Chapter 132 Home, at Last

Chapter 132 Home, at Last
POV Therak:

The crack of thunder shatters the silence of the night, making me bolt upright in bed, my heart pounding in my throat.

I rub the back of my neck, damp with sweat, and take a deep breath, forcing myself to remember that everything is fine; there is no longer any reason to panic.

My position as Alpha is secured by the Goddess.

I still hold my seat on the High Council of the Lykae, and I fulfilled my part of the blood pact by nominating Orion for one of the seats—a position he, incidentally, refused after seeing what a nest of vipers the ACS members are.

I also finished my mates’ heat by successfully impregnating our omega, who now carries more pups than I ever thought possible. And I even put Asher’s father in his place, making it clear that his prejudiced ideas no longer had any space in my little wolf’s mind.

I am home, with my partners in bed.

Everything is as it should be.

Yet recalling all of that doesn’t bring me the peace I expected. Something is wrong. I just don’t know what…

I slowly turn my head, glancing at the bodies beside me. Begay snores softly, his face buried in Asher’s fur, who fell asleep in his wolf form, pressed against my side.

The sight is beautiful, but it feels… off, because Begay was holding Una when we went to bed.

Una… who is not in bed.

“She’s gone again!” I growl, louder than I intended, waking the two beautiful males, who grunt as they jump out of bed, still groggy with sleep.

Their eyes widen when they realize our runaway little fox is missing.

“Fuck! How can a woman, pregnant with six pups and a belly the size of a watermelon, still have this wandering spirit?” Asher demands as he shifts back into human form.

“I just hope she didn’t try to go back to her old den. It’s raining,” Begay says anxiously, staring at the storm raging outside.

I don’t allow myself to imagine the small woman soaked in the cold rain, because the thought alone would paralyze me.

“Her scent is strong in the air. She must have left not long ago,” I say, trying to reassure them, even though I’m the one panicking.

We’re going to have to tie her to the bed to keep her from wandering off in the middle of the night! my orsai grumbles. But the anger is fueled by guilt.

We should have woken up when she left.

We should have noticed her needs and taken care of them before she had to act on her own.

By the Goddess… what if she goes into labor out there in the rain?

“I hear noises coming from the kitchen. She didn’t go to the forest, Therak. She went to raid the fridge,” Asher says before I can spiral completely, using his hearing, which is far superior to mine.

Begay touches my arm, trying to calm me, but I’m too agitated. The only thing that will bring me peace right now is seeing the omega carrying our pups. So I rush out of the bedroom, barely able to breathe through the tightness in my chest.

The scene that greets me in the kitchen is nothing like what I’ve grown used to over the past months: Una, in fox form, curled up in the dog bed we bought for her comfort.

No.

Una is in her human form, sitting on top of the marble island, swinging her bare legs as she devours the largest bloody steak I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Where the hell did she get that?” Asher asks, horrified, peering over my shoulder.

“And why the hell is she eating it?” Begay adds, his scent tinged with disgust.

The female’s gaze locks onto us, and I have to admit I feel a bit queasy watching her lick her lips, savoring the taste of the meat that has smeared her chin, breasts, and enormous belly.

If I had any hope these children would be born human, it just died…

“Sweetheart, you worried us,” I say slowly, approaching my little one, who takes another bite of the raw steak.

Therak, take that away from her! Felícia said you can’t eat anything undercooked during pregnancy! Asher shouts in my head, just as Una growls, making it very clear I’m not to come any closer.

“If you were hungry, love, you could’ve just told us. We would have prepared something for you,” Begay speaks for me.

“The pups are the ones who are hungry,” Una grumbles after another bite. “And you were sleeping.”

“You could have woken us. You know we’re entirely at your disposal, little fox,” I say, stepping back, which makes her stop baring her teeth.

“Are you?” She tilts her head, fixing me with her single golden eye.

“Of course,” I confirm immediately, though I feel slightly offended that she doubts it.

“Good. Go hunt and bring me another one. I’m still hungry.” She tosses the last piece of meat into her mouth, licking her fingers clean afterward.

I have no problem eating animals I’ve hunted in my bear form, but it’s different seeing a five-foot-seven woman, covered in blood, feasting as if she were still a wild fox.

My orsai, however, is proud. Our omega is strong, fearless, and chaotic enough to keep us constantly on edge. But my rational side can only think about the ultrasound we did two weeks ago, where one of the pups seemed to be sucking its own tail—which it shouldn’t even have!

They definitely won’t be human… Worse: I don’t even know what species they’ll be, since all the scans came out blurry!

We did several ultrasounds, but every time something changed. Sometimes they looked like six normal babies. Other times, like fox or wolf pups. Once, I swear I saw a bear, but it was so fast Asher said I imagined it.

We’ll only know what the Goddess chose when the pups are born. Until then, feed the omega so she continues carrying our offspring, my animal says, far less worried than I am.

“There’s meat in the fridge. I’ll cook it for you, doll, while Therak helps you with a bath. Sound good?” Asher moves toward the stove, stopping only to give my shoulders a reassuring pat.

I expect Una to complain, but she accepts Begay’s help to get down from the counter and walks toward me, holding out her hand so we can go upstairs together.

The same place where, seven months ago, I stood watching a storm much like the one raging now, dreaming of finding my mates.

“A beautiful, obedient mate. A pack that accepts him without reservation. A small group of mischievous pups to fill the house with life. More power and love than one could ever dream of.”

The echo of my own thoughts—those that reflected the envy I once felt for everything Orion had—rings in my mind, making me smile despite the lingering traces of worry in my system.

I found three beautiful mates. And obedience… well, even if it’s not exactly what I imagined, it’s close enough. I also found a pack that accepts me without reservation—even if the Goddess had to intervene to make that happen.

Soon, I’ll have a true pack of unruly pups.

And I have, without a doubt, gained all the love and power I ever dreamed of.

In fact… much more.

Another thunderclap explodes outside, but this time, it doesn’t frighten me.

I am home, with my fated mates.

I am no longer alone.

THE END!