“Man, it’s wild that I had a baby before you, Pops,” Muzo remarked. “I figured you’d be the first, since you’re so nurturing and caring. But Taylor ended up being the first. Stoic, alpha dragon-hating Taylor... Oh, no offence, Tay.”
Taylor wore a wry smile. “None taken, Muzo.”
Alaric snorted as he flipped his hair back. “Well, Poppywastechnically the first to find his fated mate. The problem was that his mate was too stubborn to acknowledge that,” he added, shooting me a glance that was half teasing and half judgmental.
“Yeah, I know, I deserve it,” I admitted, crossing my legs over the side of the armchair.
Since moving in, Poppy had filled his friends in on the rest of his tale. It was easier for him to get through the darker parts now that the tundra clan’s issues had been resolved. Honestly, I admired Poppy’s courage for being able to recount our sordid history. It was difficult enough for me to start the damn thing with Gaius, and I never finished. He didn’t seem to mind, though; like my brothers, he was just happy that I’d gotten over my bullshit and welcomed Poppy back into my life.
“I’m only teasing, Viol,” Alaric went on, waving a perfectly manicured hand in my direction. “Mostly.”
I snorted. I was fond of the cat shifter’s barbed tongue, since he was the only omega in the family willing to trade verbal blows with me. The others, apparently, liked and respected me too much. I would never understand why.
“Is everybody ready out there?” Cobalt called from the kitchen.
Poppy glanced up. “Huh? Ready for what?”
Muzo waved a hand in his friend’s face, like he was trying to obscure his vision. “Uhh, nothing. Hey, close your eyes!”
“Um... okay.”
Taylor stifled a laugh. Rorik did too as he got up quietly to drag the coffee table closer to the couch. As I looked over my shoulder, I raised a brow at my eldest brother. He was half hiding behind the door frame, as if making sure Poppy’s eyes were really closed before he came in.
“What’s going on?” I mouthed.
The twins popped up on either side of Cobalt. They both flashed a shushing gesture. I rolled my eyes. I hadn’t even said anything out loud.
But then Cobalt stepped gingerly into the room and I saw what he was carrying—a big batch of freshly baked blueberry muffins.
Poppy finally peeked. Then his eyes widened into wet brown orbs. I didn’t know why my mate was tearing up at the sight of muffins, but I was determined to find out.
“Oh, Cobalt,” Poppy murmured. “Did you make those for me?”
“Rorik helped,” Cobalt said, flashing the polar bear shifter a smile.
Poppy whimpered with emotion as he turned towards Rorik. With his big watery eyes, he was doing his best impression of a puppy.
“You remembered,” he said, his lower lip trembling. “About Mrs. Sara’s muffins...”
Rorik grinned shyly and patted Poppy on the back. “The ones we made are probably not as good as hers. But I thought you might like them anyway.”
“Oh, you guys,” Poppy murmured.
Rorik pulled his emotional friend in for a bear hug before he burst out crying.
“Not as good? I’ll be the judge of that,” Muzo announced as he reached for a muffin from the tray.
Cobalt frowned as he lifted the tray high above his mate’s head. “Not yet.”
“Aww, come on!”
“Pregnant omegas eat first, remember?” Mylo pointed out gently.
Matteo chuckled as he lounged casually in his seat. “Yeah, especially the one whose party it is.”
“AKA, not you,dog,” Alaric snarked at Muzo.
“Hey, Poppy is a dog, too,” Muzo complained, although he didn’t sound that offended.
