Chapter 87 SPECIAL CHAPTER 6
”I can’t believe they’re turning one tomorrow! It’s too fast!” Ravena said as she played with the twins, making them giggle.
”Right? I can’t believe it,” Carter agreed, watching them crawl around.
Raven walked in with a tired look on his face and raised an eyebrow at the two of them.
”What are you two doing here?” he asked. He had been tasked with watching the twins while Brienne and Raeya went out to shop for their birthday.
”Uhm, helping you?” Carter said innocently. ”Because you look like you’d die in a minute,” he added, making Ravena laugh out loud.
Her laugh was so loud it startled the twins, who both looked up in surprise before pouting.
”Sis, that was an exaggerated laugh,” Raven said, glaring at her.
”Carter’s not wrong, though,” Ravena said, still smiling.
Raven shot them both another glare before sighing.
”Where are Mom and Dad?” he asked.
”They followed Brienne and Raeya,” Ravena replied. ”They said it was a bonding moment,” she added.
Raven nodded slowly and turned his attention back to his sons. Benjamin and Bennett were already crawling in opposite directions, touching everything they shouldn’t and babbling loudly.
He watched them with a tired smile.They were the most naughty boys he had ever met. They kept him up late almost every night, cried the loudest when he was the one holding them, and somehow always found trouble within seconds.
But when Brienne took care of them, they listened. They calmed down, behaved, and followed her gentle voice like magic.
Raven sighed and rubbed his face.
”I swear,” he muttered, watching one twin try to climb over the other, ”they know exactly how to torture me,” he added.
Ravena laughed softly this time, while Carter just shook his head, clearly amused, as the twins continued their mischief.
”Well, they were once like you when you were younger,” Ravena said teasingly. Raven rolled his eyes.
”Oh, please. I was not a problem child,” he said, defending himself.
”Yes, you were,” Ravena replied without missing a beat.
”I hate to admit it, but your sister is right,” Carter added.
Raven grabbed a pillow and threw it at his friend. Carter laughed and caught it easily.
”Benjamin, come here, baby,” Ravena called softly.
Benjamin looked at her for a moment, then turned back and continued playing with Bennett, the two of them babbling and crawling around together.
”They never fight, no?” Carter asked as he watched them.
”Yeah,” Raven replied. ”There was this one time they were playing roughly. Bennett suddenly threw a ball at Benjamin, and he fell on his butt,” he said.
”He didn’t cry. He didn’t fight back. And then Bennett went to him and hugged him,” he added.
”Twin connection,” Carter said with a smile as he handed a toy car to Bennett.
Bennett grabbed the toy car and shook it happily, but a second later it slipped from his hands and fell straight onto his foot.
Bennett’s face scrunched up, and he began to cry.
”Oh—sorry,” Carter said at once, reaching out.
Before anyone could react, Benjamin crawled quickly toward his brother. Seeing Bennett cry made him cry too, and soon both twins were wailing together, their cries perfectly in sync.
Raven stood up right away.
”Okay, okay,” he said, moving toward them.
Just then, the door opened.
Brienne walked into the playroom and froze when she heard the crying.
”What happened?” she asked, her voice full of concern as she rushed to the twins.
”The toy fell on Bennett’s foot,” Ravena explained quickly. ”Benjamin followed and cried with him,” she added.
Brienne knelt and gathered both boys close, checking Bennett’s foot gently. The twins clung to her, their cries slowly softening.
At that moment, another voice filled the room.
”Mommy!”
Raeya ran in with a big grin on her face.
”Auntie Ven! Uncle Carter! Daddy!” she greeted happily.
The room instantly felt warmer again, filled with familiar voices, laughter, and the soft comfort of family.
”Hi, baby,” Raven said as he opened his arms wide for his running child.
Raeya laughed and ran straight into him. He lifted her up easily, then walked toward Brienne, who was carrying Benjamin. Carter gently picked up Bennett and placed him into Raven’s free arm.
”Thanks, brother,” Raven said with a smile.
Carter nodded and smiled back.
”We’re going out to the kitchen,” Ravena said. ”Call us if you need help with anything,” she added as she waved at Raeya.
Raeya waved back, giggling.
Raven leaned closer to Brienne and whispered in her ear, ”I miss you.”
Brienne laughed and shook her head.
”We were gone for only three hours, darling. What are you saying?” she replied.
”Well, I miss you every second you’re not in my sight,” Raven said softly. He leaned in and gently captured her lips.
Raeya immediately followed, planting kisses on both of their cheeks.
They all laughed together, the twins babbling happily as Brienne and Raven shared the moment, playful and warm.
The rest of the afternoon passed with soft laughter and quiet play. As night slowly settled in, the house grew calmer. One by one, the children were put to bed. Raeya fell asleep first, followed by Benjamin and Bennett, tired from a full day of excitement.
With the house finally quiet, Raven and Brienne joined the others to prepare for the twins’ big day.
”So,” Raven said as he looked at Brienne with a smile, ”what did you buy for tomorrow?” he asked.
Brienne laughed and brought out several bags, placing them on the table one by one. Inside were small clothes, toys, decorations, and a few carefully wrapped gifts.
”You went all out,” Raven said, clearly amused.
”It’s their first birthday,” Brienne replied. ”Of course I did,” she added.
