The Delta's Daughter Chapter 202

KELLEN

We were all currently gathered in the Beta’s suite that was on the opposite end of the hall to the Delta’s suite where Lamia had been in labor for several hours now and our women, along with several pack doctors, had been coming in and out there gathering all the necessities to deliver the triplets.

They were concerned about the third baby, it was so tiny, and the doctors worried about the child being underdeveloped and not making it. They wanted to take her to the pack infirmary, yet moving her could endanger the smallest child, or worse rupture something in Lamia. So she would be giving birth here.

I, like the other men who gathered in the Beta suite, for some reason thought this would be quick. We were all concerned for Lamia, but it gave us all a chance to talk and catch up, keeping the business conversation light and focusing on the more meaningful conversations, yet subjects will come up and I couldn’t ignore my duty for long. By tomorrow I would be back to being a King and I had not just a pack and business to run but I also had a kingdom I was responsible for.

What I really wanted was more time with Tala, just her and me on our own. Just for a little longer, we hadn’t had our time yet. I had barely had time to explore my mate. Sure, we got to know each other better throughout our journey. We were constantly surrounded by people, in truth I needed some downtime, some peace, some time for us to reflect on the past and more importantly our future. I wanted to do this with Tala. She and I, no one else.

Unfortunately, that time was not now.

“Where are you son” My thoughts were interrupted by Uncle Marcus.

I focused my sight on him, drawing them from the corner of the wall where I had been staring for a good few moments. I gave a smile, one that didn’t meet my eyes and I didn’t intend to hide my stress. I was not ashamed to cry in front of the men in this room, I held my tears back, my best friend was in there and there was a high chance she could lose another child or worse, we could lose her too.

Being this close to Lamia, stirred up a myriad of emotions, I and my wolf tuned into hers and we were experiencing what she felt, not the labor but her emotions. Not to mention the influx of nerves and excitement coming from my mate. I just wanted quiet. I just wanted to be with Tala.

Instead, I pushed all those emotions down deep and tried to lock them away, even pushing my wolf to the darkest corners of my mind, and then responded to Uncle Marcus “Thank you, all of you. For taking care of this Kingdom and not giving up on me.”

“For fucks sake son! Come here!” Uncle Marcus motioned with his hand as he stood up and came to me, despite his words. He pulled me up into his arms. For a man in his late 40s he was still built and strong, his huge arms squeezed me in a fatherly hug. “We were so scared” he whispered against my face, kissing my cheek. “We thought we had lost you too. I was not ok with that.” The next thing I knew both Mike and his father, Uncle Michael, were also hugging me. “None of us were ok with that. Don’t you dare do that to us again! Do hear me” Uncle Marcus’s words were harsh and forceful but they were full of gratefulness and relief and, so much love.

“We got him, we got Oliver”, I barely mumbled above a whisper “I want him to suffer for his crimes.” I cried.

“And he will, son. He will. You did good, real good. I’m so proud of you and I know your mother and father are too.” I cried onto the shoulder of Lamia’s father, no longer able to hold back. Every emotion, every feeling, came crashing down on me like a tidal wave carrying a ton of bricks.

“I died, I fucking died… the gods brought me back. Ashe, she brought me back. Lamia felt me die.” I sobbed harder than I had ever sobbed in my whole life. I cried more now than I did for the death of my parents. It was too much, everything was just too much. So much for remaining calm and pushing the emotions down, the flood gates had opened and I didn’t know how to stop.

I wasn’t ashamed of crying, I was ashamed because I felt weak. Not once did Lamia break down, not once did she crumble, with every hardship she has encountered she stood back up and pushed back. Yet here I was a mess and being selfish. I was selfishly crying to my family when Rogue stood there in the room with me. He had endured just as much hardship. And only so many feet away was my little flame that had probably faced more trauma than me and neither of them was even close to being as traumatized and grief-stricken as I felt.

I couldn’t tell them with words how I felt but knew each one of them was feeling it. Eventually, I calmed down, my breathing easing, and only then did Uncle Marcus release me. I stepped back and wiped the streaks of salty water from my face and took several deep long breaths.

“I’m sorry for being a wuss,” I found the energy to smirk “Especially to you Rogue, you have faced just as much as me.

