Chapter 156 After the storm
Coban's POV
Trixie is finally settled back in our bedroom. The girls helped clean her up. Gentle hands and soft voices. Trinity all but took over. She fussed and hovered like a hawk. She tucked blankets around Trixie and she smoothed her hair back. She made sure she had water, then juice, then more water. She didn't leave her side until Benjamin practically coaxed her away. He finally pulled her onto his lap with a low murmur that finally got her to sit still.
Our room is massive. It was built for a future we always knew was coming. There's a step down section we converted into a nursery space for now. Not the official nursery yet, that one is next door. But this one keeps them close.
Two cradles sit side by side. Two rocking chairs face eachother. Couches line the walls so no one has to leave.
Caden and I were covered in blood when our sons came into the world. We didn't care, not even a little.
The adrenaline hit after realization and then we showered fast. Like warriors afraid the fight would restart if we turned our backs.
We weren't leaving her. We weren't leaving them.
Now I sit in one of the rocking chairs, Atlas tucked against my chest. My son. He's warm and solid. Heavy in that perfect newborn way that makes your arms ache and your chest feel like it might burst. His tiny fist is curled in my shirt like he already knows I'm not going anywhere. Across from me, Caden sits in another rocker with Cassian. His posture is stiff, like he's afraid to breathe wrong. But his eyes are wrecked. Completely gone. He keeps brushing his thumb over Cassian's cheek like he's memorizing him.
We won't let them go. Not unless we absolutely have to.
Everyone is gathered here quiet and respectful. The women complain in whispers.
"You're hogging them." Tina whispers.
"Selfish" Sabrina softly adds.
"Rude" Roxie whispers then pauses "but understandable."
"You're lucky they let you look at them." Kevan smirks.
"I blinked wrong earlier and I thought Coban was gonna bite me." Mark nods as he's acting like he's scared.
I dont deny it.
Trixie is asleep in the bed, finally. Exhaustion took her hard. One arm is flung over her stomach like instinct, even though it's empty now.
Darien and Lucian sit nearby. They're silent as they never take their eyes off Trixie.
Caden breaks the silence. "So what the hell happened out there?" He says as he's half looking at me and half looking at Atlas, now asleep in my arms.
I rock Atlas gently. "I was attacked by eight all at once. I pulled on the bond, on the boys." I say as I look down and admire my son.
"That's putting it lightly." Kevan snorts.
"It turned the tides. That and Benjamins exceptional firework display." I say as I glance at him then over at Benjamin.
Benjamin shrugs his shoulders and winks in my direction. "That part was fun! They were so damn beautiful! But not as beautiful as what you two have in your laps."
Kevan nods, serious now. "Fastened the pace. No doubt we would of won anyway, but slower, more losses. Once you lit up, it was over. Speaking of lighting up, thanks for for healing Sabrina, well all of them that were hurt."
I nod in his direction. It's not like I could let them bleed out. Their family as well.
Mark grins. "Enemies looked like damn bowling pins out there. It was fascinating to watch."
I huff. "I didn't do it. The boys get all the credit." I say as I look down at my son and then to my other one laying is Caden's arms.
Caden exhales, his eyes never leaving Cassian. "They helped."
I agree quietly. "They did more than help. I couldn't of done it without them."
Roxie tilts her head and looks between Caden and I. "Can I ask a stupid question?" She said as she arches a brow and waits on our answer.
"How did you know that Atlas is yours and Cassian is Cadens?"
I stare at her. Then I answer her flatly. "I scent him. Like DUH!" I rolled my eyes. That was a stupid question.
Caden adds dryly. "Lycans, wolves, basic biology." He shakes his head at her, like it was so damn obvious.
"Okay! Okay!" Roxie's face flushed.
"To be fair, exhaustion makes people dumb sometimes." Mark says as he leans back in his chair.
Kevan clears his throat. "Kings, you still need to deal with the Alpha problem."
That pulls the room back into focus.
"Four packs are without Alphas." Kevan continued.
Caden thinks for a minute. His brows scrunch together. "We don't replace them." He says finally.
"Elaborate." I tell him as now he has my attention.
"We fold the fallen packs into neighboring ones that already have strong leadership. We adjust the borders. No power vacuum."
I nod immediately, loving this idea.
"Cleaner, less resistance."
Kevan smirks as he looks over at both of us. "Less paperwork."
Mark sighs. "I hate when you're all efficient." He says as he slunches in his chair.
I look down at Atlas, his breathing is steady and peaceful. I feel the weight of it all settle in place.
This war is over. The kingdom still stands and my son is asleep in my arms.