Chapter 194 Den of Delight

Chapter 194 Den of Delight
Kairos

I stretched out on the patio deck, my wolf form sprawled across the warm stone as four tiny tornadoes wreaked havoc around me. The afternoon sun felt perfect against my black fur, but my peace was constantly interrupted by small hands, giggles, and the occasional tug on my tail.
 
Mira, one of our younger twins, had claimed my back as her personal horse, her little legs kicking against my sides. "Giddy up, Kieran! Go faster!" she demanded, bouncing with the kind of energy that made me wonder if she'd inherited more than just my looks.
 
I shifted my head slightly, making her squeal with delight as she gripped my fur tighter. Beside me, Selah—one of our older twins who looked like Riley but had apparently inherited my stubbornness—pressed her small hands against my muzzle.
 
"No, Daddy! Stay down!" she commanded, her voice carrying that authoritative tone that reminded me way too much of myself. Before I could react, she was threading something through my fur with the concentration of a surgeon.
 
Finn sat nearby, watching the chaos with barely contained laughter. "Selah, those ribbons look beautiful on Kieran," he said, his voice thick with amusement.
 
I turned to glare at him, a low growl rumbling in my chest. The bastard was enjoying this way too much.
 
"Daddy, no growling!" Summer appeared at my other side, pressing her forehead against my massive head. Her touch immediately calmed me, and I found myself purring instead, nuzzling her gently as she giggled.
 
The sound of my daughters' laughter was the most beautiful music in the world—second only to the sounds Riley made when I brought her to climax, but that was a thought I definitely couldn't share with my daughters.
 
I turned my head toward Elena, who was gently rocking one of our twins.
 
After Riley had given birth to the quadruplets, Nia had returned quickly to help. Even with Elena's assistance and our wolf strength, Riley and I had been fucking exhausted. About six months after the quads were born, Riley got pregnant again. I'd been so sure it would be boys this time.
 
When Grace told us it was another set of twin girls, I'd felt that familiar combination of shock, terror, disbelief, and overwhelming protectiveness. Six daughters. I'd gone from being a feared Alpha to being a "girl dad" with colorful ribbons in my wolf's fur.
 
"Lunch time, girls!" Riley's voice carried from the doorway, and I turned to see her walking out with our son Hudson in her arms.
 
Third time had been the charm for getting our heir. Each pregnancy had been easier than the last, and Riley hadn't needed bed rest for the final two. Hudson was five months old, named after both my fathers—the one who'd raised me and the one who'd given me life.
 
Summer and Selah immediately kissed my snout before running toward Riley. Mira slid down from my back with practiced ease, while Madeline gave my tail one final tug before joining her sisters.
 
"Mommy, we want to kiss Hudson!" Selah announced, and Riley crouched down to let the girls kiss their baby brother.
 
I stood and shook out my fur, feeling the ribbons flutter. Shifting back to human form, I quickly pulled on the shorts I'd left nearby.
 
Finn was still chuckling. "I'm guessing those ribbons didn't fall off when you shifted?"
 
I shot him another glare.
 
That's when Ethan emerged from the house, and four little voices immediately shrieked, "Grandpa!"
 
I watched as Ethan effortlessly scooped up Mira onto his back, Madeline in one arm, and somehow managed to hold both Summer and Selah with his other arm. The man had seven kids of his own—this was nothing to him.
 
"If there's not enough food, I'm going to have to eat some little Alpha pups," he teased, causing delighted screams.
 
"Grandpa, there's lots of food!" Selah assured him seriously.
 
I walked over to Riley, kissing her softly before taking Hudson from her arms. He smelled like me but carried Riley's citrus and mint scent from nursing. When the quads were first born, I'd been completely lost. Ethan, with his experience raising seven kids, had taught me everything about being a father.
 
Vesper and Clara brought out the food as Ethan settled Mira on his lap.
 
Ethan had spent over a year clearing all the silver from our territory. After that, when the quads were mobile and Riley had just given birth to the twins, he'd started taking the older girls on "expeditions." Madeline and Mira loved it, while Summer and Selah preferred staying at the hospital with Grace.
 
Grace had established a teaching center at my territory's hospital, making it easier to work both places. Riley had started teaching classes. I'd worried about the girls seeing too much violence at the hospital, but Riley had reassured me: "They'll see it eventually, Kairos. Better they understand it's not something to panic about, but something to assess and handle."

Grayson joined us, kissing Hudson before sitting down.
 
I reached up to remove the ribbons from my hair, but Selah stopped me. "No, Daddy! We worked really hard to make Kieran pretty."
 
"Kieran is very beautiful," Finn said as he walked past.
 
I growled at him softly, mindful of Hudson sleeping in my arms.
 
Riley looked at me with pure love. "You did great, girls. Kieran is beautiful. Then again, he always has been."
 
I love you so much, Riley, I said through our mind-link.
 
She walked over, her eyes full of love. You're the only man I've ever loved, Kairos. Only you, and it will only ever be you.
 
I kissed her gently. Tonight, I'm going to show you exactly how much I love you.
 
I can't wait, my big bad wolf, she replied.
 
I felt the warmth of family surrounding us—the life Riley had brought me, the life I'd never known I needed but now couldn't live without. The darkness was gone, replaced by laughter, love, and colorful ribbons in my wolf's fur.
 
The End