Page 38 of Feral: Part Two
"Your closet."
The request doesn't surprise me. It's where I found him before, surrounded by my scent. As much as we tell ourselves we don’t need each other, there’s a connection between us that’s almost as strong as his and Preston’s. I carry him straight there, settling him gently among the hanging clothes before rushing to gather supplies.
I start building up the space with extra blankets and pillows on top of what he already started, trying to create the kind of nest that will make him feel secure. Thane appears to help, his movements just as hurried as he passes me soft fabrics and adjusts the lighting until it’s a step above complete darkness.
"It's time,"Slate whispers, a mix of determination and fear in his mental voice.
I move into the closet with him, taking slow movements so that I don’t startle him. He’s still on edge, though, but settles the moment I’m close enough for him to lean his head on. I rest back against the wall and straighten my legs out as I begin running my hands through his fur, offering what comfort I can as his body begins the final stage of labor. The contractions are coming faster now, each one making his small form tense and shudder.
"I'm right here," I murmur. "You're safe. I've got you. I’m not going anywhere, little Omega.”
His nose brushes against my thigh, a small purr coming from him.“Thank you for coming for me.”
“Always. You’re mine, remember?”
Slate
I wake up to Kael passed out beside me, his large frame somehow managing to fit in the cramped space of his closet. Sitting up, I stretch carefully, noticing that I’ve already shifted in my human form again, my stomach much smaller than it was, no longer distended with the weight of pregnancy, though it's still soft and tender from the birth.
I never thought that Kael would find me. I thought for sure at one point they would think I had left them behind and wanted to do this on my own. I still don’t remember heading out into the woods, my delirious self-seeking comfort when I already had it where I was.
A little squeak tears my attention to the two pups curled into my chest, one muddy brown and the other a deep stormy gray. I wasn’t even aware foxes came in those shades, but I love bothof my baby boys. They're so small, so perfect, their fur fluffy and scraggly, which brings a smile to my face.
They're the best thing that has ever happened to me.
All the pain I've endured, all the rejections and betrayals and systematic breaking down of my spirit—none of it matters now. These two perfect lives make everything else worth it. They're mine, truly mine, in a way that no one can take away from me.
I slowly pick up my babies, marveling at how light they are, how they instinctively curl toward my warmth. Moving carefully so as not to wake them, I settle them in Kael's lap, wanting him to be close to them when he wakes up. Kael's eyes flutter open at the gentle contact, and when he sees what I've placed in his lap, his face transforms with wonder and joy.
"You've given me a gift, Slate. They're so beautiful."
The sincerity in his voice makes my throat tight with emotion. For so long, I was told that any children I might carry would be burdens, complications, mistakes to be corrected. To hear Kael speak of them as gifts, to see the genuine love in his eyes as he looks at them, feels like something is healing inside of me.
I nod, not trusting my voice for a moment. "Thank you for coming for me. I didn't know where I was or why I left."
If Kael hadn't found me when he did, if he hadn't been able to track me through whatever bond connects us, I might have given birth completely alone. I’m not sure I would have been able to trust anyone after that—even if I was out there because of my own mistakes.
Kael opens his arm for me to move closer, and I don't hesitate this time. I settle against his side, humming with contentment as he tightens his arm around me. “Nathan got here when you were sleeping. Your baby boys are healthy, a little underweight but healthy.” I nod, stuffing my face into his shirt, just needing his presence as a wave of sleepiness washes over me. "Slate, I fucked up."
I tense against him, wondering where he’s going with this. He’s been making up for being an Alph-hole for over a week. Even though I haven’t explicitly told him I forgive him, I have. "You don't need to apologize," I say quickly. "We're good now."
But Kael shakes his head, pinching my chin to tilt my gaze upward. When I meet his eyes, I see a sincerity there that hasn’t been present before. "You deserve an apology. I've been trying to fix all this, but you need more than that. At first, you were just a job to me. I'm not going to lie to you. You were our ticket out of here. But then it slowly morphed and it felt like a part of me was dying every time I pushed you away."
He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my lips, like he's afraid I might break or disappear. I melt into the embrace, his tongue gently slipping into my mouth to tangle with mine. We stay like that for a while, just tasting each other until he pulls away, his thumb running along the side of my jaw.
"I've watched you take care of everyone since you stepped in. The way you look at Preston, smile at Malik, and accept Thane as your Alpha. I'm selfish as fuck and I want that. I want that spicy warmth you bring into this pack. I want it all. I know you haven't truly forgiven me yet, but I'm going to make you feel like you belong here every damn day."
Tears gather in my eyes as I search his expression, some part of me waiting to hear that it’s just a joke, but every part of him is being sincere in this moment. "That's probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," I whisper before dragging him into another kiss. Maybe it’s my tired brain or just the fact that I want to believe Kael that I melt against him all over again.
No one has ever promised to make me feel like I belong. The best I've gotten before is tolerance, conditional acceptance based on my behavior and submission. But Kael is offering something different, and fuck, I want to be selfish too.
"Get some sleep," he murmurs against my lips. "I've got your babies, okay?"
I settle back against his side, watching as he adjusts his hold on my pups.
***
The gentle repetitive motion of Kael’s fingers running through my hair slowly drags me back out of my nap, my eyes snapping open to check on my babies. They’re happily curled around each other in Kael’s lap, legs stupidly up in the air like the mess that they are. I snort at that and then frown at the arguing in the hallway, voices raised in what sounds like concern mixed with frustration. I can make out Thane's deeper tones and what might be Malik trying to mediate, but the words are muffled through the closet door.
