Eyes on the Pride (Awakening Pride Book 8) Page 14

  “You’re a part of this pride, too,” Tah informed her again. “Don’t forget that.”

  She nodded, feeling a little teary and wondering if her hormones were already affecting her moods. Was that possible this early? But then, she was learning nothing was too early when it came to carrying a shifter. Maybe, they should work on a What to Expect While Expecting for women mated to shifters. It was definitely something she’d like to have.

  “That’s settled then.” Abby smiled and patted the professor’s knee where he sat beside her on one of the couches. “The professor and I have been discussing your mission in coming here.”

  “Teaching me how to give an alpha call,” Tah commented.

  “I believe your father wasn’t speaking necessarily of you when he stated to follow your instincts,” the professor qualified. “I believe instead he was telling you how to instruct Tah. To have him follow his instincts, those inherent as alpha. Those would be his best guide to discovering what to do.”

  Darby nodded. “That makes sense. What do you think?” She posed her question to Tah.

  “I believe I echo your opinion when my wife asked you a similar question. We’re all screwed.”

  Darby laughed at the look on Tah’s face. She couldn’t help it. He appeared disgusted with the whole thing.

  “I still say we should just wait for people to show up,” he grumbled.

  “No,” Darby disagreed.

  “No,” Abby said at the same time.

  “It’s easier for a person to question what’s asked of them when information is based on the knowledge or opinion of another,” Darby added.

  “Exactly,” Abby agreed. “This way, it’s a direct command from you.”

  “One that can’t be denied,” Darby added.

  “So just follow my instinct, huh,” Tah griped. “Hopefully, it’s not the same instinct that had me relying on four alpha wolves to show me how to shift. I’m not sure where they are at present.”

  Darby shook her head. “None of the other shifters utilize the alpha call. Not even the bears who have stayed closer to their beasts than any other breed.”

  “So calling Holt is out,” Reno muttered.

  “He’s the one from your group who mated with a female, black-bear shifter?” Darby asked.

  Tah nodded. “He’ll always be part of this pride. We decided long ago that our doors would remain open to any shifter. Cat or not. All breeds are welcome here.”

  Darby grinned. “This is what makes you so different, what makes this time so different from the past. The various breeds have always stayed separated. They don’t work together. But you’ve worked with the bears, the wolves and the coyotes. Your pride has forged strong ties with all these factions. That’s something that’s never been done before.”

  “Yet, we still have someone unwilling to work with us, someone telling us to let it go when we get a call for help.”

  She flushed at his words, knowing they were directed at her people.

  “I’ll wait for now, but I won’t wait long. I don’t want to endanger anyone, and I’ll do my best to make sure we don’t. What I won’t do is sit by and do nothing when someone asks for aid. I’d like you to call back and encourage them to use my number for future messages pertaining to this.”

  “I’ll do that,” she promised.

  “I know the watchers have been doing this on their own, for the most part, for quite a while. But saying we need to work together requires a show of faith from all of us.”

  “It does,” she agreed. “I don’t know who the contact is. I only know the number. But I’ll make sure they get your message.”

  “Thank you,” he acknowledged. “Now, let’s see if we can figure out how to kick my instinct into gear.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Thirteen weeks later…

  Darby cried out as another contraction wrapped around her belly and seemed to settle into the small of her back, pulsing there and refusing to leave. She’d hoped her father would be here in time for the arrival of the twins, but he hadn’t returned yet. He’d been home once to see her, staying a few weeks in Oklahoma and making sure she was healthy before he’d flown back to their home to pack up stuff. He’d found a house in Riverton and scooped it up so he could be closer to her. Tah had generously offered him a place on the ranch, but her father had declined, saying he’d be just as close in town. She figured it was more about her father favoring his privacy than anything else. He preferred books to people. Of course, she had too before Calloway and the pride.

  Her father had also made a few calls while on the ranch, putting Tah in touch with those who could help him find MQJ and others like her or him. They still had no evidence whether or not it was Dr. Jensen’s daughter. Murphy and Daniel had checked in briefly then gone back out this time, with Gabriel and his mate, Kenzie, joining them. From what Darby could tell, Daniel couldn’t stay. The brief moment she’d met him, he’d appeared jittery and anxious, as if something about the ranch caused him distress. She’d heard Diane talking about how worried she was for his health. Then he’d been gone again.

  Another contraction ripped through her, and she hissed out a breath, clinging to Calloway’s hand. He didn’t even wince, though she knew she had a death grip on him. He murmured soothing noises that were most likely words but were lost as pain racked her body. She was glad she’d spent as much time with Diane, Gideon and Miles Jensen as she had during the pregnancy. There was nothing private when you went into labor, legs spread, vagina on display for the room. Diane kept checking to see how far dilated Darby was, saying every time how it wouldn’t be long now. As far as Darby was concerned, each contraction was too long. God, she felt as if she were going to split in two, and the pressure in her lower stomach and between her thighs was enormous. Apparently, her children were as impatient to be born as she was to have them.

  “If you say it shouldn’t be much longer one more time…” Darby snarled when Diane glanced up at her.

  Diane snapped her lips shut and glanced over to Dr. Jensen instead, giving him a nod. He moved over to Darby, sliding a stool between her sprawled thighs and leaning in. She’d worried about Calloway growling at everyone when she was so exposed, but instead, she was the one snarling at the room in general.

  “It’s time,” Dr. Jensen said. “Let’s get the rails up. I want you to grab them on the next contraction and use them to help you bear down and push.”

