Kit woke when Ivy got out of bed for the third time that night. She had to be exhausted, running to the bathroom all night. He looked at the clock, realizing it was more morning than night, but you’d never know it from how dark it still was. When she got back under the covers, he pulled her close, spooning up against her back.

“You doin’ all right, babe?” he asked.

“I am. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“No worries. How about I get up with Case and you sleep in?”

“Is it that time?”

“Soon.”

She yawned. “I wish I could, but not today. It’s Casey’s first day back to school.” She ran her hand over his, already spread wide on her belly. “I haven’t been nearly as sick with this one as I was with Casey.”

Kit nuzzled his face against her hair. “I wish I’d been there for you.”

She turned to her back and caught his face. “You’ve been amazing with this one.”

“I’m trying.”

“Mandy said Rocco was terrified of having a girl.”

“I wondered why they hadn’t said anything. So they don’t know what they’re having either?”

“No.”

Kit chuckled. “Rocco’s a great dad to Zavi. He’ll be great no matter what they have.”

“I’ve been thinking that maybe we should find out what we’re having.”

“You want to?”

“Yeah. Would help us get ready.”

“You gonna tell Mandy?”

Ivy laughed. “I’m going to tell everyone.” She drew his face close for a kiss, sleepy and gentle. She was already bed-warm again, and he was instantly burning for her.

He sighed.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

She rolled to her side, holding his arm around her belly. “You okay no matter what we’re having?”

He kept himself from laughing. Not like he could turn that train around, even if he wanted to, which he didn’t. “I just want a healthy baby. And a healthy mom for both of our kids.” They were both silent for a long moment. “You sleeping?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll see Casey off to school.”

“No. No, I’m good.”

“So what’s up with her, anyway?” Kit asked.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s been moping around something fierce the last few weeks.”

Ivy turned on her back and stared up at him. There wasn’t much light in the room, but Kit could make out her face.

“Are you serious?” Ivy asked.

“Yes. I’m serious. Haven’t you noticed?”

“She has a crush on Lion and is brokenhearted that he’s leaving for school.” Ivy gasped, then struggled to sit up. Kit helped her. “Oh, man. Even more reason to see her off today. Lion’s also starting to move in to Fiona and Kelan’s place today.”

“Ivy, Lion’s an adult. Case is a kid. What the hell is she thinking?”

“I’ve already talked to her. Our hormones get so far ahead of our bodies, you know that.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means just that. Your daughter is crushing pretty hard. She’s convinced he’s the one for her.”

“Fuck. I thought I already squashed that.”

“With Lion, maybe—not that I think for even a second that he had any interest, since she’s still a baby. However, you didn’t squash it with your daughter. Don’t worry. I’ve had a talk with her. Something may come of her crush in time, but it may not. She figured out Lion would be about my age when she was twenty-one. That hit home. She called me old.”

Kit laughed. “I don’t feel old. And if I’m not, you aren’t. And nothing better fucking happen between them before they’re both old, if at all. Maybe I’ll have another word with Lion before he leaves.”

“Just let it be. He’s going off to college. All kinds of new experiences will happen to him and Hawk. Let’s not make a big deal about this. We’ve seen what happens when parents blow things out of proportion.” She reached for his hands. “Your daughter is hurting, though.”

Kit sighed. “I hate that I can’t fix this one. I can’t do a damned thing.”

“And that, my love, is the terrible wonder of being a parent.”

“You know what I said before about not caring if we’re having a boy or a girl? Well, I take that back. Boys are a lot easier. Let’s have one of those.”

The cubs were lined up in two rows in front of the house, backpacks filled with the supplies they’d need at school. Each wore clothes from mainstream society, with warm coats, hats, and gloves. They weren’t even all matching. Lion checked them over, regretting their time as wild children was over—for him and Hawk as well.

He hated to be leaving them, but these boys were strong and fearless. They weren’t without family—they were brothers to each other. And they had the families here.

They’d toured the school and its grounds last week over the winter holiday, but none of them quite knew what to expect. This week would be full of assessments, then they’d each be placed into the appropriate classes.

Lion knew he had the same catch-up ahead of him. He hoped they were ready for what was coming. Maybe they’d never be ready; maybe they just had to jump in and swim. He’d had that talk with them. He and Hawk had delayed their departure by a couple of days so that he could help the kids transition into their new lives.

Casey came outside, with Troy, Addy, and Owen following behind. Lion knew Kit and Ivy were watching from the windows flanking the front door. Casey had begged them not to come outside. Beetle was already in the lineup. Troy hadn’t been to a public school yet. And Casey had had to sit out several months. All of these kids had their own hurdles to overcome—at least they had that to pull them together.

