Page 26 of Manifesting a Mate

“Yeah, we can totally do that. I’m pretty sure there is a print shop around here somewhere.”

“Awesome, I’m going to text Chris and let him know that we have the genders and that we want to have the poster boards displayed.” Thank fuck for Chris. He has taken it upon himself to decorate for our mating celebration, that is really a gender reveal/baby shower in disguise. Neither Everett nor I have any idea what exactly he has planned for the party, just that we are to attend in dressy casual attire and pain of death if we are late.

Our families are going to meet our mates and find out we are expecting triplets all at the same time. I’m not sure how the grandparents are going to take the news. I mean, they will all be happy for us, but there’s a chance they will be mad we chose to tell them like this and not as soon as we found out. Meh, it doesn’t really matter. They will get over it.

A loud rumble fills the cab of the truck, and for once it didn’t come from me. I turned to face my omega to make sure that sound wasn’t the babies trying to make an early exit.

“Ugh, why am I always so hungry? Did you hear that?” Everett asks, making me bark a laugh.

“I think Dr. Norn heard that in her office, sweetheart. How about we go get you some food, and while I’m driving you can look up the print shop.” I offer, not wanting to make him wait any longer than he has to, to eat.

“Okay, yes. Thank you, baby. Can we get sandwiches? And maybe ice cream?” He asks. Gone is the shy squirrel from our first date who was so worried about every move he made, overthinking every word he said. Now my perfect omega has the confidence to just tell me what he wants, and he knows I will do everything in my power to make it happen, but more than that. He knows I will never judge him. Even if he does like to dip his sandwiches into his ice cream.

“Absolutely, sandwiches and ice cream coming right up.” I grin, dropping one last kiss to his cheek before pulling out of the parking lot at the medical center, heading for town. The way Everett wiggles with happiness in his seat, curls bouncing in his face, fills my heart to bursting. I am one lucky alpha.

EPILOGUE

“You and me, always and forever”

Everett

In theory, throwing a party at The Howling Grizzly for Henry and I’s families was a fantastic idea. Even better, Christopher offered to organise the whole thing with Austin so that my mate and I had nothing to do except show up. We didn't even have to deal with our own families. They took care of everything.

In reality, Howlers was in absolute disarray. My siblings had all shown up, bringing my nibblings with them. Sounds wonderful, right? No, I have close to fifteen niblings with more on the way. Meaning, when we step into the bar, chaos surrounds us.

The balloons have been dislodged from the balloon arch and are being used for a keepy uppy game by several shifted squirrels. An older couple, who I assume to be Henry's parents, are kneeling on the floor helping to brush up broken glass as my parents go between apologizing profusely, to scolding my sisters for not controlling their feral offspring.

A loud laugh bubbles out of me, drawing everybody’s attention to us. Silence falls for a few moments. I’m guessing given the fact my belly enters the room before me now, the fact I'm pregnant is the first thing that registers, causing the ruckus to start up all over again, this time in our direction.

“Oh god, Rodger, more grandkids. I think we need to move!” My Alpha dad tells my papa, who smacks him on the chest, shushing him. Papa turns his bright smile to me and is the first to rush over, hugging me as best he can with my large, watermelon-sized belly between us.

“My little Gingersnap is having babies. I’m so happy for you son. Ignore your dad, he's an asshole” He tells us with a playful smirk before turning to Henry. “Let me get a good look at my new son-in-law. Gosh, you are a big one aren't you?” he comments, making me splutter

“Papa!” I exclaim, but he just waves me off.

“Hush now, I’m just stating facts.” He grins up at a chuckling Henry, who holds out his hand to my papa.

“Great to finally meet you, Mr Barkley,” Henry is all cool and calm on the outside, but I know my big bear is quaking in his boots on the inside.

Henry's parents are next to approach us, quieter than mine and both as big and bulking as Henry. His mom envelopes me in a hug, and I swear, the term “bear hug” was created for this exact hug. My alpha dad holds out his hand to Henry and his father in turn, doing some kind of alpha back-slapping congratulatory thing.

“Okay everybody, now that the secret is out of the bag, can we all take a seat and get on with the gender reveal and the food?” Chris calls out, using a mic to be heard over the loud chittering of my niblets.

One at a time my siblings stop us as we cross the room to offer introductions and hugs in between wrangling their kids.

“Is this what our life is going to be?” Henry whispers against my ear. I can feel his smile even if his voice sounds hesitant.

“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?”

Henry

“Okay everybody, it’s time to find out the gender of my very first niblings. Everett, I think it's only right that you check the first cake, by shoving it right into your alpha’s face.” Chris cackles as my eyes widen. What the hell? I didn’t agree to that. What's wrong with just biting into it like a normal person?

I'm about to object when I see the giddy way Everett grabs the small, one-tiered cake from the table in front of him. I can only assume that since we are having three babies, that there will be three cakes, and knowing Chris, they are all going to end up on my face. How can I say no when my omega looks so excited and happy? It’s only a bit of cake, after all.

“Okay sweetheart, let’s see what baby A is going to be.” I tell him, sliding into a seat behind the table so he can reach me without needing to stretch and put strain on his already stressed body. Closing my eyes, I prepare for the hit. Everett is gentle as he smooshes the cold icing into my face, making me cringe, but the delighted squeal that leaves him as I clear my eyes enough to watch my omega dancing around, his hands a bright baby blue.

“A boy, we're having a boy!” He cheers, throwing himself onto my lap, uncaring of the cake smeared all over me, to smash his lips against mine.