Jessa was so happy. With Braxton and her babies and me back in her life, everything was perfect for her right now. Through all her joy, though, were these small tendrils of fear, about Kristoff and the bears, that someone or something was going to come along soon and sweep this all out from under her.
"I won't let them," I growled out, my voice all fierce and stuff. Damn, my wolf was so stunning when she chose to burst free and assert herself. "I've never had this before, and I'll fight to keep it, Jess. I'll fight to keep all of you!"
A warm hand took mine and I realized Tyson had been listening to our conversation. "You don't have to fight them, Misch. We'll fight them together. All of us."
"Yes." Another low voice was nearby, Jacob, the fey's perfect golden features highlighted by the flickering fire. "Together, always. Pack."
My throat was so tight I could barely breathe. This was more than my poor little human-raised heart could handle, but screw it, I was taking this pack. I was keeping them. I wasn't sure I could even live without them in my life now.
The party was in full swing around us. Supes were starting to get loud with what I suspected was some faerie wine help. The four of us remained in a cocoon of pack bonding. I could see Maximus and Braxton making their way toward us, both with plates piled high with food. The boys had been waylaid many times by their friends and alliances. The Compasses were feared in this community but they were also pretty well-liked, which spoke of their strength and compassion. For ones so young, they handled the burden well. Much better than I could have hoped to.
When they made it back to us, a smile curved across Jessa's face, and I loved the way Braxton zeroed right in on it, as if there was no more perfect sight than her smile. Damn, those two had an epic sort of love, one that you'd read about in books, one day, when someone bothered to write about it.
I realized Jessa had started bouncing in her seat, and at first I assumed the smile and bouncing was about the food, but then she said: "I think Mischa needs some pack bonding time tonight."
What was she talking about? I knew immediately I was the only one in the dark. The quads exchanged a look, one which was hard for me to decipher, but there was no confusion there. Before I could start demanding answers, Tyson jumped up and reached out a hand to me. He hauled me up gently, and far more quickly than I could have done on my own.
"Come on," Jacob said, taking my other hand. Between the pair I was led toward the stairs. I glanced back at Maximus, confused about what was happening here.
I won't lie. My mind sort of went straight to the gutter, and then enjoyed playing there for more than a few minutes. But eventually I realized that I wanted no other than Maximus, even though I loved his brothers very much.
Jessa must have picked up some of my thoughts. She let out a chuckle before nudging me. "Sorry, girl. Unfortunately the boys don't roll that way."
Braxton growled before shaking his head. He knew Jessa had eyes for no one but him, and I felt the same way about Maximus. I sent a pouring of love toward the vampire along our bond. He might not hear my thoughts but he could feel my warmth. A surging burn of emotion returned to me, and the fire in his gaze had me stumbling.
Lucky I had two gorgeous dudes on either side of me to keep me standing. My curiosity turned toward where this pack party was heading. When we reached the second floor I was amazed at the size of this level. It was huge: fifteen foot ceilings, giant log beams, and round spaces which spanned out and led to half a dozen huge timber doors.
We walked together all the way to the very end. No one seemed concerned to be leaving their own party, and I figured supes didn't go crazy about things like that. No one was watching or judging, they were just having a good time.
Tyson placed his free hand on the door and I felt some sort of electrical current run along our joined palms. "We don't let any but pack in here," he said. I started trying to lean around him to see inside. What were they hiding in here? Torture chamber? Secret sex den? Candy store?
Damn, please let it be a candy store.
It was dark inside. Tyson released me to cross the room and open the curtains along the far wall. Behind them was a window that spanned the entire wall, like floor to ceiling, and it looked out into the forest. Actually, this side of the house was practically in the forest, so staring out that window was like sitting amongst the trees. The night sky was sparkling above, so many twinkling stars.
As I pulled my eyes from the view, I finally noticed the bed. Oh my. A rush of heat flushed out my cheeks, but I seriously didn't even care. The bed was massive, like the size of three king sized beds all pushed together, and twice as long.
Jessa rushed to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "This is where we sleep when we pack bond. This is what strengthens our love and ties. This is where we cry and heal and support one another."
