Chapter Thirty-One
The auction room was warm and close, people everywhere, talking, staring. There were so many eyes on Michael, on his pregnant belly, and he wanted to hide from them. Each person brought up onto the small stage made his heart ache. He knew what it felt like to have no control over your fate.
As Ryan and Eliot’s lot approached, his anxiety grew. There was no way they’d be able to outbid those alphas for them. But he wasn’t sure he could just sit there while his babies were sold, given away to people who cared for them only for their monetary worth. At least Julian and Claude had loved them, in their own way.
Max’s hand was holding his, the physical contact with his mate the only thing holding him together. He clung tightly to Max as the auctioneer stepped back up to the microphone. Griffin’s hand was on his shoulder, squeezing gently as the auctioneer announced Ryan and Eliot had been sold in a private sale. Everything went blurry and indistinct. He remembered crying out, his voice sounding distant to his own ears. Someone was trying to move him and he fought them, desperate to do something. They were his babies, he couldn’t get so close only to have them torn away again.
A rush of cool air hit him as he was pulled outside by two pairs of hands. And then Griffin was there, his fingers cold where they pressed against his cheeks.
“Listen to me,” Griffin said, his voice low and intense. “I told you I had a plan, yes? I promised I’d get them back for you?”
He could only manage a nod, no words escaping his throat which was tight with building tears.
At Griffin’s insistence, he got himself under control as best he could, able to walk on his own two feet. And then they were rounding the corner and his babies… they were right there.
He broke free of the hands holding him and ran to them, sinking to his knees to wrap his arms around Ryan. Moments later, Eliot was placed in his arms, and he hugged both boys to his chest, sobbing freely.
“I’ve missed you, so, so much.”
He kissed and hugged them, and it was like the whole world had faded away, nothing but the three of them. No, five. Max’s hand rested against his back and within his belly, the baby kicked. Finally, after so long, their family was together.
Michael felt like he was in a dream. An amazing, wonderful dream with a happy ever after. But it couldn’t be real, could it? Within his belly, Ben kicked, while in his arms Eliot squirmed a little. He hadn’t let go of the vicelike grip he had on Michael’s shirt, even in his sleep. Ryan, meanwhile, was curled in Max’s lap like he belonged there, instantly claiming the alpha as something familiar but keeping a close eye on Michael as if the omega might disappear at any moment.
“You’ve grown so big,” he told the little alpha, reaching over to smooth a strand of his hair.
“I’m going to be as big as Papa one day,” Ryan said with confidence. But then his face turned down into a frown. “The bigger boys said I had to fight, in my new home. But I don’t want to.”
Michael struggled to keep his composure on hearing Ryan’s words, fighting down his own emotions. “No, baby. In our new home, you won’t have to fight. Just play and learn and make friends.”
“And El can stay too?”
“Of course. We’re all staying together now.”
“Like a family?”
“Just like that.”
“But no Papa or Daddy?”
Though he’d called Michael his daddy before, he knew this time he meant Claude.
“No. There’ll be me, you, Eliot, Max, Uncle Griffin, Uncle Drew, and the rest of our pack. A new pack. A new home.”
“How long will we stay?”
Ryan seemed curious if a little guarded.
“A long time, I hope. A very long time. Until you’re all grown up or even longer.”
That seemed to satisfy the little alpha’s curiosity, his attention turning to the window. Michael gave Max a hopeful smile, wondering how his mate was taking all of this. It was one thing to talk about it in the abstract sense, about one day being a family of five, it was another to suddenly have two kids thrust upon him.
Max smiled back at him, totally at ease.
“We have a bit of a journey ahead of us,” he said.
Michael wasn’t sure if he meant their journey home or what he knew would be good, if trying, weeks ahead. He’d been apart from his kids for a long time. They’d have to get to know him again and he’d have to learn all the little ways they’d changed. They’d done so much growing up in all that time.
Griffin took Max’s statement literally.
“I know it’s a long journey but I think it’s safest if we go straight home. We need the protection of our pack right now.”
“No arguments here,” Max said. “I’m sure we’d all like to get home.”
Michael felt a twinge of pain in his back and shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. He wasn’t looking forward to a whole day of driving but it was worth the discomfort to get them all home.
Following the kids’ example, he rested his head against the window and closed his eyes. He’d gone days with little sleep, too worked up and worried to rest.
