Six Years Later

Six Years Later
"We're hereeeeee." A little, high pitched squeal announced the arrival of the last of our family as the two year old pup barrelled into the ballroom that was filled with laughter at the chaotic entrance.

"Reina! I didn't hear you come in!" Malachi joked as the small pup ran straight into his arms.

"Uncle Malachiiiiii! Did you know that Santa is coming!!!" Reina squealed, making Malachi flinch and I was pretty sure that he was now deaf.

The sound of chuckles filled the room as Lucian, Alethia, Landon and Macie entered the room.

"Mother! Father!" I yelled, excited to see my own parents - but that was as far as my greeting managed to get as a tornado of pups raced over to their grandparents.

"Ok, ok! Back to colouring in!" I laughed, trying to uselessly rein them in.

Macie came over and gave me a hug over her huge belly.

"You're ready to pop!" I exclaimed excitedly, and she nodded eagerly.

"Reina won't let me forget that she's going to have a baby brother soon." She chuckled before moving away to greet the others. She had come so far since she first mated to Landon. The shy girl who worked in the kitchen was gone, and in her place was a patient Luna, a beautiful Mother and a woman a lot more confident in being part of our family.

The pups calmed down slightly and raced back over their colouring ins with only a few squabbles on the way, causing the adults to laugh.

I looked around the ballroom now that everyone I love was here, and beamed with pride.

It was Christmas Eve, and this year was our turn to host our family so we'd transformed the ballroom into a large makeshift lounge room, ready to house the chaotic Christmas morning that we were about to have since our family has doubled in size.

Sawyer, Malachi, Amora, Dawn and Braydon were lounging on one of the couches, talking about Alpha stuff as if it wasn't the festive season. Amora had baby Grace on her lap, their first child as they had been taking their relationship slower than mated couples usually would. Malachi and I had told them about Grace's blessing a year after they found out that they were mated, and it made my heart sing at how they honoured her as much as she had honoured them.

Lucian, Alethia, Tarquin, and Rhydian had been roped into colouring in with their grand-pups and the love that radiated from the table would make the strongest warrior melt. My parents had officially stepped down as Alpha and Luna and spent most of their time travelling, who were joined by Tarquin regularly. We had welcomed him into our family with open arms, after Amora and Braydon had to do some serious convincing that he needed to stay with the Landow Pack.

May and Macie were dishing up dinner onto the grazing table, swatting off little hands that wandered over at the smell of roasted meat before it was ready.

I felt a hand touch my shoulder, as Cora stood beside me.

"This is crazy isn't it?" She smiled, and I nodded in agreement.

"I just counted that we have nine pups between us all and if any of us have any more then we're going to need to break away and start our own pack." She chuckled and I laughed with her. Right on queue I saw two small figures barreling towards me and sighed, knowing what was coming next.

"Muuuuummm! Micah drew on my Santaaaaa." Juni dobbed as she ran straight into my legs.

Malachi and I had spent a year getting to know each other before we were blessed with twins. Alethia's figure got closer as she glided over and took Micah's hand, the little pup scowling at his twin sister.

"She drew on mine first!!!" He whined and Alethia chuckled.

"How about you two stop bickering, love each other and we'll go and get something to eat." She suggested and at the mention of food the twins perked up and ran towards the table set up, shouting and shoving for May's attention.

Macie called for everyone else to come over and dish up, the smell of roast beef making my stomach growl as we all made our way over to fill our plates and bellies.

I looked around the room as I sat down next to Malachi, Micah and Juni - the weight of nostalgia hitting me in the chest.

We'd been through a lot together at first, which created this huge, wonderful crazy family of ours - but this was home.

My eyes flickered over to the table that was set up behind the christmas tree, that was covered in candles and photos of our loved ones that we'd lost over the years until my focus landed on a photo of Ezra and I as kids - wishing that my brother was here with us.

Malachi's hand brushed over my forehead, pushing back a strand of hair that had fallen loose and breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Are you ok?" He asked softly and I nodded my head before planting a slow kiss on his lips.

"EWWWWWWWW" Micah and Juni cooed in unison and an evil glint twinkled in my eye.

"How about kisses for my babies?" I teased, getting out of my seat to stalk slowly towards them. They looked at each other before jumping up and racing across the ballroom, with me a few steps behind them. Other pups jumped up and joined the chase, the air now filled with giggles and the sound of feet pattering on the ground.

"Children! Come and finish your food." May scolded, with a smile on her face and a new round of giggles filled the air.

After a few minutes getting the pups resettled in front of their dinner, I looked around the room again at my family.

This year was hitting me harder than most, but I was content.

This was home.