I was blinking, unable to take my eyes off the lush mountain of blankets and pillows. Suddenly I felt exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to crawl in the middle there, burrow myself beneath the warmth, and stare out into the forest. Without warning, supes around me started to undress. Not all the way, but shoes and jackets were being thrown to the side. I was guessing there was other furniture in this room, things I hadn't noticed and didn't care about right now. Right now was all about this moment with my pack.
Maximus stood close to my back. I could feel him removing his jacket and boots. I only had on a dress and tights, so it was simple enough to drop off my sweater and kick free the black, shiny flats. Jessa and I then crawled across into the center. The mattress was like a cloud of orgasm. I sank into it and never wanted to come out. The four large shadows of the Compass quads followed us across. There was a ton of space on either side, but as Maximus settled in beside me, Braxton on Jessa's other side, I knew that the boys would stay close to us. This was a bed built for a pack to grow, for children and other partners to come into it. It was a family puppy-pile, and my wolf was so freaking happy she was purring.
I could sense Jacob and Tyson on either end. All of us had our heads tilted back to see the stars above. Jessa and I were on our sides, facing each other, a comfortable way for us to sleep with our baby bellies. I couldn't wait to sleep on my stomach again. I missed it so much.
Jessa reached out and grasped my hands, and Maximus settled in close enough that I could feel his warmth and smell the citrus, metallic and forest scents he always carried with him, wild and untamed but so comforting.
I tried so hard to stay awake, to cherish this moment with my family. Something I had never anticipated I'd get. But then Jacob started to sing. There was no resisting his voice. It was soaring and beautiful and had bumps rising across my skin. Fey had a special affinity for music, and the absolute emotion in Jacob's voice literally took my breath away. As the song continued in a soft melody, my eyelids started forcing themselves closed. Arms wrapped around me and soft kisses pressed against my neck, just near the base of my right ear.
"Sleep, Mischa. We'll keep you safe." Maximus' reassurance was the last thing I heard before darkness crashed into my mind, and I was out.
I woke a few times through the night. Nightmares of Kristoff's torture, the effects of the Lunarti oil, and almost losing my daughter, hurtled into my dreams, snatching the peaceful slumber from me. But every time there were soft hands and warm hugs to bring me back, to remind me that I had escaped. I had survived. Kristoff did not best me, and I would not let his cruel actions continue to haunt me so strongly.
Despite the fact I wanted to be close to Maximus at all times, I liked that the quads switched positions around us to allow maximum bonding time for all. Even the possessive nature of Maximus and Braxton wasn't bothered by this, which showed the true trust in this pack.
It was near dawn when I felt Braxton and Jessa leave the room. The dragon shifter lifted his sleeping mate into his arms and strode out the door. I was still half asleep when Maximus scooped me up, and that's when I realized we were walking too, out of the pack room and into another one of the doors on this level.
Awareness returned as I realized I was in his room. Something panged in my heart as I wondered if this was the space he'd shared with Cardia. He must have noticed the look on my face. His somber expression was enough for me to pull myself together and school my thoughts.
"This is not the room I shared with her," he said, caressing the side of my face. "I switched rooms right after the battle. I didn't want the dark memories to taint my world any longer. There has never and will never be any other in this room or my life. It's all you, Mischa Lebron."
He set me on my feet, closing the door we'd just come through. My heart was lighter as I took a few steps into the suite. There was a roaring fireplace near a small sitting area. In the other corner was a huge king-sized bed, decked out with a dark, timber base and ornately carved headboard. I could see a sparkling bathroom through an open door to our left, and there, in an alcove near the far corner, was a beautifully-crafted cradle, dresser, and change table.
I stepped closer to the baby stuff, my eyes growing warm and damp by the pure perfection of it all. Like the furniture at my parents' place, everything here was hand carved and painted in shades of white and cream. Dashes of lilac brightened up the area: a lilac duvet in the cradle, and lilac stuffed wolf sitting on the dresser. There were also splashes of green. I turned wide eyes on Maximus. When had he had time to do this?