Blackheart

.XIII.

I decided to take the girls shopping to cheer them up; their moods had soured since the whole 'Zaria has a mate that wants to kidnap me/they have semi-unwanted pregnancies' debacle. Atto, not understanding that I want space away from him, decided to tag along, clearing his and the boys’ schedule to accompany us shopping. Driving down the winding road to the town and city below was long and agonizing since we had to listen to the boys argue over whose design in the babies’ room was going to look better.

“I wonder if they know that they have no say in what the design is going to look like?” Calypso whispered, causing Ilta to giggle and me to smile slightly. Atto looked at us through the rearview mirror, and Wyatt and Midnight turned around.

“It’s good to see you ladies back to your usual selves,” they said. We looked down.

“Oh, and by the way, Ilta,” Midnight said, his back turned to us, “you’ll make an awesome mother to our baby. I know cause you have your past experiences to guide you. You’re nothing like your mother was.” Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she wiped them away. Lowering her head, she rested it on my lap. Calypso pulled her legs onto her lap. Ilta was sold as a warrior slave by her mother who was one of the Alpha's concubines. She was almost raped by the Alpha and her father had plans to rape and then sell her to a ruthless alpha had Midnight not claimed her when he did. I closed my eyes and brushed my hand through her hair. I looked out the window, watching the trees go by, and wondered if I would be as good as a mother as my own, if I would be able to defend and protect them with my life, like my mother had done for me. I sighed, my hand resting on my stomach

“Of course you will,” Calypso said. My head snapped toward her. She smiled, looking at me. Atto glared at our interaction through the rearview mirror.

“You’ll be the best mama they can ever have. I know you’re afraid that you won’t be as great as your mom was, but at least you know what to do as a start.” He said. I glared at him for intruding upon our conversation.

I smiled at him, not in a friendly way, but more sarcastically. I thought back to two weeks ago when I first felt Atto was unfaithful to me since being marked. Not being able to stand for it, Nyx and Eris taught me how to manipulate and control my end of the mating bond so that I wouldn't feel as much pain when he was being unfaithful and to keep him out of my mind. Atto parked as close to the mall’s entrance as possible and got out of the truck. Stretching his legs, Wyatt asked, “So? Where to?”. I looked at Ilta and Calypso. We shrugged our shoulders and walked into the mall with the boys trailing behind us. The first store that came into view was Victoria’s Secret. As we walked in, we stopped just inside the doorway and looked back. The boys froze outside.

“Here?” Atto said, pointing up at the sign. I nodded my head. They dropped their heads and followed us in. We gave our measurements to the boys and allowed them to pick undergarments for us. Atto chose from lace-trimmed to lace, silk, polyester, and a few cottons. I laughed coldly as he blushed, trying his hardest to pick a good bra. Wyatt’s choices ranged from silk to lace, polyester, and cotton. It was easier for him to pick a bra than it was for my fool of a mate, but he was defenseless when it came to his choices in panties. Midnight was best off as he kept his composure, picking out panties and bras for Ilta. Though he was red-faced, he handled it well. Next, we went to S&N Baby World so that we could pick out items for our babies and their nursery. First, we went to pick out baby bags, blankets, clothes, towels, and toys. Next were the cradles, changing tables, bathtubs, and walkers. Then we moved on to get car seats, prams, and highchairs.

“Excuse me, do you, by chance, sell twin baby stroller sets?” I asked the saleslady. She looked up at me, smiled, and gestured for me to follow her. She showed me different styles, colors, and sets. I took the first one my eyes fell on. We then proceeded to purchase rocking chairs for ourselves and the babies, bouncers, and storybooks. We left the store and the boys to handle everything as they told us to go to the food court and that they’d meet us there. As we proceeded to the food court, we heard Zaria’s mother arguing with someone. As we walked closer, we caught Zaria’s scent.

“Listen to me, mother, she did nothing to me. I lost the Battle of Mating Rights fair and square. Plus, she is his mate. Who am I to break them up!” she said.

“Listen to me, you insipid child. You would have been Luna if not for that deaf unworthy trash. What Helion wants with her, I would never know! You are way better! All you have to do is tell Atto you are carrying his child. I saw him buying baby things today at the mall, so he must sense he has a child on the way.” Zion said.

“For f**k’s sake! I told you before! It’s Helion’s pup! I won’t play Atto like that! And anyway, he’s buying it for his mate.” Zaria replied. At that, we heard a loud slapping sound and Zaria being dragged away. I shook my head, feeling sorry for her. But we continued to the food court, where the boys collected us and took us home. Upon nearing the packhouse, the sounds of howls could be heard from within the surrounding forest. Getting out of the truck, I stuck my nose up in the air and growled as I brought it back down.

“What’s wrong?” Atto asked. I turned to him, perplexed by his question.

“Can’t you smell that? Lycans. And rabid ones at that. East and South of here,” I said. They all stared at me, confused.

