Frayla stepped inside and winked at me while she held on tight to the eight-present tower in her arms. “Hey, Wren! Where do I put these?”
“Over on the table by the stairs.” I grinned at her and pointed to the table with all the presents, and she made her way toward it.
“Don’t think you can ignore me, babe!” Trixie’s arms wrapped around me tightly, and her mushroom scent filled my nose as I giggled.
“Trixie!” I turned and wrapped my arms around her, careful not to hit her swollen belly. “I’ve missed you!”
“I know! But Norman drags me along for his research.” She rolled her eyes at her mate dramatically.
Once Trixie got over Norman’s mate mark being placed on her without her permission, she had insisted on marking him with her family crest on his inner cheek the same way Kian had marked me. They were each other’s everything, even if they weren’t fated mates. Blair and Kian were able to confirm that neither of them would have a fated mate in the future long ago, and that was enough for them. Shortly after she marked him, she found out she was pregnant with a little boy. She should give birth any day now.
They never stayed in one place long with Norman’s research, and Trixie had actually taken to helping him with his research by using magic. They made a great team.
“I’m so happy you’ve found your calling,” I told her as we pulled away.
“Ditto, babe, ditto. Seven mates was insane, buteightkids. Eighttwo year olds!I don’t know how you do it.” She shook her head, and Norman chuckled before breaking away and going toward Rowan, standing at the end of the stairs.
“I don’t know either sometimes.” My lips quirked up as I scanned the room.
Jan and Matt, her mate, stepped into the cabin, and Jan made her way toward us as Matt went to drop the presents off at the table.
“Good grief. I don’t know how you handle eight!” She chuckled, and Trixie joined her.
“We were just talking about that!”
Our living room and kitchen were open, and I could see all eight of my babies off with their grandparents or playing amongst each other.
My heart swelled. Everyone was so supportive, and we’d built a strong family unit.
“Let’s get this party started!” Damien shouted, poking everyone to gain their attention with his shadow tendrils. “Time for cupcakes!”
“Yay!” Emerson and Elliot cheered as they bounced up and down by the cupcakes.
Jayce, Athena, Poppy, Haelynn, Garren, and Verity came running into the kitchen with Forrest running back to Iris and Alder.
Kian and Lachlan stepped beside me as Rhett wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back into his chest. Alister went over to Damien, who was passing out the cupcakes, and Rowan went over to light the candles on the cupcakes.
“Kids will be worn out by tonight.” Rhett’s breath tickled my ear.
“He’s got a point,” Lachlan murmured.
“I won’t argue if that’s what you want, sweetheart,” Kian whispered beside me, and I smiled.
There weren’t many nights we got to ourselves. Usually, Jayce and Haelynn crawled into bed with us. But it rotated out with the kids. I was suspecting they were starting to make a schedule on who could sneak to our room.
“Let’s see how we feel after the party.” I chuckled, gathering my hair and pushing it back behind me.
“Happy Birthday…”Damien and Alister started, and we all joined in before the kids blew out their candles.
Thepartywasabsolutechaos, but they loved their presents and the time they spent with family and friends.
Damien tossed me onto the large bed in our attic, and I bounced a bit. He fell on top of me and wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me close. “Fuck, little bird.”
I groaned, wiggling underneath him. “Damien, I need to take this off.”
Kian snapped his fingers as he walked over and sat on the bed with a yawn, and all eight of us were naked. “Better?”
“Much,” Rhett purred as he laid down in the spot next to me, pheromones dancing lightly over my body as mine did the same to them. “You’re a super-mom, baby.”
