if you don't want to, you don't have to."

Damon was curious. It's been a while since Talia was so bashful. "What is it?"

"At the pack hospital, they told me that the best thing to increase milk production is to empty both breasts. So… can you help me?"

"You want me to help you empty your breasts of milk?" Damon asked, confusion obvious on his face.

"Vi had her meal and will sleep for a few hours. If you help me, there will be plenty of time for new milk to come in." Seeing that Damon didn't react, Talia said it outright. "Do you want to suck on my breasts? Please? It will be good for…"

Talia stopped talking when Damon moved closer to her. He sniffed the sweetness that still lingered there and he would think it was from Violet's saliva if not for the strong scent of freesia. Was it possible that her milk smelled almost as good as the juices her pussy released? What about the taste?

Damon licked her nipple and the citrusy sweetness exploded on his tongue.

He looked up at Talia. "Are you sure?"

Talia nodded.

Without breaking eye contact, Damon put his lips around her areola and sucked reluctantly.

"Ah…" A shaky breath escaped Talia's lips.

The sparks of their bond made Talia's arousal swell and Damon sucked harder. Her milk was addictively sweet, and he stopped only to switch breasts.

Damon gathered Talia against him with one hand, and his other worked on removing his sweatpants. His mate was needy, and he had no intention of letting her wait.

Talia laced her fingers into his raven-black hair and allowed herself to be lost in the lust.

She didn't lie. Nurses told her that emptying her breasts will be beneficial for milk production. They didn't say how she should accomplish it, but this seemed like a good way to go about it. Other than boosting her milk production, Damon was part of the process, and Talia hoped that he will be more enthusiastic about the next breastfeeding, knowing that his turn was next, followed by inevitable carnal pleasures they both craved for.

 

 

Chapter 1024 Babies everywhere

Maddox was losing his patience. "How long do we need to wait for Damon and Talia?"

Maddox and Tatiana were in the living room with Maya, Caden, and Ethan, who was sleeping in the stroller.

Alpha and Luna of the Blue River pack showed courtesy of coming to meet Violet even though Damon and Talia didn't come to visit Ethan yet. They were waiting for more than an hour. Caden and Maya offered them a guestroom to relax while waiting, but Maddox refused. They came for a visit, not for a sleepover.

Caden smiled awkwardly. "They were about to come down, but then Violet needed to be fed."

"How long does one feeding last?" Maddox huffed. Something didn't feel right.

"We don't know," Maya said. "The thing is that since Damon and Talia returned from their honeymoon with a child, other than doctor's visits, they don't leave their room." It's been more than a week now!

Tatiana was worried. "Is something wrong with Talia or Violet?"

"They are bonding with their child," Maya said.

She didn't want to bring up the opulence of sex. If she told Maddox and Tatiana the most likely reason they were waiting for more than an hour was that their hosts were having sex, it might break their alliance and possibly start a war.

It's not that Maya was eavesdropping on Damon and Talia to know what they were doing, but the light show blasting from their windows was impossible to miss at nighttime. They all knew that Damon and Talia would emit energy and light when they were together and happy, and every pack member could feel the effects to some degree. The energy she sensed only a few minutes ago was definitely the result of an orgasm.

It's been a week, yet Damon and Talia barely glanced at the big nursery they prepared on the first floor of the packhouse. Petra was responsible for caring for the little ones with four other Omegas. They had soft floors and tactile toys that would light up and play music, and it was fantastic but empty. Several babies were yet to be born, and Damon and Talia held Violet hostage in their bedroom.

The news of young Alpha Violet spread like wildfire. Everyone knew about her birth and wanted to see her; some out of respect, others out of curiosity, or to appease Damon and Talia. Caden and Maya had the task of rejecting guests, saying how it was still early and that they will tell them when Damon and Talia were able to receive people, but the unopened gifts continued filling up a bedroom on the second floor that now resembled storage.

However, Maddox didn't take a no for an answer.

Maddox said how one week was plenty of time to bond, and as the best friend, Maddox wanted to greet Damon's child. Under that stubborn friendship was the truth about Maddox wanting to rub in Damon's face who got an heir first. It was a big deal.

"How is your pregnancy progressing?" Tatiana asked Maya.

Maya's face lit up, and she put her hands on her stomach. "So far, so good. Doctor Travis says they are developing as expected."

"That's good to hear."

"How is Oliver?" Maya heard that Beta Oliver and his mate were also expecting a pup.

"Things are fine." Tatiana looked at the stroller. "Ethan will have a lot of playmates."

Before Tatiana could say more, they all turned to the door to see Talia, Damon, and Violet. She was so tiny that Damon had no problems holding sleeping Violet with one hand, and his other hand was on Talia's waist, ensuring she didn't leave the touching distance.

"Sorry for making you wait," Damon said, but the smirk at the corners of his lips was a giveaway that he was not sorry.

Maddox snorted. "What took you so long?"

Damon's smile widened. "I was bonding with my child and my mate."

Damon squeezed Talia's waist, and she could see the naughty images in her mind that Damon sent her.

Talia poked Damon's ribs with her finger. "Why can't you have a normal conversation?"

Talia shimmied out of Damon's hold and went to Tatiana to hug her. "It's good to see you, Tanya."

"You look great," Tanya responded. "How was the honeymoon?"

"So many things happened, but it was wonderful. I apologize we didn't come to visit. Things have been crazy. We will make it up to you. I promise. Let me see this handsome boy…" Talia and Tatiana went to the stroller where Ethan was sleeping, and they spoke in whispers between 'Ohs' and 'Ahs.'

Maddox eyed Damon, who held Violet in his arms.

"I would never assume mighty Alpha Damon could look good with a child as an accessory."

Damon shrugged. "This is the future Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, my child, the product of my love. I am not ashamed to say she is mine. What about you? How can you allow your child to sleep in that hideous stroller while your hands are empty? Don't you want to bond with your child?"

"My son is older. A lot can happen in a week."

"Unless he learned to talk and walk, it won't count."

Maddox was waiting for this. "You are saying that only because my son is older. One year or one hour. Older is older. He came first."

Damon was irked, but he refused to show it. "Time doesn't mean anything. Let's see which one will be the first one to talk and walk."

Maddox was up for the challenge. "You are on."

"With me teaching her, Violet will be the best warrior around."

Maya and Caden knew this was the beginning of bickering between the two Alphas. Damon and Maddox always tried to best each other in fighting, chasing women, drinking, and now in fatherhood. There was no cure for whatever Damon and Maddox had.

Maya and Caden were about to make their exit when Caden paused.

"Mindy is in the pack hospital. Baby is coming," Caden announced.

Everyone stopped talking for a moment, and then they went out excitedly. The baby is coming!

...

A lot of people gathered in front of the pack hospital. The pack link allowed them to spread the news quickly.

