by Fel Fern
“Liam, Logan did his best. None of us knew Steve brought back-up. It could’ve been worst.”
It was true. Steve could’ve hired more men. Lucas made a sweep of the woods earlier. The werebear found no additional scents, no signs of other intruders, much to everyone’s relief. Steve probably didn’t expect much of a fight.
“And Logan,” Eli said. “Thank you. If you weren’t there, I would’ve ended up dead. Once Steve saw my baby bump, he went berserk.”
Steve had no intentions of bringing Eli back alive.
“You lied to him,” Liam said, sounding thoughtful. “You said the twins were mine.”
Eli blushed. Guilt settled in the pit of his stomach. He could’ve handled that situation better. If he hadn’t taunted Steve then maybe—no.
He refused to dwell on the past. Besides, he didn’t regret standing up to the bully who made his life miserable for so many months.
He answered his mate, “I didn’t want him to have the satisfaction of knowing he managed to knock me up. He was obsessed with having children because he wouldn’t get his inheritance if he didn’t produce an heir.”
“What an asshole,” Logan muttered. “Good riddance.”
“Now if you two can just make up and be friends again, I’ll be super happy,” Eli said, beaming.
“Like hell,” Liam muttered.
Logan glared at his brother. Eli sighed. He stood from his seat. Maybe some dessert would help lighten the mood. There was ice cream in the fridge. He started for the kitchen, then paused. A chair was dragged on the floor.
“Eli? What’s wrong?” Liam asked, walking up to him.
Eli glanced at the puddle on the floor, then looked at his mate. “Liam, I think my water just broke.”
15
Liam
Feeling restless, Liam paced the corridor back and forth. He knew his presence unsettled some of the nurses and patients in the shifter clinic but he didn’t give a damn. It didn’t help that both Lucas and Logan had tagged along.
Truthfully, Liam was relieved they were here. Both were distrustful and wary of the locals like Liam. They hated going to town but they put all that aside to support Liam and Eli on the sidelines. It meant the world to him that his family had his back.
Alone, Liam was a mess but with the three of them here, they were a force to be reckoned with. He decided he could forgive Logan. Liam hadn’t known what to do after Eli said his water broke. He’d been stunned for a couple of seconds but Logan had taken charge and given orders.
Liam woke from his temporary paralysis. He bundled his mate inside his truck. Once Lucas and Logan hopped in, he drove like a hell demon to town. Thankfully, the shifter clinic didn’t have many patients that evening. Eli was immediately checked in.
“Why don’t you sit down and wait like a good bear?” Lucas asked, joining him by the vending machine. “You’re freaking out those two nurses.”
Liam growled at his brother. He looked over Lucas's shoulder and saw Logan sitting stiffly in the waiting area.
An elderly couple gave Logan wide berth but kept sneaking him suspicious looks. Logan took up two plastic seats thanks to his size. His brother’s face was pale.
Lucas followed his gaze. “He’s worried it’s his fault.”
Liam forced himself to think. Eli was right of course. He had no reason to blame his brother. If Logan hadn’t been there, neither Eli nor the twins would be alive today.
If Eli passed away, Liam would follow him because they were mates. He couldn’t bear the thought of living in a world without Eli.
“It’s not,” he finally told Lucas. “I don’t blame him for anything. Besides, Dr. Lee said Eli’s early but he didn’t mention any complications.”
“You should tell him that,” Lucas said. “Eli would want the two of you to make up.”
Scowling, Liam clenched and unclenched his fists. His grizzly felt unsettled inside his skin, mad with worry for their mate. There was no reason for it. Eli wasn’t bleeding out or anything like that.
Dr. Lee and his staff were professionals who knew what they were doing. Once he was calmer, he joined Logan in the waiting room.
“Are you here to punch my lights out?” Logan asked after Liam hadn’t said anything for a few seconds.
Liam didn’t stay quiet on purpose. He was figuring out what to say. He had never been good with words, with offering someone consolation.
“After Eli was wheeled into the operation room, Dr. Lee took me aside and told me there was nothing to worry about. The twins are early. That’s all,” he explained.
Logan blew out a breath. “Yeah?”
Liam nodded. “I’m sorry about earlier. Eli’s right. You did your best. Lucas and you have every reason to hate me.”
“Hate you?” Logan looked baffled.
“I mated Eli despite knowing the luggage he carried.”
Logan scoffed. “I wasn’t his number one fan before, but I’ll admit one thing. Eli is what you, what we need. Without him, the three of us wouldn’t know what to do with the lodge.”
Those words meant a lot to Liam but since they weren’t a touchy-feeling kind of family, he said nothing. Liam let the silence speak for itself.
“What about Eli’s family? Won’t they continue looking for him?” Logan finally asked.
“Not if Eli’s dead,” Liam answered.
Logan’s eyebrows shot up as Liam told him his plan.
