by Layla Silver
“Why don’t we go to Coco’s?” he suggested, swallowing half the bar in one go.
“Mmm,” I agreed, thinking of the massive stacks of thick-cut French toast they served dusted in powdered sugar and dripping with butter. “It’s a plan.”
Grabbing both our cell phones, wallets, and keys and slipping them in pockets, we headed out the back door. As we stepped outside, I slipped my hand into Will’s. I didn’t think my family would try anything, not after last night’s debacle, but I wanted to be perfectly clear from the get-go exactly how this was going to work.
My parents’ back door opened before we reached it. Azalea’s eyes were wide and bloodshot, and she looked uncertain. “Maia?”
“I’m calling a family meeting,” I announced, decisively. “Go tell everyone to get their asses in the living room.”
Lea disappeared, and I led Will inside. I took up the spot in front of the fireplace where the family member leading the meeting always stood, refusing to cede an inch of ground or control. Will stood beside me, radiating wary alertness. He shifted his weight slightly, rolling on the balls of his feet, and I realized he was prepared to put himself between me and any threats. Reaching over, I took his hand again and squeezed it.
The room filled up quickly, my family piling in from all sides. No one spoke. Lea looked fearful and upset—she’d never done well with conflict. My mother’s expression was exhausted and fretful. No doubt she’d been up all night fussing over my brothers. My father’s face was flatly unhappy and wary, and he refused to sit, taking up a position behind my mother, one hand on her shoulder. My brothers limped in, all of them still showing signs of healing injuries. Stone and Ford shot us both angry glances. Ash still looked half out of it. Dune and Birch looked pensive; I knew they were confused.
Once everyone had taken seats, I released Will’s hand and took a step forward. Propping my hands on my hips, I glared at my family, letting my gaze stop at each set of eyes before I started speaking.
“I am ashamed of all of you,” I bit out, bluntly. Surprise and defiance flared in expressions around the room, but I was just getting warmed up. “What the hell were you thinking?” I demanded. “You tried to murder an innocent man in broad daylight! Is that what you are? Murderers? Did you even think about your children? For even half a second? If Will hadn’t cared about me, he could have slaughtered you all, and then what would have happened to your pups? What if his family had come for their justice? Do you want your children to see you killed like vermin in your own homes? It was stupid. Stupid and wrong!”
“It was justice!” Stone yelled, lurching unsteadily to his feet. “Justice for Aunt Lorna and Uncle Joe!”
“Justice?” I shot back, my voice going high with incredulousness. I pointed at Will. “He didn’t kill them. He didn’t even know them. Attacking him isn’t justice!” I shook my head, disgusted, and looked at my mother. “I know you loved Aunt Lorna and that losing her hurt. But she made her choices. She and Joe chose to get involved in dangerous, ugly things, and they paid the price.”
My mother’s eyes welled with tears, and she clamped a hand over her mouth. I hated to hurt her, but this had to stop. “You let your hate seep down into everyone else,” I said, waving my hand at my brothers, “and it nearly cost their lives. Is that worth it? Is losing all of them and keeping this pointless feud going worth risking all of us, all of our pups?” I shook my head again, sweeping my gaze over my siblings. “Aunt Lorna and Uncle Joe are gone. Their deaths were sad and tragic, but they were a long time ago. There’s nothing to be gained by carrying this hatred. You’re just poisoning yourselves and everything else.”
“There has to be justice,” Ford spoke up, his hands clenching into fists. “If we don’t avenge our own, we just make ourselves targets. The people responsible have to pay—and that’s the Kents!”
“The Kents responsible have already paid.” Will’s voice was low and stern. His hand came to rest at the small of my back, warm and steady, as he stepped forward to stand beside me. “Neils and Chelsea Kent were killed for their crimes by a collaboration of other dragons years ago. My father and I were among those who brought down their dark empire, and I assure you that I saw their bodies myself.”
I slid one arm around Will’s waist and leaned into his side. His arm curved around my back protectively as he continued.
“We—the dragons who ended them—sent a proper notice to everyone we knew they had committed crimes against.” He frowned. “We didn’t know about their crimes against your family, or we’d have sent notice here, as well. You have my word that my family had nothing to do with the crime syndicate they were running, and we had no idea of your family’s loss. As it stands, however, justice was meted out for your last pack members. You don’t need to carry that burden any longer.”
“It’s done then,” Birch said, looking dazed. “It’s over.”
“Well, shit.” Dune pushed to his feet, wincing a little as he did. He limped a little as he moved toward us, and he stuck his hand out to Will. “I owe you an apology,” he said, lifting his chin determinedly. “And our thanks for getting justice on our behalf. I’m … sorry. About yesterday.”
“Same,” Ash said, scrubbing his face with his hands. “Maia’s right. We were out of line, even if you’d had something to do with it. We owe you.”
