Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Wolf’s Secret Twins Chapter 19

Slater

Cabins like the one in which I sat now were clearly crafted with love. This neutral cabin had been erec specifically created for such meetings.

ween our properties as a statement that we would always meet in the middle. So, it seemed fitting that our alphas had Virginia and me join them in a space

That didn't mean I wasn't nervous. Hell could have billowed up from the center of the earth and been far more welcome invasion than the anxiety creeping up my spine. Virginia took my hand, proving to be the perfect supporter despite her head being on the chopping block as well. Troy smiled while gesturing to the tea he had brewed. "Please, help yourselves, friends."

"Thank you, Alpha," I said with a nod. "But I would like to get on with this. I just need to know if I need to start packing." Blake waved his hands. "We're not kicking you out of the pack, Slater."

He rapped lightly on the table with his knuckles, sparing Troy a hesitant glance. They exchanged some unspoken words. Ultimately, he sighed. "This is a delicate situation as you can understand. Our pack has been solid for long time." "That doesn't mean it's without its issues," Troy added gently. "Just that things have recently gotten out of hand." "You went against direct orders."

Shame forced me to hang my head. "I'm sorry, Alpha. I truly feel guilty for my actions. But I just-"I held up Troy nodded slowly. "I've read over your proposal. Your family has, indeed, been kind enough to offer "We've also barely caused any trouble at all," Virginia added. She blushed when the attention shifted "You've been good," Blake confirmed. "That's true. And I-" He hesitated for a second, casting another She frowned but remained silent.

irginia's hand. "Can't you see how much we love each other?"

nancial services. You've evidently gotten the Beaufort Creeks out of hot water quite a few times."

'I mean, you know, until recently. I know it's a lot to ask, but I just want..." She gulped. "I think it's best for Slater and me to be together." at Troy. "I owe you an apology for how things have gone recently."

"Virginia, I promised when I took over my father's position that I would protect you and your children. And have failed to do such a simple task." She tearfully glanced toward the window.

He reached for her hand and rubbed it with all the comfort he could provide. "I damaged your trust in for it."

Virginia looked at Blake for a moment. When a tear rolled down her cheek, I dutifully wiped it away. "How can I make up for it?" Blake asked.

She licked her lips nervously and played with a lock of hair. "Well, I have a request to add to the proposal."

I stared at her. Was this that favor she'd mentioned?

Blake gestured for her to continue.

gave you an order that could have been adjusted. I didn't trust my co-pilot." He motioned toward Troy. "I made a mistake. I'm sorry and I'd like to make up

"One of my friends, Fred, he's been wanting to join the Beaufort Creek pack," she explained. "I don't know his reasons. But I know he's been by himself for a very long time. He's the one that helped me and the kids get away. I think it's only fair he gets to be protected by a pack instead of sheer luck."

Blake studied her for a long time. "And would you vouch for his behavior in the pack? Would you sponsor him?"

She nodded eagerly. "Yes, Alpha. Absolutely. He can stay in my spare room." Then she perked up like she'd been struck with a better idea. "Actually, if you approve our mating, then I can live with Slater and Fred can just take my house."

Blake exchanged a look with Troy. Silence encompassed the room for a brief time. A clock ticked near a window, and the breeze outside picked up. Otherwise, it was just the four of us breathing.

Troy elbowed Blake on the arm. Blake shook himself as if just waking from a nap. He sighed and said, "We would like to consider this bond, and the terms of a new pack member."

"But?" I snapped. "There's always one of those."

"But," Blake emphasized with annoyance, "we have to consider the pack at large. Your actions have caused great damage."

Troy gestured toward us. "While also having exposed unknown damage."

Blake's mouth flattened into a tight line. "That doesn't excuse them going against a direct order."

I raised my hand to have a turn at speaking, "You said yourself you know personally what it's like to get mated to someone who seems your opposite-your enemy."

Guilt passed over Blake's features. Something seemed to surface in his mind that caused him to squint at Troy for a while.

After the memory passed, he sighed and turned his serious expression to me. "I did say that to you, Slater. I'm not being a hypocrite. It's just-"

"Isn't your current mate the woman who nearly assassinated you?"

Blake looked out the window. "Yes, that's true."

"She also stopped your assassination."

"She did."

I nodded. "Your families could have torn each other apart."

"They almost did," Blake growled. "It killed my mother."

I bowed my head apologetically. "I don't mean to bring more harm to you, Alpha. I'm simply pointing out that if we all have to fall in line under your rule, then it's only fair that you extend the same grace to us that you did to your mate and your family when they made mistakes."

Troy smiled without showing his teeth, approval oozing from the way he sat in his chair. He was giving that proud smile to Blake who puffed up and waved his hands. "This isn't about me!"

