86. Bonus chapter - Rain

Elin and Oliver help me pull out the weeds from our vegetable garden. They love spending time among the plants, curious to see how they grow. It’s not the first time I’ve planted one, but it’s the first time my pups have shown interest in helping me.
I straighten my back while I wipe the sweat from my forehead. The June sun is burning hot. I’ve been in the garden for about half an hour, and I’m already exhausted and sweaty.
My first pregnancy was nothing like this one. In fact, my first pregnancy was on fast speed, while now I get to enjoy all the bad things that come with growing a pup inside my belly.
My little one kicks, and I place a hand on my baby bump.
I love being pregnant even if my feet are constantly swollen and I have to go to the toilet at least three times a night.
Elin notices me, and her face lights up with happiness. She has been asking me about the baby every day since the moment Caleb and I let our children know they will have a new sibling.
“Is the baby moving?” she asks.
“Yes. Do you want to feel him kicking my ribs?” I ask.
We don’t know if we are having a boy or a girl since Caleb and I decided to wait until I give birth to find out what we are having, but for some reason, I’ve been referring to the baby as “him,” maybe because I want Oliver to have a brother since he has three older sisters.
Elin giggles before placing her soft hands against my belly. The baby kicks harder, as if he feels his sister wants to say ‘hi.’
Deciding to have another pup was not a simple one. Giving birth to the triplets was traumatizing, but knowing that Caleb is always by my side makes it easier. Plus, having to take care of three little pups while learning how to be a mom to Sky was too much for me at that age.
Oliver comes up to me. “Can I feel the baby, too?”
I caress his cheek. “Of course.”
Elin and Oliver soon lose interest in the baby and turn their attention back to the garden. There are more interesting things to see there, like the strawberries that are finally ready to be picked.
I promised the pups I would let them fill a basket with strawberries and other goodies they find ready for harvest and prepare a delicious meal for Caleb and Dawn when they return from fishing.
Dawn is a total daddy's girl and she loves spending as much time as possible with Caleb. Many times, she wears matching clothes with him, and she’s so adorable. Caleb is enjoying every moment of it since he knows it won’t last forever, as the pups will grow and eventually no longer find me or Caleb cool.
Sky is already spending more time with her friends than with us, and I know it hurts Caleb even if he hasn’t said anything, but I know him. I don’t need the mating bond to know how he feels.
Things have been peaceful in the past few years, allowing Caleb and me to spend most of our time at home. We hired a pair consisting of a Beta and a Gamma and they have been traveling around Romania in Caleb’s and my name. It’s been a blessing, especially now that I’m five months along and still have morning sickness every day.
When we are done in the garden, the pups and I go to the kitchen. After we get the vegetables and fruits cleaned and washed, we make strawberry muffins and a stir fry. We finish cooking around the time Caleb and Dawn enter the house.
Dawn joins her siblings at the table while Caleb stops in the middle of the kitchen. I can’t tell the expression on his face, but I know he’s looking at me.
My heart beats faster.
No matter how much time passes, I’ll never get tired of this male. He’s truly the love of my life. The only regret I have is not knowing him earlier.
Caleb puts the cooler he always takes with him when he goes fishing on the counter before getting on his knees before me and kissing my baby bump.
“How is my little pup today?” he coos before rubbing his face against my stomach.
The baby kicks, and Caleb lets out a content sound.
After a few minutes of kicking, the baby stops, and Caleb stands. Pulling me into his warm embrace, he says, “I missed you,” before stealing a kiss from my lips, much to the triplets’ delight, who giggle before they demand kisses as well. Of course, we oblige them.
As parents, Caleb and I try our hardest to show our children how much we love them. We’ve always been very open regarding our feelings, and they’ve grown up being very affectionate with us.
When all of us are seated around the table, Caleb asks, “And Sky?”
“Aston invited her over for lunch,” I reply.
Caleb’s mood sours, and the triplets don’t waste any time to torment their poor father even more.
“Sky has a boyfriend,” they say in unison, giggling.
“Problems are what Sky has,” Caleb growls, crossing his arms.
Even Raven sends a snarl through our bond. I press my lips together, suppressing a laugh. Caleb can’t come to terms that Sky is growing up and falling in love.
“Now, now, how about we eat without upsetting Daddy? We all know how upset he gets when he hears that Sky no longer loves only him,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
After our brunch, the pups scatter off to play, leaving Caleb and me to clean the kitchen.
