to find his own way when needed. And when his grandfather had passed away two months ago, they’d been right by his side, helping him through his messy, complicated emotions.
Delton, the psychologist who had joined their pack four months before, had been a tremendous help as well. Not just for Sando, grateful as he was. He’d set up weekly check-ins with all pack members who wanted it, and many had taken him up on that offer, including Naran, Kean, Palani, and Lucan. Duer had even more frequent sessions.
Lucan looked up from the TV. “Hey, kitten. Have you made up your mind on whether or not you’re gonna tell us?”
How did he know? He hadn’t said a word. “How did you know something was up?”
Lucan grinned. “You’ve been hyper from the moment you woke up.”
Sando sighed. He kept forgetting how much they noticed, Lucan especially. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“Because it’s your call, kitten. You’ll tell us when you’re ready.”
“I’m ready,” he said softly. Maz immediately put down his book, and Lucan turned off the TV. Sando found his favorite spot in the world—between his two mates. He breathed them in, their smell as familiar to him now as his own. They were his safe place.
“I think I’m pregnant.”
They hugged him tightly. “Have you tested yet?” Maz asked.
“I want to do it together.”
“Are you ready to test? It’s okay if you want to wait a few days.” Maz’s voice held nothing but love and understanding.
“I’m ready. I got a test from Enar.”
He could’ve asked either of his mates for one. Hell, he probably could’ve walked straight into the supply room and get one himself. But Enar had been his doctor all these months, constantly checking on him, measuring his hormone levels, helping him figure out what was happening. He hadn’t wanted to go behind his back.
“Let’s test, then,” Maz said.
It was a tight fit with three men in that part of the bathroom, but they made it work. Peeing with his men watching was a whole new experience, and yet Sando’s body had no issue with it. By the time he’d washed his hands, the line was turning bright blue.
“I’m pregnant.” His heart skipped a beat.
“You’re pregnant,” Maz confirmed.
“Oh my god,” Lucan whispered. “We’re having a baby!”
Sando’s eyes filled with tears, and then his mates held him, strong arms and soft kisses, sweet words and tender caresses. He was loved, so loved. He was home.
Six Months Later
Vieno looked at his daughter, Mahina, who lay content in her daddy’s arms after drinking her belly full. She was four weeks old now, and the joy of all her dads.
“She’s so beautiful.” Lidon brushed her cheek with his index finger. “And she looks so much like her papa.”
Vieno smiled. “She does. She’s got his eyes.”
“I hope she gets his fire and stubbornness as well.”
It shouldn’t have shocked them, not after everything that had happened, but Vieno had still been stunned when Sando had revealed the results of the DNA test on Mahina. She was Palani’s daughter. Unlike Hakon, she didn’t share DNA from all four of them, just Vieno’s and Palani’s. They’d all cried when they’d found out, Palani most of all.
After that, Ruari had asked for a DNA test as well. He hadn’t initially because they had assumed the child would be Bray’s, but of course it wasn’t. Those two Hightowers had to do everything together, and so they’d both fathered a child at the same time, both girls. Kekona was her name, and no one had celebrated harder than Bray when they’d found out. He’d kept hugging Kean, saying his prayers had been answered, and the tears had flowed steadily.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” Lidon asked.
“Good.”
“It wasn’t too much for you?”
Vieno smiled as he put his hand against Lidon’s cheek. “I would’ve asked you to stop had that been the case.”
Lidon nuzzled his neck, careful not to bump against Mahina. “God, it felt good to be inside you again. I missed you, sweetheart.”
Vieno chuckled. He’d been once again horny as fuck during his pregnancy, much to Lidon’s delight. The alpha had loved satisfying his excess energy in the bedroom. But a week before the birth, Vieno’s body had indicated it had had enough, and his alpha had endured five weeks of no sex. Well, not with Vieno, anyway. Palani and Enar had graciously sacrificed themselves, or so Palani had said with a grin, which had earned him a slap against the back of his head from Lidon.
Earlier that morning, Lidon had