| 18 Y E A R S L A T E R . . .

K A L E B walked through the house with his youngest child Kaiden on his hip. The tiger cub was amusing himself with the toy in his hand while his father looked his mate and two other sons. Kai was only a year old and had come as a complete surprise to both Zev and Kaleb. After they had their daughter Zara they had not planned on having any more, but it seemed the Goddes had other ideas. Eight years later Kaiden made his entrance into the world.

Kai had been Kaleb's toughest pregnancy so Atalia, who been named the new pack doctor, suggested he undergo a surgery to prevent any more unexpected pregnancies. His appearance may have come as a shock but the little tiger cub had them all wrapped around his tiny fingers in no time. He was a lot smaller than his older brothers had been at his age, especially for a tiger. It was obvious that he was a runt and that just made them all even more protective of the little cherub.

Kai had a head full of shockingly white hair and a pair of warm hazel eyes just like Zev's. They weren't quite sure why his hair was ivory in color that made his already pale skin seem paler but they figured it had something to do with the coloring of his tiger.

Readjusting his son, Kaleb slipped into the living looking around for any signs of the three large males that he was hunting down. He didn't spot their hulking figures but his eyes instead found his little girl Zara laying on the couch drawing in her sketchbook. Her head of brown curls lifted to see her Dad walking into the room. She gave him a beaming smile as her grey eyes twinkled happily. Kaleb smiled back and moved over to her. She looked just like Zev in Kaleb's opinion but his mate disagreed, insisting she took more after the man who birthed her.

"What are you drawing?" Kaleb asked the nine-year-old. With a proud beaming smile, she held up the sketchbook showing off the doodles she penciled onto the paper. "Very nice, Zara." Kaleb complimented leaning down to peck her forehead.

"Thank you," she said giggling, a pleased blush filling her cheeks. Kaleb brushed his fingers through her riotous curls that she refused to brush. As the only girl in the house, she was a little tomboy who tried her best to keep up with her eighteen-year-old older brothers. At first, he had no clue how to raise a little girl and wished that he had his mother and Luna Eden around to help. Despite his uncertainties, he and Zev were doing a good job and the pack mothers had proved themselves invaluable with all the advice they'd given them.

"Have you seen your father and brothers?" Kaleb asked to which he received a shake of her head in the negative as an answer. Her curls flopped into her eyes and Kaleb pushed them from her face with a smile. "Want to help me look for them?"

"Are they in trouble again?" she asked as she packed up all her art supplies and set them on the table. Nox and Nolan were notorious for getting themselves in and out of trouble with Nolan being the one who got them into sticky situations and ever level-headed Nox talking them out of whatever mess they'd gotten into. Kaleb couldn't help but laugh at her automatic assumption.

"No, but we're going to be late for Xander's birthday party if we don't leave soon." The little girl's eyes lit up at the mention that they were going to the pack house today. She loved going there which was only natural since she herself was a wolf, of course she would feel right at home amongst others of her kind. A beaming grin spread across her face revealing her two dimples. Kaleb pitied the boys who would be vying for his daughter's attention. One look at her father and older brothers and they would shit themselves. That's if they didn't tear the unfortunate soul apart first. Nox and Nolan got their over protectiveness from their father along with their absurdly large size.

"We're going to see Uncle Josh and Uncle Darren?" she inquired happily. Kaleb nodded, readjusting Kai once again. The little cub had fallen asleep, his head now resting on his Dad's shoulder right next to the mark Zev had placed on him so many years ago. A pleased tingle fluttered through him as he briefly recalled the night Zev had marked him and he marked him in return.

"And Xander too, but first we have to track down your dad and your brothers." Kaleb reminded her. Zara gave him a determined smile before she scampered off towards the back door.

"I'll find them, Da!" she exclaimed without looking back. Kaleb just shook his head in amusement. After placing Kai in his crib that was in the living room he followed in his daughter's wake. He stepped outside to see Nox leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, Nolan was playing with his sister who had shifted into her light brown wolf, he remained in human form letting her chase him about. Still, he didn't see his mate.