I begin clearing the table, but Caleb insists I sit down.
“Let me help you,” he says, gently pushing me toward a chair.
“You help me all the time,” I remind him with a smile.
Caleb takes the dirty dishes to the sink. “It’s my privilege to do so,” he replies, flashing me a charming grin.
He always knows just what to say.
I say jokingly, “I can always call my Theta Knights to help me.”
A low but menacing growl escapes him, a clear sign that Caleb doesn’t want anyone else around me. He’s been more possessive about me ever since I got pregnant.
“No one except me knows how to treat a queen like you,” he teases, his expression softening as he washes the dishes. 
“True, but they’d make a good effort,” I say playfully, enjoying the banter.
Caleb shakes his head, a soft chuckle leaving him. “There’s no need for extra help. I’ve got you covered.”
After he finishes cleaning the kitchen, Caleb pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me. “You know I always want you to feel cherished.”
I lean into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. “I do, and I appreciate you every day.”
Caleb kisses the top of my head. “Just wait until our little pup is here. I’ll give you all the help you need.”
I can’t help but imagine what life will be like with the new baby, how our family dynamic will shift and grow even more. My heart fills with love. 
“Do you think it will be more chaos?” I ask, half-jokingly.
“Definitely,” he replies with a chuckle. “But it will be our chaos, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
I nod, sharing in his enthusiasm. “It’s going to be quite a ride.”
Just then, Elin and Oliver rush back in with their hands raised, both holding an ample amount of bright red strawberries while Dawn brings in blueberries. 
“Look what we picked!” Elin shouts. 
“Oh, I thought you already picked all of them,” I say. 
“We found more. Can we have them for dessert?” Oliver asks eagerly.
“Of course! We can make a strawberry dessert to go along with the muffins,” I say, glancing at Caleb.
He nods enthusiastically. “Great idea. Let’s turn this into a fun family project!”
The kids cheer, clapping their hands with excitement.
We set to work, washing the fruits and preparing a sweet topping while Caleb shares stories with the pups about his adventures in the woods and fields with Conon. Laughter fills our home as we create new memories together.
I wouldn’t trade my life, despite everything I had to endure, for anything in the world. 
With my hands covered in sugar and cream, I look at Caleb, who is playfully holding a strawberry over my nose. “One for you, and one for me?”
I laugh and nod, taking a bite from the sweet fruit, savoring the taste and the joyous sounds of my children at play.
“Nothing like fresh strawberries to make the day sweeter,” I muse, and Caleb leans down to give me a quick kiss.
“Sweetness is only the beginning,” he whispers against my lips, his warmth surrounding me as he pulls back slightly, our bond vibrating with the intensity of our love.
I know what he means since I can barely keep my hand off of him when our pups are in their beds, sleeping. But now is not the time to think of all the delightful things Caleb will do to me in a couple of hours. 
Instead, I focus on the children, their laughter ringing like music in the kitchen. Elin and Oliver are competing to see who can create the tallest stack of strawberries, while Dawn meticulously arranges blueberries around the base, calling it a “berry castle.”
“Mommy! Look at our castle!” Dawn exclaims, her voice with pride as she adds the finishing touch, a particularly plump blueberry on top.
“It’s magnificent!” I respond, feigning a gasp of awe. “But you might need a knight to guard it from falling!”
Elin and Oliver giggle, instantly adopting fierce poses, brandishing their imaginary swords. “Fear not, for we are the brave knights of the berry castle!” they declare, their enthusiastic imaginations in full swing.
Caleb glances at me, and while I can’t see his expression, I’m sure he’s just as amused as I am. Our hearts swelling with love for these little ones. It feels good to witness their creativity and playfulness, a reminder that Caleb and I broke the cicle of our abusive childhoods.
“You two should keep watch while I prepare the dessert,” I say, carefully setting the strawberry mixture aside. “Make sure no dragons come to steal your castle!”
The kids giggle again and take their guarding duties very seriously, crouching low and peering around the kitchen as if scanning for threats.
Caleb shakes his head, chuckling softly. “Careful, my love. They might take their roles a bit too seriously and end up guarding the castle all day long.”
“True. I’d better keep the snacks flowing to keep their energy up,” I reply, pouring a little more cream and sugar over the fruit mixture to make sure it stays delicious and enticing.
Finally, I make a large bowl for our dessert and set it in the center of the table, where the pups gather around eagerly.