Stone and Ford were grim-faced and less effusive, but they came to shake Will’s hand and gave him stiff nods. This whole mess had been such a big part of their lives for so long, I guessed it might take some time to fully process everything and get themselves to a better mental place. I might as well help them get properly motivated for that.
“If that’s done, there’s one more thing,” I announced, reaching for Will’s hand and lacing our fingers together. “Something you should all know and start getting used to.” I glanced at Will, then back at my family. “Will is my mate.”
Lea squeaked. Several of my brothers sucked in their breath. My parents’ eyes went wide almost in unison.
“We’re expecting,” I plowed on, determinedly, “twins.” I had intended it to be a simple announcement, but I could feel myself starting to glow with happiness at finally being so completely certain and getting to share my joy, even if my audience was a little bowled over. “I expect,” I said, sternly, feeling all eyes on me, “that this dragon-hating nonsense will be completely gone from this family by the time my pups arrive. I want all of my family welcome in this house. If they aren’t, you won’t be seeing any of us.”
***
We left my shell-shocked family to sort themselves out, and I leaned my head back against the seat in Will’s car, suddenly tired. Reaching across the space between us, he held my hand as he drove. We didn’t say anything. We didn’t need to.
As promised, he took me to Coco’s and bribed the hostess to give us a little booth in the back where we’d have something approaching quiet. He ordered decaf for me and full-test coffee for himself, as well as a veritable buffet of food—an enormous Belgian waffle with whipped cream and strawberries, a huge stack of thick, fluffy French toast, sides of bacon and sausage, and several pastries.
The coffee came almost at once, and then we were alone, the faint sounds of the cafe familiar and soothing around us.
“Maia,” Will said carefully as I lifted my coffee in two slightly shaky hands and sipped it. “Did you mean what you said?”
“Which part?” I asked, frowning a little. I took another sip, letting the coffee’s warmth settle me and wishing wistfully that I could have had caffeine.
Will’s lips twitched in amusement. “The part about us being mates,” he said, pointedly. “About us being … a family.”
Oh. That. My heart fluttered. He’d told me that he loved me, but he’d been recovering from nearly dying and in my bed. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe he’d meant it, but loving me and wanting to be a family together weren’t precisely the same thing. Still, there wasn’t any help for it now. I scraped together my frayed
courage.
“Yes,” I said, honestly, setting my coffee down as my hands started to shake too much to hold it reliably. “I love you, Will. I thought having your baby was going to be the closest I got to having you, but now …” I met his eyes bravely. “I want us to be a family, us and our babies. Not just co-parents, but a proper family. I want you and us. If … if that’s what you want, too.”
Will’s answer was to stand up, lean all the way over the table, slide a hand into my hair, and kiss me breathless.
Chapter 15 – Will
Sunshine poured through the wide windows, falling in bright shafts across the bed where Maia was zipping up the small bag we’d brought. The birthing center was an affiliate of the agency’s, and we’d chosen it because it had offered the water-birth options Maia had wanted. From start to finish, though, I’d been impressed with its ambiance, amenities, and professionalism.
We’d checked in late four nights ago when Maia’s water suddenly broke, and the staff had seen to her comfort at every step. It had been dicey for a little while, but at every point, I’d known there were no better hands for Maia to be in as she brought our babies into the world.
It hadn’t been an easy pregnancy.
Fortunately, once she’d gotten over the shock of her daughter being mated to a dragon and dealt with her own grief about her long-dead sister, Maia’s mother had thrown herself into helping Maia through it. She’d done endless research about twins, nearly all of which had only made us more grateful that we would be raising them together. She’d also done research on the easiest birthing options, which became increasingly important as the pregnancy progressed and took its toll on Maia’s energy levels.
My angel had stayed healthy, thank the gods, but she’d lost stamina as carrying twins overtaxed her slender body.
Dr. Carlton had been a blessing every step of the way, adjusting Maia’s vitamin regimens and diet to keep her at her best and helping us select the birthing center best equipped to give her a safe and comfortable birthing experience. The twins had been born two weeks earlier than expected, and they were tiny but healthy.
I glanced toward the corner of the room where my mother was rocking Eva, cooing happily. Eva had Maia’s fair hair and my eyes. Elton and Corey had laughed when they visited yesterday, warning me I would need an arsenal of shotguns to keep the boys—and probably the girls, too—away from my beautiful daughter.
In his bassinet, Emmett made a disgruntled noise.
“There now, I know,” Dr. Carlton said, soothingly, rubbing her hand on his small tummy as she straightened. “Being poked at is never any fun, but we’re done now.” She reached for the clipboard on the stand beside her, and I moved to the side of the bassinet.
Slinging a blanket over my shoulder, I reached in and carefully lifted my son to my shoulder. He had gotten my dark hair and Maia’s blue eyes. Both he and his sister already bore the hallmarks of dragon-kin that promised centuries of mischief to come. My son rubbed his tiny face against my shoulder fussily before settling, and I rubbed his back calmingly.