"No, but it's about the principle of the matter," Virginia piped up. "If you rejected what clearly is a very strong bond that could actually heal a whole generation of hurt, after you did the same thing, then wouldn't that send a horrible message to your pack?"

I ached to kiss my mate. She was such a brilliant woman, so strong in so many ways. Everything about her turned me on. If given the privacy, I'd drag her away right now and ravish her until she went limp from pleasure. But since we were in the midst of defending our relationship, I had to save that energy for later.

Hopefully, it would be saved for a mating ritual.

"They make fantastic points," Troy announced calmly. "I believe that means we must deliberate soon."

Blake held up his right hand. "I'd like to know why you want this bond to be recognized by your alphas." "Because I love him," Virginia replied. "Can't you hear it in our hearts?"

I smiled at her. "I love you too."

That sigh she released was divine. It was like she had been waiting a thousand years just to hear me say those words. And gods, I had been waiting a lifetime just to utter them in her presence. Nothing about it made me feel shame or guilt. It only made me want to cement my relationship with her. It made me want to mate.

She squeezed my hand and raised my knuckles to her lips. "I'm glad to hear the feeling is shared."

Troy looked between us, an expression of pure triumph on his face like he was admiring a picture he had just painted. He gestured again to us. "Blake, I believe this is good enough testimony. Let us deliberate."

Blake grumbled under his breath and then muttered, "Fine. Give us ten minutes," and rushed us out the door.

What I saw outside shocked me to my core. Elias and Francine were waiting with Archie and the twins.

Francine held up a freshly baked pie. "You were right about the kids knowing how to bake."

Virginia chewed on her lower lip while accepting the pie. "Oh, well...yes, they're quite talented, aren't they?"

Elias clapped me on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Troy will make sure everything is done right in there."

"Blake will also make sure things are done properly," Francine rushed to add. "He's a kind and generous alpha. He's not going to take this lightly."

I nodded with thanks, feeling warmed by their gestures of support.

Behind them, figures wandered through the fields, past the corn maze, past the barns, and came from the thick of the woods as well. Laurencia and Wendell were among them. As soon as Laurencia reached us, she mumbled something quickly under her breath and stuck out a tray of cookies.

Virginia beamed. "I love oatmeal raisin."

Laurencia gasped victoriously and glared at Wendell. "I told you!"

"Volume," Wendell advised while tapping her chin. "And yes, you were correct."

Isaiah bubbled up from behind Wendell, a tank of a guy who carried a basket full of goodies. He held it out to me since Virginia was occupied with pie and cookies. "Jada has been on bed rest since her feet are swollen. She knitted these caps for the kids. I put some soaps in there that I made from animal fat. I got a big thing of bacon at home too."

I smiled while accepting the basket. "Well, you didn't have to-"

His laughter boomed around us as he slapped me on the back. "I don't do shit I don't want to!"

Chuckles bubbled around us as the crowd grew. Skye held her belly while shuffling up to Virginia, handing off a bag of items. The yard next to the neutral cabin grew with gifts and people, and then plates of food were being passed around, and cups with juice overflowing went to the kids, and then the kids darted off to play near the pigpens.

Francine kept an eye on them while Virginia stood in the middle of it all with her face stained with tears.

I wrapped an arm around my mate. "We can't lose, Ginny darling. Do you see this right now?"

"I can't see a damn thing through my tears."

I cackled while taking some of the gifts from her. She seemed overwhelmed. Maybe if she sat down and had some food, she would feel better. As soon as I got her seated, I knelt next to her. She rested her hand on the back of my neck. The way she lightly stroked my skin while talking to other people made it feel like she was ground into me.

In my heart, I felt our bond expand. Strength from our friends enhanced our relationship, making it far more capable of handling anything that was thrown at us. Support like this didn't come very often in the outside world. This was truly a side effect of being a shifter.

I had to keep blinking to see if I was dreaming. It was hard to chew on all of this at once. But it only solidified the love I had in my heart for my pack.

The only thing that was missing was my parents.

Virginia rubbed my neck a little harder. "I'm sure your parents will be more open to our connection when the alphas approve."

"I'm not sure, Ginny bean. They're stubborn."

"That makes a lot of sense about you."

I glanced up at her with a playful grin. "Hey, easy. I might be a strong man, but I still have feelings. Don't be mean to me or I might cry."

"Don't worry. I can always kiss the wounds better."

She sealed her promise with a kiss to my nose. A chorus of adoring sounds broke out around us, inviting me to growl like an irritated guard dog. Virginia laughed. Isaiah cackled like a dang hyena, and Francine shouted something at the kids about leaving the pigs alone. Chaos would definitely be the vibe tonight-but I had a feeling that would be better than isolation.

