bChapter /bb174 /b

    I sat back against the cushions, letting Mum fuss over the ultrasound pictures again while the kids. turned the sitting room into their own battlefield of cushions andughter. Macey was bossing the boys around like a general, while Elias tried to outdo Elliot in a jump–off contest. My chest warmed just watching them. This was safe, loud and alive. A shriek–definitely not kingly–echoed from the kitchen, sharp enough that Mum startled. My head whipped toward the doorway, and a heartbeatter, Mchi came stalking out, looking like someone had dumped ice water down his back. His hair stuck up at odd angles, his jaw tight, his eyes narrowing as if murder might be next on his agenda. Trailing after him came my mates, every one of them looking far too pleased with themselves. Xavier’s smirk was razor sharp, Haiden’s grin wolfish, Noah whistled low like he’d just won a bet, and Levi, calm as ever, looked smug in that quiet, dangerous way that told me this had been his idea.

    “You,” Mchi growled, jabbing a finger toward them. “Portal tricks. Really? In my kitchen?”

    Haiden only chuckled. “Sounded more like a pup who saw his own shadow.”

    Mchi scowled deeper, muttering something unrepeatable under his breath, while Julius and Arztec burst outughing from the corner.

    I bit my lip to hide my smile, shaking my head at the lot of them. “Honestly, you’re all impossible.”

    “Impossible,” Mum agreed dryly, though the corner of her mouth twitched.

    The room was still buzzing with noise when Xavier leaned down to kiss the side of my head. “We’ll be in the next room. Pack matters. Don’t move.”

    “As if I could,” I teased, brushing his jaw with my hand. His lips curved in that faint smile before he and my other three followed my brothers down the hall, their voices dropping low as they slipped into Alpha talk. The quiet that followed felt strange, but not unwee. I sat back, watching Elliot, Elias, and Macey chase each other with wooden swords in the corner. Theirughter rang out, filling the grand space better than any chandelier ever could.

    Then Mum shifted beside me. She had been sitting regal andposed, as always, but the moment the others were gone, she reached for me. Her hand slid over mine, then settled gently on my bump. “How are you, my girl?b” /b

    The question was soft but heavy. Not “how are you” in the polite sense. Not the way everyone else asked. She meant it.

    I let out a long breath. “Tired. Still sore. My head’s a mess half the time. And I keep thinking about

    Felix. About how little time he has left.”

    Her thumb rubbed slow circles against my belly. “And the babies?”

    I swallowed. “Strong. So strong. Sharlene said they’re perfect. But gods, Mum, four. I don’t even know where to start.”

    She smiled, her eyes shining with that warm, knowing glint. “You start the same way I did. One day at a time. One cry at a time. You’ll never be perfect at it, Envy, but you’ll love them perfectly, and that’s what matters.”

    Tears stung my eyes, though I hadn’t meant to cry. “Do you ever stop being scared?”

    She shook her head slowly. “No. You learn to carry the fear alongside the love. The fear means they matter.” She pressed her forehead lightly to mine, her scent wrapping around me, steady and grounding. “And you, my fierce little girl, were always meant to be a mother. Those pups couldn’t be

    luckier.”

    Augh bubbled through my tears. “You know, Aleisha told me my tits will never look the same

    again.”

    Mum leaned back and nced down at her own chest with a wry grin. “She’s not wrong. But if stretch marks and sagging are the cost of all this?” She gestured toward the children ying, toward me, toward the future waiting. “Then I’d pay it a thousand times over.”

    Theughter and the tears mixed, my chest loosening from all the events. Is this what it felt like to have a Mum? Is this what I missed within all the chaos?

    Mum’s hand lingered on mine for another breath, then she straightened, a spark in her eyes that hadn’t been there a moment ago. “Come with me,” she said softly, her tone leaving no room for

    argument.

    I frowned. “What about the kids?”

    “They’ll be fine,” she said with the certainty only a mother could carry. She raised her voice slightly. “Stay put, you three. Don’t burn the ce down.”

    “Wasn’t nning on it,” Elliot called back, though the mischievous lilt in his voice made me raise an eyebrow.

    Mum ignored him and tugged me gently to my feet. I followed her up the sweeping staircase, the

    b51 /b

    sound of children’sughter fading behind us, until we stopped before a door tucked away at the end of the hall. It looked ordinary enough, painted the same muted cream as the others, but the way she rested her palm against it felt… reverent.

    When she pushed it open, my breath caught.

    “Oh,” I whispered. My hand flew to my mouth. “Is this…?”

    “Yes.” Her voice was quiet but steady. “This was meant to be yours. We never had the chance to use

    it.”

    The room was soft, warm, untouched by time. Curtains of pale rose drifted at the windows, a crib carved from dark wood sat in the corner, and little shelves lined the wall, still holding a few forgotten toys and books. The faintest scent ofvender hung in the air, as though the space had been waiting all this time.

    My throat closed. “Mum…”

    She touched the frame of the crib with her fingertips. “Considering you’re having at least one girl, you can take whatever you want. I know you could just magic up things ten times grander, but…”

    I cut her off, shaking my head as tears blurred my vision. “No. This is perfect. She will love it.”

    Mum’s lips curved, eyes shining. “Then it’s hers. Yours.” She reached for my hand again and squeezed it. “It’s about time this stuff belonged to someone.”

    I walked further inside, brushing my hand over the crib’s railing, then the quilt draped over its edge. My heart swelled and ached all at once. My daughter would sleep in there, surrounded by the love that had been waiting for decades to be used.

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