Alpha Big Paw nodded, sending them on their way. Gripping his fists, he growled out. "I don't know what you want me to do. I know what to do with my pack, to keep the peace, but this is a threat on the throne. If you want my warriors to attack their tribe, you may do what you will." Alpha Big Claw was an excellent Alpha; even living here in the Earth realm, he knew his place.

Dax crossed his arms, puffing out his chest. Dax was always up for a fight, ready to jump headfirst. On the other hand, I had to think of not just the throne but also Seraphina. Did we want to start a war with the Bears? Seraphina had been through enough in 48 hours. "I'll speak with the Alpha Mason in the morning." Dax cracked his knuckles. "His cubs shouldn't go unpunished even if they have given food for reconciliation. They get punished either by his hand or ours,” Dax growled.

Gentle groans of pain coming from inside the tent had my hair standing up on my neck. Seraphina, softly talking to Tua with her soothing voice, calmed both my brother and I. Alpha Big Claw sat on a nearby log, looking off into the distance as we waited.

The wait was long, long enough to skip dinner entirely. The fire was blazing just a few meters away as the rest of the warriors waited for the baby to be born. A loud cry coming from Tua shrieked through the night air, and we had lost the Red Wolves’ Alpha who bolted into the tent.

The roar of the crowds when the baby was brought out was suffocating. Knowing Seraphina wouldn't care for the extra noise, we entered the tent. Tua had fallen asleep on her side, on a bed of pillows and throws of blankets on top of her. Seraphina was washing her hands by a nearby basin. Her hair was haphazardly thrown in a high bun that accentuated her gorgeous neck and shoulders. Both shoulders would hold our mark, and my cock wanted to rise at the thought.

Running silently to her first, I wrapped my arms around her waist. A deep and heavy exhalation wracked through her. Dax came to her front and wiped away a few tears I had smelled upon entering.

"Are you alright?" Dax spoke softly.

"It's a lot," she sniffed. "That was a lot." I kissed her cheek. Seraphina buried her nose into my neck. Seraphina’s hand reached for Dax making his arm go around her. After a few moments, Dax picked her up, one arm under her legs and another behind her back, leading her back to our room, eyes closed.

Seraphina was half asleep in our arms, too tired to bathe, and our boundaries were not set even if it was to clean her. We laid her on top of the bed and pulled the furs around us. Not bothering to ask for food, Seraphina rolled over and nuzzled into my chest. Breathing in content, Dax turned off the light; we could still hear the celebration going on outside.

"This doesn't get you off the hook, you know," she mumbled into my skin. Thinking it was from letting her go help Tua, I chuckled.

"Is that so?" I whispered.

"It is so... dear Alphas."

Chapter Twenty

Seraphina

Iheardtherustlingof the sheets earlier, but my heavy eyes wouldn't even flutter. I lay in the bed, trying to ready my body like a computer. I needed a whole system shut down and reboot, and if I live another day like the past two days, I think I might need to control, alt, delete myself. It could have been a few hours later, maybe minutes, but my body heaved out of bed albeit slowly.

Instead of seeing my two strong ‘alphas’ next to me, the bed was bare and cold. Did I scare them off that badly last night? I tutted, folding my arms over my chest. At least they didn't strip me and put me in my pajamas or make me shower. That would have been the cherry on the top of the whole ordeal.

I never asked if there was any more to them, other than that they were Werewolves. I thought that was all the information I needed, but they left out something important. They were damn alphas. Since there were two of them, why did that mean Alpha Big Claw had to adhere to everything they said?

My stomach growled, and on cue, two of my shameless puppies came walking in the door. Their heads were bowed, and their electric blue eyes pulled me in like they always did when they tried to escape their thick lashes. They looked adorable, and I wanted to coo at them for being such good boys and bringing me breakfast, but I held to my anger and my cooing.

"Alright, spill it." Dimitri brought the food tray and sat it between my legs. There was enough food on my plate to feed a small army. No way I was eating all that. I took the fork, stabbed into a hunk of scrambled eggs, and provided a piece to Dimitri, then to Dax and me.

"We should do that," Dax mumbled. He pulled the fork from me and tried to feed me. Clamping my mouth shut, I shook my head.

"Alpha's, huh?" Answers were to be had, and it looked mid-morning now. Milking all the information out of them will undoubtedly be interesting.

"We know you are mad," Dimitri explained. "There is a lot to tell, so we want to take you on a walk through the woods. To the lake." I opened my mouth, and Dax shoved a mouthful of eggs in.

"Like a date?" I said, incredulously chewing my food. These Alpha men needed to pull up their britches; everything was ass-backward.

"You can think of it that way," Dimitri cracked his knuckles. "Listen, we didn't want to meet you this way; it all happened fast. The Bears threw us off and shit. Give us a chance?" My heart thumped three long beats. Those lashes were long, even for a male, and it only made his bright blue eyes stand out all the more. Dax's breathing had slowly stopped, and I missed the spicy leather scent that came from his mouth.

"Alright, I sighed."

The woods were thick around these parts. It was mainly a National Wildlife Preserve, and we had somehow crossed the Canadian border. Human borders don't matter around here, just the wolf ones. We walked for a good thirty minutes; Dax was ever so sweet, making sure I didn't trip and fall on a log. They treated me like a fragile doll and babied me the entire way. Some women would find that absolutely abhorrent, but when all the males in your life cut you down, you appreciate it.

After a few more minutes of walking, animals running away in fear at the sight of two big Alpha Wolves, we came to the lake. It was crystal clear; you could see every colored stoned in the lake. "It's so beautiful," I whispered. Dimitri took my hand and helped guide me to a soft moss patch just a few yards away. The bag they carried held a king-sized blanket because, why not?

Pulling out some wine, and I mean the good stuff from Italy, I clapped my hands unceremoniously. "Aww, you remember my complaining!" Dimitri threw a smile my way.

"Of course, we did. We will always pay attention to our mate." Blushing at his words, I tipped the wine glass back into my mouth. Bursts of sweet wine decorated my pallet, and I sighed in relief. This was the taste of my home. Old home, no longer home. Mother, it reminded me of mother. She was the only home.

Shaking what was left of my sadness, I looked up at my boys, both sitting like patient puppies. They were my puppies. I held in a laugh and cleared my throat. "You both have stalled long enough, explain."