A big school bus pulled onto the property and turned around in front of Blade’s house. There were a few other kids onboard, all of whom moved over to look at the house and kids from that side of the bus.

Lion stood near the open doors and nodded at each of the boys as they boarded. Casey was the last to get on the bus. She smiled at him, but her eyes seemed sad. Maybe she felt the end of their old lives, like he did. As soon as she was on the bus, several of her friends screamed her name. Lion stepped away from the bus, watching as her friends hugged her. The bus driver ordered them to settle down.

He waved as the bus pulled away. When he turned around, everyone looked a little stricken. Wynn and Mandy stood there with Zavi. Mandy wrapped an arm around her large belly and said, “I have an overwhelming need to follow them to school and make sure they’re okay.”

Lion nodded and watched as the bus drove off the property. “I know what you mean.”

“Can we follow them?” Addy asked.

“It’s hard letting go,” Wynn said. “And I’ve only been caring for them for a few weeks.”

Owen wrapped his arm around Addy’s shoulders and led her back inside.

“Where’s Hawk?” Mandy asked Lion.

“He’s getting a few last things together. We’re going to take some stuff down to the apartment with Fee. I wanted to be here for the cubs as long as possible. We can use the next few days to get moved in while they’re at school. Then Sunday, after the wedding, we’ll head out for the week.”

Zavi sniffled and wiped his nose on the back of his hand.

Mandy held his shoulder. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

“Why can’t I go with them? Troy did.”

Mandy knelt down and took his hands. “We talked about this. You have to get a little bigger. He’s a little older than you.”

“But the house is too quiet without everyone there.” More tears rolled down his cheeks.

“They’ve only just left. You don’t know how quiet it is.”

“It was quiet before they ever got here. At least I had Casey before. But now I don’t.”

Mandy looked up at Wynn and winked. “Well then, I guess we’ll have to make some noise.” Using his shoulder for leverage, she hoisted herself to her feet. “I love you, Zavi!” she shouted, throwing her hands out wide.

“I love you, Mom!” Zavi answered at the top of his lungs. “I love you too, Miss Wynn!”

Wynn responded, “I love you both! I love this house! I love my job! I love shouting!”

Lion smiled as the women roared their way into the house with Zavi. Hawk came out carrying several bags. Lion met his serious gaze. He looked as tense as the cubs. Maybe they should do some shouting too.

Lion popped the back hatch to his SUV and tossed one of the bags in. Fee’s apartment was fully furnished, so they just needed to bring down their personal items.

Lion punched Hawk’s arm. “I think it’s appropriate to say, ‘Chill-out.’ We’re good. We’re moving on to the next thing.”

“What if I liked the last thing better?” Hawk asked.

Lion shrugged. “There’s plenty of forest to be wild in, and the woods will be waiting for us if this doesn’t work out.”

“They call to me.”

“Yeah, me too. But we owe it to Owen and the team to make a go of this.”

Hawk nodded. “I know.”

Fiona came out, dragging two suitcases. Kelan followed her with two more. Fee looked happy. Kelan didn’t. Lion and Hawk grabbed her stuff and started loading it, rearranging what was already there.

Kelan pulled her close. “Call me when you get there.”

“I’ll be with Lion and Hawk. I’ll be perfectly safe.”

“Call me when you get there.”

Fee smiled up at him as she slipped her arms around his waist. “I will.”

Lion tried not to invade their private moment, but he couldn’t seem to look away. Kelan had no problems showing his affection and need for Fee. That was the one part that worried Lion the most about his next step in life: women.

Kelan brushed his thumb over Fee’s cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you. We’ll be back this afternoon.”

“I’m glad.” He kissed her. Cupping the back of her head in his hand, he leaned his forehead to hers. “I want you to work hard this semester. Knock that shit out so you can come back to me.”

She nodded. “I might take an extra class or two. Maybe, if I take summer classes, I could finish a semester early. Are we calling your parents tonight?”

“Yes.”

Fee ran her hands up his chest. “Are you worried about it?”

“No. I’m looking forward to that.”

“Me too.” She smiled, then caught his face for a kiss. Lion did look away then.

Kelan opened the front passenger door for her. Lion wasn’t certain he ever wanted to fall in love if it felt as awful as Kelan looked.

Lion closed the back hatch as Kelan came over to him and Hawk. “She’s my heart. Guard her as if she were yours.”