“All they need to know is the fact their son was killed by Steve,” Liam said. “I’d buy an empty lot in the church cemetery.”
“What if they demand to see the body?”
Liam thought of that as well. “They won’t, not if I tell them Eli’s corpse is in pieces thanks to Steve.”
“And Steve?”
“I hunted him down because he turned Rogue on our land. The werewolf with Steve was probably just hired muscle. He wouldn’t be missed.”
Logan studied him carefully. “How did you come up with this elaborate plan?”
“I didn’t do it alone. Eli and I thought of it while he was patching me up in the bathroom.”
Liam still needed to discuss this plan further with his mate. Eli and he needed to hammer out the details but they’d do it after Eli had given birth and was well-rested.
“Well, I hope it works,” Logan said.
A nurse stopped in front of them. Liam was on his feet. “Mr. Griffin? You can see your husband now.”
“How is he? No complications?” He asked, worried.
The nurse beamed up at him. “None at all. Your baby girls are beautiful.”
“Husband?” Logan asked him in a low voice. “Have you even proposed to Eli yet?”
He shook his head. “All in due time.”
Lucas was already inside Eli’s room when they arrived. Lucas was holding one of the twins and cooing at her. Seeing his mate lying in bed and cradling another baby in his arms, a rush of warmth filled him.
He automatically went to his mate. Eli made some space for him as Liam sat on the edge of his bed. Liam studied his smiling mate for a moment, then the crying baby in Eli’s arms.
“Eli? How are you feeling?” He asked.
“Exhausted,” Eli admitted.
Liam leaned over. He pressed a quick kiss to Eli’s mouth.
“Can I hold her?” He asked.
Eli nodded, transferring the baby to his arms. She looked like an exact miniature version of Eli with her tiny turfs of gold hair and big brown eyes.
The baby automatically stopped crying and stared up at him. Liam looked at her in wonder. He couldn’t believe this little treasure and her twin just came out from his mate. She held out two chubby fists at him. Liam blew her a kiss, not caring how ridiculous he might look.
“Have you decided on names yet?” Liam asked. He gently rocked her in his arms, amazed she shut her tiny eyes, and instantly fell asleep.
“No, but Lucas had been giving me suggestions,” Eli answered. “Wow, who knew my big and tough werebear
has a way with kids?”
“Ella and Ellie. Cute, right?” Lucas called out.
“Hold on a second. If Lucas can name one baby, I get to name the other,” Logan said. Both his brothers were peering at the pink bundle in Lucas’s arms.
“What about Sophie and Sarah?” Logan pointed out. Logan and Lucas started to argue.
“Don’t wake her,” Liam said in a low voice. He made sure his brothers heard the threat in his voice. They both wisely shut up.
“What do you think?” Eli asked him.
Liam thought about it for a moment. “I like Ella and Sophie. Ella’s the one in my arms.”
Eli nodded. “That sounds good.”
His Omega looked all hammered out. No surprise there, given everything that had happened today. First, Lucas and he had to fight off those three Rogues who entered their territory.
After that, they all had to deal with Steve and his lackey. They all could use some peace and quiet for the next few days or months.
“Go to sleep,” he told his mate. “I’ll be here to keep watch over you, Sophie and Ella.”
“Okay,” Eli said, closing his eyes.
Liam moved from the bed to the chair next to it. Ella continued to snooze in his arms. Liam was covered in rake marks and bites. He could use a nap but he wasn’t leaving Eli’s bedside after today’s events.
He doubted there would be more trouble but he wasn’t going to let his guard down anytime soon. Once Eli and he put their plans in motion to make Eli appear legally dead, he hoped Eli and the twins would no longer be in danger.
If Eli’s family decided to continue pursuing Eli, well. They would have to face Liam and his brothers. Liam would make sure they’d taste hell’s finest.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Eli
“So you guys booked two double rooms, both non-smoking?” Eli asked.
Mr. Tanner nodded. His wife was telling their teenage sons to behave. Eli checked them in and printed out a form for the husband to sign.
He wasn’t usually in charge of reception but Daisy, the assistant manager, was on maternity leave. Eli didn’t mind helping around the lodge when he was needed.
Two years had passed since the lodge’s re-opening. So much had changed, Eli mused. The lodge no longer looked dated or in dire need of repairs.
Another family and their kids sat around the fireplace. There was chatter in the dining area where a couple of guests were having breakfast. They’d constantly managed to draw a large number of tourists every year, enough to keep the place running.
They started including outdoor activities in their packages and that seemed like a big hit. The Griffin brothers still managed to scare off their human and submissive shifter guests on occasion.
That was where Eli came into play. Guests weren’t afraid to chat him up or approach him. No one came after Eli or his girls again after his fake death appeared in the local papers.
His family sent out one investigator but by then, Eli Reeves was now Eli Griffin. The investigator returned, empty-handed. Hearing a series of thuds and clangs from the kitchen made him wince.