“And I have no disagreement on that, Darling. Spend all you want for yourself and the kids, I'll do the doctor part,” he said. Cecil came in with Arthur, both carrying neatly wrapped boxes.
”We put our gifts in the spare room,” Cecil said happily. ”I couldn’t resist buying more,” she added with a chuckle.
”We expected that,” Ravena teased. “But, I hope you're expecting with mine too,” he added.
Everyone laughed as they continued arranging decorations and setting things aside for the morning. Tired but happy, Raven glanced around the room—at his family, the gifts, and the quiet house.
Tomorrow would be a big day for their boys.
Tomorrow came, and it was Brienne who woke up first. Excitement bubbled inside her as she gently shook Raven awake. Still half-asleep, he smiled and kissed her forehead before getting up. He went straight to their daughter’s room and carefully picked Raeya up from her bed.
The three of them walked together toward the twins’ room. Brienne softly opened the door, and together they sang a quiet but cheerful birthday song to their sleepy little souls.
Benjamin and Bennett slowly opened their eyes, blinking as they looked around. Their faces lit up when they noticed the colorful superhero-designed room, the decorations, and their family surrounding them.
”Happy birthday, Benjamin,” Brienne said lovingly as she kissed her son’s cheeks. ”And happy birthday to you too, Bennett,” she added, leaning toward Raven, who was holding the other twin, and kissed his cheeks as well.
The twins grew more awake by the second, genuinely curious and happily bouncing in their parents’ arms. Brienne held Benjamin close while Raven carried Bennett.
Raeya, who had woken up early as well, shuffled into the room while rubbing her bleary eyes. She went straight to her parents, staring up at her brothers with a wide smile.
”Good morning,” she said softly. ”Happy birthday, Benjamin and Bennett! I love you guys!” she added excitedly.
The twins cooed and reached out for her. Raven didn’t hesitate and lifted Raeya up so she could be closer to them.
Not long after, the packhouse began to fill with life. Visitors slowly gathered—family members, warriors, and friends of the pack. Laughter echoed through the halls as the party for the twins officially began.
Cecil and Arthur arrived carrying more gifts, their arms full. When Brienne saw them, she nearly scolded them for bringing too much again, but she stopped herself. She smiled instead, knowing it was her sons’ birthday and that today was an exception.
“This is the last one,” Cecil said as she approached Brienne.
“It’s okay, Mom. It's their birthday and I know you just love my children,” Brienne replied gently.
“They’ll grow up kind, just like you,” Cecil said, tapping her daughter-in-law’s back. Brienne smiled, a deep sense of relief settling in her chest.
“I hope so, Mom,” Brienne said, knowing she would do everything in her power for them.
The twins played nonstop, crawling and toddling around with Raeya and the other children. Toys were scattered everywhere, and their laughter filled the room. Brienne and Raven stood nearby, watching them with soft smiles.
“Be careful, Rae!” Brienne shouted.
“I got them,” Ravena said.
“Thank you, Ven, always” Brienne replied. She was always thankful to her sister, who would drop everything just to be there for her children. Ravena looked at them and smiled.
“I love them all, and it’s my pleasure to help you,” she replied and glanced at the kids. Ravena never thought of finding love of her own. She was much focus on her career and when Raven’s kids came, she felt happy that there were kids around the pack.
“Thank you, sis,” Raven said.
“It’s cringe coming from you, Raven,” Ravena jokingly said which made them all laugh. Ravena walked away and squatted down when she reached Raeya, Benjamin, and Bennett’s place.
“Hello,my loves. Your aunt will be playing with you,” she said. Raeya beamed and hugged her tight while the twins crawled to her.
“Auntie, I’m teaching Benjamin and Bennett how to fught just like you told me,” Raeya said making Ravena laugh.
“Oh my, but the twins are too young for that, love.” Ravena said. “They will learn it once they are old enough,” she added and brushed the hair away from Raeya’s face. Rayea pouted and looked at her brothers.
“But they looked weak,” she said.
“They’ll grow up strong I yell you, plus your traning is our litte secret, right?” Ravena said as she leaned to whisper it. Raeya gasped and nodded her head, completely forgotten about it.
“I’m sorry, Aunt,” she whispered. “I’ll protect them from now on until they can train and I won’t tell mom and dad,” she added. Ravena patted the twin’s head and smiled at them.
“We will protect them,” she said. She won’t let anything happen to her nephews and niece, over her dead body.
Neither of the couple said a word, but they both felt the same warmth in their hearts—pure happiness as they watched their little family grow, surrounded by love and joy.
“Thank you for giving me such a wonderful family,” Raven said softly. He couldn’t ask for more. What stood before him—the laughter, the warmth, the small hands holding onto him—was already everything he ever wanted.
Brienne smiled, her eyes shining as she looked at their children.
“Thank you too, for making my life complete,” she said. She had always dreamed of a life filled with love and family, and now she was living it with her own heart and hands. In silence, she thanked the Moon Goddess for her mercy and kindness, for trusting her with this happiness.
Raven wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. Around them, the children laughed and played, their voices filling the packhouse with life. The future was uncertain, as it always was, but in that moment, nothing else mattered.
Whatever trials may come, whatever storms may rise, Brienne knew one thing with certainty—they would face it together. Side by side. As mates. As family.