Mindy was the Beta with the Alpha bloodline, and Gideon was the Shaman of the Dark Howlers pack. Their baby was a big deal.

The waiting room in the pack hospital was full.

Other than Violet and Ethan, there were Damon, Talia, Maddox, Tatiana, Maya, Caden, James, Cornelia, Dawn, George, Zina, Owen, Keith, Arya, Liam, Amelia, Pierce, Daria, Caleb, and Trisha. Other people wanted to come, but when they saw all those high-ranking members, they decided to wait outside.

Calvin, the reporter, didn't mind mingling if that meant getting another exclusive scoop, and he took plenty of photos of Violet and Ethan, who were both sleeping in Ethan's stroller.

Travis and Olivia were in the delivery room with Mindy, Gideon, and two nurses, and they were sending updates every few minutes.

The waiting room was noisy.

Maddox was on the phone with his parents, and everyone else formed small groups and chatted over each other. The excitement was tangible.

"Woah!" Petra exclaimed when she entered the waiting room with Erik and Zack behind her. "Now I know why no one else dares to come here."

"Should we also wait outside?" Erik asked.

"Nonsense!" Dawn exclaimed. Erik helped George manage members of the Frostcrest pack and the town they lived in, so they were close. "You deserve to be here," she assured the teens. "Find a seat and join our waiting game. We are taking bets on how long it will take for Lavender to be born. If you want to participate, talk to Zina."

Zack quickly made his way to an unoccupied wide seat, and he patted a spot next to him while telling Petra, "Sit here. It might take a while."

Petra glanced around. "Is it OK for us to sit?" They were surrounded by high-ranking members!

Zack got his phone and waved at Petra to come. "I've got this information, and I need your input. Sounds important."

Petra's eyes lit up at the mention of work, and she squeezed into the seat next to Zack.

By now, everyone with working eyes saw that Zack was extra caring toward Petra and was trying to get close to her whenever possible. And they could also see the blush on Petra's cheeks, but it seemed that the girl was still oblivious that she was sitting next to her mate.

00:23

Petra recently had her sixteenth birthday, and unless Petra gets some boost to her wolf, Zack will seemed that the girl was still oblivious that she was sitting next to her mate.

Petra recently had her sixteenth birthday, and unless Petra gets some boost to her wolf, Zack will need to wait two years until she realizes what's going on.

'Why don't you tell her?' Maya's voice sounded in Zack's head.

Zack was unsure what Maya was talking about. 'Tell her, what?'

'That the girl next to you is your mate.'

'Petra is traumatized by what happened to her sister,' Zack responded to Maya without removing his gaze from Petra. 'I will prove my sincerity by showing that I can wait until she is ready.'

'What if she decides to date another guy?' Maya asked.

Zack's jaw tightened. 'That won't happen. Erik knows, and he won't allow any guy close to my mate.'

Maya didn't want to say more. Was it OK to keep secrets? Absolutely not. But everyone knew the story about Petra's sister whose mate approached her too soon, and she was not ready. By the time she could feel the bond, it was too late, and it crippled her.

Maya took a mental note to talk to James about the effects of boosting one's wolf. Could they do the same for Petra?

 

Chapter 1025: Lavender

"My dear!" A shriek was heard down the hallway, and a skinny guy bolted toward Tatiana.

"Aw!" Mario cried when he bumped into Maddox's arm, which was extended one step in front of Tatiana, preventing Mario from getting closer. And it's not that Maddox just blocked him, but he also pushed him away.

Mario stumbled backward and then fell on his butt.

Tatiana was too shocked to react. She knew that a guy from the Dark Howlers pack identified Mario as his mate and that Mario was here, but she didn't expect him out of nowhere. Didn't she tell him not to make sudden movements around Maddox? And how did he call her?

Maddox stood in front of her like an impenetrable wall, and she could feel the power radiating from him. Since they mated, Maddox became stronger and faster, and her song gave him an additional boost. Tatiana liked it.

Maddox puffed his chest proudly when he sensed Tatiana's approval. He was domineering and possessive, and she liked it!

"Was that necessary?" Mario grumbled at Maddox while getting up.

Maddox cocked an eyebrow in disapproval. "Tanya is not your dear. She is not your anything. That is MY mate and MY Luna, and you will show her the respect she deserves, or I will end your miserable existence."

Damon grimaced. He forgot about Mario, but he wouldn't mind if Maddox ended him. Or at least he could take Mario to the Blue River pack. Damon didn't care what happened to that shrimp as long as he was out of the Dark Howlers pack.

Almost everyone turned to look down the hallway as Doctor Travis sent the mind link that the baby was born. It happened.

Lavender was a healthy baby girl with a mother who had an Alpha bloodline and the boon of a Beta, and a Shaman for a father. No one could predict what lays in Lavender's future, but they guessed it would be something impressive.

'She is powerful,' Liseli spoke in Talia's mind while inspecting the energies radiating from the delivery room.

'Is that unusual?' Talia asked.

'The abilities tend to diminish from one generation to the next one. However, Valeria, Edgar, Ethan, Violet, and now Lavender have immense potential. It's almost like they took the best of both parents and are stronger. If it's one or two out of five children, we might think it's accidental, but this is five out of five. It seems that the future of our society will be bright.'

Talia liked this. There was a danger of children straying off the right path and wreaking havoc, but their parents were close friends, and Talia felt they would help each other and things will be alright.

While thinking about predictions for the future, Talia remembered one thing. "Where is Cassandra?"

Maya responded. "Since you went on vacation, she has been staying in the Silver Flame Castle, and we didn't see her."

Talia remembered that she had approved Cassandra's request for access to the library of the Guardians.

"Is she so devoted to her research?" Talia guessed.

Maya bobbed her head. "She is devoted, alright. But not to research."

"What do you mean?" It was Damon who asked. If Cassandra was scheming something, he was ready to end her. Declyn said he would keep an eye on the Oracle, but he was unreliable.

Maya smiled slyly. "Cassandra found her mate. It is one of the Guardians." Seeing both Damon and Talia frowning, Maya raised her hands defensively. "He didn't collaborate with Gregory. I believe his name is Marco. He stayed neutral and even helped the witches settle down there. When Cassandra showed up, they stared at each other and then… you know. It seems he is her second chance mate."

Damon was unsure what to think about this, but he was uneasy. "Cassandra got her second chance mate? A Guardian?"

Caden stepped in to say, "Gideon has a theory. Since Cassandra had her ability, she met her fated mate. The guy probably marked her and perished before her heat. That's how Cassandra lost the mark, has no children, and no mate. Fated mates anchor each other. They seem to be enjoying the intimacy, and that means they are less likely to rebel."

