“Our bond has grown stronger,” Bran said as Caleb walked in from the sitting room off the master bedroom. It had been acting as Caleb’s studio. He brought forward a huge canvas draped in a sheet. He looked at Bran, who smiled his encouragement.
“Kate, part of the reason why I hesitated in leaving the plantation house was because of the mural I painted on the wall in the boys’ nursery. It was my small way of trying to keep their family alive for them. But that mural is no longer accurate. The boys and I have a much bigger and richer family now and hopefully, this captures that.” He pulled the sheet away.
Kate stared in shocked amazement. There were no words to describe the exquisiteness Caleb had created. In the background, he had painted a forest scene with the wolf pack peeking out from behind trees and rocks. Large brown bears anchored the painting, filling the corners and border, as if protecting the painting’s occupants as their real-life counterparts protected the town. In the center of the painting was their family. Bran and Caleb stood on either side of Kate, who smiled gently, a seemingly knowing smile on her face. Landon and Lucas were in her arms, smiling up at their parents. Two male lions stood on either side of the family like sentries. In the sky, the clouds seemed to shift and move to create the entire snow leopard leap. Their teal eyes peeked around white fur to create the illusion of clouds and a clear blue sky. But it was the tiny, nearly transparent, baby wolves running from the heavens to Kate’s midsection that made her close her eyes and weep.
Kate buried her face in her hands and sobbed at the beauty and serenity the portrait created. But she also wept for her insecurity at the possibility of not being able to give Caleb the small wolf babies he so clearly wanted.
“Kate, please don’t cry. This was supposed to make you happy,” Caleb said, leaning the portrait against the wall.
“I can’t help it. What if I can’t have b-b-babies?” she said, her heart breaking.
“Kate, hasn’t Fate given us everything we needed in this mating? Even the things we didn’t even know we needed?” Bran asked gently, turning her to face him. She nodded.
“Then, do you really think that Fate would bring the three of us together, three healthy shifters who could provide a wonderful home for children and who desperately want babies, and have you be barren?” he asked, forcing her to meet his eyes.
She thought about it for the longest time.
“No, Fate would not be that cruel,” she said.
“Then all we have to do is practice,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“And practice,” Caleb said, kissing her neck.
“I guess we can do that. I still have the other color nighties to give you.” She smiled, and they both looked at her blankly.
“Today was emerald green to match the emerald birthstone that Bran gave me for my necklace. I still have three other birthstones and the necklace to thank you for,” she said, smiled.
“Best. Mate. Ever!” Caleb said, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her.
“Well, no time like the present,” Bran said.
Caleb and Kate looked over to him, Caleb raising an eyebrow.
“To start making babies,” Bran said, placing a hand over her belly.
“Game on,” Kate said, pulling both men to her.
“Game on,” they echoed.
Chapter 14
Bran and Caleb got out of the car, leaving Kate to carry the boys in. Bran was on a mission. They got to the diner door and Bran was reaching for the doorknob when his hand collided with Aleks’s hand. Bran looked up, already aggravated and gave a low growl, which Aleks returned in spades. Not saying a word, the three large men stepped into the diner and stopped, their eyes searching out the target they were looking to destroy.
Their eyes moved almost as one and locked in on the dark-haired male who laughed carelessly with his auburn-haired friend. As if sensing danger, the small, dark-haired man looked up and his eyes widened. The diner immediately got quiet.
Surprised that they were after the same man, Aleks turned to Bran.
“I know why I want to choke the life out of him. But why do you?” he asked.
“Let’s just say that the fun little ‘educational’ videos he has been showing the boys aren’t fun anymore,” Caleb explained, his head swinging back to Rian. He snarled.
“Oh my God! Has he been showing the boys porn, too!” Aleks asked, his eyes huge.
“What! No! Wait, what?” Bran sputtered.
“You three are being absolutely unreasonable,” Kate said as she and Rebecca walked in, holding the twins.
They pushed past the three hulking Alpha males to sit down next to Rian and Damian.