Page 21 of Her Beta

Her expression turned devious as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and sashayed back to the bed, then climbed onto the mattress after giving her ass a cute little wiggle.

I growled in frustration and swallowed my desire, reminding myself that I could ravish her after she’d had sustenance.

Evette smirked, but when she saw my hard expression, her shoulders dropped, and she heaved a resigned sigh. “Fine.”

I rolled my eyes because she licked her lips in anticipation when I set the tray of food on her lap.

“Eat, baby,” I told her, handing her half of her sandwich. My voice pitched lower, and I leaned in to put my mouth to her ear. “Then I’ll have you for lunch.”

I dropped my lips to the shoulder that was exposed since she was wearing one of my shirts. It was much too big for her, even being pregnant. It showed off her mating mark, and I gave the spot a little lick, grunting in approval when a shiver wracked her body.

“Not fair,” she pouted, making me laugh. Damn, my girl was cute as fuck.

“Just giving you the incentive to finish eating, baby. You don’t get my mouth until you’ve emptied that plate.”

I expected to see her glaring at me when I lifted my head, but her eyes had gone soft, and her lips were curved into a beautiful smile. “I wasn’t sure whether to believe you when you told me you’d treat me like a princess and spoil me for the rest of our lives,” she murmured. “From what I’ve observed of the world, it seems like after the honeymoon phase, men are no longer as attentive and loving.” She traced my jaw softly, and her cheeks dusted with pink. “But you make me feel special and sexy, and even more loved every day.”

I cupped her cheeks and softly kissed her lips before staring into her eyes. “You are the most precious person in my world. And once you have our cubs, I will have three reasons to be grateful that the universe gave me such love and perfection. The only way I can show gratitude is by caring for my precious family the best I can.”

Evette’s green orbs were swimming in moisture, and I frowned, hating it when she cried.

“Stop that,” I ordered.

She laughed and shook her head. “They’re happy tears.”

“Don’t care,” I growled as I moved the tray of food to the floor and dragged Evette onto my lap. “You know that I don’t like it when you cry.”

“Then don’t say such sweet things,” she teased.

Eyes narrowing, I grunted, “Sweet is not a word that has ever been used to describe me. Except by you.”

My mate giggled. “I promise not to tell anyone.”

Unable to resist any longer, I closed my mouth over hers. Passion ignited the way it always did when I had my mate in my arms—or anywhere near me. Despite my best intentions, I devoured my lunch before she finally ate hers.

Even though the Wilderness Pack was formed by a bunch of shifters who preferred animals to people, there were definite benefits to being in one. Such as having several females around who’d given birth and could convince me not to freak the fuck out when my wife went into labor a month early.

The guys were never gonna let me live it down. Not when the doctor had specifically told us that it was normal for twins.

But when Evette waddled into the room we’d set up as a nursery—where Keane and I were putting together the cribs—to tell me that it was time, all of the preparation I’d done to be ready for their birth fled from my mind. It didn’t help that she kept clenching and moaning in pain every time she had a contraction. I wanted to fix it, hating that she was hurting, but there was nothing I could do.

“Leyton,” Laina said softly, her lips pressing together to hide her amusement. “Grab her bag from the bedroom, and Keane will drive you to the hospital.”

With a chuff that was more bear than man, I picked up my mate and carried her to the car, then ran back to grab her bag. By the time I’d returned, my common sense had returned, and I held her hand through each pain, whispering words of encouragement.

Luckily, the cubs waited until she was settled in a hospital bed before they decided to come into the world. Her reminders that she could talk us through the process if we didn’t make it there in time did nothing to ease my fear.

I was propped onto the bed next to Evette, and we gazed down at our girls with adoration as the nurse set one in her arms and the other in mine.

“They’re perfect,” Evette whispered, her voice filled with awe. And something else that I wasn’t sure about.

I glanced at her to see a slightly sheepish glint in her eyes. “Of course they are. Look at their mother.”

She blushed and beamed happily, but that glint was still there.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I just…” Her blush spread and darkened. “I was kind of wondering if…”

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