Talia leaned on Damon. "A union between a she-wolf and a Guardian. That's a good thing. Let's consider it a sign of different creatures coming together." She pointed at Mario, who was sulking while Tatiana was comforting him. "Even humans are here."

Damon grimaced. "If this is how humans are normally, I will skip on the humans." He turned to Maddox. "You take him."

Maddox couldn't believe this. "Take him, where?"

"To your pack. Isn't he Tanya's assistant? With Ethan's arrival, Tanya is busy, and she needs her capable assistant, so her work doesn't suffer."

Maddox sneered. "He can work remotely. Don't tell me you will separate mates?"

"His mate can go to your pack also."

"What would people say if they knew how easily you relinquish your pack members?"

"They will understand that I care about your Luna's business and don't want to separate mates."

Maddox was outraged. How could Damon lie with a straight face? Before he could say anything, Tatiana tugged his hand with, "Our niece was born. Shouldn't we go and visit her? We are her only family present."

Maddox glared at Damon. "Did you hear that? My sister gave birth to a pup. Should I take them to my pack?"

Damon smiled smugly. "You are welcome to try, but I don't think your sister would leave my pack. This place has everything Mindy needs, and instead of labeling her as Alpha's sister, she has her own title."

Tatiana looked helplessly at two Alphas bickering, and then she saw that Talia was smiling.

"Are you enjoying the show?" Tatiana asked Talia.

"What show?"

"Our mates acting like children."

Talia's smile widened. "Yes. Damon and Max acting like children means there are no problems. When facing a crisis, Damon and Max deal with issues seriously. They are relaxed like this when life is good, and right now, life is good."

Tatiana had to agree with this. Normally, Maddox was serious and thinking about the pack. With her, in private, he would be goofy and lusty, but with Damon, he would turn into an unreasonable teenager.

"Let's go and welcome Lavender," Talia said while hooking her arm with Tatiana's. "Mindy is your sister-in-law, and she is my Beta. We deserve to be there first. Guys can join us when they stop their spat."

Maddox's eyes flashed, and he wanted to say how he should be first because Mindy is his sister, but two females were walking already, and he didn't want to go against his strawberry-infused goddess. Maddox grabbed the stroller where Ethan and Violet were sleeping, and he and Damon were one step behind their women.

Once Mindy and Lavender were cleaned up, they moved them to a large VIP room, knowing they would have many visitors.

Lavender was expertly swaddled in a way that exposed only her head with small patches of brown hair.

Everyone went to see the baby and check on the new parents, and the room quickly became crowded and noisy.

The Dark Howlers pack respected Gideon and Mindy was his mate and their Beta. Normal members didn't dare go inside, but Elders came to congratulate their Shaman and to wish his family all the best.

Yasmin and Axel also came because they heard that Damon and Talia had stepped out with Violet, and they brought the twins.

Talia felt guilty when she saw how happy Yasmin and Axel were. They spoke on the phone several times, but between breastfeeding Violet (and Damon), she didn't have time to entertain guests. Luckily, Axel and Yasmin didn't mention Talia's negligence.

Damon looked at five babies. He thought about how Maddox had a baby before him, and he forgot about Edgar and Valeria.

'That's it!' Damon said to Talia through their mind link.

Talia was confused. 'That's what?'

'I decided. With your next heat, we will have twins. Or even better, triplets.' In that way, he will have the most kids out of all people here.

'You can't plan for that.'

'I can fill you with my seed until three catch on.'

Talia giggled at his silly logic. He was looking at the babies, like Edgar, Valeria, and Ethan were enemies because they were older than Violet, and she wondered how Damon will react when he remembers that Ashton was also in the picture. It was obvious that Damon totally forgot about the young Alpha of the Spring Leaf pack.

Talia wrapped her arms around Damon's neck. 'One by one is fine, Damon,' she said, and she sent him some racy mental images from Maddox's cabin they wrecked during her heat.

Damon released a low growl while gathering Talia against him. When he thought about that non-stop sex, he didn't mind one by one. It was so good that even his cock was about to give up from all the activity, but then Talia healed him with her saliva. Yup. He could do that again, gladly. Anytime.

Maya looked at the babies, and she leaned into Caden's embrace. "I can't wait for our pups to be born."

Olivia was lost in Travis' arms, James was holding Cornelia, Owen hugged Zina, George held Dawn, everyone was lovey-dovey and emotional.

Tatiana gave Mindy tips on babies, and Gideon kissed Mindy's forehead while excusing himself. "The nurses cleaned you up, but I could use a change of clothes." He was sweaty, and there was blood and amniotic fluid on his t-shirt and pants.

 

Chapter 1026: Breastfeeding Alpha

"Are you going home to change?" Mindy asked Gideon.

"Only if I have to," Gideon responded. "I will ask nurses if they have something handy I could use. If they don't, I will come as fast as I can."

"Don't worry, we won't leave her alone," Tatiana assured him.

Gideon exited the crowded room and paused in the hallway to take a deep breath. The last few hours were stressful, and now the room was full, and he needed a breather for the reality to sink in: he was a father!

Gideon spent a long time on his own, and then Mindy entered his life, and a few blissful months later, he became a father. It was surreal.

His baby girl was perfect, and he couldn't wait to spend more time with her. But first, a change of clothes. Where did all the nurses go?

In the VIP room, Mindy was holding Lavender, and females surrounded her hospital bed.

"When is it OK for me to stand up?" Mindy asked Travis. She didn't want to stay in bed and look like a sick person.

"If you feel up to it, go ahead," Travis said. "Just start slowly."

Mindy loved company and her girlfriends, but what she really wanted was to go home and spend time with only Lavender and Gideon.

This whole thing was draining and emotional, and she needed cuddles and comfort from her mate.

Mindy was determined to show Gideon she was fine when he returned, so they can leave.

"Are you sure she is fine to walk around already?" Maya asked Travis.

Travis confirmed. "Even human females can walk immediately after the delivery. Mindy is a Beta with a bloodline of an Alpha. Her bleeding is already minimal, and I expect it will stop completely by tonight." He turned to Mindy. "But listen to your body. If you feel discomfort, take it easy."

Mindy was happy to hear this. Before people came to meet the baby, nurses showed Mindy how to breastfeed the baby, and Gideon changed Lavender's diaper. They were ready for parenthood.

Cornelia grimaced, and James was right next to her. "What's going on?"

"I think I need a checkup," Cornelia said while holding onto her belly.

Talia smiled, "You better ask for a delivery room. Your baby is coming."

"This is fantastic!" Dawn exclaimed. "Your babies will share a birthday."

James paled when he realized what was going on. "Baby is coming. Baby is coming! BABY IS COMING!"

Cornelia swatted his arm. "Why are you yelling?"

"WHO IS YELLING!?" James shouted to the amusement of everyone in the room.

Cornelia cupped his cheeks. "Calm down, Jay. I will be alright. Everything will be alright."