“Ready, everyone?” I ask.
“Yes!” they shout in unison.
“Alright, get your spoons ready!” I serve the colorful mix into their bowls, positioning the sweet topping just right.
As they dig in, applause erupts from Dawn. “This is the best dessert ever, Mommy!”
“Way better than store-bought,” Oliver adds, his mouth full of strawberries.
“See? This is what happens when we work together,” I say proudly, watching them with delight.
Caleb leans down beside me, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. “They’re lucky to have you. But I know what will make the dessert even better,” he whispers mischievously.
“What’s that?” I ask, playfully raising an eyebrow.
“A little bit of this!” He suddenly leans down to steal a strawberry from my hand.
“Hey! That’s not fair! I thought we were sharing,” I laugh, pretending to pout.
“Good dessert deserves to be shared,” he states as he pops the strawberry in his mouth.
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Well, if I lost a strawberry, I guess I need one of yours in return.”
I reach for his bowl, grabbing a juicy berry and popping it into my mouth as he pretends to be shocked. “You thief!” he laughs before retaliating by coming up close and stealing another kiss.
“Alright, alright, enough stealing,” I say, giggling. “Let’s enjoy dessert and let the kids finish their knightly duties.”
After we finish, the kids bounce off to play their next game, and Caleb and I retire to the living room, marveling at how it’s the little things that strengthen our bond.
Later, after dinner, when the sunset is spilling golden light over the room, I lean back against the sofa with a content sigh. “Today has been perfect,” I say softly.
“It really has,” Caleb agrees. “You’ve created such a wonderful life for us. I love watching you with our pups.”
I blush slightly, the warmth of his words wrapping around me like a comforting shawl. “I couldn’t do it without you, Caleb. You make this all possible.”
We sit in comfortable silence, watching the shadows lengthen in the fading light. Eventually, Caleb stands, extending a hand to me. “Come on; how about we take a little walk around the yard?”
I look at him, feeling my heart flutter. “That sounds lovely.”
As we step outside, cool evening air washes over us, a refreshing change from the warmth of the day. The beauty of the dusk surrounds us, with the sky painting itself in deep purples and blues, and stars beginning to twinkle.
We stroll through our garden, hand in hand, the flowers we’ve planted vibrant and alive. I can’t help but smile as I watch Caleb bend down to inspect the blooms, his usual curiosity about nature shining through.
“Look at this one!” he exclaims, pointing to a cluster of bright orange flowers.

Instead on the children, their laughter ringing like music in the kitchen. Elin and Oliver are competing to see who can create the tallest stack of strawberries, while Dawn meticulously arranges blueberries around the base, calling it a “berry castle.”
“Mom! Look at our castle!” Dawn exclaims, her eyes beaming with pride as she adds the finishing touch, a particularly plump blueberry on top.
“It’s magnificent!” I respond, feigning a gasp of awe. “But you might need a knight to guard it from falling!”
Elin and Oliver giggle, instantly adopting fierce poses, brandishing their imaginary swords. “Fear not, for we are the brave knights of the berry castle!” they declare, their enthusiastic imaginations in full swing.
Caleb and I exchange amused glances, our hearts swelling with love for these little ones. It feels good to witness their creativity and playfulness, a reminder that even in the chaos, there’s so much joy in family life.
“You two should keep watch while I prepare the dessert,” I say, carefully setting the strawberry mixture aside. “Make sure no dragons come to steal your castle!”
The kids giggle again and take their guarding duties very seriously, crouching low and peering around the kitchen as if scanning for threats.
Caleb shakes his head, chuckling softly. “Careful, love. They might take their roles a bit too seriously and end up guarding the castle all day long.”
“True! I’d better keep the snacks flowing to keep their energy up,” I reply, pouring a little more cream and sugar over the fruit mixture to make sure it stays delicious and enticing.
Finally, I make a large bowl for our dessert and set it in the center of the table, where the pups gather around eagerly.
“Ready, everyone?” I ask, looking at their wide, expectant eyes.
“Yes!” they shout in unison.
“Alright, get your spoons ready!” I serve the colorful mix into their bowls, positioning the sweet topping just right.
As they dig in, applause erupts from Dawn. “This is the best dessert ever, Mommy!”
“Way better than store-bought!” Oliver adds, his mouth full of strawberries.
“See? This is what happens when we work together,” I say proudly, watching their delight.
