Jason Dolley as Cal Yorke

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My mates, Alpha Jacob Garnett, Esme, Jeffery, and I are touring Jacob's newly erected pack home in Nebraska. His stay at BloodRose had its ups and downs, mostly ups thank the Sun god. Werewolves, in general, are territorial so the immersion of thirty or so werewolves was met with a lot of caution and trepidation. Jacob and his people, on the other hand, assimilated well and worked not to step on any toes which must've been hard for folks that have been on their own, making their own decision for some years.

Now he and Darric have a cordial, if not bothering on a friendly relationship. He solicits Darric's advice on the layout for his pack. The pack is currently on a five-mile radius land. Alpha residence, main pack building, and some other houses have been built. He spoke with Minerva and their children will attend the school. The pack will share the clinic with the school. The pack still needs a long way to go but this is a very good start.

The Ruling Council has bestowed upon them after a short ceremony, 'WinterTooth' pack name. Those guys are not creative at all. So effective immediately former Beta Jacob Garnett is now Alpha Jacob Garnett of WinterTooth Pack. WinterTooth is under the jurisdiction and protection of BloodRose Pack. He was introduced to the other Alphas. By the look on his face, all the pageantry and egos in the room were not his style.

"It's a good thing that we used a human company to construct your houses. It builds a good rapport around here;" I tell Alpha Jacob as we walk through all the erected buildings, with my mates by my side.

"Alpha Salim is extended, and we would've had had to wait. So human was the only other option. We contracted them to build every building except the dungeon. That will wait till Alpha Salim is available for security reasons."

"Good. I'll be right back, I need to talk to Esme," I tell my mates.

"What is she doing," Jacob asks, points to Esme.

"She's casting protective spells over your land," I answer.

"Why? Are we in danger?"

"When are we not in danger?" Darric asks. "From rogues, hunters, betrayals you name it."

"Okay I guess it's a good thing," Jacob says.

"Be right back." I leave them all and walk towards Esme who has been chanting protective spells since we arrived. I wait until she's done.

"Why did you insist you'll come with us?" I ask her.

"I don't know but something urged me to cast a protective spell over this pack," she answers me with a worried face.

"We've learned to listen to our instincts, haven't we? When you find out why let me know okay."

"Will do. And how are you doing mama to be? I'm surprised your mates let you out of your prison. They do realize you're not the first were to be pregnant." She rubs my huge, did I say HUGE stomach.

"I know. I had to bribe, beg, plead with them to teleport here. I was going crazy being locked up in my own manor." I carefully walk beside Esme.

"You are taking care of yourself, right? Do you use the ointment I made for you? Are you doing the chants I gave you every day? Did you see that doctor today? Do you..."

"Yes, mother! Damn, you're almost as bad as my mates. I am fine. We are all fine. I am looking forward to meeting the kicking trio."

I rub my stomach and say a thank you to the Ancient One. Our first try didn't yield a pregnancy right away. And after the first try, every time I was around Jeffery, and that's usually almost always, he murmurs 'Halloweth be'. I wasn't deterred even with my mates' hardline stance of no baby-making party for another two months. I had to wait patiently every two months after each attempt to try again. Six months and two more tries later and I am fuller than an inflated balloon.

Twenty years old and pregnant with triplets. Three babies! Crazy Esme jokes that the Ancient One gave us one baby for each try. As if!

We can tell from their heartbeats that we are having a vampire, a werewolf and a hybrid. We can't tell their gender, that's one thing the Ancient One, Sun god and Moon goddess have decided to keep from us. Initially, though, I was worried because one of the heartbeats was so slow to register but Rafe assured Darric and me that it's the norm for a vampire baby heartbeat.

"So why are you sad?" Esme stops me, holding my stare.

"It's nothing," I reply, hesitant to tell her what ails me.

"Come on. Even your mates asked for my help. It must be serious for those two to ask me for help. They're worried about you. Is it the babies?"

"Yes," I whisper.

"What? Is something wrong with them?"

"No. Esme, the thing is," I pause, "none of the triplets is an Omega."

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that one more time."

"I said," whispering, "none of the triplets is an Omega, okay."

"You lard ass! That's what's bothering you?" She says laughing her head off.

