Page 46 of Briggs
“We’re having twins,” I whispered. Briggs nodded. My eyes widened when something suddenly occurred to me. “We’re going to need two of everything!”
Briggs’s smile grew until his eyes were twinkling.
Chapter 17
Briggs
“I’m ready,” Todd said as he came down the last few steps of our house. That was still sinking in a bit. This was our house for as long as we wanted it. And my adorable mate loved me. Since yesterday, his memories and thoughts had been completely open to me as they had been while he was in heat. He had encouraged me to search for the answers I wanted. I loved him more now than I did yesterday. I’d refrained from looking while Todd was awake, but after we’d made love and he’d fallen asleep, I couldn’t resist any longer. My mate had truly been through hell. He’d been forced to do things that nobody ever should do, even without the threat of death.
I would never hold any of it against him, nor would I make him feel bad because of it. He did what he had in order to suffer the least. There had been many others who had been brought to the compound and sadly not made it out alive. I looked at my mate where he was shoving his feet into his shoes with some struggle. Immediately, I rushed to help him.
“Thank you,” he said as he put his hands on my shoulders as I was kneeling down to help him slide his shoes on. I tied themfor him, wondering if we should get him some sort of slip-in-type shoes.
“Do you want to stop at the council store and look at shoe options after our appointment? Maybe get some that are easier to just stuff your feet into like you were doing?”
Todd snorted above me. “I appreciate it, but I have those upstairs already. They’re great for getting out of in a hurry when you and your brother are racing to see who can shift faster. The answer is me.” Todd sighed as he rubbed his stomach. He was showing when naked, something that I absolutely loved. But he’d taken to wearing my T-shirts and button-downs because they were bigger on him and allowed him to still be able to hide his pregnancy. “I was just being a bit lazy because I had these down here and didn’t feel like going back up the stairs.”
“Ah. All right then. Are you ready to go to our ultrasound?” I was. Since Todd knew we were having twins, there was a lot less stress about things baby related.
“I am.” Todd smiled up at me as he reached for his jacket that was hanging on the wall. We had an entire closet for coats and jackets and whatever else Todd decided he wanted to put in there, but he’d found this peg thing for the wall here in the entryway and had decided that he wanted it. I thought it looked great there, so why not?
I was a bit slow to help Todd put on his jacket, but when he was finished, he nodded enthusiastically. I grinned at my adorable mate and took his hand as we left the house. It wasn’t a far walk, and there was plenty to discuss while we walked to our appointment.
“Have you thought more about returning to work?”
Todd sighed. “Yes. And I really think I want to. If that’s all right with you?”
“Of course it is. I meant it when I said you could go back to work or stay home. Same with after the twins are born.”
Todd made a face. “Would it be terrible if I thought about putting them in the childcare center part-time? Maybe working a few days a week?”
I wasn’t sure why he was so set on working, but I wasn’t going to stop him. “No, that’s perfectly fine with me. I know that the alpha mates who run it are all going to love getting their hands on any new babies, especially a set of twins.” I smiled. “There are several enforcers who have mates that work, and their babies go to the childcare center. That’s why it’s there. You should never feel guilty for using the services that the council provides. And if you decide you want to stay home full-time, and then later that changes and you want to go back to work, it will still be there for us.”
Most packs, prides, dens, and the like provided some sort of childcare services. We were lucky that our children didn’t start shifting until they hit puberty, but even then, it could be a bit unpredictable, which was why we had shifter schools.
“But you would be all right if I did decide to stay home and not work?”
I smiled, but Todd couldn’t see because he was absolutely focused on looking ahead of us while we were walking. “Yes, of course. If you want to stay home for the next five years, ten years, forever, it’s all right. I’m a younger alpha, but I not only have funds set aside, but I do make a good amount of pay every year. And with us not having any bills here on the mountain except food, that helps a lot.” I stopped Todd and turned him to look directly up at me. When he did, I cupped his face. “You are not, nor will you ever be, a burden to me. I am more than happy to provide for you and our children. As well as your siblings. I know you’re still worrying about them a bit, and if you’re ready, they’re welcome to move in.”
Todd sighed. “I think you should meet them first.”
I chuckled as we started walking again. “True. We can go see them whenever they have time. They’re in school now, so maybe this evening? Or tomorrow? Do they have weekend plans, do you know?”
“John is definitely hanging out with his friends. I’m thrilled he has a group that he gets along with and they have things in common. Tracy, I’m not sure. I’m trying really hard to connect with her, but she’s not exactly open to letting me in. I think we should try group sessions with Dr. Brauer again. We only went a few times, and it was just too much for everyone. We just weren’t ready.”
“That’s the new doctor, right? Hawthorne? That’s his name?”
Todd shrugged. “I know him as Dr. Brauer. It’s a bit confusing at times because of Dr. Braun and their names being so close. Dr. Brauer is a gargoyle though. So if the gargoyle that’s there is named Hawthorne, then yes.”
I chuckled. “Very well. Then yes. Dr. Brauer is a gargoyle. He works with children mostly though, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. He’s been seeing Tracy more than John. He seems to be doing okay and hasn’t really had the struggles that Tracy seems to be having. I think her biggest issue now is that she’ll have to leave Alpha Babak’s and come live with me.” Todd took several deep breaths and let them out. I could tell through our bond that he was trying to calm his nerves. When he glanced up at me, I could see them on his face. “She’s been through a lot already in her short life. She doesn’t really remember me much. Some, but not a whole lot. She really likes it with Alpha Mate Mina, and I can’t say that I blame her. She’s with a maternal figure, and I’m not sure I want to take that away from her.”
“Then we won’t,” I let slip. Todd looked at me with wide eyes. Shit. “Alpha Babak and Alpha Mate Mina are more than happy to keep your siblings if that’s what all of you want. They aren’t saying that because they feel any sort of pressure. Alpha Babakhas outright said they are more than happy to keep them with them.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “I was going to share that with you, but it slipped my mind. You got sick with the pregnancy, and my focus shifted to solely you. Then I was back at work, and it honestly just wasn’t a recurring thought.” I sighed. “I’ll do better about making sure I share everything immediately. Alpha Babak first mentioned it when I canceled on our dinner with them.”
