“Yes, my son. You disappointed me today, not because you’re a bad pup. I was disappointed because I think highly of you. I knew you could do better than that. And I know Amber has always been special to you and you would never want anyone to hurt her, right?”
He nodded his head, sniffing as he kepthis gaze fixed on mine.
“It takes a strong man to control his outbursts and his anger, but it’s not too early to learn how to respect people. Treat the girls like you want others to treat Nikka and Ara. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Do you want to talk to Amber again?” I wanted him to do so, but I didn’t want to impose it on him.
“Yes, Dad. I want to apologize again but maybe she won’t speak with me again.”
“We can try. Tomorrow we will drive back to their territory and you can try talking with her again.”
“Do you think Uncle Caspian and Aunt Andrea hate me for what I did with Amber?”
“I think they were more disappointed.”
“Can I say sorry to them, too?”
I smiled as I nodded my head. My hand reached out to his head and ruffled his thick hair. “Yes, we can do that.”
I withdrew my hand and let out a deep breath before asking him another question. “Do you want a hug?”
He nodded his head and wiped his tears with the back of his hand as I motioned for him to come over. He scooted over and my arms wrapped around his body. I placed a soft kiss on the crown of his head before Nadia moved closer, wrapping us both in her warmth and her embrace.
Soon, our twins came running and jumping on us until we all ended up hugging each other.
My eyes darted to my sisters. Ellie and Bella were busy with their mates while the rest of the pups ran around us. The cemetery was empty except for us.
I closed my eyes, hugging my family tighter as my daughters giggled from being squeezed. I thought of Dad and Mom and how beautiful it would have been if they were here to see me have a family of my own. I was sure they would be proud of me.
I smiled despite myself. I was never a boastful man, but if there was something I was proud of, it was the life I made with Nadia and the pups we nurtured together.
Our life wasn’t perfect, and I was definitely far from one, but I tried. I wanted to be better for my family and for my pack. Especially for the most precious gift the Goddess bestowed upon me—my lovely mate.
NADIA.
I scooted my back and rested it against my mate’s hard chest. We were seated on a spread-out blanket in the cemetery, watching all the pups run around and play. We came from Cyrus and Amber’s birthday party—Caspian and Andrea’s twins.
After the party, we left earlier than the rest to come here.
It was Zahra and Leandro’s 12th death anniversary. Although it had been more than a decade, the pain was still there every time we remembered the fateful day that they were taken away from us. The memory was painful, but we lived each day grateful that we still had each other. That we all came out strong from their demise.
Riley told me earlier how different it would be if Zahra and Leandro were here to see all their grandchildren. They would surely be drowning in happiness and sweat looking after them.
Riley and I were blessed with three pups: Zachary Vernon, Thea Veronika, and Sarah Melina. We doted on our three kids while loving their cousins who grew up around them.
Ellie and Dawson had two, Drake and Dustin, their blue-eyed twins, who were the same age as Nikka and Ara. While Bella and Trent had one, Bellatrix, the eldest female pup. Caleb and Anya were blessed with two boys, Cameron and Curt. While Alba and Paul had Patrick and Abegail.
And then there was my sister, Nadine. She was almost 12, and she looked exactly like Laura, with my father’s hazel brown eyes—the same as mine.
I had always adored my pups, but with Nadine, it was different. She was the one thing I had always wanted growing up, so the moment that I held her in my arms, I cried. She had completed not just Dad and Laura’s dream, but mine as well.
And I never failed to show her that the love she gave me back was enough to heal the brokenness I felt from growing up alone.
I felt Riley’s arms around me as he pressed our bodies closer. His chin rested on my shoulder as his hands lovingly caressed the bump in my stomach.
We wanted another baby for a long time, but it didn’t come, so we stopped trying. But two months ago, I felt a slight cramp, and it was then that I realized I had been delayed for more than a month.