“Can we still take them home?” Maia asked, appearing at my side. She still moved a little stiffly, her body not yet fully recovered from the birth, and there was worry in her voice.
I slid an arm around her, pulling her supportively into my side.
“I don’t see any reason why not.” Dr. Carlton scrawled something on the chart. “Their vitals are all good, and I know you’re well-equipped to take care of them.” She smiled and shook her head. “Just be sure to make all their check-ups on time. Chimeras are rare, and it’s best to keep an eye on their development just to be sure.”
“They’ll both get the best care,” I promised. On my shoulder, Emmett hiccupped, and I lifted my hand again to rub his back in a circle, thinking how lucky we were that the agency had been involved throughout Maia’s pregnancy.
The original plan had been to ensure there was one dragon shifter and one coyote shifter and to otherwise leave the twins’ development to chance. As it turned out, however, our highly compatible genes led to our twins being among the zero-point-five percent of agency pregnancies that didn’t go to plan.
Somewhere along the way post-conception, both babies’ genes had mutated. Instead of getting one coyote and one dragon shifter, we got two chimeras—shifters with more than one natural shifted form. It was exceedingly rare—there were only a handful of documented cases in all of recorded history.
He gets that mischief from us, Stone had boasted proudly when he and the rest of Maia’s family had been through to meet the babies.
Wherever they’d gotten it from, I was grateful the agency staff had been equipped to ensure my babies’ safe development and birth.
“Thank you, Dr. Carlton.” My words were suffused with the gratitude that I felt, and Maia’s arm slid around my waist and squeezed. “For everything.”
“It’s been a pleasure,” she assured me, smiling. “Now, let’s get some paperwork done so you can take your family home.”
***
Home meant my house. Quaint as Maia’s house was, it had proved to be uncomfortable almost to the point of being unsafe as her pregnancy progressed. We’d taken to staying at my place consistently by the time she was six months pregnant. She’d quickly found that with my house being much closer to work and far enough away from her family to give her some breathing room, she preferred it. So we’d completely moved her in and sub-let her house until she decided what she wanted to do with it.
With all the renovations done and a highly qualified, experienced, and recommended nanny in place, the house was more than ready when we brought our babies home. Getting settled in was something of a process, but finally, both babies were asleep in their shared bassinet, and Maia was tucked into our giant bed in the master suite.
I brought her a glass of sparkling water and set it on the bedside stand.
“Will.” Maia snuggled into the pillows with a yawn and reached for my hand.
“How do you feel, Angel?” I sat on the edge of the bed and clasped her hand in mine.
“Happy.” She smiled. “Our babies are safe and beautiful. What more could I ask for?”
“Well …” My heart beat faster as I asked myself if I was really going to do this now. I should wait. Let her rest and choose a less emotionally volatile day than the one on which we brought our babies home. But I’d already waited so long. Unable to help myself, I suggested playfully, “a ring, maybe?”
“What?” Maia’s eyes widened.
Sliding to one knee beside the bed, still holding her hand, I kissed her palm. “Maia, I love you. I love our babies. I love that we are a family. But I’m still a dragon.” I shrugged one shoulder. “I want it to be official.” Digging in my pocket, I produced a small jeweler’s box. Propping it open, I offered it for her inspection.
Maia gasped, and I tried not to preen. I’d spared no expense or effort in choosing a ring to entice my mate and make clear to the world how I felt about her. I’d leveraged my family’s contacts in the jeweler’s industry to have it custom-made by some of the world’s best artisans. Diamonds glittered in a platinum setting perfectly sized to Maia’s delicate hands. The dark blue of the jeweler’s box set of their gleaming shine to its best advantage, and I could see her awe as she stared at it.
“Marry me, Maia?” I asked solemnly. “Make our family official?”
“Yes!” Laughing, her eyes welling with tears of joy, Maia threw both her arms around my neck. “Yes, I will!”
Contentedness soaked through me, and I wrapped myself around her, my heart soaring. I had my mate and my babies, and it was everything I had ever hoped for and more.
THE END
About the Author
Hi there! I’m Layla Silver, and I’m so happy to see you here :) I’m a mom of three adorable kids and after all these years, still wildly in love with my awesome and hard-working husband. I LOVE to write about hot shifters, whether Wolves, Bears, or Dragons, who are looking for their ma
tes and will do anything to protect them no matter what comes their way. When I’m not writing or spending time with my family (which is pretty rare, but I’m not complaining!), I like to be in the mountains chasing paranormal dreams.
Check out my author page on Amazon and click “Follow” to get updates on new releases.
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Books by Layla Silver
“Shifter Surrogate Agency” Series
What's a very hot shifter to do if he hasn't found his mate yet but can't wait to have a baby? Go to the Shifter Surrogate Agency of course, where he might just get more than he bargained for...
Each book in the series is a standalone story with a guaranteed HEA.
The Wolf’s Surrogate
The Bear’s Surrogate
The Alpha’s Surrogate
The Lion’ Surrogate
The Dragon’s Surrogate