Hope

Connor visibly relaxes in front of me and I couldn't stop my squeal of excitement as I dashed around him before he realized what was happening. I walked up to Kade and peeked over his shoulder to see Dean standing on the porch, staring at my brother. I gasped and smacked Kade on the arm.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" I ask, a little upset my brother didn't trust me enough to tell me his sexual orientation. Kade jolted a little, like he just realized they weren't alone and looked down at me with a sheepish smile.

"I honestly didn't know if my mate would be a guy or a girl, so there was nothing to tell." Then he looks over at Dean and flashes him a cocky smile. "Not that I'm disappointed."

Dean chuckles and Kade visibly shudders at the sound and I can't stop my giggle. Dean walks up the stairs and Kade takes a step back, allowing him to enter the living room. Connor is still on the other side of the room, arms crossed with an amused look on his face.

"I'm Dean." He says and reaches his hand out. Kade grasps it firmly and goosebumps erupt over both of them.

"Kade." My brother barely chokes out and clears his throat before running his hand through his hair. I'm so excited I'm bouncing on my toes. Connor stalks over and swoops me up in his arms before carrying me from the room.

"Let's give them some privacy, stóirín." He says and I huff in disappointment.

"But I wanna see Kade make a fool of himself." I whine. Connor booms out a laugh as Kade scowls at me.

Connor carries me into the office and closes the door 'for the sound proofing' he says and places me gently on his lap. I twist around so I can run my fingers through his hair. He leans forward and rests his forehead on my shoulder, purring in content. His hands roam my hips before he lifts his head and kisses my neck gently up to my lips. He presses his against mine softly. Too softly. I push my tongue possessively into his mouth and he growls in approval. I feel the vibrations through my chest and my nipples tighten as the scent of my arousal fills the air. His grip on me tightens and he takes my bottom lip in between his teeth and bites gently earning him a moan from me. I am just about to turn my body so I can straddle him properly when the door opens and Kade walks in. He sniffs the air then grimaces.

"Gross. Open a fucking window." He says making Dean and Connor chuckle.

Dean wraps an arm around Kade's waist and steers him to a chair before going to open a window slightly. I roll my eyes before letting them roam my brother's face. Puffy, red lips and a small blood stain on his neck. I can't hide my grin.

"Marking is forever Kade." I say in my best impression of his voice and he scoffs at me.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." He says as Dean sits next to him and runs his hand affectionately through his hair. Kade smiles at him and I giggle.

"Wait till you tell mom and dad." I say excitedly and my brother stiffens in his chair.

"You think they'll take it ok?" He asks nervously and I wave him off.

"You kidding? They'll be ecstatic. Besides, they know you don't choose your mate. You're fated to whoever the Moon Goddess chooses for you." I smile at Dean and he smiles back.

I like him, I decide.

"Yeah I know that but I've had to listen to mom talk about grand pups my entire freaking life." Kade says and Dean puts his hand on Kade's leg under the table.

"You can always adopt." I shrug.

"And Hope and I will be giving them more grand pups then they will know what to do with." Connor interjects proudly and my jaw drops making Dean laugh.

"We have not discussed that." I say narrowing my eyes at him and he shrugs.

"How many you want? Six? Seven?" I smack his chest and now all the boys are laughing.

"You must be joking." I say but Connor's eyes flash with mischief at my defiance and he leans forward to kiss my mark, making fire trail my body.

"I don't think it will be hard to convince you." He says low and seductively making me shiver.

"Ugh!" I shout annoyed and try to climb off his lap. He holds me tight around my waist laughing as he prevents me from leaving.

"I'm just kidding, sweetheart. We'll have as many as you want whenever you're ready." He says kissing me gently and I nod before relaxing back into his embrace.

"Well, you wanna join the pack now, or wait until the ceremony?" Connor asks Kade and his eyes widen in realization.

"Oh man, Asher is gonna be pissed." He says and I start dying laughing. I am laughing so hard I'm crying and am working to get it under control while the boys stare at me.

"What's so funny?" Kade asks and I laugh again at his expression.

"You're... you're my.... beta female!" I say and Connor and Dean join my laughter while Kade scowls at me.

"Hope..." Kade warns and I wipe my eyes, taking deep breaths.

"OK. I'm good. I'm sorry that just hit me out of nowhere." Dean and Connor get their laughter under control as well, but Kade's face remains hard.

"Can we get to the task at hand?" He asks and I nod.

"Well?" Connor asks, looking for an answer to his earlier question and Kade sighs.

"Let me talk to my parents and our Alpha. This has never happened before, where a master of arms in training is mated to a higher ranked wolf." Kade says and I nod.

"Mom and dad might end up wanting to join our pack too." I say, not imagining our parents will want to stay in another pack if we both end up in the same one. Kade nods and Connor looks at me.

"I'm sure the Alpha will want him to train his replacement, but I have no problem with them joining this pack if they want to." He says and I beam at him.

"Colby would be ecstatic. He's heard stories about your dad, he's practically a legend." Dean says. Kade and I both beam with pride. Both of our parents are incredibly strong, it's no surprise they were entrusted with a healer for a child.

"And you'll both live here for the time being." Connor says and Dean cringes.

"Alpha, I shared a room with you at warrior training and I honestly have no desire to live with you again." He says and Connor rolls his eyes.

"You'll have your own bathroom." Connor says before smiling at Dean. "Well, you'll share it with Kade, but something tells me you won't mind that." He chuckles and both boys blush to my intense amusement.

"And the rooms are soundproof?" I clarify, but Kade seems just as invested in the answer. Connor chuckles before tracing his thumb over my bottom lip and I feel a clenching in my gut at the move.

"Yes, stóirín. They're all soundproof." I nod before Kade speaks.

"What does that mean anyway? Stóirín?" He asks and I smile shyly.

"Little treasure." Connor says wrapping his arms around me. Dean smiles and Kade rolls his eyes.

"How precious." He says sarcastically and Dean grabs him gently on the back of his neck.

"Maybe that's what I'll call you." He says teasingly. "Precious."

Kade rolls his eyes again and scoffs.

"Don't even think about it." Connor and I chuckle at the pair and they start discussing guard rotations and schedules as well as how to figure out who is behind this threat.

It doesn't take me long to fall asleep against Connor's warm chest and honestly, there's no where else I'd rather be. I feel safe and content in his arms in a way that not even my dad could make me feel. I feel myself being moved and peek my eyes open as the I realize the swaying motion is from Connor carrying me up the stairs.

"You guys can have this room." Connor says pointing at the one farthest away from us. I hear the boys agreement before he continues down towards our room. I stir in his arms and press my face into his neck, inhaling deeply.

"Go back to sleep, sweet girl. I've got you." He murmurs in my ear.

I feel him lay me down gently in our bed before I hear the rustle of him removing his clothes. He slides in next to me and pulls me tight to his chest, only wearing his boxers. My mouth waters at the thought and I try to sneak a peek below the covers. He chuckles and pulls my hand away, kissing each knuckle before placing it over his heart and holding it there with his own hand.

"Not right now." He says gently kissing my forehead. "I want both of us well rested before we do that." He says low and quiet in my ear making me squirm with desire. I huff out my discontent, but he simply chuckles and kisses my forehead again before tucking me gently under his chin. We both slip into sleep, ignoring the dangers out there in the world waiting for us.