Without warning, James scooped Cornelia into his arms and turned to Travis. "My mate is about to give birth to our child. Why are you just standing there? Lead the way!"

Travis bowed respectfully. "Yes, Gamma James. Please, come this way."

James, Cornelia, Travis, and Olivia left the room, and Liam, Amelia, Caleb, and Trisha went after them.

'PAK!'

Erik clapped loudly. "Who is in for placing bets if the child will be male or female?"

Maddox was first to respond. "Put me in. Fifty bucks on a boy."

"Fifty?" Damon asked mockingly. "Put me in for a hundred. A girl."

Maddox narrowed his eyes at Damon. "I changed my mind. Make that two hundred for a boy."

"Five hundred," Damon said with a smirk.

Talia and Tatiana exchanged helpless gazes. Those two will never grow up.

'Stop them!' Talia said to Caden through the mind link.

Caden made a face. Maddox and Damon crossed a thousand dollars already. How can he stop them?

"Leave something for others!" Caden exclaimed and turned to Erik. "I bet fifty bucks it's a boy."

Keith, Arya, and Pierce also joined to place bets, putting a pause on the costly bickering between two Alphas.

"It seems your daycare will start operating soon," Maya said to Petra. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, yes," Petra confirmed enthusiastically.

Maya gestured toward Edgar and Valeria. "Maybe Axel and Yasmin will be willing to let their kids play there under your supervision. It will be good practice for when infants come. And also, for your pups."

Petra's eyes widened. "My pups?" She recently turned sixteen years old and having her own pups seemed like something that would happen in the distant future.

Petra didn't notice Zack shifting in his place as he had his hands in his pants pockets.

Just thinking about Petra's pups made him hard. Those would be his pups also. Will he be able to wait for two years? At first, he was determined to go through with it, but with every passing day, Zack realized that the difficulty level was increasing.

"Are you alright?"

Zack jolted when he saw how close Petra was to him. Could she feel his emotions? Didn't that mean she could feel their bond to some degree? Or was he just that transparent?

He told himself to be cool. "I am fine. Why?"

"I was wondering if you want to join me to ensure the nursery is…"

"Yes," Zack said before Petra could finish her sentence. He would join her anywhere, anytime. Even if she didn't ask, he would follow her.

Petra smiled and turned to Erik. "What about you?"

Erik waved at Petra and Zack to go ahead. "I'm in charge of bets here."

Zack's mood soared. It will be just him and Petra! At the same time, he knew that privacy would come with his wolf craving intimacy, and that would be hard to deny him. Again.

Damon's eyes perked up as he heard Violet stirring.

"Kitten!" Damon called excitedly. "Vi is hungry. Should I ask for a free room so we can breastfeed her?"

Talia hid a burst of incoming laughter behind a cough. How much more shameless can Damon get? "Sure."

Maddox frowned in confusion. "Why are YOU going to breastfeed your daughter?"

Instead of responding, Damon scooped Violet out of the stroller, opened the door for Talia, and the three of them left.

Maddox couldn't believe this! Damon ignored him, just like that.

Seeing that Caden shook his head, Maddox realized that Damon's Beta knew something.

"Is Damon the one breastfeeding the baby?"

"Not really," Caden responded.

"Explain," Maddox demanded.

Caden scratched the back of his head. "The doctor told Talia that she would have more milk if she regularly emptied her breasts after feeding Violet. Damon is helping her with that."

Maddox didn't get it. "Helping her? How?"

"When the baby eats, she takes how much she needs. Damon takes the rest," Caden explained.

It took a few long moments for Maddox to realize what Caden was talking about.

The idea of him drinking Tatiana's milk was repulsive and arousing at the same time, but then… he imagined Tatiana lying naked and him suckling on her breasts… her scent, her flavors, the sparks of their bond… and Maddox was on the verge of snapping.

"Tanya," Maddox called. "I think that Ethan will be hungry soon. How about we find some privacy for you to feed him?" And he wanted to empty her breasts after that… and then sex.

Tatiana was not sure from where that came. Why was Maddox so eager about Ethan's feeding? And why was he horny? She could feel him through their mate bond.

Mindy shook her head when Maddox and Tatiana left the room with the stroller where Ethan was sleeping. Mindy was happy for her brother. It's been months, yet she was still amazed to see Maddox smitten with his mate. Her promiscuous brother, who would jump on any female as long as she was willing, was now interested in only one. It was like a miracle.

Little by little, people were trickling out of the room, and Mindy wondered where Gideon was. Even if he went home to change, he should be back by now.

Gideon saw the crowd gathered outside the pack hospital, so he used the back exit to leave. If he didn't sneak in, people would delay him with questions and congratulations, and he wanted to return to his pumpkin-infused princess as soon as possible.

Gideon was almost at his destination when he saw a familiar figure in the hallway on the second floor.

"Gidi," Nina called. "I hear you are a father now. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Nina. Are you visiting someone?"

"You could say that," she responded ambiguously. "How is your mate?"

"Mindy is doing well. Thank you for asking."

Nina stepped closer. "Are you sure?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…" Nina put her index finger on Gideon's chest. "Your young mate was impulsive before. I can't imagine how hormones are impacting her temper. It must be horrible to live while walking on eggshells."

Gideon didn't want to talk about Mindy with others. Was she temperamental? Yes. Did her pregnancy make it worse? Absolutely! But that was because she was carrying his child, and Gideon would adore Mindy regardless of her temper.

Why was Nina talking smack about Mindy? Was it possible that she was still pinning on him?

He pushed Nina's offensive fingers away from his chest. "As I said. Mindy is fine."

Nina's smile didn't falter. "Suit yourself. But know that when you feel enough of her tantrums, I will be waiting…"

Nina groaned, and she fell to her knees.

Gideon gaped at her while wondering what had happened. "Nina?"

"Are you worried about her?"

Gideon raised his head in slow motion to see Mindy standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. Only then Gideon realized why Nina was on the ground. Mindy used her aura, but Gideon was spared because they were mates.

Gideon stepped around Nina and hugged Mindy, who stood ramrod straight, refusing to relax on him.

"How are you feeling?" Gideon asked Mindy. "Did Doctor say you are OK to walk?"

Mindy glared at him. "Would you prefer I stay in the room so you can see your ex-lover?"

Gideon exhaled helplessly. He was happy, and he didn't think much about a chat with Nina, but Nina had other ideas, and Mindy saw them, and she was upset.

"You know I will never look at any other woman, princess," Gideon said with all sincerity in the world. "It doesn't matter if you are here, in the room, or on another continent. For me, there is only you. Nina, or any other woman, don't stand a chance."

Mindy glared at Nina, who was still stuck to the floor, now sweating profusely.

