by Viola Rivard
His mate appeared anxious. “I don’t think I can ride on your back. Not this soon.”
Caim placed a kiss on her temple, before lifting her up into his arms.
“I will carry you.”
She laid her head against his shoulder as he set off down the mountainside, Dawn weaving between his legs.
Mila and her new pups were asleep by the time they arrived back at the den. He set her down on a pallet of furs before tending to the fire. Dawn stayed up with him for a little while, but eventually fell asleep while draped over her mother’s legs. Caim considered leaving to get Fern, but couldn’t stomach the thought of leaving Mila and the pups unprotected. He assured himself that she was fine and that she needed her sleep.
He didn’t think Dawn would dare run off again that night, but even so, he couldn’t bring himself to rest. He stayed awake and alert, watching over his mate and pups while they rested.
CHAPTER SIX
Asch could smell his own scent as he approached the den, which was strange as he had not been there for years. Mila must have taken one of his pelts with her the day before, he decided.
The night away from her had felt impossibly long and he had regretted not sending Caim to The Cairn in his stead. The smell of the cats had put his protective instincts into overdrive and he had been unable to think of anything else except charging into the den and rending them limb from limb.
But instead of fierce opponents, all they had found were three young cat cubs, terrified and huddled into a small cavern. They had spent all night trying to coax them out, and when that hadn’t worked, River, Lotus, and Brae had gone in and rounded them up. They each had some nasty scratches to show for it.
From what they gathered from the one cub that would talk, their father had left them there three days ago and hadn’t returned. Asch knew that did not bode well, but he reassured them nonetheless and made sure they were fed before leaving the den. He had no idea what he was going to do with them, but casting them out in the winter was not an option.
Caim was waiting for him outside of the den. Asch slowed to a halt and shifted, disconcerted by the dark shadows under Caim’s eyes.
“Is Mila okay?” he asked, his voice still gruff from the change.
Caim folded his arms under his chest, and for the first time in months, seemed to be back to his old, arrogant self.
“While you were off playing with cats, I was delivering your sons. Were I not there, they would have surely died. You are forever in my debt.”
The words had halted Asch and he stood staring at Caim as his mind struggled to process what he had just heard.
Mila had given birth?
To his sons?
“I am going hunting,” Caim announced before shifting.
As he took his leave, Asch called out for him. He had so many questions, but Caim disappeared into the forest without looking back.
Anxiety threatened to hold him in place, but the desire to see Mila and his pups had him moving forward. As he reached the mouth of the den, a brown blur went whizzing by him. Dawn took off after her father, barking with excitement.
He took a deep breath, and then started down the passageway. The room was heated with a small fire that cast a warm glow around the room. Mila sat propped up against the wall, her bleary eyes staring downward at what was in her arms.
Although he had been quiet, she must have sensed him enter because she looked up, giving him a weary smile.
“Merry Christmas, papa.” She nodded towards a bundle of fur beside her. “Here, hold him. If I take this one off the boob before he’s finished, he’s going to throw a fit.”
Asch’s eyes widened as he realized there was another pup next to her. He wasted no time in clearing the distance between them.
He crouched down, and at first he could only stare at his son.
“Are they supposed to be this small?” he asked.
The pup was alarmingly tiny. He remembered Dawn being bigger, and she was quite premature.
“Twins are usually littler,” she said. “But don’t worry, they’ll catch up in no time.”
He hesitated another moment before lifting his son up and settling him in his arms. Even with as small and new as he was, Asch’s son bore a remarkable resemblance to him. They shared the same nose, the same hazel eyes, and though his head was still bare, Asch was certain he would share his father’s coppery hair. He couldn’t have asked for a more perfect son.
He examined him for a while, unaware of time until he heard a soft burping sound. He looked up to see that Mila had finished feeding the other pup and without warning, she unceremoniously dropped him into Asch’s arms. Both pups began to squirm restlessly.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his anxiety returning in full force.
“Going back to sleep,” she informed him. She began to make her way over to the furs by the fire.
“Wait, uh, we should head back to The Cairn.”
She let out a huff. “I’m not going anywhere for at least a day or two, so you’d better get comfortable.”
Asch realized that he was in no position to argue with her. He leaned back against the wall and did his best to sooth the pups as Mila began to doze off.
It took some time, but eventually they settled down and fell asleep. Once they did, Asch’s anxiety left him once again and before long he found a profound sense of peace.
“My sons,” he said softly, looking between each pup. “My sons…”
Caim and Dawn were quiet when they returned, each bringing with them a fat hare. Dawn set her game by the doorway and raced over to observe her brothers.
“I will go get Fern,” Caim told him. “I’ll be back in the evening with more meat and fresh water.”
Caim called for his daughter and the pup reluctantly followed her father.
Asch looked down at his sons and then back up at his friend. “Caim?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
“Hn.”
Dawn raced out of the den, but Caim paused in the doorway, his eyes resting on Mila’s sleeping form.
“You should know,” Caim said. “Mila and I have an agreement. When she is fertile again, I alone will mate with her.”
Asch arched a brow. “Mila agreed to that?”
“She did.”
With a pup in each arm, Asch could hardly fathom the prospect of having more children.
“She’s all yours, Caim.”
When they were alone, Asch made his way over to the furs. He settled the pups down with their mother and then lay down with her. He was unable to resist kissing her, first her shoulder, then her neck, and then the side of her face.
“What are you doing?” she grumbled in a sleep-laden voice.
“I love you,” he said.
Mila put a hand over his face in a weak attempt to push him away.
“I love you, too. Now go away.”
He kissed her forehead. “Never.”
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