"It's not funny. I was, am prepared for an Omega. You know, a child like me that I can bond with. That I can help become stronger, you know, do more than what their predestined status is."

"OH. MY. SUN. GOD, you never cease to surprise me. So, you don't have an Omega baking in your stomach, so what? You don't have to deliver an Omega to be effective with what we're doing. We are helping everyone especially Omegas and other low-level beings so cut out the pity party and relax. Don't start sending weird hormones the way of my god babies."

"Okay. I'll talk to my mates; I didn't mean to make them worried. I don't know I was just..."

"Crazy, irrational, cuckoo, losing it..."

"The doctors say I'm hormonal," I snap.

"Pfft! What do doctors know?" she says.

"Come on, let's go to the school."

"Guys, I mindlink my mates, Esme and I are going to the school. Meet us there okay?"

"Jeffery will join you," Rafe says.

"Okay."

We land in front of the school's main building. We walk into the administrative offices. Minerva is in a meeting, so I tell the secretary to let her know we'll like to meet with her when she has a few minutes.

Minerva has the teachers and other support staff move into their assigned apartments. Based on her schedule the students will arrive at the beginning of the Fall semester. At the last count, she said she has 200 students registered from kindergarten to twelfth grade. She further informed us that she will like to have an affiliated daycare with the school. I told her we can investigate that in about two years once the school is running efficiently.

Esme and I then stroll down the corridors admiring the rooms and classes.

"Cal, this is truly amazing. Who would think we could do all of this in eighteen months?"

"I know right? This is a very good start. I'm thinking of teaching here too. Herb manipulation of course."

"When will you have the time?"

"Just as a visiting teacher, maybe once a year deal. Think of it, if we get enough student interests, we can have a mini Woods Inc. branch. Sales from their product will go into the school's coffers. And expand Wood Inc's reach.

"I love how your brain works, scary but smart."

"Thank you."

"Not a compliment. But that is a good idea."

"Hi guys," Freddy runs up to us with Summer right behind her.

Freddy moved here a month after her trial and has been here helping Minerva set up the school. I am quite impressed with her work ethics. I guess it takes a lot of intelligence and strength to be a renowned cat burglar. Since my pregnancy, she has been, with permission of the Ruling Council, teleporting Drs. Granger to check on me. Since she's mated to Summer, she has permission to come and go from Crimson River Pack, so she can teleport the doctors without any repercussions.

She had the gall to ask the Ruling Council that since she's doing a 'good' thing teleporting Drs Granger back and forth, the time should be deducted from her sentence. And they agreed. I swear that girl is too smart for her britches.

"Freddy, Summer, how are you guys?"

"Hi Cal, and how are my cousins doing?"

'Doing well thank you. How's it going? On schedule for the incoming inaugural students?"

"I thought I'm tough, but your sister is tougher. She is always on the go, go, go."

"Glad to hear it. And the students?"

"They'll arrive in the fall. I'll be assisting in gymnastics and yoga classes and Summer in computer classes. Fun times, yeah," she says sarcastically. "And why are you here when you're due in a month?" Freddy asks.

"You sound like your uncles, parents, grandparents, Esme, and the list goes on."

"Maybe you should listen to all of us and take care of yourself," she sits me down gently on one of the benches along the way.

"My doctors, all four of them say I am fine."

"Here comes Minerva, I'll see you later," Freddy says. She gets up and they both bow to Minerva and they leave.

"Minerva," I hug her. We have gotten closer, and I thank the Sun god every day.

"Cal? What are you doing here? You should be home relaxing. You're due soon."

"And the list goes on," I murmur.

"What list?"

"The list of people that have told him the same thing you are," Esme replies.

"Then you should listen."

"I was in the area and just wanted to stop by and say Hi. We came along with Alpha Jacob who's looking over his pack land. They hope to move to their new pack in a month."

"That's great. Their children will be familiar with the area and school before the semester starts."

"This is really a beautiful school, Minerva."

I look around me in awe. Esme and I thought this up? Now the hard part starts. Buildings are one thing; humans and all their peculiarities are another.

"How's Beta Yorke? I hear his health is failing. Is there anything I can do? I had Darric offer to have Dr. Granger see him, but he refused."