I glanced at my phone. It had nearly been fifteen minutes. How long was a deliberation like this supposed to last? Was it better if it was longer?

Sweat coated my upper back. "Maybe I should check."

She caught my shoulder. "No, let them talk. They probably just need to hash out the details." She paused for a second while peering over her shoulder. "If we push, they'll make a decision too soon, and then it might be the wrong decision." "Why did you vouch for Fred?"

"He's helped us. And, well, if we still need to run, his entry into the pack covers the cost of new papers."

I smiled warmly. "You're just covering our asses."

"It was originally for me and the kids, but you're our family," she insisted while clasping my hand between hers. "That means we're not letting you go by yourself."

Pride poured from my heart like blood from an open wound. Nothing else mattered to me in that moment except the fact that my mate was at my side, and she was supporting me. Even if the pack didn't approve, even if we had to leave, we'd always have each other. That was all I needed.

The crowd around us hushed. Behind us, I heard the sound of the cabin door creaking open and then footsteps clomping on the porch. I stood up, smoothed my hair away from my face, and looked up at my alphas. As Virginia joined my side, Troy offered everyone a smile.

He raised his hands. "Friends, I know you've gathered here to show your support to Slater and Virginia. It's moved my heart to see you display such love and care for your own."

"We thought it would be best for Virginia and Slater to stay apart," Blake explained, "but seeing you all here makes us realize that they're much better together."

A smile cracked my lips.

Blake reflected that smile as he approached Virginia and took her hands. "Forgive me for being selfish and impulsive, Virginia. I shouldn't have denied your mate bond in the beginning-and I should have done more to protect you. I promise you I won't make the same mistake again."

"Alpha, you already apologized," she whispered through thick tears, "but thank you. A million times, thank you."

He kissed her hands and held them up.

"The mate bond is approved," he announced. "May this union bring peace!"

What a riotous sound exploded from our friends and neighbors. People clamored together to congratulate us. Somehow, the twins made it through the chaos to get to us, embracing us hard, jumping for joy about the news. Part of me wondered if Virginia had told them the truth. Did they know I was their father?

But the wonder fell away as the celebration continued. Troy tugged Virginia aside and whispered something into her ear. She tearfully wrapped him in a tight hug which he returned with a happy laugh. Blake watched on and wore a satisfied smile as he witnessed his people celebrating the mate bond's approval.

I didn't want to wait another second. Once I got Virginia back, I ushered her and the children into the neutral cabin where we could speak quietly. I sat the twins down and then begged Virginia to get off her damn feet. Everyone settled in despite the joyful racket beyond the door and windows.

I took a deep breath and stared at Virginia for a moment. I hadn't exactly planned this out. But I knew she could sense my feelings, so I did my best to convey to her quietly what I was going to say.

Her eyes went wide. She covered her mouth. She looked at her kids like they were monstrous nightmares ready to sprout tentacles like in one of those games they played. Understandably, the twins stared back at their mother with matching confusion.

I chuckled nervously and pulled up a chair near the twins. "Listen, your mother and I have something we need to tell you."

"Please, don't be mad," Virginia begged. "I wanted to-I just couldn't-well, he-"

I touched her shoulder, calming her immediately. "It's alright. You had no idea how I would react. But now that we're together, it's time."

"For what?" the twins asked simultaneously.

I would never get tired of them matching up like that.

With a wide grin, I held out my hands for them to take. "I'm your real dad."

Anthony and Adhara blinked at the same time. "What?"

"I'm your father," I repeated. "I've been your father this whole time. You know, when your mother and I were seeing each other way back when, we sort of, uh..." I squinted at Virginia. Had she done that talk yet? "We loved each other so much that we had you two." Silence.

Who could be mad about that? These kids had gone without a father for ages. And then poof. Here I was.

I cleared my throat. "I know it's a lot, but I hope that you'll accept me."

Adhara released my hand and stood up. She brushed some invisible dirt from her pants, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and folded her hands together in front of her. "On behalf of Anthony, who is currently battling his inner demons through silence, we accept you as our dad."

I stared at her.

She waved her hand in front of my face. "Hello?"

"That's great news, honey," I blurted. I tugged her into a hug, feeling a million things at once, wondering when in the world I had started crying and how to make it stop.

Within a few minutes, Anthony joined the hug. He apologized for being so quiet. I told him it was fine, I didn't care. I just wanted them to be happy.

And they were happy. Because I could feel it. My own flesh and blood were here in my arms. I could sense their happiness, and mine doubled as a result.

I swore on my life that I would never let them out of my sight again.