  Darby nodded, her focus fully on the soft-spoken doctor and obeying his words. Ten minutes later, her first son was born. Andrew James after her father. Three minutes later, he was followed by his twin, Cahl Wade, named after Calloway’s father. Both boys had Calloway’s jet-black hair, but their eyes were the same russet color as their mother’s.

  Drew immediately nuzzled for her breast when she held him, and she pushed the gown out of his way, sighing as he latched on. Tears filled her eyes. She glanced up at her mate, who held Cahl in his arms, his finger held firmly in his son’s grasp.

  “They’re so perfect,” she murmured, running her fingers over Drew, taking in his perfectly developed fingers and toes, his tiny ears and nose. How was it possible it had only taken thirteen weeks for her boys to grow from the tiny black sacs she’d first seen to the beautiful babies she and Calloway now held?

  “They’re beautiful,” Calloway said, and when he met her gaze, his eyes were moist, his cheeks wet. “I love you.”

  “I love you,” she whispered back. “I can’t wait to show you just how much.”

  Calloway chuckled. “I would think that would be the last thing you were thinking of after this.”

  “You’ll always be my first thought every morning and my last thought every night,” she vowed.

  He bent down to kiss her softly on the lips. Drew reached a hand toward his brother as if sensing his twin was near and wanting him. Calloway lowered Cahl to her chest, and the two boys sought one another. When their fingers met, they held fast.

  “They’re going to
take good care of each other,” Diane whispered. “Now that we’ve got you taken care of, we need to take them real quick and get them cleaned up. I promise it won’t take long,” she vowed when Calloway looked as if he would argue.

  Darby felt a brief pang as the boys were lifted off her and carried away by Diane and Gideon. Calloway sat beside her and hugged her close.

  “I told you everything would be fine,” she reminded him.

  “You did,” he agreed.

  “So maybe, next time, you’ll remember I’m right.”

  “God,” he groaned. “Let’s not even think about a next time right now.”

  “Do you think we’ll have twins again? I mean when the next time happens?”

  He buried his head in her throat with a rumble. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack, woman!”

  “Never,” she admonished. “You’re stuck with me for the rest of our lives.”

  He lifted his gaze, meeting and holding hers. “Forever might be just long enough,” he whispered before claiming her lips with his.

  She couldn’t agree more.

  * * * *

  Tah held Regan close to his chest, relishing her babbling and cooing as he walked the floor with her. She was so much like her mother. Her favorite place seemed to be in her daddy’s arms, and he was more than happy to keep her there. Abby had gone to check on Darby and Calloway, who’d just given birth to twin sons. He’d go visit in the morning, understanding that Calloway would need some time with his mate to reassure himself she was truly okay. Tah had been the same with Abby when Regan was born.

  “What do you think of that, angel?” he murmured to his daughter. “You and Amala are going to have two little boys to watch over.”

  His daughter cooed up at him, and he imagined her telling him some elaborate story. She was so animated, a trait he hoped would never change.

  “So what do you think of this task Daddy has?”

  She blinked up at him, as if enthralled with what he was saying. Abby swore Regan listened for Tah’s voice no matter where she was.

  “I just need to listen to my instinct and give an alpha call. Doesn’t sound hard, does it? Only Daddy’s instinct is laughing at him. What do you suggest? Should Daddy roar like the big, bad lion he is and demand they all come?”

  He laid her back along his forearm and did a play roar at her. Regan laughed, her mouth stretching wide to smile at Tah’s expression.

  “Let’s see if it will work on your uncle,” he rumbled. “I’ll just think of Reno. Send him a command to come find me. Maybe, bring me a beer.”

  Regan laughed again, one plump hand reaching for her dad’s face. Tah leaned down into it, letting her grasp his hair and hold on to it. Her brow puckered, and she blabbered as if telling him the magical secret to issuing his call. He looked into his daughter’s eyes, and for a moment, he thought he saw a crowded bar. Reno’s name filled his head when bright-blue eyes met his, but it wasn’t his friend he saw. It was a woman, whose gaze showed complete and utter shock.

  Come to me. Tah thought.

  As he watched, a beer slipped from her fingers.

  “Did you just summon me?”

  Reno’s voice from the doorway shattered the illusion Tah saw. Regan, hearing her uncle’s voice, released Tah’s hair and wiggled to get to Reno.

  “Hey there, princess,” Reno said, scooping her up in his arms and lifting her to blow raspberries on her belly. Regan’s laughter filled the air again. Reno turned back to Tah with a smile on his face. “You okay?”

  Tah shook his head. “I just had the weirdest thing happen. I swear to God, Reno, I think I was looking at a female version of you.”

  Reno gave him a strange look. “Did you eat something funny at dinner? Or is the stress of figuring out this alpha call finally getting to you?”

  “I have no idea,” Tah admitted, shaking his head. It had been so real. He swore she’d been real, could still see the shock on her face. “You don’t have a half-sister, do you?”

  Reno shrugged. “Not that I know of.”

  Tah shook his head, pushing the episode from his mind and focusing on his laughing baby girl. When the time was right, he’d figure out how to give an alpha call. Until then, he’d be thankful for the many blessings in his life. His mate, his daughter, and the best friends a man could hope for.

  About the Author

  Lacey Thorn is a National Bestselling Author of over fifty romances, including the award winning Awakening Pride Series. She has a passion for romance and demands stories that end happily. As a single mom to two teens and one pre-teen, she knows exactly how easy it is to be pulled in multiple directions, always on the go. There’s nothing better to relax with than a glass of wine, a hot tub of bubbles, and a great book. So sit back, relax, and let her take you on an adventure destined to help you unlace and leave the rest of the world behind.

  Lacey loves to talk to her readers and can be found at http://lacythorn.com

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