"Nox," Kaleb called and his son's dark grey orbs opened at the sound of his name being called. The large wolf stood and jogged towards his father coming to a stop at the bottom of the steps that led to the rest of the large house.

"Good morning, Da." he greeted in his deep voice. Even on the top step Kaleb just barely stood at eye level with his son. Both Nox and Nolan were as tall and wide as Zev and packed with just as much muscle. Nox brushed his ebony curls away from his face as the wind blew the strands into his eyes. He wondered exactly what it was that his Dad wanted.

"Morning, my little wolf." Kaleb greeted in return watching in amusement as his son shifted on his feet, his brows drawing together as he looked at his dad unimpressed by the nickname he'd been called since he was young. He wished his dad would let the damn name go already. Kaleb chuckled at Nox's unamused look. "Where is your father?"

"Patrolling, he should be back soon." Nox answered, crossing his large arms. He looked just like Kaleb with his dark hair and steely grey eyes but he was built just like Zev.

"You and Nolan didn't go with him today?" Kaleb asked curiously.

"We did but he sent us back ahead of him," Nolan spoke up as he walked over to the conversing wolves with his sister slung over his shoulder still in her second form. Her tail whipped around as she fought playfully against Nolan's firm hold, smacking him in the face several times. Nox chuckled as Kaleb smiled at his other two children. His heart felt full to capacity and sometimes he wondered how he was able to stand the weight of all the love it held inside.

I found them, Da! Zara exclaimed still wiggling in Nolan's hold. Kaleb laughed as Nolan rolled his eyes.

"Thank you, Zara." Kaleb chuckled, taking her from her brother. Nolan frowned as he watched his tiny father struggle a little with the weight of his little sister's wolf form, nevertheless he let the man have his way as Kaleb released her into the house instructing her to go find some more clothes to put on for the party. The little she-wolf scampered to away, headed to her room upstairs.

Kaleb turned back to his sons, Nox was leaning against the wooden railing on the steps while Nolan stood with his hands held behind his head waiting for their Dad to say something. The twins both stood at six feet and five inches and were still growing. They looked just alike despite the difference in hair and eye colors.

"Come on," Kaleb gestured his two sons to come inside, "Go to your rooms and find something to wear for tonight." He said moving out of the way for them to come inside. He may be less than half their size but Nolan and Nox still obeyed and respected him.

"Do we really have to go to some kid's party?" Nolan asked as he passed his Dad. Nox followed behind him with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Nolan would rather stay home than go and be surrounded by a bunch of other shifters. He was a tiger after all and tigers didn't packs or crowds, they preferred solitude over most types of companionship. Being around his immediate family was different.

"Yes." Was Kaleb's curt reply and they knew not to question him further. They were going and that was that. "Besides, I thought you liked Xander, the three of you used to play together all the time." Kaleb voiced as he closed the door behind himself.

"Yeah we did, but I'm not interested in that type of play anymore, Da" Nolan smirked. Nox shook his head with a light chuckle as Kaleb gave his oldest son an unimpressed look.

"Just go find some clothes and meet me out front in an hour." Kaleb sighed. Nolan laughed, leaning down to kiss his father's cheek quickly before the tiny man could swat him away. Kaleb shook his head, a smile breaking through his schooled features. Nox placed his own kiss on the opposite cheek before going up the steps himself. Kaleb released a sigh after they left. His sons were no longer the little tiger cub and wolf pup he'd given birth to a little over eighteen years ago. Now they were young men and he knew exactly what that meant. He would talk it over with his mate once he returned, he decided.

Kaleb picked up Kai out of his crib/ playpen and made his way to the room he shared with Zev which was on the first floor of the large house. Setting Kai down on the bed far away from the sides, he set about finding clothes to wear for the celebration. After a moment of sifting through his clothes, he felt all too familiar arms wrapping around his small waist and pulling him against a much larger body. His face flushed as he tilted his head back to look up at his mate. Zev smiled leaning down and pecking Kaleb on the lips as best he could in their position.