"Did you hear that, Nina?" Mindy squeezed through her teeth. "He will never, NEVER, look at you!"

Nina cried as her face was plastered to the ground.

"Next time you want to get close to MY mate, remember this, you bitch!" Mindy said angrily.

She exhaled sharply and leaned on Gideon, who was still hugging her.

"Let's go home."

Gideon had no objections. "Do you want me to carry you?"

How could Mindy refuse that offer? "Yes, please."

Nina cried ugly while watching Gideon carry Mindy until they took a turn at the corner, and she couldn't see them anymore.

 

Chapter 1027: Young Alpha Violet (1)

'Mom, wait up!' Talia heard her daughter's voice in her head through their pack link. It was the only way to communicate in wolf form.

Talia paused in a small clearing.

Talia turned to see a golden wolf emerging from the dense bushes and walking toward her, slower with every next step.

Violet struggled to breathe, and her tongue was sticking out of her maw. 'Why can't we slow down a bit? My fur is full of burdocks and things I don't want to think about.'

The white wolf tilted her head at her teenage daughter. 'Do you think your brothers will slow down? Do you think they will care about appearances? If you want them to respect you, you need to be faster and stronger than they are.'

'But I am faster and stronger!'

'Without magic, Vi,' Talia reminded her. 'This is all part of your training. If you want to lead a pack…' Talia's voice trailed when she saw that Violet's icy-blue eyes were silver now.

'Breathe, Vi. Control it.'

Violet's fur was changing into white from the glow, and she slumped on the ground.

'Turn into human form. It will be easier,' Talia advised her. The wolf form was boosting their connection with nature and their powers.

The enchantment Astraea did on Violet when she was born was weakening for a while now, and Violet's abilities were flaring when her emotions were unstable. Considering that Violet was thirteen years old and was an emotional teen, this happened often.

Violet could use her abilities at will, but when emotionally compromised, things became hectic.

A teenage girl with long black hair curled up in her mother's lap while spasming.

Talia held Violet to her chest and rocked her gently.

"It hurts," Violet cried.

"Only because you are suppressing it."

"But you said…"

"I said to control it, not fight it. Breathe. Feel the energies. Let them flow through you. Embrace it…"

"What if I hurt you?"

Talia smiled at her daughter. Violet's first surge of energy happened when she was ten years old. At that time, she blasted everything in the playroom. Toys, furniture, and her brothers were flying in all directions. That event caused mental damage, and Violet was more scared than curious about her abilities.

"You can't hurt me, Vi. But even if you do, I heal quickly. Focus on yourself. That's what counts." Talia glanced to the side. "Your father and brothers are coming."

Violet pulled her hair over her face with a shaky hand. "I don't want them to see me like this."

"They won't mock you. They are worried for you. We all are."

Rustling was heard from the left, and a tall pre-teen with a head full of copper-colored hair emerged.

"Is Vi at it again?" He asked while inspecting the surroundings with his icy-blue eyes. Jacob was eleven years old and already the best tracker in the pack.

"Come here, Jacob," Talia called. "Vi could use our support."

Two dark bullets emerged from the bushes and dashed past Jacob, straight for Talia and Violet. When they were a few steps away, they turned into their human form. Those were two nine years-old boys, Logan and Zeke.

Logan and Zeke learned to turn into wolf forms only a few months back, and since then, they have been experimenting.

"How is Vi?" A deep male voice full of concern was heard before Damon emerged from the bushes. He was holding a boy in his hands. It was their son, Gabriel. Gabriel was five years old, and too young to shift into his wolf form.

Gabriel loved sitting on his father to catch a ride, but Damon hated that the boy would use his ears like reins. Damon would come up with excuses to carry Gabriel around as a human, even though it was slower.

Damon and Talia had five kids, aged from twelve to five years old, and they were all close as a family.

Damon wanted more kids, and Talia was unsure if that was due to his love of children or because he enjoyed breastfeeding. Damon would help her empty her breasts after every feeding, which would be foreplay for several hours of passion.

It's not that Talia didn't enjoy endless carnal pleasures with Damon, but the kids were growing up, and it was not acceptable for Talia and Damon to spend days (weeks!?) locked in their room, breastfeeding and having sex.

Damon was an amazing father, and he was involved in caring for each of them even though they had a lot of help.

The packhouse had designated areas for toddlers and for older kids. Petra and Zack were in charge of the youngsters' schedules and keeping everything in order.

Maya and Caden would take them hiking once per week, and George and Owen were organizing combat training. Gideon and Cornelia taught them about nature and potions, Zina and Dawn about cooking, James had classes about strategizing, and Mindy about finances. Everyone had a role.

Damon and the four boys made a circle around Talia and Violet and observed them with concern.

'Can they leave?' Violet asked Talia through their pack link. 'This is embarrassing.'

"There is nothing embarrassing about this," Damon grumbled. He didn't want to hide that he overheard what was supposed to be only for Talia. "We are your family, and we are in this together."

Violet hid her face in Talia's hair. "Easy for you to say because you are not the one making a fool of yourself."

Damon frowned at Violet. "You are learning to control your ability. Everyone struggles at the beginning. That's normal. If you pay more attention to what's happening than to appearances, you will be more successful."

Before Violet could respond, Jacob shouted, "Who goes there!?"

They all turned in the direction where Jacob was looking, and they saw a figure with a head full of black hair emerging into the view.

"It's me," young Alpha Ethan of the Blue River pack said.

He was wearing only sweatpants. Ethan was tall for a thirteen years-old boy, and his physique was changing to show muscles. He was not a skinny boy anymore, and he could pass for a seventeen years-old easily.

Mindy said that Maddox also had that awkward stage where he grew first to resemble a stick figure, and then he filled up with muscles by the time he was sixteen.

"Why are you here?" Logan and Zeke asked Ethan in unison. The twins would often complete their sentences or say the same thing simultaneously, like now.

Ethan raised his hands. "Why the hostility? My parents are in the packhouse, waiting. Zina told me you went for a run, and I thought of stretching my paws."

"Is it already lunchtime?" Talia asked.

"Not yet, Aunt Talia. We came a bit early. My parents would come for a run as well, but since my mom is pregnant, she can't shift, and dad stayed with her and my siblings. If I knew I was intruding…"

"You are not intruding, Ethan," Talia said quickly. "It's just that Vi is in a delicate situation, so we are tense."

Two pieces of clothing flew at Talia and hit her in the shoulder.

"Put these on," Damon said sourly to Talia and glared at Ethan. "You! Turn around before I gauge your eyes out."

Only then Talia realized that she and Violet were naked. Well, Jacob and the twins were naked also, and being a werewolf, nudity was not a big deal, but Damon was super-protective of Talia and Violet.

 

Chapter 1028: Young Alpha Violet (2)

"Help me, mom," Violet whispered. "I don't want Ethan to see me like this."

