Chapter 212 Birthday?
Coban’s POV
Four months.
That’s how long it had been since the tournament ended and the palace finally settled back into something resembling normal life.
Four months since the ball.
Four months since three stubborn women decided to grow an entire new generation at the same time. And now here we were.
Cassian and Atlas, their first birthday.
The palace grounds looked like a damn festival. Bright banners hung from the palace balconies. Balloons in gold, white, and deep maroon floated everywhere, tied to railings, chairs, and posts around the massive yard.
Long tables stretched across the grass, covered in gifts and trays of food.
At the center stood the biggest cake I’d ever seen. Three tiers. White icing with golden trim. Tiny wolf designs piped along the sides. And two large candles sitting proudly on top. One for Atlas. One for Cassian.
The warm July sun hung high above us, the air thick with summer heat instead of the cool mountain breeze we usually had earlier in the year.
Kids ran everywhere.
Bouncy houses had been set up all across the yard, three of them, towering colorful monstrosities that squeaked and bounced while children launched themselves through the air like tiny lunatics.
Atlas and Cassian were at the center of it all. Naturally.
Both boys were chasing Orion and Theron across the grass while Elias tried to keep up behind them.
Golden sparks flickered occasionally around Cassian’s fingers while Atlas sent little gusts of wind swirling through the balloons tied along the yard.
Every time it happened, the surrounding warriors erupted in cheers. Show offs. Just like their mother. Speaking of her, I glanced over.
Trixie waddled slowly across the grass toward the tables. And yes. Waddled.
At a little over four months pregnant with our daughter, there was no other word for it.
Her hands rested under the curve of her stomach as she walked carefully, the soft summer dress she wore stretching around the unmistakable roundness of her belly.
And she wasn’t alone. Tina and Sabrina walked beside her, moving just as slowly. Both just as pregnant. Both carrying boys. Three women. Three round stomachs. Three very stubborn mothers.
Caden and I flanked Trixie like two bodyguards who’d been given the most dangerous assignment in the kingdom.
“Slow down,” Caden muttered for the fifth time.
“I am walking,” Trixie replied dryly.
“That’s too fast.” He repeated.
She stopped walking and turned her head slowly toward him. “If I move any slower I’ll be going backwards.”
I hid my smirk. Tina chuckled beside her. Sabrina fanned herself dramatically. “I swear this baby has gained five pounds overnight.”
Kevan appeared suddenly beside the group, holding a drink and looking entirely too amused. He glanced at the three pregnant women. Then their stomachs. Then back at us.
“Oh no,” he said loudly. Everyone within earshot turned.
Kevan pointed his glass at the women. “You three need to hold those babies in for at least another hour.”
Trixie narrowed her eyes. “What?”
Kevan gestured toward the yard. “We just set all this up! We got cake, gifts, bouncy houses.” He waved at the decorations. “you can’t go into labor during the party!”
Mark barked a laugh from one of the tables. “Yeah, at least wait until after cake.”
Darien called from near the grill. “Or after I eat.”
Lucian added lazily from his chair. “Preferably after dinner.”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Oh yes,” she said sarcastically. “Let me just tell my uterus to wait.”
Sabrina laughed. “Hold on baby, your father says you can’t come out yet.”
Kevan lifted both hands defensively. “Hey I’m just saying! The timing would be terrible.”
Trixie snorted. “You think we scheduled this?”
Atlas suddenly ran toward us and crashed into my leg at full speed. “Daddy!” I scooped him up before he could fall.
Cassian followed immediately behind him and climbed onto Caden’s boot.
Caden lifted him effortlessly. “Easy there, warrior.” Cassian giggled and grabbed Caden’s face. Atlas leaned over my arm and pointed at the cake.
“CAKE.” He bounced up and down.
“Not yet,” I told him. His face scrunched in outrage.
Across the yard, more children piled into the bouncy houses while warriors and pack members laughed, drank, and celebrated under the warm sun.
Music played softly from speakers near the palace steps. Balloons floated lazily in the breeze.
It was chaos. Happy chaos. Exactly how a birthday should be.
Later in the afternoon, everyone gathered near the cake table. Cassian and Atlas sat in high chairs decorated with little crowns. Both boys already had frosting smeared across their faces before the candles were even lit.
Trixie laughed beside me, one hand rubbing her stomach. Caden rested a hand protectively along her back. Tina and Sabrina stood nearby fanning themselves again.
Kevan stepped forward dramatically. “Alright everyone!” He clapped his hands loudly. “Let’s sing before these three go into labor and ruin my perfectly timed party.”
The yard burst into laughter. The song began. Cassian tried to grab the candles. Atlas attempted to blow them out before the song finished. Children cheered. Adults laughed.
And for a moment it felt like the entire world existed only inside this yard.
The sun had started to dip lower when the party began slowing down. Kids still bounced in the houses. Warriors lounged in chairs. Half the cake had disappeared.
Trixie, Tina, and Sabrina stood together near the tables catching their breath. All three looked exhausted.
Kevan walked past them again, shaking his head. “I’m serious,” he said. “Don’t you dare start labor now.”
Trixie smirked. “No promises.”
The three women exchanged a glance. Then they smiled at each other. A quiet knowing smile.
And then,
Trixie froze. Sabrina blinked. Tina gasped. Three seconds of silence.
Then
All three women looked down. At the same time. Their eyes slowly lifted.
Kevan’s mouth fell open. “Oh no.”
Trixie sighed. “Well.”
Sabrina laughed breathlessly. “Guess the babies didn’t listen.”
Tina groaned. “My water just broke.”
Kevan panicked instantly. “OH COME ON!”
The entire yard erupted into chaos. Warriors jumped up. Doctors were shouted for. Children were scooped up and moved aside.
And Caden and I were already at Trixie’s side as the first contraction hit.
Party. Officially over.