Like anyone.
“The way ahead is clear, sweet beast. Shall we go onward?” Ren closed the distance between them until its breath warmed the tender skin of her wrist. She held her own breath as long moments passed. . . .
The wolf licked her palm.
Relief soughed through her, and she dared to pet its sleek muzzle. “We’ll do so well together. Thank you for this gift.”
Ears twitching, the she-wolf turned her head back to the woods. Two identical copper pups and a large golden male awaited her at the edge of the forest.
Ren’s lips curved into a smile. “Go, sweet beast. Go be with them. I’ll see you at the next full moon.”
When the wolf loped off to join her family, the beast went quiescent inside of Ren.
As easily as the final note of an echo.
SIXTY-NINE
Munro sat beside the bed, holding his sons while waiting for his mate to wake.
As Kereny had instructed, he’d placed them at her breasts, and they’d latched on like pros. He’d cleaned the laddies, then haphazardly swaddled them.
Now they slept in his arms as the defense of Glenrial raged on at the settlement walls. Though he’d been concerned about how the loss of oxygen might affect their sons, his Instinct told him that they were perfectly healthy.
They had full heads of black hair, his eye color, and Kereny’s soft, olive-toned skin. They’d been born with tiny black claws and their eyeteeth. Which was normal for pups.
In all the strangeness over the hectic last few hours, two moments stood out. Right after their birth, each of his sons had caught his eyes, firmly holding Munro’s gaze. The first time could be explained away, but then his second son had done the same. Outside of matehood, he’d never known that bonding could be so absolute.
Both of those locked gazes had struck home in Munro’s heart, just as their mother’s blade once had. Now his heart was divided between overwhelming love for them—and fear for Kereny. He needed to hear her thoughts and to see her eyes get lively as her temper flared. He wanted to debate with her and make love to her. What if she never returned to him?
“Bràthair, where are the wee beasties?”
Munro whipped his head around to find Will and Chloe entering the room. “What are you two doing here? I thought you’d be sleeping off your full moon.”
“It was a memorable night,” Will said, giving his mate a heated look. “But I had a feeling something was amiss with my twin. When no one answered their phones, we hitched a Luber.”
Chloe went to the bedside and brushed Kereny’s hair from her forehead. “How is she?”
“She’s regenerating. But exhausted.”
“Let’s see them,” Will said, reaching for a lad.
Chloe gave a soft squeal and reached for one herself.
Munro grudgingly handed over his boys. He could’ve held them forever.
The wee bairns squirmed, let out a couple of chuffs, then fell back to sleep for their aunt and uncle.
Chloe gazed down, her eyes flickering green with emotion.
Will’s flickered blue with alarm. “Scared I’ll drop him or something,” said the Lykae who once threw a tank at Order soldiers. “What happened here?”
Munro gave them the highlights, then said, “The fork-in-the-road foretelling is in play.”
“She can do this,” Chloe said. “She’s so strong.”
When more howls sounded outside, Will said, “Bowen and Mariketa arrived no’ long ago. She’s going to try to sedate the newlings, so we can transport them to Kinevane’s dungeon.”
Chloe said, “It sounds like they’re going to need some help.” The fierce cambion looked excited by the prospect. “We should go check out the situation.” She nuzzled the babe’s nose.
Will asked Munro, “What about Kereny? Do you need us to help protect the lads?” He’d grown a touch more at ease cradling his nephew.
Munro gazed at his mate. Protect them from her?
Logic told him to use caution here, but he believed in Kereny. I will never doubt her again. “We’ll be fine. Go.” He gladly took his boys back in his arms.
As Will and Chloe charged out to join the fray, Munro murmured to his sons, “Your mam is resting now, but she canna wait to see you.” Voice gone gruff, he said, “She’s adored you since you were both merely a whisper from the Instinct—”
“Matei Theodan and Dùghlas Andriu.”
Munro jerked his head up. “Kereny?”
“I told you I’d know our sons’ names when I saw them together.”
Munro’s breath lodged in his throat as her thick lashes lifted to reveal her gaze.
Bright copper. Her stunning eyes were focused and aware. Yet not surprised.
“You’ve done it, lass. You’ve bloody done it.”
Then Kereny MacRieve—the eternal love of his life and mother of their bairns—gave him a cocky wink. “Like I said, Munro, this bitch doesn’t miss.”
SEVENTY
a little over a month later
“How do I look?” Ren gave a twirl in place to show off her new red dress with a hem that went—gasp!—above her knees. She’d gone shopping at a second-hand boutique with Chloe and Loa. The dress was from another era, a vintage throwback. Like me. The fit was snug and showed off her enhanced cleavage (thank you, nursing!).
Munro’s eyes went heavy-lidded. “You look like you want to go back to bed instead of to a party.”
“I think we’re committed to attend since we’re the guests of honor.” They were moving to Conall tomorrow, so the pack was hosting a going-away bash.
The new house and stables were already complete, thanks to Lykae builders who could work around the clock and lift a roof with one hand.
For the festivities tonight, Munro was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, because he planned to play rugby later. Will had promised a bruising matchup: demons versus wolves. No tracing allowed.
Munro’s only accessory? A contraception cuff.
Though the clan would be slow to embrace magic as they had before, it was indeed a slippery slope.
Munro reached his strong arms out to draw Ren close, as if he couldn’t touch her enough. She would find his gaze on her throughout the day, golden eyes soft with love or smoldering blue with desire.
“Committed? This is the Lore,” he murmured. “The rules say there are no rules.” He kissed her lustily—until laughter sounded from downstairs.