“How long do you think he’ll last this time?” Zara snagged a sandwich from the overflowing cart.
“Z, you want something to ea—” Wadim’s voice came from behind Bethany.
Zara rolled her eyes and then threw her sandwich at him.
“Maybe we should be taking bets on both wolves,” Sally suggested.
Drake’s shoes felt as though they were covered in concrete as he walked away from his mate. His wolf was ticked off. He was ticked off. And the last thing he wanted to do while his mate sat inside having Brax-whatevers was build a bloody sleigh. He closed the door behind him, stepping out into the crisp winter air. It was early afternoon but already the sun was beginning to lower, preparing for the early nights that the season brought. His wolf loved the cold air, especially when it snowed and they could take a romp through it.
He rounded the corner of the house, then stopped and stared at the mess of wood, nails, and possibly duct tape that was attempting to pass as a Christmas sleigh and failing miserably. “Didn’t it come with any instructions?” Drake walked over to the group of males who stood staring at the hapless structure.
“Yes.” Adam sported a wide grin on his face. “The instructions said, ‘Here’s some wood, make it a sleigh.’”
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say those instructions weren’t from a booklet but from a certain female's mouth.” Drake couldn’t help but chuckle as he glanced at Decebel. The beta looked ready to set the sleigh—and he used that term very, very loosely—on fire.
“Adam,” Fane started, but the fae male held up his hands.
“I know you could give me an alpha order, Fane, but don’t do it. Crina’s finally let me close again. She made me swear not to use my magic.”
Drake watched Fane tilt his head up to the sky. He imagined their alpha was praying to the Great Luna to keep from strangling his beta’s mate. Finally, Fane lowered his head and glanced at Costin. “We better have had a damn good reason for dying Thia blue.”
Decebel growled. “What reason could you possibly have to justify that?”
“Your mate?” Wadim asked.
Decebel glared at the historian but then nodded. “Sounds about right.”
The group chuckled, even as they continued to stare at the mess in front of them. They were quiet for several minutes before Drake spoke up. “Anyone else need a drink?”
Their heads turned to him. He could see the sympathy in their eyes, and he didn’t even care. He was exhausted from worrying about his mate and their child. All he wanted to do was protect her, and all she wanted him to do was stay away.
“How about we head to the bar?” Costin suggested. “I haven’t been there in a while. I’ve had one of the single pack males running it for me. He could probably use a break.”
Fane’s eyes narrowed as he looked past Drake and a few of the others standing next to him. Drake turned to see what caused the alpha’s eye to glow. Standing in the large window were eight females, each one giggling and pointing at them.
“Peri will keep an eye on them.” Lucian turned to look at Drake. “If something happens, Adam can have you back to her in a heartbeat.”
“I’ll be back in a little while.” Drake reached out through their bond. “Please try and take it easy and stay off the ladders.”
“I’ll be fine, babe.” Bethany’s voice was filled with laughter. “Go have some fun with the guys. You all look like you could use a break from”— she paused and he felt more humor welling up in her—“well, whatever the heck it is you all were doing.”
Drake’s lips lifted in a small smile. “They said it was a sleigh.”
“Are they drunk?”
“No, apparently Decebel isn’t any better at building sleighs than he is at dog houses.” He heard her laughter in his mind and relished the sound. She hadn’t been laughing much lately, and maybe that was his fault.
“It’s not your fault, Drake. I love you. I’m a walking, hormonal mess, and I take it out on you. I’m sorry. I think some guy time would be good for you. Give you a break from my pregnancy crazy.”
Drake pictured his hand rubbing her round stomach, knowing she would feel it through the bond. “I’ll go because I know I’m smothering you. But I’d rather be by you, even if you’re being a little crazy.” She didn’t respond with words, but he felt her love pouring into him. It would be enough for now, but he knew his wolf wouldn’t be able to be away from her for long.
“They’re going to the bar?” Sally asked, as if all the other females didn’t know, which they did because no doubt their males had spoken to them through the mate bond, just as hers had.
“If you built that hunk of junk and tried to pass it off as anything other than a hunk of junk, wouldn’t you need a drink?” Jen pointed to the mess of wood outside.
“It is pretty bad.” Jacque smiled.
Jen turned from the window and headed to the couch. Her feet were tired, her back was killing her, and she was annoyed, though slightly amused, by Elle and Peri’s antics. They’d all been working constantly for the past few weeks, and now they only had a week left. The cakes had been ordered. They were too elaborate, but she knew they would have made Alina laugh, and so she went over the top for that reason alone.
All of the other ladies joined her, some sitting on chairs, the couch, and others on the floor. Rachel came in a few minutes later with Thia walking beside her and Slate in her arms. Thia ran to Jen as soon as she saw her. “Hell, Momma!” she squealed.
“Could you say, ‘Hi, Momma?” Jen pulled her daughter up into her lap.
Thia frowned. “No.”
“Well, at least she knows her mind,” Crina pointed out, not at all helpful.
Slate babbled happily as Rachel handed him off to Jacque. He clapped and then reached for Jacque’s face. Jen’s eyes roamed around the room, watching the females. Smiles brightened their tired looks, and their eyes lit up with joy as they watched the two little ones.
Peri sat next to Jen on the couch, and Thia turned, looked at the high fae, and then climbed across the couch and into Peri’s lap.
“Pwerry.” Thia giggled and patted Peri’s cheek. The fae did not look amused.
“Can I help you?” Peri asked.
Jen couldn’t wait to see what her mini-me said in response.
Thia grabbed Peri’s hand and held it up, palm facing the ceiling. “Spwarkles.”
Peri cocked an eyebrow at Jen.
“You brought it on yourself by showing her your little magic trick.”
“I didn’t know she was going to expect me to do it anytime she was bored,” Peri grumbled.
“Obviously you haven’t been around kids much.” Jen rolled her eyes. “Once they see a trick they think is cool, it’s the only thing they focus on until something cooler comes along.”
With a sigh, Peri snapped her fingers and little sparkles filled her hands. It looked like a mini-firework display in her palm. Thia clapped, and Slate turned to see what was happening. Jen watched the boy’s eyes widen, and he hollered in delight.
Elle was sitting next to Jacque. She held her palm up and did the same thing, fireworks filling her hand. Slate reached out, his hand coming in contact with the magic. Jen and Jacque knew the sparks wouldn’t hurt the children. Both kids played with the magic while the rest of them watched quietly.