Caleb leans down beside me, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. “They’re lucky to have you. But I know what will make the dessert even better,” he whispers mischievously.
“What’s that?” I ask, playfully raising an eyebrow.
“A little bit of this!” He suddenly leans down to steal a strawberry from my hand, grinning like a cheeky child.
“Hey! That’s not fair! I thought we were sharing!” I laugh, pretending to pout.
“Good dessert deserves to be shared,” he states with mock-seriousness, popping the strawberry in his mouth.
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Well, if I lost a strawberry, I guess I need one of yours in return!”
I reach for his bowl, grabbing a juicy berry and popping it into my mouth as he feigns shock. “You thief!” he laughs before retaliating by coming up close and stealing another kiss.
“Alright, alright, enough stealing!” I say, giggling. “Let’s enjoy dessert and let the kids finish their knightly duties.”
After we finish, the kids bounce off to play their next game, and Caleb and I share a few quiet moments at the table, marveling at how it’s the little things that strengthen our bond.
With the sunset spilling golden light over the room, I lean back against my chair with a content sigh. “Today has been perfect,” I say softly.
Caleb smiles, his gaze softening. “It really has. You’ve created such a wonderful life for us. I love watching you with the kids.”
I blush slightly, the warmth of his words wrapping around me like a comforting shawl. “I couldn’t do it without you, Caleb. You make this all possible.”
We sit in comfortable silence, watching the shadows lengthen in the fading light. Eventually, Caleb stands, extending a hand to me. “Come on; how about we take a little walk around the yard?”
I look at him, feeling my heart flutter. “That sounds lovely.”
As we step outside, cool evening air washes over us, a refreshing change from the warmth of the kitchen. The beauty of the dusk surrounds us, with the sky painting itself in deep purples and blues and stars beginning to twinkle.
We stroll through our garden, hand in hand, the flowers we’ve planted vibrant and alive. I can’t help but smile as I watch Caleb bend down to inspect the blooms, his usual curiosity about nature shining through.
“Look at this one!” he exclaims, pointing to a cluster of bright orange flowers.
I stand beside him, admiring the vibrant colors. “Those look amazing,” I say. 
“They’re thriving. Just like our family,” Caleb replies, looking at me, his affection palpable in the air.
Returning to our walk, we wander through the rows of vegetables I planted. The scent of fresh earth mingles with blooming flowers and ripe fruit, creating a fragrant atmosphere filled with the perfect life Caleb and I created for us.
“Did you ever picture our life would turn out like this?” he asks.
“I hoped for it, but I never truly believed it,” I admit, feeling my heart squeeze slightly with emotion. “From the chaos of raising triplets to this peaceful moment together, it’s beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Caleb nods in understanding. “It hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has made us stronger. I wouldn’t change a single moment as long as I have you by my side.”
We take a few more steps, the soft sounds of our kids’ laughter echoing in the distance as they play a new game nearby. I smile, my heart full of joy.
“The pups are growing so fast,” I remark, watching Oliver chase after Elin as they run through the grass, their giggles echoing through the yard.
“I know. It feels like just yesterday that they were tiny and needed us for everything,” Caleb reminisces, his tone tinged with nostalgia. “Now, we’re teaching how to be amazing werewolves.”
“They’re learning from the best,” I tease, nudging him playfully.
Just then, we approach the old oak tree where the kids have hung up a tire swing. It sways gently in the breeze, and I can picture them taking turns swinging back and forth.
Caleb stops and gazes up at the branches, lost in thought. “I remember when we found this tree. It became our little sanctuary.”
“It did,” I agree, leaning against the tree. “There’s something magical about this place, something that feels so – alive.”
As we share this peaceful moment, I feel the urge to pull him closer, and without thinking, I wrap my arms around his waist.
He looks down at me, surprise turning into a soft smile as he returns my embrace. “What did I do to deserve you?” he murmurs gently.
“Just being yourself, I suppose,” I reply, my heart swelling with affection.
After a few cherished moments, Caleb steps back slightly. “I want to play the piano for you,” he says. “It’s been a while since I did so, and I know how much you love it.”
I feel my heart flutter at his suggestion. “I would love that.”
“Then it’s settled. A little serenade for my queen,” he states, taking my hand once more as we start returning to the house.
This was the life I always dreamed of—a loving mate, beautiful pups, and moments that make everything we endured worthwhile. And soon, I would be wrapped in the melodies of Caleb’s music, and later on, in his arms.