"Morning, my love." the large tiger greeted. Kaleb looked just as delectable as ever with his cheeks flooded pink as they were. Zev fought back the desire to bend his mate over in their large walk-in closet and take him right then and there. He would never get tired of making love to his little omega. He would even get him pregnant again if he could, he loved the sight of his mate's belly being round and heavy with the child he placed there. Little Kaiden was an unexpected surprise and he also signaled an end to couple's reproducing days as it was made clear that if Kaleb ever did get pregnant again the probability of him or the baby making it during or after birth was slim to none. He placed a kiss on his mate's mark and enjoyed the tremble that rolled through his tiny frame in response.

"Good morning, Zev," Kaleb responded before stepping put of Zev's powerful arms. "How was your run?" he asked as he went back to searching for clothes.

"Fine. How was your morning?" Zev quipped back, falling into their normal routine of morning questions.

"It was good, Kai was a little fussy but it was nothing too bad. Zara has been drawing all morning, she's really improving I swear her stick figures are getting more and more life-like every day." Kaleb chuckled and Zev laughed along with him. "I heard you sent the boys back ahead of you, any particular reason why?" Kaleb asked turning to look at his mate once he had found the shirt he'd been looking for.

Zev leaned back against the nearest wall sighing. "My tiger is getting restless, I sent them back ahead of me so that I wouldn't snap at them for no good reason." He explained, his brow furrowed and lips pulled down at the edges. Kaleb smiled sympathetically. They both knew this day would come although neither of them wanted it to.

"Our little boys aren't so little any more are they?" Kaleb spoke softly, meeting his mate's gaze head-on.

"No, and they're not boys anymore either." Zev agreed solemnly. Kaleb grabbed one of his mate's much larger hands and squeezed it lightly.

"We'll discuss it more once we get back from Xander's party okay?" The wolf suggested. "We can talk to them about it too." Zev pulled Kaleb against him and held him by his waist.

"Alright then," he said gruffly. Zev truly didn't want to send his sons away but he knew that he had to. Having two other males around his mate and young cubs was only going to create tension. He only wanted to handle it differently than his father had, rather than fighting his sons until they left he wanted to sit them down and talk them. More so for Kaleb's sake than anything else, he didn't want to cause his mate any unnecessary stress or unhappiness. "I love you, little one," he said as he stroked Kaleb's cheek with his thumb on the hand that cupped his cheek.

"I love you too, Zev," Kaleb responded tilting his head back when Zev leaned down to kiss him. Their lips met and moved against each other in perfect synchronization, tongues meeting and twisting against each other in a dance they were all too familiar with. Kaleb's mind swirled as a soft moan slipped through his lips only to be swallowed by Zev's mouth. He pulled back, staring into his mate's hazel gaze as he tried to regain his bearings. After all these years his mate was still able to render him a pile of mush. Zev pecked his lips one last time before releasing him.

Kaleb turned back to his clothes jumping when he felt Zev's hand meet his backside. Zev chuckled as Kaleb blushed profusely. Shaking his head he decided to ignore his mate and continued what he was doing. Zev placed a kiss on his mate's neck before leaving the closet and entering their ensuite bathroom for a quick shower. Kaleb was left to think over what they had discussed. A weight settled on his heart with the inevitable looming just outside his door. He tried to look on the bright side despite it. His sons were no longer boys, they were men. It was time for them to enter the world and find themselves. All he could do was send them off with his blessing and all the love they could carry. With a sigh, he returned his focus to what he was doing and decided to save the thoughts for later.

T H E B I R T H D A Y P A R T Y

Kaleb was excited to be seeing Josh and Darren again for the first time in a few months. The last time they came for a visit had been for Zara's birthday. She loved coming to the house to celebrate because everyone there spoiled her rotten. Especially the Alpha and his Lunos. They all treated her like a little princess although she wanted to be an enforcer when she grew up.

Kaleb loved coming to visit as well, it gave him a chance to catch up with his friends and enjoy their company. Nox and Nolan would go off and play with the other pups their age. Well, they would try to, they dwarfed the others in both forms which made them very intimidating to the other children. All except Xander, the young Alpha-to-be was never afraid of them even though he was two years their junior. The three of them became thick as thieves and caused all kinds of trouble. Nolan and Xander would get them into mischief and Nox would always find a way to talk them out of it. Kaleb smiled fondly at his thoughts, just as the pack house came into view. Nikolus, the current beta, who had been standing on the porch waiting, ushered them inside.