Hawk gave him a sympathetic smile. “You know we will.”

Kelan bumped fists with him, then gave Lion a hard glare and shook hands. “Keep your eyes open. We’re not out of the woods.”

But they were, weren’t they? Not only out of the woods but way out in the open, exposed to their enemies.

“I will.”

Fee looked at Kelan’s happy face that evening. She’d only just gotten home, and dinner would be served soon. They had a narrow window to make the call to his parents.

She was too nervous to smile back at him. He’d said plenty of times how happy his parents would be to welcome her to the family, but this was the first time she would actually talk to them herself. What if she heard in their voices a resistance to her that Kelan never heard? What if they weren’t really happy about her and Kelan?

She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “What if—”

“No more what-ifs,” Kelan said. “We’re already a couple. This is just a formality. They cannot break us apart because we’re already united.”

“Right. But what if—”

Kelan raised his brows, his thumb hovering over the digits on his phone.

Fee bit her lips. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with.” She clenched her teeth and winced.

He grinned and shook his head as he dialed his parents. The call was on speaker, so Fee heard it ring. Maybe they wouldn’t be home. Maybe—

“Hi, honey.”

“Hi, Mom. How’s everything going?”

“Great. And you?”

Fee heard the full question his mom didn’t speak.

“Super. Is Dad around?”

“He’s right here.”

“Then put me on speaker. Fiona and I have some news.”

“Oh?”

“Hi, son,” his dad said.

“Is she there with you?” his mom asked.

“I’m here. Hi.” Fee shot Kelan a glance. He grinned at her.

“Hi, sweetheart,” his mom said. “I can’t wait to meet you. Any woman who captured my son’s heart has to be a rare angel.”

Fiona laughed nervously. “I’m no angel.” God, couldn’t she have said something—anything—else?

“Yes, she is,” Kelan said. If Fee didn’t know better, she’d think he was enjoying her fit of nerves.

“So have you set a date yet?” his dad asked.

“Honey, don’t jump ahead. This is their news to tell.”

“As a matter of fact, that’s what we were calling about. Fiona and I would like to have our wedding sometime this spring. Any dates bad for you?”

“Are you coming home for the wedding, son?” his mom asked.

“No. We’re having it here.”

“Hold on. Let me check the calendar.”

“Mom’s checking,” his dad said, “but you know it doesn’t matter. Anything she has planned, she’ll reschedule.”

“We’re flexible,” Fiona said. “She doesn’t have to redo anything.”

“Not true, hon. She’s been asking me every day when we were going to get this call. She’s over the moon.”

“Is she?” Fee asked.

“Yup. Kelan doesn’t take these things lightly. When he chose you, we knew he’d found the right one.”

“But you haven’t even met me yet.” Fee’s eyes were watering.

Kelan hugged her and whispered, “Told you.”

“We love our son,” his mom said. “And if he loves you, then we do too.”

“I’m really looking forward to meeting you both,” Fee said.

“I can’t wait. My calendar doesn’t have anything written in stone—” his mom said as she came back to the phone.

“Told you,” his dad interjected.

“I would just like for you two to consider having it here,” his mom said. “Everyone would love to witness your wedding, and it just isn’t feasible to have them all travel out to you. Just something to think about.”

“We’ll consider it, Mom. After we pick a date, I’ll have Fiona get in touch with you to work everything out.”

“Sounds great. Oh, honey, I am so happy for you. I know your brothers will be too. And I finally get to have a daughter!”

“Thanks. I appreciate the warm welcome,” Fee said.

“We’re here for you kids. Let us know what you decide,” Kelan’s dad said before ending the call.

When Kelan put his phone down, Fee gave a little scream and jumped into his arms. “I love them. They are so sweet.”

He caught her up close and kissed her. “So you’re not afraid of them anymore?”

“No. Well, maybe a little. But more excited than scared.”

“Good. I’ll talk to Kit and see what he thinks about my scheduling a couple of weeks off this spring. Maybe we time it with your spring break. Or we can wait until school’s out in May and do it then.”

“That might be best. It’ll still be spring. That’ll give me and your mom plenty of time to do our planning.”

“What do you think about going out there for the wedding?”

“I love that idea, but what about everyone here? I don’t want them to miss it. With the babies coming, Ivy and Mandy may not be able to travel yet, so Kit and Rocco are probably out.”

“That could free up the rest to come—having someone here to man the fort. We can’t all go. We’ll talk about it. Really, it just depends on how steady everything here is—and that we won’t know until much closer to our date.”