Four staunch denials echo through the room, all four of my pack protesting that our daughter will never, ever be allowed to take a single step in the direction of any male,ever.
Luc’s growl is particularly passionate, and I raise an eyebrow at him. “It’s probably gonna happen someday,” I warn with a smile, and he grimaces at me.
“Someday. Hopefully when I’m not around to break their legs.”
ChapterSixty-Four
Bastien
These fucking feelings.
Leo stares at me, his blue gaze faintly accusing like he knows that I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing here.
This isn’t my first rodeo. I was around for Nash, for the feedings, the playing, even the diaper changes. But as I stare into Leo’s eyes, for the first time I feel absolutely fucking terrified.
Is this what being a dad feels like?
A litany of all the things lying around the house that could be dangerous to a child runs through my mind. Every sharp edge needs to be blunted, every socket covered, every surface fucking padded because I don’t think my heart could cope with seeing one of these two hurt.
Leo tenses and panic ices over my chest as his skin turns a funny shade of purple.
Is he choking?
A small trumpet noise erupts from his butt, and he relaxes. I sag in relief. Thank fuck it’s just gas.
I’m going to be grey-haired in the next two weeks at this rate. Carefully, I position him against my shoulder, cradling his delicate head as I rub at his back. The swaying motion feels natural, but then I start stressing that it’s going to make him ill. Can babies get seasick?
Luc appears next to me, his brows raised. “You okay? Looking a little pale there, brother.”
“We have to baby-proof everything,” I hiss. “Today, Luc.”
He gapes at me. “Bas, they can’t even walk yet. I’m pretty sure we’ve got a good few months before we need to worry about it.”
Okay. That’s good.
Luc’s hand grips my shoulder. “What’s in your head?”
Word vomit tumbles out of me like a confession at church. “Just thinking of all the shit that can go wrong. Luc, I don’t think I can cope with this. I thought he was choking, but he farted, and now I’m worried he’s gonna be seasick.”
Luc gawks at me, before he wheezes out a laugh. I turn to him in disbelief. “Why are you not freaking out right now?”
Taking a deep breath, Luc smothers his snickers. “What makes you think I’m not? This is scary shit, Bas. We’re now responsible for two tiny twins and a very small but vocal omega. I’m petrified.”
Eyeballing him accusingly, I point out the obvious. “You don’t look petrified.”
In fact, he looks remarkably peaceful. He shrugs. “All right. Maybe I’m not as petrified as you, right now. But am I worried about keeping them safe? Yes. Am I panicking that we haven’t got everything we need? Also yes.”
My brother wraps his arm around me as we both look down to Leo, now peacefully sleeping against my chest.
“Welcome to being a father, Bas,” Luc murmurs. “We’re going to stress like this for the next few decades at least. Try not to let it all out on the first day.”
His voice is wry, and I grumble at him. Leah passes Emery to Nik, and walks over to us, making grabby hands as she coos toward Leo. I huddle away protectively. “Have you washed your hands?” I demand, and she stops to stare at me before shaking her head.
“Huh,” she mutters. “I didn’t have you pegged for the neurotic one. I thought that’d be Luc.”
“Hey!” Luc objects, and Leo is abruptly seized while I’m distracted. I scowl at a smug-looking Leah, already itching to take him back. “Have fun,Aunty Lee-Lee.”
Her grin is immediately wiped off her face. “Take that back,” she demands, and I smirk at her. “No way. Aunty Lee-Lee is easier for them to say anyway. Better get used to it,Lee-Lee.”
