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“I would love that.” I nod. “I feel like we’ve definitely earned that.”
“Thank you,” he pulls me closer so he can rest his head on my chest. “I’m also severely disappointed to report that you are not pregnant and that you did in fact go through your first heat without us knowing.”
“Okay, explain to me what happens during that time.” I laugh.
“You experience intense pain that only I can stop by fucking you.” I pull away to look him in the eyes. “I’m serious.”
“Dead ass?”
“Yeah, thirty–six hours of that. And it doesn’t just affect you. I go into what we call a rut. That means that literally anyone who tries to get in my way of getting to you may die.”
“That’s intense,” I admit. “How often does that happen?”
“Once every three months. You’ll also be very fertile.”
“Is there a way for us to not get pregnant every time it happens?”
“Yeah,” he smiles.
“Okay, sweet, because I do not want to have thirty–something kids like your dad. He is under constant duress with all of you. That is what true dedication to a belief is. I will grant us maybe two or three more. Just because Ayrie and Aizen are so fucking cute. I am so excited for her princess ballerina era. And Aizen in soccer. I love that. He is going to fuck shit up. That kid has an insane laser–like focus.”
“Really? Two or three more,” he grins. “I can live with that.”
“You don’t get to deny me it.” I laugh.
“Is that right?” he growls. “Stop trying to fuck me for five minutes. We’re having an adult conversation.”
“Fine, since you asked so nicely.” I laugh. He looks up at me and lets out a heavy sigh.” Ugh, that’s your apologetic face.”
“I don’t have an apologetic face,” he says, insulted.
“Yeah, you do.” I laugh.
“You’re crazy.” he shakes his head and nips at my chest.
“Okay, so what were you going to say?” I challenge, He licks his lips and looks away. Yeah, I’m crazy.” I run my fingers through his soft hair. “I’m listening.”
“Kind of took the moment away from me,” he smirks.
“Then I’ll start.” I shrug. “I’m sorry for making you feel bad while your were stressed out with this whole King shit and the mark thing. I feel like that last one deserves a pass, though.
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“I’m still ignorant of werewolf things–all of it. The books say one thing, but I’m
obviously reading some outdated books. And Perry kind of rants in her videos. They’re hard to follow when she gets to the Neo–Wolf era.”
“She would go off about that. She created it. Cyber ranks for wolves like Eloise Lockwood who work from their self–made supercomputers. Lockwood City is the safest pack in the world because you can’t so much as sneeze without her army of shadow wolves knowing.”
“And the people there like that?”
“Yeah, before she took over, the crime rate there was at its peak. The Lockwoods were once a crime syndicate. Tech, her father was the one who established it as a legitimate pack, but the underground shit followed them and it even leaked into their homes. Her uncle trafficked Eloise. Your father was the one who found her. She remembers everything the same way we do. She took that paranoia and rage to turn Lockwood City into what it is now.”
“You’ve mentioned her before. As one of the people I’m allowed to trust if we ever get separated.”
“Yeah, she’s not easy to get along with, but I trust her. Even if she takes you in as a prisoner, she’ll keep you safe until I can get to you. Eloise is rough, but she’s a good person and one of the strongest alphas in the states. She’s like ranked fourth.”
“Who are the top ranks?”
“Alpha Knightly at one.”
“Not surprised,” I admit. He laughs.
“Alpha Rizen. Alpha Blake. Alpha Lockwood and Alpha Scottfield.”
“The guy in Nova? Isn’t the Royal family in charge of that?”
“No, Nova has her own alpha. Those packs near the Royal Court are legions to the Alpha King. These packs are different. They function in triads. They’re basically regular alphas who combine their power to create strength like my father’s.”
“So three alphas set aside their shit to be able to take on an alpha as powerful as your father?”
“Yes,”
“They have to be close, right? Siblings?”
“Sometimes. Other times, it’ll be one female who binds them.” He looks up at me, expecting a reaction. I snort because I don’t know what that means.
“What? One female-” Oh. “Wow, so one female just says I’ll have three of these assholes. Thank you very much. Do they all accept it? Given my little experience with you and your fathers. That doesn’t seem like something an alpha would be able to do.”
“It’s not a choice. One wolf can have multiple mates. It’s usually an omega female and
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three males. Sometimes it’s two male alphas and a female alpha. The most recent is
three alpha males and a second–born female. Like my sister Ashley and Violetta.”
“They have three mates?”
“No,” he laughs. “They’re both second–born females. The twins of alphas.”
“Huh. Wait. You and Ashley are twins?”
“Yeah,” he nods.
“What the fuck? How do I not know that? Why doesn’t your mother run after her like she does you and all your other siblings?”
“Ash hates my mom. She chose to stay with my dad. When the order was given, she was upset that it wasn’t given to her. When I refused to kill Mom, Ashley came after us, and I put her in the hospital for a couple of months.”
“Wow,” my ears are itchy from how uncomfortable that entire situation makes me feel.” I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s not her fault. It’s the way we’re wired. Lower–ranked wolves are programmed to be loyal to their alphas. Even if they’re wrong, the alpha knows what’s best. I learned to channel those emotions into the music and being on the road. I became what I did because of my need to connect with more than just myself.”
“Is that why you’re so attached to Perry, Vy, and Roman? They’re your pack?”
“Yes, my pack became those who went to war with me. We’re the family we chose. We live and die for each other because, for a long time, we were all we had. We lost the Rogue king first, and honestly, I think he was the one who kept us all together. He disobeyed an order, and we couldn’t do that. We didn’t have that choice.
“After that, we started rotting. What little we believed in started to deteriorate. Then Darren was taken out, and he took Perry with him. She was everyone’s little sister, and we didn’t know how to help her. She didn’t want us to help her. We kind of all pulled away from one another to protect what little of ourselves we had left.
“Things between us are complicated, and I doubt that that’ll ever change, but one thing guaranteed is that we’re a family at the end of the day. We have some shady habits. We share a lot of blame for the way things play out. But we know who we are. That extends to you and the pups.”
I
“The pups.” I roll my eyes. “That is wearing me down. I think I’m starting to get used to it.”
“That’s what they are. Our pups,” he grins.
“I’m not arguing that. It’s just a weird way to put it. It’s funny.”
“You’re an excellent listener,” he smiles. “I can never stop myself from giving you too much information.”
“I want to listen to all your stories. I love them. They’re insane and often have me
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gripping the edge of my seat. You definitely have lived a fascinating life, and you also add cool werewolf fun facts. So I remember things more when you teach me than when your dad quotes shit from books. He’s like an alpha robot.”
“I agree,” he laughs and pulls me closer to him. He grips my thighs so I can sit on his lap with my legs around him. “I missed you.”
“I miss you, too.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “I think we need to learn how to
communicate better.”
“We’re communicating now,” he chuckles.
you
“You know what I mean. You punished me for something I didn’t understand. All accomplished was teaching me that the silent treatment bothers you as much as it does me, and I really don’t want that to be the default.
“I don’t know how to be the better person. I hate it. If you’re not going to talk to me, then fuck you. Neither am I. I will always match your energy, even if it kills me. I already know you’re fucking mean, but you’re not going to like when I get upset for realzies. My petty has a level of patience that will make you do what you did to me the night you marked me.”
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