Chapter 177 Double Armful of Trouble
The atmosphere in the Blackwood study was thick with the scent of aged oak and the lingering traces of the brothers' morning training—salty and metallic. But the tension had evaporated, replaced by the easy, rough-edged camaraderie that only existed between the Blackwood men.
Fennigan leaned back in his leather chair, a slow, predatory smirk spreading across his face as he watched Toby’s ears turn a brilliant shade of crimson.
"You realize what happens now, don't you, kid?" Fennigan asked, his voice dropping into a mock-serious rumble. "The Toby we know? He’s goner. From the moment that moon hits its peak, you aren't going to have a single thought in that head of yours that doesn't start and end with Sarah. You’ll be spent, entirely devoted to making sure she’s happy, fed, and smiling. You’re about to become the most protective, single-minded wolf in this pack."
Jax let out a short, sharp bark of laughter, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He watched Toby take every word to heart, the boy’s eyes wide with a mixture of terror and terminal devotion.
"I mean," Toby stammered, looking between the Alpha and his brother. "I already feel that way. But... Jax, I’ve seen the way Fenn looks at Leela. Everyone has. But I never really heard how it happened for you. Being the son of two Alpha... how did you know Ginny was the one? Especially since she's... you know... human?"
Jax’s expression softened, a rare, genuine glint appearing in his dark eyes. He stared off for a second, as if he could still see the moment playing out in the air.
"I didn't really 'know,' not in the way you think," Jax replied. "One minute, I was standing there like a statue, watching Fenn and Leela at their ceremony, thinking about pack business. Then, the wind shifted. I caught the most intoxicating scent I’d ever smelled in my life. It wasn't just a smell; it was a pull. It led me straight to her, like a hook in my jaw." He let out a low chuckle. "I didn't even say hello. I just leaned in, smelled her neck, and growled 'Mine.'"
Fennigan nearly choked on his laughter, slapping the desk. "I remember that! You were practically vibrating. You said something about her smelling like the finest vanilla in the world, and what did she say, Jax? Tell the boy."
Jax rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "She looked me dead in the eye, didn't blink at the giant wolf-man hovering over her, and said: 'If you like the smell, it’s my shampoo. Five dollars at Target.'"
The study erupted. Even Toby couldn't help but giggle at the image of the fearsome Jax being shut down by a retail bargain.
Suddenly, Jax’s head tilted. His nostrils flared, and a look of absolute focus settled over his features. "She’s here now, isn't she?"
Fennigan closed his eyes for a split second, feeling the shift in the pack's perimeter through the Alpha bond. "That she is, brother. The stroller brigade has returned."
Toby gave a shy, lopsided smile, looking down at his boots. "I think... I think I’ve known she was the one since we were sixteen. That’s when it really hit me."
Jax stepped over and gave Toby a playful, heavy-handed shove that nearly sent the boy into the bookshelf. "Sixteen? Kid, the whole pack has known since you were five. You’ve been following that girl around like a lovesick wolf pup since you could walk. We were just waiting for your nose to catch up to your heart."
The heavy door of the Blackwood house swung open, and the three men spilled out onto the porch, their laughter still echoing from the study. But the levity died in their throats the moment they saw the trio of women approaching.
It wasn't just the sunset catching them; it was the sheer radiance coming off Sarah. Her smile was so bright it seemed to light up the gravel driveway. Beside her, Leela and Ginny looked exhausted but wore the kind of triumphant, "mission accomplished" expressions that only come after a successful day of shopping and sisterhood.
"The cavalry is here," Fennigan announced, though his eyes immediately locked onto Leela.
The scene at the stroller was a blur of practiced motherhood. Leela leaned over, her movements careful of her growing bump, as she unbuckled Briar. At the same moment, Sarah didn't even hesitate—she hopped right between the two stroller seats, nimbly stepping over the frame to reach Caspian.
The moment Caspian’s green eyes landed on the tall figure on the porch, his face lit up with a toothy, desperate grin. He began bouncing in his straps, his small arms pumping the air.
"Dada! Dada! Dada!" he yelled, his voice echoing across the yard with the authority of a future Alpha.
That was all it took. Hearing her brother’s battle cry, Briar turned her head and saw Fennigan too. Her lower lip wobbled for a split second before she joined in the chorus, reaching out with chubby fingers. "Dada! Uppie!"
"Well, so much for being the favorites today," Ginny teased, leaning against the porch railing as she watched the chaos.
Fennigan didn't need to be told twice. He cleared the porch steps in a single leap, reaching the stroller just as Sarah hoisted a squirming Caspian into the air.
"I've got him, Sarah," Fennigan murmured with a grateful nod, taking the heavy toddler into his arms. Caspian immediately buried his face in his father’s neck, gripping the fabric of Fenn’s shirt like he never intended to let go.
Leela handed a reaching Briar over to Fennigan’s other arm. Usually, the twins were glued to their mother, especially after a long day out, but the excitement of the town and the shop had spent their little batteries. Right now, they didn't want the soft comfort of Mom; they wanted the solid, unshakable strength of their Dad.
Fennigan stood there, a twin tucked into each arm, looking every bit the formidable Alpha—and every bit the doting father. He looked over at Toby, who was watching Sarah with an expression so hopelessly devoted it was a wonder he was still standing.
"See that, Toby?" Fennigan said, gesturing with his chin toward the twins. "This is the 'nothing but protect her' part I was talking about. It starts with a blue dress and ends with a double armful of trouble."
Sarah flushed, her eyes meeting Toby’s, and for a moment, the rest of the pack faded away.