"The Alpha and Lunos are in the backyard." Said the tall man with curly brown hair. Zev nodded in thanks as they continued through the house until they stepped back outside. Darren and Josh were talking with of few others from the pack but quickly removed themselves from the conversation when they saw their friends.

"Uncle Darren!" Zara squealed as she took off in his direction. The Alpha smiled, crouching with his arms spread wide. Zara crashed into his chest but the large man didn't move an inch. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight squeeze before letting her go.

"Hey, Z, how's my little warrior doing?" Darren laughed as they shared a fist bump. Zara squared her shoulders at the nickname, a broad smile stretching across her face.

"I'm still awesome," she said, flipping her curls over her shoulder. Darren laughed ruffling her hair as Josh huffed, crossing his arms.

"How come you always run to him first when I'm clearly the cooler uncle?" Josh asked, a pout pulling at his lips. Darren smirked at his mate. Zara giggled, stepping away from Darren and running over to Josh who scooped her up and spun around with her pressed against him in a secure hug. The little she-wolf laughed happily before the Lunos set her on her feet. Grabbing both their hands she tugged them over to her family smiling like a kid on a sugar high.

Smiles spread across the couple's faces as they looked at their friends. Josh was happy to see Kaleb even though it had only been a few months. He missed gossiping with his best friend and they had a lot to catch up on. The little she-wolf holding his hand let go before running back to Kaleb who took her hand with a soft smile.

Kaleb's two oldest sons stood back allowing their parents to catch up with their friends before sneaking away. Nolan loved Darren and Josh and all but he preferred hanging out with their son. Just as he was about to walk away, Nox raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking where he was headed. Nolan just gestured for him to follow before he continued on walking. Nox shook his head deciding to follow his brother.

"Look at you!" Josh cooed at Kai as he hid shyly under Zev's chin. "You look like Kaleb carbon copied himself!"

"I agree, the little tike just has my eyes, everything else is Kaleb." Zev said with a deep laugh. Kaleb smiled a soft blush filling his cheeks.

"That's true," Darren spoke up, "But the twins look almost exactly like you Zev."

"I have to agree. It's a little scary." Josh said, blue eyes gleaming. "Speaking of the twins where are they?" Kaleb looked around for a moment but was not surprised when he didn't see their large figures.

"I think I have a pretty good guess." Kaleb laughed. "Where is Xander?" Josh groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Darren laughed as Zev shook his head.

"The three of them are going to give me grey hair at the age of 36." The Lunos grumbled.

"Spotted them," Kaleb pointed and three pairs of eyes followed his gaze. The twins and the birthday boy were across the large field hanging out by the trees.

"And you had the nerve to call my kids Gigantor babies," Josh scoffed "Have you seen the two behemoths you call sons?" Kaleb rolled his eyes.

"So how does it feel to be turning seventeen?" Nolan asked as he leaned against a tree. Xander rolled his blue eyes and shrugged. The future Alpha to be stood at 6'0 and was still growing. His skin was a rich caramel, he had a head full of dark curls that he kept pulled away from his face in a bun on his head.

"Same as when I turned 16," Xander responded blandly. To be completely honest he didn't really see the point of celebrating his seventeenth birthday. It definitely wasn't worth all of the fuss in his eyes.

"Try not to sound like you have a stick up your ass on your birthday," Nolan smirked, crossing his arms as his hazel eyes lit in amusement.

"The only thing I want to stick up my ass is your cock, but you won't give it to me so..." Xander shot back, meeting the tiger's gaze head-on. Nox snorted as Nolan's eyebrows raised before he quickly recovered.

"You're not ready for this dick, little Alpha." The tiger teased, watching as the side of Xander's mouth twitched in annoyance at the nickname. Nolan has known that Xander had a crush on him since they were young but he never brought it up. In truth, he found Xander very attractive, but he meant what he said. The young Alpha definitely was not ready to handle Nolan in bed and the tiger wasn't overly eager to fuck a minor.

"I disagree," Xander argued casually.