"I know. I begged him to see the new doctor, but he refuses too. He says he's ready and welcomes his time to meet his goddess and mate."

"I hope he gets better."

"We'll see."

"I meant to ask if it's okay with the board, I will like to teach herb manipulation class. Not now of course, in a year. And if there are enough interested students, I can teach them to make one or two of the creams we make at Wood Inc."

"Sounds good."

"And their proceeds can go into the school funds."

"Sound even better," she smiles.

"Great. Hi guys." My mates walk up to us. Rafe hugs me close, and Darric kisses me.

"Minerva, how are you?" Darric greets her.

"Very well Alpha. Good afternoon High Lord."

"Afternoon Minerva. The school looks great," Rafe tells her.

"Thank you. Everyone has been cooperative, and everything went on schedule thanks to Alpha Salim. And the board members have been very helpful putting in place the individual necessities for each race that I'm not familiar with."

"The Ruling Council will pay you a surprise visit..."

"More like an inspection," Esme smirks.

"Okay, inspection so be on the lookout."

"The Ruling Council?" Minerva flops on the bench, hyperventilating.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"The Ruling Council? With the Elders, the Originals, the..."

"Yes, all of them, the fifteen stuck ups," Esme says.

"Should you be calling them, 'stuck ups'" Minerva whispers looking around her. "I hear that some of them shimmer in and out that they may be standing beside you and you won't know," she continues looking around her.

"Yes, the Shadows. It's their allure. Relax Minerva. They agreed to tell Cal and me when they plan to come so we'll be here while you take them on a tour."

"Thank the goddess."

"They're not that bad," I reassure her.

"Not bad? Not bad?? I hear that you go blind if you dare look in their eyes. How am I going to take them on a tour and not accidentally look in their eyes? I need my eyes, Cal!"

"That's just an old witch's tale..."

"Watch it, fur coat," Esme growls.

"You don't go blind if you look in their eyes..."

'But they can blind you if you misbehave," Esme cackles.

"Not helping here," I hit her arm.

"Minerva, all you need to do is just tell them about the school, our goals, what you plan to do to make it work. How you see the school in the next few decades. That's all. And believe me, they'll appreciate the information. Esme and I only gave them the bare bones."

"Really?" She says sounding better returning to her confident self.

"Really. Anyway, we got to go. One more stop before we head on home."

"Where?"

"The grandparents want a family dinner before I'm sequestered in my own home AGAIN," nodding at my mates.

"We just want you to take it easy," Darric says.

"Even the doctors say you need monitoring this last month. We're just following doctor's order," Rafe joins in.

"Whatever! Bye Esme, Minerva."

Dinner at Klyne Manor was great. Rick is a rambunctious almost-two-year-old. Watching Raul run after him was tiring. I shudder at what will happen with my three babies. Sun god let them be three girls, please. People have said girls are not as rowdy as boys. Fingers crossed.

"He's just like Freddy was at this age," Raul says sitting Rick back in his highchair.

"No, Freddy was worse. Sometimes we couldn't find her for hours, remember. Ah, the good old days," Georgiana laughs.

And just like that, my hopes come crashing down.

Now I am tossing and turning between my mates in bed. I can't seem to find a comfortable position. Even Rafe's hand on my stomach is not calming like it used to.

"Are you okay?"

"I can't seem to find a comfortable position."

"Did you do the cleansing?"

"Yes, Darric helped me."

Dr. Granger has prescribed a nightly 'cleansing' of my bowels just in preparation for the delivery. According to him, even though, I will deliver via c-section, we still don't want any infection due to rupture bowel or anything like that. I think that's what he said, though I didn't understand all his medical jargon. Since I entered my last month, my mates' help me with my nightly cleansing. Gross!

A piercing pain hits me, I grab my stomach, grunting.

"Cal?" Darric wakes up.

"Go back to...oww!" I grunt again.

"Okay, you are not fine. You're in pain."

"No Sherlock! I just felt like yelling for the hell of it," I scream at Rafe.

"I'm calling the doctors," Darric jumps out of bed as the bedroom door opens and Jeffery walks in.

"They're here and ready my Lords."

"Jeffery, how?" I croak, bending in pain.

Darric lifts me up and carries me to our well-equipped surgical suite. He lays me on the surgical bed. True to form all four doctors are there and gowned.