"There is nothing wrong with you, Vi," Talia responded.

Violet pouted. "I am ugly. I can't wait to be more than a skinny girl." She threw a shy glance at Ethan, relieved to see that his back was facing her. But it was a muscular back. Weren't they the same age? Why was Ethan looking like a man, and she was still a child?

Ethan and Violet grew up together, and everything was competition. Growing up included.

Talia smiled helplessly at her daughter and helped Violet put on an oversized t-shirt that looked like a baggy minidress on her.

Talia pulled a t-shirt over her head and saw that Damon's hostility toward Ethan didn't subside.

'He is just a child, Damon,' Talia reminded him through their mind link.

'A child!?' Damon was outraged. 'He is a teenager! This is when they start to develop thoughts and… erections!'

Talia hid her laughter behind a cough. Damon was serious, but it was funny.

'Let's focus on what's important. Violet is in distress,' Talia said, and Damon nodded in approval, but he was still glaring at Ethan.

Talia looked at Violet, who was still sticking to her and obviously hiding from Ethan.

Violet confided in Talia about her insecurities. Violet saw more mature girls coming onto Ethan, and Violet was dejected because she couldn't compare to them. Violet disliked older girls who tried to seduce Ethan, and she especially hated the twelve-thirteen years old girls who had breasts and butts that bounced!

They were at the age where it was normal for Alphas to start dating, and even though Ethan didn't date anyone officially (yet), it was only a matter of time.

Why would Ethan suppress his licentious nature and refuse a free meal when so many girls were throwing themselves at him?

Violet was confident that if Ethan finds himself a girlfriend, she will be left behind, utterly defeated, in every way possible. She felt like crying. What was the point of powers and background if she lacked in every other aspect?

"Mommy!" Gabriel exclaimed. "Vi is doing it again!"

They all looked toward the teen girl to see that she was completely enshrouded in white light.

"Breathe, Vi. Focus on something positive. Think happy thoughts," Talia said.

"Aunt Talia. Can I?" Ethan asked while walking toward Violet, and Talia waved at him to go ahead.

In two long steps, Ethan was in front of Violet, and he wrapped his arms around her.

Talia quickly blocked Damon because his eyes turned pitch black, and his killing intent was tangible.

'Let him try to soothe her anxiety,' Talia said to Damon through their mind link.

'He can do that without touching her!'

'They are best friends, Damon. Vi needs to rely on her peers. She is growing up, and we won't be there to support her all the time. Ethan is a good boy.'

Damon knew Talia had a point, but that was his precious daughter, and that lecherous boy was hugging her!

"Keep your hands on her back and above her waist!" Damon growled at Ethan.

"Calm down, Vi…" Ethan spoke into her white hair.

"Ethan, don't… I can hurt you."

"I won't let go even if you do," he responded stubbornly.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I came for lunch, and after that, we will go swimming in the lake. Didn't you promise to teach me how to jump down the waterfall?"

Violet looked up at him, and her eyes were flickering back to their usual blues.

"That's it, Vi," Ethan grinned, proud to see that she was calming down. "You know that whenever I come here, it's so that we can spend time together. I don't care about others. That's why you better think about all the promises you made. If you break them, I will be upset."

"And I promise to break your legs if you don't let go of my daughter this instant!" Damon shouted irritably.

Ethan felt Damon's aura prickling his back like thousand needles, and he knew Damon was serious.

"Are you alright now?" Ethan asked Violet.

Violet was moved. She knew what her father was doing. "How can you think about me at this moment?"

His smile was crooked due to the pain he endured. "How can I not think about you? Aren't we best friends?"

Violet's face stiffened. "Right. Friends." She pushed him away. "Well, thank you, friend. It's good to know I have a friend like you. Aren't I the lucky one?" Her chin quivered, and she looked like she was on the verge of crying.

Violet turned on her heel, and the baggy t-shirt exploded as a golden wolf emerged and dashed into the foliage.

Ethan was glad that the pain due to Damon's aura subsided, but he was confused about this development. He rubbed the back of his head. "Did I do something to upset her?"

He was about to go after her, but Damon's hand landed on his shoulder, and he squeezed with more force than necessary. "You did plenty. Next time, less touching."

"Yes, Uncle Damon," Ethan said obediently. He had a feeling that if he didn't submit, he could say goodbye to his shoulder. Sure, he will heal, but it will take days, and it hurts like hell.

Jacob stood in front of Ethan and crossed his arms over his chest. "You should stay away from my sister. Don't you see you made her upset?"

"Right!" Logan and Zeke shouted in unison and stood by Jacob in similar positions.

"Aw!" Ethan exclaimed when Gabriel kicked him in the shin.

"This is for making my big sis cry," Gabriel's threat sounded adorable because of his childish voice.

Damon smirked proudly at his sons. They understood that Ethan was a no-good guy.

Ethan could see that everyone was angry, so he turned to Talia, silently asking for help.

Talia shook her head, indicating that he was on her own. "I will go after Vi. Let's meet at the packhouse."

"Aunt Talia!" Ethan cried. "Can I go with you?"

"Why would you go with women when you can enjoy the company of men?" Damon asked while pushing Ethan to move. "Didn't you hear what my mate said? We will meet at the packhouse."

Gabriel quickly climbed into Damon's arms with an agility of a monkey.

With that, six males started walking toward the packhouse.

Correction: five males walked, and the sixth one was carried.

…

Talia found Violet sitting on a rock next to the river with her face hidden in her knees.

"I don't want to talk about it," Violet said without raising her head.

"That's fine," Talia said. "You don't need to talk."

"Will you talk?"

"If you want me to stay quiet, I will," Talia said and sat on the rock next to Violet.

"Are all boys so dense?" Violet asked.

"Yes."

Violet turned to look at Talia. "What about dad?"

"Your father is an amazing Alpha and father. But when it came to romancing… his track record is not the best."

"But he adores you."

"He does," Talia confirmed with a smile. "All males are dense until they recognize their mates. And even then, it takes them time to accept and adjust."

"Why?"

"A strong werewolf is a hunter. He needs to conquer and dominate. Finding out that his future is tied to only one female he will obey is unsettling, no matter how right it feels. Some males embrace the bond, and some try to fight it."

"Which one was dad?"

Talia thought many times about how she would explain her early days with Damon. She didn't want to make him a bad guy, but she didn't want to paint a flowery picture either. "When we met, my wolf was weak, and I couldn't feel the bond. Your father had many enemies, and he wanted to protect me. Since I didn't know we were mates, I didn't understand what he was trying to do, and it caused misunderstandings."

"He could have told you that you are mates."

"He could, but he chose not to."

"Do you resent him for it?"