*I didn’t die, Kellen. You saved me, offered me hope when I had none, Kellen. I did not suffer the way you did. You saved every one of us and you saved your mate. You may not see it but you are the Gladiator Wolf King.*

“What the fuck is going on here” Mathias' deep voice cut into the still quiet room and through my mind, blocking out Rogue. He picked up a bottle of rum and began taking out glasses and pouring the thick liquor into them.

“Kellen believes he is selfish because he cried and is suffering from PTSD.” Leave it to Tobias to just throw it out there regardless of the timing. He could read the room, he just chose to ignore it.

“Don’t be stupid,” Mathias grunted and handed me one of the glasses, then proceeded to pass out the rest until everyone was holding one. “Everyone cries, every man in here has cried. Except for me.” He knocked back his drink, and at the same Tobias scoffed.

“You cried your ass off when you thought Lamia wouldn’t forgive you. You didn’t touch a drink for months.” Mathias glared at Tobias. Tobias pointed at the King with a knowing look and a cheesy smirk plastered on his face.

“Fuck off,” He aimed the insult towards Tobias “here’s to Kellen’s return, I for one am grateful, now I don’t have to listen to Lamia whine about you.” He lifted his glass to his lips hiding the upturned corners of his mouth and downed his drink.

“To the Kings return,” Mike said and everyone downed their drinks.

Mathias observed Rogue giving him a once-over with his cold stone-colored eyes. “What’s his deal”

“Mute, had his tongue cut out when he was a kid.” I thought I would save Rogue the trouble of having to explain. People would have to get used to having to converse telepathically with him because he was here to stay.

“Well that's fucking annoying, is he your pet” God’s King could be a real asshole, I had forgotten how much so. With that statement, King stomped over to him and grabbed his chin “Open your mouth.”

Rogue looked at me, frowning. I nodded my head not understanding what Mathias was doing, it was just better to do it than have Mathias make you. He was a good man and treated Lamia like a goddess, but he was a brute in all senses of the word. Rogue opened his mouth and King moved his head from side to side looking inside. After a few seconds, he grunted and let go of Rogue's face.

“What do you think King” Tobias asked with a serious tone, his eye following the King who walked back by the bar.

He poured himself another drink, swigged it back, and started down the former Gladiator. “Possible, but I’m not sure.” He replied peeling his eyes from Rogue and landing them on his best friend. “I’ll think more on it after my children are born safely and my little wolf is recovering." He left then, going back to Lamia’s side.

“What the fuck was that shit” Mike asked Tobias, throwing his hands in the air grimacing at how the King just manhandled Rogue.

“Lamia isn’t the only one who has healing blood.” Tobias tapped the side of his nose and winked.

“Since when did Lamia have blood that could heal” Uncle Michael asked looking pissed that he didn’t get the memo and giving the Delta a scowl.

“Don’t look at me!” He raised his hands in defense, “I had no idea and she’s only my daughter!”

“Fucking Lamia.” Uncle Michael chuckled with a sigh, an everyday phrase he had been saying since she turned 14 and got her wolf.

“Kellen, we don’t want you coming back for a couple of weeks. You are home now. Just enjoy being here and connecting with the pack again. Everything else can wait. Show Tala the New Moon Kingdom. You to Mike” Uncle Michael had his arms crossed looking very serious. There was no changing his mind, his words were final. I was actually very grateful that they didn’t want to throw me back into everything so soon.

“Thank you” I replied, Still wondering if Mathias could really give Rogue his tongue back. The injury was old and I know their blood can heal but could it grow back his tongue It’s not like it’s a limb, but a muscle, still I would be shocked if he did make it happen.

A growl so intense suddenly shook the walls and less than a second later my mate and her sister came running out of the room, both looking flustered and sickly. We all stood up at once concerned “What happened’ Uncle Marcus’ face pinched in concern, worried about his daughter and grandchildren.

“She umm, we couldn’t stay in there.” looking perplexed and scratching her head Tala gave Jonda a strange and awkward look. The next thing we knew, Aunt Olivia and Vivian came out of the suite followed by the doctors who were sweating profusely. The only person who hadn’t come out of the suite was King. “They both need to calm down.”

I quirked an eyebrow not understanding what was going on.

“Lamia was unable to control her aura and it started suffocating the doctors, Mathias tried to use his to overpower her and that just made her angry, and then we all started feeling sick. We can’t go back in until those two calm down” Sighed Aunt Vivian while palming her face also frustrated.

