“Just Pepper using you as a bridge to cross the nest.”
“Morning, Peps.” He held out a hand and Pepper rubbed her face on it, elongating her neck like a baby giraffe to reach. “I suppose I should get up and feed them.”
“I can do it.” I tried to sit up, but couldn’t move an inch. “Or maybe not.”
“Shhhh.” The sound was followed by Jude’s fingertips against my lips. “Sleeping time.”
I nipped him playfully. “Try convincing Pepper of that.”
Nathan stretched slowly with sleepy groans and deep sighs, running his hand over Leo’s arm before gently moving it so he could sit up. “I’ve got them.”
Poppy jostled Alve awake by rocket-launching from her sleeping spot to follow Nathan. Alve groaned and burrowed harder against Jude.
“You guys, you have to let me up, too. I have to pee.”
Jude relinquished his hold on me and I climbed out of the nest, grabbing my phone from where it was charging to scroll through my notifications.
I used the bathroom and froze halfway back to the bed. “Oh my god! She had the babies!”
My pack perked up, ruffled heads lifting and turning in my direction.
“Charlotte?” Leo asked.
“Yeah, she had them during the night.” I scrolled through the photos of three little bundles wrapped up tight and cuddled by their dads. “Emilia Elizabeth, Marcelo Nicholas, and Dylan Bryce Junior.”
Leo let out a sharp laugh. “I’m not even surprised Dylan named his kid after himself, but I’m a little surprised Charlotte let him.”
“It’s cute. They’ll probably call him DJ to avoid confusion. It sounds like they’re keeping everyone until tomorrow, and then they’ll be staying at a postnatal facility for a week before going home. Dylan’s parents are at their house with the boys and helping to take care of the horses in the meantime. They’re going to settle in for the first month before they start having visitors.”
I showed the babies to my pack. Undoubtedly most of them had the same photos waiting for them on their own phones, but I was too impatient for that.
“That’ll be us in a few months,” Leo commented.
“Hopefully not with triplets.” I laughed. “That might be a bit much to start with.”
Nathan wandered back in with a yawn. “Pep and Pop are inhaling their food.”
“You’re a good cat dad.”
He grinned. “Not as good as Alve, but I try.”
“Are we staying awake?” Jude asked, rubbing his eyes.
Nathan shrugged and scrolled through his phone. “Ava wants to know if we’ll come for brunch today. She’s getting impatient to meet everyone when we’re not sprinting around robbing assholes.”
“I could do brunch.”
“Who am I introducing as my boyfriend?” Nathan asked.
I couldn’t stop a delighted laugh as three hands lifted into the air. “You guys are too cute.”
Nathan climbed into the empty spot in the nest, gesturing for me to follow. I sprawled on top of him, swallowed up again by my pack pressing close.
“Are you going to work at all today?” Nathan asked. “I know Leo has his show tonight.”
“I should go for a few hours. We have move-ins starting tomorrow.”
“Want me to spritz on some de-scenter and help out?”