"I need Esme," I cry. "Someone find Esme, please."

"Relax, she'll be here soon," Darric wipes my brow.

I jerk his hand away, "GET ESME NOW!!!" I growl.

"I'm here relax," Esme arrives with her blonde hair ruffled and all over her face. She's wearing pink pajamas with the drawing of a brown horse in cowboy boots. Front legs raised high over the words 'I need my booty sleep'.

I smile and my pain eases for a second, "I swear your fashion statement always baffles me."

"You know me, comfort before fashion. Are you ready to pop out the mini fur coats?"

"You mean a leech; fur coat and I wonder what you'll call my hybrid."

"Don't worry I'll find a name. Now let's get you ready, okay Cal. I'm here. I'm not leaving."

"Thanks," I smile at her.

"Okay. Jeffery, you know what you need to do." She nods at my mates.

"Yes, High Priestess. My Lords, if you'll follow me. You need to change into scrubs."

"Of course," Rafe says and they follow Jeffery.

"They don't need..."

"Shhh! He must separate them. They will want to tear the doctor limb to limb as soon as he cuts into you. They won't be able to help themselves. You and I know that. This way Jeffery will keep them close but far enough to allow the doctors to do their work."

A nurse pulls a white cloth shield across my shoulders making it impossible to see my stomach. My pajamas are cut off and I feel the air on my exposed stomach. Dang! Everyone will see my huge stomach.

"Cal, are you ready?" Dr. Granger asks me behind his mask. Behind him are his wife, Dr. Susan Granger, and the two new doctors at BloodRose Pack, Drs. MaGallan and Dayle.

"As I'm ever going to be."

"Now Cal, I'm going to sedate you and numb your stomach. When Dr. Granger starts, all you should feel is some discomfort and no pain. If you're in pain let me know immediately."

"Yes, Dr. Dayle."

My mates return and they are unable to reach me.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Rafe yells.

"Apologies my Lords but I must keep you away from the doctors. To protect Lord Cal and the babies."

"WE WILL NEVER HURT OUR MATE," Darric screams, hitting the invisible wall.

"We know that but the minute Dr. Granger cuts into Cal, your instinct to protect your mate will kick in and you will hurt the doctor trying to help your mate, ergo..."

"...hurt our babies, so please guys just for a while," I plead with them.

"Okay. Esme?" Rafe says.

"I know."

"We're ready. Do you feel this?" Dr. Granger asks.

"No, should I?" I ask worriedly.

"No, you shouldn't. That's good."

Esme is by my head and I see my mates behind her. I smile at all of them, ready for this new phase of our lives. I turn to Jeffery and he bows. My family is here and present, so I relax.

"You know something, Cal?"

"What?" I turn to Esme, my mind off what Dr. Granger is doing.

"I'm worried that this might change our relationship. I know it sounds selfish but now you're a mother..."

"Watch it," I grin.

"Sorry father, happy now. Anyway, things are going to change."

"Of course, things will change, I tell her. That's life but our relationship is like the foundation of a house. Stable and strong. Unshakeable."

"Come again?"

"You can change the color, even add to a house but the foundation is always firm. I'm your root. A tree's root is firmly unshakable even when the branches, leaves fall away. Mates, children, grandchildren, enemies, friends, will come and go in our lives, but you and I will never change. We were tied together even before we were born so nothing can change our relationship."

We hear the first baby's cry.

"Oh Sun god, my baby, I raise my head to see but unable to see it.

"It's a boy, a hybrid," Dr. Granger says.

"I want to see my son," I cry.

Esme goes and brings me the cutest baby on earth. He looks at me, looks at Esme and falls asleep. She puts him in his crib. I hear my mates laughing and cheering.

And another cry, another boy, a werewolf.

Esme brings him and he also looks at both of us and falls asleep.

"Three for three, another boy, a vampire. Ouch, he bit me," Dr. Granger yells.

Esme quickly grabs him and brings him to us. I lift my finger to his mouth, and he takes a bite, looks at us and falls asleep.

"I think I better stitch you up fast so your mates can get in here."

"They're beautiful Cal. My godsons are little angels." Esme says with tears running down her face.

"Are you crying?"