“Kellen and Marcus could go in there,”

“NO!” Both myself and Uncle Marcus quickly shut down Uncle Michael's suggestion. There was no way in heck I was going in there. No not in a million years.

“You can come back now” We all turned to look down the hall, from where we sat with the door open we had a straight line of sight to the Delta’s suite and we could all see King leaning out the door to call to us. “She crying because you all left” I could physically see the stain on his face as well as hear it.

“Very well, let’s go ladies. Doctors,” Aunt Vivian stood up, smoothed down her skirt, and motioned for everyone to follow again. My mate and Jonda followed behind, and their excited expressions returned.

Around another hour later, all ears perked up when we heard the first cry of a baby. For a bunch of strong shifter males, you had never seen more cry babies in your life. A few minutes later came another cry, this one distinctly different. Baby number two had been born.

Waiting for that third cry was the worst thing I had ever experienced. We all sat in silence with bated breath, hoping, praying that we would hear the wail of that third child and soon. After ten minutes it didn’t come and we began to worry. I was holding Uncle Marcus’ hand, in a vice-like grip. After another 5 minutes, it seemed as though the gods had not favored the third child and we had given up hope. Whenever so softly, the faint sound of a soft cry could be heard, if we hadn’t all been so quiet thinking the worse, we may have missed it.

Yeah, there wasn’t a dry eye in this room full of males as each one of us let out our held breath and the mournful weight that was sitting heavy in the air lifted like a gust of wind clearing the clouds.

“Two boys and a little girl,” Uncle Marcus breathed out, patting his chest. “I’m a Granddad!” He said and repeated it a few times in a shocking state of disbelief. Obviously receiving the news from his mate.

Uncle Marcus’ eyes glazed over again, and when he refocused, I don’t think I could have witnessed a more vigorous and elevated smile than what was plastered on his face “My daughter wants me to come in”

Mike poured us all drinks again, while we waited until we could go see Lamia. It was a while before Mathias emerged holding two little bundles in his huge arms, grinning from ear to ear, Followed closely by my Tala who also carried an even smaller bundle in her arms. We all stood as they entered the suite. “Boys I would like you to meet your niece, Amali Kellyn Artos,” He proudly announced.

Tala placed the small child in my arms. I felt awkward at first, scared I would break her. “You named her after me” I asked in a daze I looked down at the beautiful little girl in my arms who already had some light blond hair cresting the crown of her head like a halo. Words escaped me as I smiled down at her. She was perfect.

“Mike, meet Maximus Michael,” He held out one arm and Mike took the larger child from him, more comfortably than I had. “And Tobias, my best friend this is Zachary Tobias.”

“Fuck dude, I don’t know what to say.” He took the largest little boy from Mathias’ arm and saw the tears drop from his eyes, “He is going to be the best looking, just like his uncle Toby” He smiled, the big bad bear was actually crying, after giving us shit earlier.

It was so humbling to see how three tiny little creatures could reduce such big strong men into a ball of nerves and emotions. I kissed the top of Amali’s head and scented her. I already felt a close and protective connection with her and I had only met her for mere minutes. I wished Hunji was here to witness this. I would bet that even he would be an emotional mess right about now.

“Alright give them back, just because they carry your names, they are still mine,” Mathias growled out taking the boys back from Mike and Tobias and then nodding to Tala to take Amali from my arms. And they disappeared back into the Delta suite.

I sat back down to wait with Mike for our Mates to come out. Tobias and Rogue decided to retire for the night as it was late. The Omega staff had already prepared rooms for them and Uncle Michael walked them to their rooms a floor below.

“I can’t wait to have pups” With a little pep in his voice Mike said out loud “I mean not right now, but I would like a few. We all grew up as close as siblings but it’s strange how our parents only had one kid each, ya know”

Indeed it was strange, but that was the case with most high-ranking shifters, they never had any more than 2 children usually. That way there would be less fighting over titles and positions, whereas lower ranking families, Gamma, and omegas would, in most instances, have at least two to four offspring.

“I may be a father sooner rather than later.”

“No! Really You think Tala is with pup”

“Her heat only lasted that one night, so if we go by standards, very possibly.” I couldn't help the grin when I thought my little flame might be carrying our pup, a vision of her belly swollen with our baby. I hoped she was. And even if she wasn’t I was going to keep trying, every single chance I got.

Starting tonight, when she eventually came out of the room.