Chapter Thirty-One
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, much of the pack decided to shift, Seth included. He was concerned about Dara, who seemed a little off form, and asked Joe and Angie to keep an eye on him.
He and Max sparred at their training area, shifting mid-fight to the delight of the crowd. Seth wasn’t worried, as he and Max had put in plenty of training hours since Max had arrived at the Cove. Max, having been able to shift since birth, was well practiced in the art of using his shifting ability to his advantage. Seth had managed to get the better of him only a handful of times when they fought. But with all their future allies watching, he needed to make an impression.
There was a round of applause when he caught Max’s tiger around the neck with his jaws. Seth let go immediately, backing off and changing back to human form. Max did the same, the two of them shaking hands and taking a bow.
Seth glanced around, meeting the eyes of everyone there. His owns packs’ faces shone with pride. Their visitors looked awed, excited, and calculating. Seth had got them thinking, that was something. He noticed Dara wasn’t among the crowd, feeling a pang of disappointment and concern, which lessened when he realized Joe wasn’t there either.
It was getting late and almost time for their guests to depart. Seth knew he had them. Their ears and eyes were open at last. He and Max did their best to hammer the message home as they walked them to their cars, shaking hands, telling jokes, making plans. The death of the shifters wasn’t the foregone conclusion everyone thought it was. There was hope, heaps of it.
As the last car pulled off, Seth had the strongest feeling he needed to be somewhere.
“I should check on Dara.”
Giving Max a sideways glance, he turned and jogged back toward the pack house, hearing the other alpha on his heels. He caught sight of Dara in the garden behind the house, pacing back and forth. Joe was with him.
“Honey, I’m home.”
Dara glanced up, giving Seth a smile. It was immediately apparent to Seth that something wasn’t right; Dara’s skin a little too pale even though his cheeks seemed flushed.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Seth crowded him, catching him in his arms.
“I’m okay. Just… the babies are coming.”
“Really? Great. How long has this been going on? Why didn’t you get me?”
He was confused, excited, and terrified, all at once.
“It’s been slow going and you had work to do,” Dara said.
“Uh-huh. Were you planning on telling me before they were born or were you just going to surprise me,” Seth teased, cupping Dara’s chin.
“Who doesn’t like surprises,” Dara teased back, sinking into Seth’s embrace. He groaned suddenly. “Joe, I think it might be time.”
“We should get inside,” Joe said.
Before Dara could reply, Seth had things in hand, swinging Dara into his arms.
“I can walk,” Dara grumbled, swatting Seth on the shoulder.
“But you don’t have to,” Seth replied, moving toward the house. “Brings back memories, doesn’t it?”
He carried Dara like that before, when he’d been in labor with Skye. Speaking of Skye…
“Angie’s got him,” Dara said before he could even ask. “She and your mom are looking after him.”
“Good. Great. In we go.”
He settled Dara onto their bed, propping him up with pillows and cupping his cheek.
“Comfortable?”
“Very.”
Seth kissed him. “I’m so proud of you.”
Dara giggled. “I think you’re supposed to say that afterward, not before.”
“But it’s true now. Why wait?”
Dara grimaced, grabbing for Seth’s hand. “I think I have some work to do.”
“Joe!” Seth yelled.
“Geez, Seth. I’m right here,” the beta complained from behind them.
“Oh. Sorry. We have an imminent baby situation.”
Joe laughed. “Yeah, I noticed. Though I know you’re a dab hand at this. Are you sure you need me?”
Both he and Dara made a grab for the beta, pulling him toward the bed.
“I’m kidding,” he said, holding his hands up. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”
There was a wistful look in his eyes as he said it and Seth guessed there was one place, or rather, one person he’d rather be with. Maybe one day, he’d get his happy ending. Seth would do his best to help.
Dara felt like the mythical big, bad wolf; huffing and puffing and pushing out babies. It was hard work, but with Joe giving encouragement and Seth holding tight to him, he made it through. The first baby was a surprise, to Joe most of all.
“Um, I hate to break it to you, Joe,” Seth ventured. “But that does not look like a boy.”
Joe blushed. “It’s not an exact science. I think maybe this is your quiet one, who was turned around. I didn’t get the best view.”
“Yeah but… fifty-fifty, right? Are we going to keep our male majority or are we about to be evened out by girls?”
Despite Seth’s teasing, the second and third babies were boys as expected.
Afterward, Dara couldn’t keep the smile from his face. Joe settled all three babies on his chest.
“Skye,” he said, looking to Seth. “Please, I need Skye.”
He was there not a minute later, Seth climbing onto the bed with him in his arms. Dara stretched a hand out to touch him, loving the sense of connection he felt to all four of his babies.
“These are your baby brothers and your sister. They’re excited to meet you.”
“In as much as they have any clue what the hell is going on right now,” Seth added.
“They know,” Dara insisted, continuing with the introductions. “This is Jamie, this is Toby, and this…” He hesitated, glancing at Seth.
“Should I borrow back the baby book?” Seth asked.
“No, I think we should keep the name. It works either way, right?”
“Right,” Seth said. “I think it suits her. Skye, this is your baby sister, Quinn.”
Skye cooed and sucked on his fist, seeming unperturbed by the events of the day.
Dara looked at their four little ones and then to Seth. “We did it.”
“Yeah,” Seth whispered. “We did. And I am in awe of you.”
“Why don’t I go let everyone know the news and give you guys some alone time,” Joe offered. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
“Thanks, Joe,” Seth said, clasping the beta’s shoulder. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Skye there is proof that you could, but I’m glad you didn’t have to.”
“Me, too,” Dara said.
“Me, three,” Seth interjected, gazing down at Skye. “As talented as I am, I don’t think I’m cut out to be a midwife.”
Skye gurgled, waving one fist in the air.
Dara giggled. “I think Skye agrees. It was a scary ordeal for all involved.”
“Yep,” Seth said. “My face being the first thing anyone sees on their arrival into the world has got to be traumatic.”
“I love seeing your face first thing,” Dara replied with a sigh, letting his head rest against the headboard, his eyes drifting closed. He heard the door open and shut as Joe left, then one of the babies let out a cry.
“Shh, little one,” he murmured. “We’re here. It’s all okay.”
The baby quieted, like magic, and Dara chuckled softly. That had to be what this was. Magic. How else could everything be so right?