~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kieran hoped that ending the day with stargazing would bring down Teru's stress and take his mind off of witnessing the death and resurrection of a pack member. It seemed to work.

"And that middle star connects with that one over there," Teru said enthusiastically, pointing to several stars in the night sky. Kieran's half-closed gaze followed the shape his mate made. "It makes the shape of a hunter throwing a spear."

"Hmm, and what is the inspiration behind it?"

When Blaise and his blood slave, er, virtue left to go calm Lust, they also went their separate ways for the evening. After re-wrapping Teru's feet, which were healing wonderfully, they laid down on a fleece blanket a few paces away from the car. Teru had his head resting in the crook of Kieran's arm.

He stroked Teru's sweat-damped hair, trying to cool down the latest pregnancy side-effect: hot flashes. The sudden bursts of sweat and flushed skin were his omega's least favorite symptom, knowing how much he disliked being too hot.

"The inspiration?" Teru asked, confused.

"I'm referring to the story. Why a hunter? Is it a legend for humans? A real person?"

Teru pondered, bringing his outreached hand to his side. "No. It's just a way for pups to remember directions. The spear he is holding points West."

"Perhaps we can create a story now. You can retell it to our pups if they're lost." Kieran felt Teru shift to look up at him.

"Now? Like what?"

"If we follow your constellation, it would lead us to Los Angeles. When you think of LA, what is the first thing that comes to mind, little one?

"...Hope."

"Then, the hunter points to hope."

They watched the twinkling stars for a while, listening to the nightlife awaken. His guard was down thanks to the lack of predators, making Kieran the scariest thing here; the scent of werewolves had scared off creatures with even larger teeth than him. The calming chirps and wind brushing over the grass blades were nice and all, but Kieran wanted to hear a different sound. He gently slid his arm from under Teru's head and wiggled downward.

Teru raised an eyebrow, hands held up cautiously because he didn't know what was happening. "What are you doing?"

"Hearing them." Them, meaning the three grape-sized halflings.

Kieran placed his ear against his mate's small bump. There was no need to lift the sweater, not wanting to risk the breeze giving Teru a cold. He immediately heard their heartbeats, so tiny compared to an adult human. Two were in sync with each other while the third was in its own rhythm. He sighed with relief. It was still unbelievable that these were his, conceived through a miracle.

Teru himself is a miracle, too. His existence is just as impossible as the babies.

"How...are they?"

He noted the spike in Teru's anxiety, worried to know the answers.

"Great. She didn't get weaker since the last time."

"There you go, going about it being female again," Teru disagreed but with lightheartedness, also comforted to hear this. "Don't be disappointed later on. That third pup is a boy."

Kieran smiled at the hypocritical statement. A rumble filled his chest like a tiger's chuff. Both were so sure about the pup being female or male. In the end, it didn't matter as long as it was healthy, but it was still comical to casually argue. He went back to listening, focusing on the swishes in amniotic fluid and-

GURGLE.

He stared up quickly.

And didn't have to think twice.

The alpha knew what his partner needed.