“What are you-” Wyatt was saying when a high-ranked-only mind-link came through, stating that rogue Lycans had breached our territory from the east and south of the packhouse. I looked at them, and they looked back at me, frowning.

“How did you know?” Wyatt asked.

“Can’t you smell them?” I asked. They shook their heads.

“We don’t have time for this. We have to get the girls, pups, and omegas to safety,” Atto said. He gathered the pack pups and omegas; he placed all omegas in a panic room in the library, behind the bookshelves, and us, along with the pups, he took to his office. Taking us to the northern corner, he pushed a brick, and the wall opened up, leading downward. As we landed on the last stair, Wyatt took the pups, placed them in a playroom, and shut the door. We continued on, running and turning corner after corner. As we came to a room at the center, Atto, Wyatt, and Midnight placed us in comfort and briefly explained that Atto had this built-in case of an emergency.

“So, it’s called Luna’s Labyrinth and was specifically designed to keep the Luna, Female Beta, Warrior, and Gamma, along with the pups, safe,” Calypso said, and they nodded.

“It’s also sealed by blood magic.” Midnight said as they kissed us and left. I walked over to the monitor to see how things were going with our fighters above ground. All seemed to be handled pretty well until I caught a glimpse of a light appearing behind a tree. It was a witch, and she was there to help the Lycans. I said nothing as she was simply reviving and healing the Lycans. She was spotted by a young warrior and fled. Calypso, Ilta, and I sat discussing baby names.

“What will you name your kid, Ilta?” I asked.

“Kalus Vincent Rodney,” she replied. We smiled at her as she had always been fond of the name Kalus. “What about you?”

“Okoye Aphrodite Tika Blackheart and Ori Demitri Aden Blackheart,” I said.

"You don't plan on giving them Atto's last name?" Ilta asked.

"No," I said, "he'd be lucky to even be acknowledged as their father." I looked at Calypso to continue.

“Ban Ozymandias Wyatt Jones and Onyx Ororo Melina Jones.”. I smiled as she honored me by giving my name as her daughter's middle name. As the little fight came to an end, Atto and Wyatt came to collect us, a small draft of breeze wafted, lightly brushing my face. I looked briefly in the direction it came from before following Wyatt back to the office, where we stayed as they carried the pups back to their parents. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but some were injured. As I sat in Atto’s chair, my legs hanging over the handle, I looked at the male Lycan, whom I assumed had surrendered himself. Atto and Wyatt came back into the office with Titan and Rebecca right behind them.

“Tell the girls what you told us,” Atto said, speaking to the Lycan. He looked up at me.

“I take it you are Ororo Blackheart?” he said. I nodded. “You’re the spitting image of your mother and grandmother. But that isn’t why I am here. Have you ever heard of The Dark Alpha?”

“Yeah, his mate was a member of this pack,” I said, looking at him with caution as he had made mention of my mother and grandmother. He sighed and continued.

“Be it as it may, he never saw that girl as his mate. I was sent undercover by Her Highness, The Queen to infiltrate his pack. I was never to be here, I was to report back today, but my cover was almost blown. He wants you to be his Dark Luna because of your blood and lineage,” he said, “Your grandparents are royals, and you, my dear White One, are no exception. He felt that if he had marked and mated you, he would have access to the throne, and his pups would be the most powerful to exist.”

“Hold up.” I said, “I think you’ve gotten your wolves mixed up. My family isn’t royal in any way.”

“Why do you think his mark is of two wolves wearing crowns, howling at the moon?” he asked

“He’s got you there, Ro; that’s said to be the mark of a royal.” Calypso said, “Though each one is different, one thing remains constant: the crown.”

“Rebecca, go,” Atto said. She sighed, looking at Titan, who simply nodded.

“Two days ago, Zaria found out that she was pregnant. When she went to tell Helion, he denied her and the pup, telling her to get rid of it because she isn’t worthy of carrying his seed or pups. Yesterday, Mother tried to convince her to tell Atto it’s his child and that he needed to take responsibility and make her the rightful luna of the pack, as she would, as mother said, be bearing Atto’s child.” Rebecca said, “Then this morning, Helion found out about Ororo’s pregnancy. My guess is the witch told him. He said that he was going to launch an all-out attack two weeks from now, to kill Atto, Wyatt, and Midnight as well as your babies and take the girls, giving them to his beta and gamma to f**k and bear their pups as Calypso and Nyx are Ororo’s female beta and gamma/warrior.” The room was filled with the growls of our mates.

“That won’t happen.” I said, “What’s your name?”

“Blade. Hephaestus Blade,” he responded. I nodded to his reply.

“Well, Hephaestus, you will be our personal guard until our babies are born, then you will be assigned to them.” He nodded.

"NO!" Atto yelled, "I don't want some mangy Lycan guarding my mate and children."

"You don't get a say in this," I replied.