"How could I resent him? He is my other half. Resenting him would be resenting myself. The Moon Goddess gives us trials that will make us stronger and prepare us for what's coming. If my relationship with Damon had been smooth from the beginning, I am confident we would fail later. Every hardship we endured was confirmation that we belong together." Talia pushed a lock of raven-black hair behind Violet's ear. "I know it sounds unrealistic, but once you find your mate, you will confirm it for yourself. In less than five years, you will be able to sense him."

 

Chapter 1029: Young Alpha Violet (3)

Violet looked at her mother eagerly. "You can feel the energies better than anyone."

Talia was unsure where Violet was going with this. "So?"

"Can you feel the mate bond between others?"

"I can."

"Do you feel mine?"

Talia didn't want to lie. That was one thing she never did. "I do."

Violet's eyes widened in anticipation. "Who is it?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes!" Violet responded without missing a beat.

"Think about it, Vi. What if he can't feel it?"

Violet's eyes widened. "My mate can't feel the bond? Does that mean he is also underage?"

Talia raised her hand. "That's not what I said."

"What did you say?"

"If your mate can feel the bond, he decided not to tell you. If he can't feel the bond, it means he is not ready. Think about it, Vi. How will your life be in the next five years, knowing and watching him with other females?"

Violet was not willing to give up easily. "First of all, no one said it needs to be five years. Didn't you tell me that Uncle James could feel his bond at sixteen years old? What is to say that I can't feel it at fifteen or fourteen? And second, I would tell my mate about our bond. He wouldn't go with other females if he knew I was the one."

"If you find out who your mate is, you won't be able to look at any other guy."

"But I won't give myself to any man other than my mate. Father said it would spoil my abilities."

'Spoiling abilities, my foot!', Liseli grumbled in Talia's head. 'She is just like you. The blood of a Goddess is strong in her, and having sex with one or fifty men won't dilute it!'

'Let's not talk about my thirteen years old daughter having sex with fifty men,' Talia responded stiffly. She didn't want to think about it. Violet was her baby, and sex with even one guy was one too many.

"This is not about your body, Vi," Talia said. "It's about having crushes and going on dates. Kissing, hugging, holding hands, butterflies in your stomach that make you feel like you are floating. If you know who your mate is, you will deprive yourself of experiences a normal teenage girl has."

"But I am not normal," Violet said. "I am set to lead the largest coalition of werewolf packs that ever existed. Considering who my parents are, I am everything but normal."

"Exactly. And that is why I wish that you have at least one normal thing in life. Falling in love is the most thrilling thing in your life. Don't give up on that."

"Did you date men before meeting dad?"

"No."

"Do you regret it?"

"There is no point in regretting the past, Vi. But, if I could have a do-over, I would choose a normal life." And not the one where she was growing up while hiding in the attic.

Seeing that Violet was confused, Talia offered another advice, "The Moon Goddess has a plan. Everything happens with a purpose. No matter which path you choose, you will meet your mate when the time is right."

Violet pressed her lips into a line. "How can you tell me to wait and date other guys if I know that my other half is out there? I don't care about superficial relationships. I want the real thing." And she wanted to know if Ethan was the one or if she was off the mark.

Ethan being her mate, would be the most beautiful and the most terrifying thing in the world.

Beautiful, because they were childhood friends, and they knew everything about each other. That was exactly why it would be terrifying. Violet knew that Ethan was a complete dum-dum. And Violet was back to her initial question, are all boys so dense?

Seeing that Talia was not willing to disclose the identity of Violet's mate, Violet pushed herself off the rock.

"I'm leaving."

"Where?" Talia asked. "We have guests."

"I don't care," Violet snapped, and a moment later, a golden wolf appeared in her place and dashed into the forest. 'Don't follow me,' Violet said to Talia through their mind link. 'I won't do anything stupid. I just want to be alone.'

Talia looked helplessly in the direction where Violet had disappeared.

Violet was a teenager, and other boys had their own quirks. Talia couldn't imagine the worries and headaches that would come as they grew up. The older the kid, the bigger the worry.

Talia shook her head when she remembered that Damon wanted more kids. He wanted more daughters, to be precise.

Damon loved Jacob, Logan, Zeke, and Gabriel, but Violet was daddy's girl, and now that she was growing up, Damon wanted another baby. Breastfeeding activities were a bonus.

Talia was confident that Damon took the weaning off harder than Gabriel.

With a thought, a strong wind gathered around Talia, and her hair exploded in silver for a brief moment before she vanished from the rock. Talia went to Damon's and her bedroom to dress up and be presentable to welcome their guests.

…

Violet wore a dark gray t-shirt and black sweatpants from one stash of clothes before emerging from the foliage. Her destination was a two-story house where Petra and Zack lived with their three kids.

Petra and Zack didn't want to live in the packhouse, but they didn't want to live in the Darkbourne either. Over the years, more than a dozen houses were built near the packhouse, and Petra and Zack got one to live in.

Violet could hear noise from seven-year-old Molly, five-year-old David, and four-year-old Mia. They were playing in their backyard.

Petra was sitting on the grass in the shade of a tree and working on her laptop while keeping an eye on her kids.

"Hey," Violet called as she approached Petra. "Am I disturbing you?"

"Not at all," Petra said while closing the laptop. "How come you are here? I thought you have guests."

Violet pouted and sat next to Petra.

"Trouble with Ethan?" Petra guessed. Everyone knew that Ethan and Violet were close. Since Ethan was visiting and Violet was not with him, it meant that something had happened between the young Alpha duo.

"Is it that obvious?" Violet asked.

"What did he do?"

"What makes you think he did something?"

Petra smiled and shook her head. "He is a boy. Of course, he did something. Even if he didn't, you are our princess, and he is in the wrong."

Violet smiled. "I like the way you think." Violet's expression fell, and she hugged her knees. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I heard that Zack knew before you that you were mates. How did you find out? Did he tell you, or…?" Violet waited for Petra to fill in the gap.

"I was about sixteen years old when he found out. He didn't tell me. He wanted to wait until I was eighteen to find out myself."

Violet frowned. "Two years? Didn't he lose his mind while waiting for so long?"

"No, no. I found out before."

"You felt the bond earlier?"

Petra shook her head. "No. Zack gave it away."

Violet was all ears. "Can you tell me the details?"

"It was close to my seventeenth birthday when I became suspicious. We were always close, and he was always friendly, but it was Zack, Erik, and me. I had no idea when it started, but at some point, when I looked around, I realized that Erik would most of the time have an excuse to leave early or not show up, leaving Zack and me alone."

"Erik knew."

"He did," Petra confirmed.

"So… how did you find out?" Violet was eager to hear the story and see if that could be applied to her situation.

 

Chapter 1030: Young Alpha Violet (4)

Petra didn't mind sharing her story with Violet. She loved reliving those moments when her relationship with Zack morphed from friendship into more, even though they had their share of bumps on the way.