He woke to Eliot babbling in his ear and his back aching fiercely.
“I think someone needs a change,” Griffin suggested.
Michael, wrinkling his nose, agreed.
Drew pulled in at a service station. They were all in need of a bathroom break by that point. Michael, wearing a coat and hat to disguise his condition and gender at first glance, carried Eliot while Max kept a hand on Ryan. It was a little risky bringing shifter kids that young out among humans. Eliot was liable to shift if distressed and even Ryan might if he was upset enough.
They kept close together, Drew leading the way, Griffin following after them. Ronan’s car had pulled in after theirs, so they had backup if they needed it. Griffin had fetched the bag of clothes and supplies they’d brought for the kids. Michael took it from him and went into the family bathroom with Ryan. Max hovered at the door, but Michael waved him in, knowing he could do with another pair of hands.
Changing a diaper was second-nature. He’d had a lot of practice. Eliot fussed a little but let Michael redress him in clean clothes without any complaint.
“There’s my good boy,” Michael said to him, tickling a foot and teasing a smile from the omega. He went to pick Eliot up, wincing as his back twinged again.
“Michael? Are you okay?” Max asked, glancing over from where he was helping Ryan wash his hands in the sink.
“Yeah, just too much sitting. My back is not happy.”
The alpha accepted his explanation, but Michael could tell he was keeping a close eye on him as they headed back out.
Griffin met them outside. “Ronan and Noah have gone to get us some food. We’ll eat in the car.” He did a double-take. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
“I’m fine,” he promised his brother.
“His back’s sore,” Max threw in.
Michael glared at him. “It’s nothing. Pregnant people aren’t meant to sit in cars for hours at a time.”
Griffin winced in sympathy. “Sorry, Michael. Maybe we could get you a heat pack?”
“Sounds like heaven.”
They got back in the car, with the addition of bottles of water, bags of food, and a heat pack skillfully placed behind Michael’s back. It helped for a while but as the night wore on, he struggled to find a comfortable position. When Eliot was in a deep sleep, he handed him forward to Griffin and shuffled around, desperate for some relief.
Max reached over, settling a warm hand on his back and rubbing firmly. Michael groaned as the pain eased.
“What’s wrong with Daddy?” Ryan’s sleepy voice asked.
“I’m okay, sweetie,” Michael assured him. “My back hurts, that’s all.”
“How long until we’re home?” Max asked.
“Um… five hours,” Griffin said.
“Four,” Drew countered. “If I’m driving.”
“Four sounds good,” Michael said, not trying to hide his yawn. He shifted around to sit with his head on Max’s shoulder.
“You’re not in labor, are you?” the alpha whispered in his ear.
Michael snorted. “Oh, believe me, you’d know if I was.”
After two children, he was very familiar with what labor felt like. Ben wasn’t ready to make an appearance just yet, a fact which he was very grateful for.
“Wake me when we’re home, yeah?”
“Rest sounds like a good plan. I think it’s going to be a thing of the past soon enough,” Max murmured.
At some point, Michael became aware of Eliot crying, reaching for him blindly and relieved when the little omega was placed into his arms.
“Don’t cry, baby. I’ve got you.”
Eliot’s cries were soothed with those few words, and he cuddled him against his chest. He was glad it wasn’t yet time for Ben’s birth. Ryan and Eliot needed their attention, there’d be a lot to do to settle them into their new home.
“Daddy?”
He cracked his eyes open to find Ryan staring at him with the frank curiosity of a five-year-old.
“Yeah?”
“Is that a baby?”
He was pointing to Michael’s rounded stomach.
“That’s your new little brother, Ben.”
“Another one?” Ryan didn’t sound too enamored by the idea.
“Yep, you get to be a big brother to two little guys instead of one,” Max chimed in. “Cool, huh?”
Ryan sucked on his thumb in contemplation. “I guess. You won’t give him all my toys, will you?”
“Of course not. But you can share them if you like. When he’s big enough. He won’t be doing much playing until he’s older. Not like Eliot.”
“Then I guess a little brother is okay.”
Having got Ryan’s seal of approval, Michael half-expected Eliot to chime in but the omega was content with just clinging limpet-like to Michael. The clinginess wasn’t exactly a surprise, not after everything. And, after nearly a year without seeing, touching, or scenting his boys, there was nothing he wanted more than to hold them close and never let go.