Chapter 146 Pups!
Coban's POV
The Alpha Quarters sitting room is packed, but not chaotic. Everyone who matters is here. Power comes through the walls, thick and restless. The same way it's been for the past month.
Trixie sits on my lap, her back against my chest. My arms are locked securely around her middle. She's round now, beautifully so. There's no hiding the way she waddles when she walks. Three months pregnant, twins, white wolf with double alpha blood, and a queen on top of that. Wolves usually carry five months, but everyone knows she won't go that long. We will be very lucky if she makes it over four months.
Darien and Lucian are across from us. Their attention never leaves Trixie or Roxie for more than a breath.
Kevan went against the wall, arms crossed, already wearing that look that says he's about to be sarcastic.
Mark has claimed an entire couch like it belongs to him. He has one arm slung over the back and his legs are spread wide.
I exhale, slowly and clear my throat.
"Alright everyone. Let's go over the numbers and strategy before we start panicking."
Kevan shifted from where he was. "I'm not panicking. I just enjoy the look on all of your faces when you realize Norman's trying to play chess while we've been playing three dimensional war for weeks."
I raised a brow. "Sarcastic as ever Kevan." I said I shake my head. "Thank you. I do try." he grins.
"We will have the Warriors from Calvin's pack, Benjamin's pack, Elliott's, Franscisco's, and Manuel's. Everyone will be here and in position." I say as I look at everyone around the room.
Mark snorted. "Sounds like a family reunion with a side of murder."
Kevan groaned. "Mark, that is not funny. Not even a little." he rolled his eyes.
"Exactly" Mark said as his eyes were twinkling. "Because it is funny. It is us versus a shit ton of pissed off shifters. It's a comedy waiting to happen. Someone's bound a trip over their own fur."
The room erupts in laughter.
"We have tried holding ceremonies for the new alphas." I continue. "By the second one we gave up."
Mark snorts again. "Because apparently peace offends people." he laughs.
"Dark Fang" Caden adds "Alpha Edward from River Pack, Alpha Renaldo from Dark Sea, Alpha Arnold, all of them teamed up with Norman." Caden says as he looks around the room.
Kevan clicks his tongue. "Which means we should've finished them when we weakened their forces."
Hes not wrong. Nobody argues with that.
"Some survivors from Dark Forest, Raging Rapids, and Black Moon that were loyal to their alphas has joined him as well." I say as I'm rubbing on Trixie's stomach. "So like Mark said, we're looking at going up against at least 600 pissed off shifters."
Mark whistles low. "600? That's ambitious. Stupid but ambitious." Mark leaned forward. "So, what you're saying is it's gonna be one hell of a night." He let out another low whistle as he shook his head.
Trixie shifts on my lap. One hand going to her stomach. The lights overhead flickered once, then again. Darien straightens immediately. Lucian's jaw tightens. "They'e irritated." Darien says flatly.
Trixie sighs and lays her head on my chest. "They don't like stress or long meetings." Caden smirks, rubbing slow circles over her knee. "Already ruling the palace."
HICCUP The sound was very loud. The lights flicker again.
Mark bursts out laughing. "Yep, there it is. The future kings have spoken." Trixie groans. "I'm sorry."
I refocus the room. "Their attack date is in five days. We're letting them come to us. We will move in waves. We will constantly rotate fresh warriors in. If one falls, they will be replaced. If one is wounded. They get pulled out immediately."
I start listing the packs that's with us and that's going to be here to fight.
Kevan nods. "Number wise, were solid. Strategy wise. We are solid. Still gonna be brutal." He sighs as he shakes his head.
"Well, we will have our army as well as the others. So yeah, numbers, we are still stacked." I say, as I rub on Trixie's stomach.
Mark sits back. "So it's going to be one hell of a party. Do we get popcorn or are we going for a BBQ."
Were all in the discussion of how we're going to attack in waves when we over hear the girls conversations. We get quiet fast.
"I'm pregnant." Roxie said softly to Trixie. "With twins."
The room freezes.
Sabrina gasps. "Wait--What?" Tina's hand flies to her mouth. "No Way" her eyes go wide.
"I am too." Tina blurts out. "I'm with pup."
Sabrina nods. "Same"
Trixie's eyes widen. "Brandi called two weeks ago, her and Elliot are expecting." The girls all scream and squeal. Bouncing up and down.
Mark stares around the room. He is silently counting. "So, we're basically starting a daycare." He mutters.
Kevan deadpans. "A very dangerous daycare." he says as he chuckles.
Darien pulls Roxie closer to him. "My twins will guard the kings heirs when they rule. And their queen." He says with pride. Lucian nods. "Nothing will get past them."
Mark grins. "Great! The royal security detail won't even be potty trained."
I laugh despite myself.
Caden leans in and kisses Trixie's temple. I follow, pressing my lips into her hair. My arm still firmly around her stomach.
"Alright" I say with a steady voice. "We prepare. We fortify. We protect our mates and pups." I say with a nod.
"And when Norman comes." Mark says darkly. "We and kill him."
Low growls ripple through the room.
Trixie settles deeper against me. Caden's hand warm on her knee.
The lights above us are steady for now.