Page 36 of All That We Keep
He just grins, wiggling at his fingers for me to give up more of my bills. Blake lets out a soft sound before sitting up and clearing his throat, everyone’s attention moving to him. "I've been thinking about what we talked about earlier. About the future and having children." The room goes quiet except for the soft background music playing from Grayson's phone. "I think I do want to have children someday," Blake continues. "And I want to preserve my eggs before the Delta transition becomes permanent."
"I'm gonna have your babies," I say immediately, leaving no room for doubt. "I'm gonna have all of your babies." Blake has always been there for me, from day one. He’s been my first love, my first protector, my first everything, really. It’s the least I can do to offer to carry his babies.
Blake's expression softens as he leans in to kiss me, his lips gentle against mine. When he pulls back, his eyes are glassy with unshed tears. "Cupcake, let's just have the first two first, and then we can deal with everything else."
Laughter bubbles up from somewhere deep in my chest, mixing joy with the hormonal emotions that have been so close to the surface lately. "You're right. These two are going to be enough of a handful."
The moment breaks some of the tension in the room, and soon we're all laughing again, Maceo reaching over to ruffle Blake's hair affectionately. "You're going to be an amazing father to all of them."
"The best daddy," I agree, pressing another kiss to Blake's cheek.
We try to return to the game, but I notice Blake starting to shift restlessly against me. His scent is changing, becoming more complex, more tart rather than sweet, and I can feel heat radiating from his skin even through his clothes.
"Blake?" Luther's voice carries a note of concern. "How are you feeling?"
Blake pauses in the middle of rolling the dice, his brow furrowing as he takes inventory of his body. "Hot," he admits. "But not like before. Different."
"What do you need?" Grayson asks immediately, already pushing the coffee table farther away.
Blake leans back against me, his breathing becoming slightly labored. "I know what Quentin said about having one more heat cycle, but I don't think I'm actually going to have a heat. I thinkthings are already changing, and if I want to make a decision about preserving my eggs, I have to do it tomorrow before everything becomes permanent. For now, I just want to be held. I just want to know that I'm loved the way I am. I just want to know that regardless of what changes happen, of who I become, of what I become, that I still have a place in this pack. That I'm still yours."
Luther moves immediately, settling on Blake's other side so that our mate is surrounded by the four of us. "Baby, you will always be mine. You will always be Grayson's, always be Maceo's." His voice carries that Alpha authority that leaves no room for argument. "And I think Luca would kill us if we ever took you away from him."
"Damn right I would," I laugh, tightening my arms around Blake's waist. "You're mine, Blake Keller. Delta, Omega, Alpha, Beta, I don't care what designation you are. You're mine and I'm yours."
Blake shifts slightly in my arms, reaching for the dice that fell to the floor when we abandoned the game. "Hey," he says with mock indignation, "you're messing up the game. Now you're gonna make me lose."
More laughter fills the room as we all realize how thoroughly we've disrupted our game night with emotional declarations and impromptu cuddle sessions. Not that I’m mad. I like these moments just as much as everything else.
"I think you were losing anyway," Maceo teases, retrieving game pieces that have scattered across the nest. "Your real estate empire was built on questionable financial practices."
"Says the man who's been stealing money from the bank when he thinks no one is looking," Blake shoots back playfully.
"That's called making change. Perfectly legitimate banking procedures."
Grayson snorts with laughter. "Is that what we're calling embezzlement now?"
We slowly untangle ourselves enough to continue the game, though Blake remains curled against my side and Luther keeps one hand resting on Blake's thigh. The physical contact seems to ground all of us, a reminder that we're here together despite everything trying to pull us apart. And maybe not tomorrow but one day soon, we’ll be able to start that happily ever after we’re all so desperately working toward.
21
Blake
The whole day has been stressful after a thorough health checkup and appointments, most of which I blocked out mentally. All I know is that they saved three viable samples, and while the process was both embarrassing and left me ready to burrow under blankets for the rest of eternity, Luca looked happier than I've ever seen him. Luca’s face lit up when my doctor confirmed the samples were viable, like I'd just given him the greatest gift in the world.
The medical procedures weren't painful, just clinical and awkward. Having to provide samples while my pack waited in another room, knowing they could probably sense my discomfort through our bonds, made everything worse. But seeing Luca's joy made it worth the embarrassment.
Quentin also gave Luca a checkup, saying the babies were healthy and that he was ready to pop at any moment. Theexcitement that shot through me at those words was intense enough to overshadow anything else. Not soon enough James and Samuel will be here, in our arms, and I can’t fucking wait.
After examining us both, the doctor passed us off to Quentin who further explained that the designation dynamics of our pack will continue to fluctuate and change over the years, that the in-between designations don't always stay rigid.
"What does that mean exactly?" Maceo asked.
"It means that you might have more Alpha or Beta tendencies depending on what your pack needs," Quentin explained patiently. "And Blake might present more as an Omega or Beta depending on those same things. However, with Blake, it presents more noticeably as the difference between Alpha and Omega tendencies because that kind of possessiveness and protectiveness isn't common with a traditional Omega. But it is common with a Delta." He paused, his expression growing more thoughtful. "It's why biologically, and in some scientific communities, a pack like this is known as a golden pack. You have uniquely what is needed to succeed. Whatever your pack needs biologically, someone can fill in the gaps. It doesn't come without its pitfalls, however. Blake, you still need to be careful with stress levels. But as a Delta, there's a lot less biological strain than there would be for an Omega in your position."
"So, he'll be okay?" Luca asked, his voice tight with worry.
Quentin smiled reassuringly. "Your Delta is a fighter. Yes, he'll be okay, and he's going to be a great father. Now let's get you all home."