"I had my suspicions that Zack might be my mate," Petra said.

Violet was all ears. "What made you suspicious?"

"We would normally joke about crushes. Zack and Erik had their own following, and I was not a bad catch either. Zack and Erik were adamant that no guy gets close to me, but Zack would be unusually quiet when I spoke about any other guy. However, whenever I tried to probe into it, Erik would do something to distract me. At that time, I thought it was a coincidence, but now I know better."

"So, how did you figure it out?"

Petra looked around to ensure no one overheard them. "Do you know Donovan?"

Violet frowned a bit, and it took her a moment to respond, "Donovan, the painter?"

"That one. He had a big crush on me, and he wanted to give me something special for my seventeenth birthday. It was a painting of me."

Violet didn't get it. "How is that related to you figuring out your mate?"

Petra smirked. "For months prior to my birthday, I was posing for him. We would meet in town for coffee, in the park, or in a meadow. However, the end painting was me under the waterfall. He drew me topless with me being waist-down in the water, so it looked like I was naked."

Violet still didn't see the point. Nudity for werewolves was not a big deal. "And?"

"Well, I have a birthmark on my chest. It's on the left side, under my breast. Not many know about it because I usually hide it. I guess Donovan noticed it when I shifted. I thought it was cute that he included that detail." Petra shook her head. "I remember going toward Donovan with my arms spread. I wanted to hug him and maybe kiss his cheek, but before we made contact, Zack's fist was in Donovan's face. Next thing I knew, Zack tore the painting and said that no one would get to see me like that, and I knew."

"So, you made him jealous," Violet summarized.

"Not on purpose. I mean, there were times when I was almost certain, but Zack would normally keep his cool, and I couldn't figure him out. But that painting pushed him over the edge."

"It was not the painting," Zack grumbled from the side, and Petra's eyes widened. She didn't notice when he approached them.

"Are you eavesdropping?" Petra asked.

Zack cocked an eyebrow at her. "It's not like you were whispering. I was right here. It's your fault for not noticing me."

"Hi, Uncle Zack," Violet greeted Zack as he sat next to Petra and draped his arm around her shoulders.

Violet observed as Petra snuggled next to Zack, and he adjusted his position so that she fits there better. It was something only mates would do, and Violet wanted that. Boys her age were dirty, smelly, loud, and braggy. Who would want to get close to such creatures? Gross!

Violet wanted the support, companionship, and acceptance only a mate could give. Goddess knew that her life was stressful, and Violet needed someone who would anchor her and not make it more complex.

"If it's not the painting, what was it?" Violet asked Zack. "If you don't mind me asking."

Zack narrowed his eyes at Petra. "You were recklessly going at Donovan. Did you think a kiss on the cheek would be enough? He wanted to claim your lips, and there was no way in hell I would allow that to happen."

Petra nudged him. "Do you think a guy could sneak a kiss if I didn't want it?"

"Twelve years passed, and you are still gullible. A guy would commit atrocities to get the woman he wants."

"But that doesn't apply to Donovan. Whatever he had for me disappeared with your punch, and a few weeks later when he found his mate."

Zack smirked. "I was not talking about him."

"What happened after the punching?" Violet asked. "Did you just kiss, and things worked out?"

Petra shook her head. "I was angry that he knew and didn't tell me. I was angry that for almost a full year, he allowed me to talk about other guys while he was right there, forced to listen to his mate talk about others."

"I wouldn't allow it to go further than talking," Zack said.

"But that didn't mean you were not hurting. What if I started hating you?"

"One can't hate their other half. No matter what I did, you would forgive me," Zack responded with confidence.

"Is that the truth?" Violet asked.

"You should ask your mother," Petra said. "Goddess knows how much trouble your father made before announcing Luna Talia as his fated mate."

Zack frowned. "Don't talk about our Alpha like he is a bad guy." Zack and many others idolized Damon. The Dark Howlers pack and the whole werewolf society benefited greatly under Damon's and Talia's leadership.

Zack looked at Violet. "The truth is that we are all screwups until we find our other half. It's like you are lost and wander from one person to another until you find the one. Yes, I was pissed when Petra spoke about others, and I was furious when she nearly hugged Donovan, but even if she went all the way, it would be fine as long as she came to me when the time was right. I regret snapping and revealing we were mates before Petra was ready."

"What if Aunt Petra was dating Donovan?" Violet asked.

"The Moon Goddess knows what she is doing. I believe that I needed to see her talk about others so I could learn patience and could appreciate her more."

Petra smiled at Zack and then turned to Violet. "You should know that my sister suffered greatly because her mate approached her when she was only fifteen. She was not ready, and by the time she was ready, he had moved on. Zack didn't want to pressure me into accepting the bond before I was ready, so he waited."

Violet thought how that was a sweet story. Zack suppressed his urges and waited patiently (which was super-uncharacteristic to werewolves) until Petra could sense their bond.

"So, how long did it take for you to sense the bond?" Violet asked Petra. "Did you wait until your eighteenth birthday?" That was a full year!

"Once we confirmed we were mates, I asked witches to perform a ritual. James had the same, and he could feel the bond when he was sixteen."

Violet's face lit up. "The ritual. Tell me about it."

Petra shook her head. "I can tell you that it jump-started my side of the mate bond and…" She giggled. "I jumped on Zack, and the rest is history. For details regarding the ceremony, you should ask Cornelia or Amelia."

"I will do that right now," Violet said and stood up. "Thank you, Aunt Petra and Uncle Zack."

"Are you going to visit Gamma Cornelia and Gamma James?" Zack asked Violet.

"Yes."

Zack glanced at the area where his three kids were playing. "How about you take Molly, David, and Mia with you? Andrew, Zoe, and Jeremy could use playmates."

"Sure," Violet agreed. She didn't suspect that Zack wanted to send his kids away so he could have privacy with Petra.

When Violet and the three youngsters were out of sight, Zack pushed Petra onto the soft grass.

"Zack!" Petra called while looking around nervously. She knew what he was up to. "What if someone sees us?"

"We are mates, Petra."

"So?"

"I can feel that you want me. When you said that you jumped on me after the ceremony, you were thinking about our first time. If you wanted to hide it from me, you should suppress your joy when Violet agreed to take our kids away."

Petra bit her lower lip guiltily. "So, now what?"

Zack grinned. "We have at least two hours. I suggest we don't waste a single minute of it."

His lips quickly found his mark on her neck, and he licked her there, sending a pulse of need through her body. She gripped his muscular shoulders and raised her head.

"Ahh..." A hearty moan escaped his lips when she sucked on her mark on his neck.

"Fuck, Petra!" He squeezed through his teeth.

She smiled slyly. "Exactly, Zack. And you have about two hours to do it..."