“Must be the cook grumbling about this season’s berries,” he told the Tanners. After handing them their hotel key, Eli sped toward the source of the noise.
“Come back here, you little furry menace,” he could hear Logan mumbling.
“Logan, how many times have I told you to not bother me in the kitchen while I’m cooking?” Came a familiar and haughty annoyed voice.
Eli entered the kitchen. Their head cook, Billy, was scowling at Logan over two large cooking pots.
Logan had a tiny wolf pup in his arms. Both Logan and Sophie were covered in pastry crumbs. Eli’s gaze moved to the decimated pie dish on the floor. Oops. No wonder Billy looked pissed. Once Sophie saw Eli, she let out a cute little growl that made Eli giggle.
“Eli, thank God. Please get these two thieves out of my kitchen,” Billy said.
“Your kitchen?” Logan boomed. “Omega, before you arrived here, I was the one doing the cooking for all the guests.”
Having witnessed Logan and Billy clash far too many times to count, Eli had gotten used to their bickering. Logan didn’t look particularly imposing when he was covered in blueberry jam, pie crusts, and with Sophie biting his forearm.
Billy huffed. “No wonder the guests left one to two-star reviews on Yummy.com.”
“What the hell did you just say?” Logan demanded. “Did you just my cooking?”
Eli decided now was the time to intervene. He kissed his daughter on her tiny nose. Sophie lolled her tongue out at him. Clearly, she’d been having fun with her Uncle Logan.
“Where’s your sister, baby girl?” He asked.
Eli remembered his mate had taken the girls out to the woods to teach them how to hunt. They had designated a proper hiking trail for the guests but a large percentage of the woods surrounding the lodge remained untouched.
“Ella’s still with Liam. This one escaped to the kitchen and I caught her,” Logan explained.
“Logan and Sophie thought I wouldn’t catch them stealing one of my pies,” Billy said.
“I have no interest in you or your stupid pies,” Logan said, growling at the other Omega.
“Stupid? How dare you!”
It must aggravate Logan that Billy had never been intimidated by him. Sophie jumped from Logan’s arms and to his. Eli deftly caught her.
He knew this little spat between Logan and Billy could go on forever. With his daughter tucked against his chest, he exited the kitchen via the back door.
No other guests were checking in today and Lucas was always around in case they needed any extra help. Eli decided now would be a good time to take a walk.
Sophie unexpectedly grew behaved in his arms. Liam and he had initially panicked when the girls had discovered the magic of shifting a couple of weeks ago.
They had gotten used to it by now. He picked his way carefully across the forest. He looked down at his daughter. Sophie had fallen asleep and started to snooze.
Eli knew his mate had a favorite spot where he took the girls out to the forest. Twenty minutes into his stroll, Eli finally chanced upon Liam and Ella. For a few seconds, Eli stood by the trees, marveling at the pretty picture Ella and Liam painted.
Both his husband and daughter were in animal form. Lessons must’ve worn them both out. Liam lay curled on his side, his big furry body protecting the tiny wolf cub at the center.
Seeing them together made Eli warm all over. He couldn’t ask for a better mate or father for his kids.As if Liam could sense his presence, Liam opened his amber eyes. His mate shrunk and shifted back to human form.
Liam quietly padded away from Ella, careful not to wake her. Reaching him, Liam kissed him on the mouth. That kiss managed to wake his dick. Liam then kissed the top of Sophie’s ears and grinned at him.
“Hey,” Liam said. His growly werebear flashed him a sexy smile that made his heart race, even after all these years.
“You didn’t notice there’s a wolf pup missing?” He teased.
Liam blinked. “Missing? Logan came over and said he promised her some pie.”
“So that’s what happened,” Eli said with a laugh.
He knew it was something like that. Logan still had a hard time expressing his emotions. Eli had a sneaking suspicion Logan had a crush on Billy but the Alpha werebear just didn’t know how to impress or woo the other Omega. Eli told Liam about the mess Logan and Sophie made in the kitchen.
Liam scowled. “Well, Logan better not run Billy off. We’ve had nothing but raving good reviews since Billy started working here.”
Liam put his clothes back on. What a pity. Eli wanted to see more of his naked mate. Liam then lifted Ella’s sleeping form. They walked back together to the lodge.
“What are your plans for this afternoon after we returned the twins to their room?” He asked Liam.
Liam flashed him a knowing smirk which instantly mad
e Eli all hot and bothered. Even after two years, his mate still had that effect on him.
“I intend to lock you in our bedroom and have my way with you until dinner time,” Liam replied.
“What about the lodge?”
Liam scoffed. “Logan and Lucas can handle running this place for a couple of hours.”
“I’m in,” Eli answered automatically.
“Love you, mate,” Liam said.
Eli never got tired of hearing those three special words every single day.
“Love you so much, bear.”
The End
About the Author
Felicia loves writing sizzling MM romances with hot Alphas, male pregnancies and happily-ever-afters.
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