The Delta's Daughter Chapter 203

KELLEN

11.45 PM my watch read. I lowered my arm exposing the moon high above me; she looked like she was smiling tonight. The birth of triplets had probably pleased the moon goddess. The chosen Queen had done well and at only two days old they were able to determine their races.

The Eldest and biggest, Zachary would have the spirit of a bear, taking after his father. Maximus, the second eldest and only slightly smaller than his brother was a wolf and the smallest and prettiest, Amali also smelled as if she would be a wolf but her scent was different from her brothers, perhaps she would be a Dire wolf like her mother, or a Lycan, also from her mother’s side. Of course, she could just be an ordinary werewolf too. But I didn’t think so. She was special, maybe because she held my name and I was biased

I would spoil all Lamia’s children, but mostly her. Both boys had been born with the mark of a royal, their little crown birthmarks sitting on their hips just like mine and Lamia’s.

I was laying across the stone bench, the same place I would come to every year on this very same night. For the last two years, I had been alone and I was sure I would be alone again tonight. The cupcakes sat on the floor below me, the warm air was sure to make them start melting soon. I scoffed thinking that if I was Bhakhil they would have been a puddle of icing and soggy cake already.

“It’s a beautiful night.” The sweet melodic voice of Lamia startled me making me jump up. I hadn’t heard or smelt her enter the royal gardens or approaching me.

“Lamia,” I smiled pleased she was here.”I didn’t expect to come out here, I figured you had your hands full.” Knowing three babies was more than plenty to handle and wondering how I would be as a father at the same time.

“Yah that’s what husbands, parents, and aunts are for,” She giggled coming around and taking her place on the bench next to me. “It seems like another lifetime since the last time we were here together.” She mused.

“Almost three years, but yes it seems like forever ago. Would you change any of it If you could back and change the past three years, would you” I asked her wondering if I had the chance, would I It was a question I had asked myself many a night and found myself spacing out and thinking about it during the day.

She sat there obviously thinking about it, doing that cute thing she always did when in deep thought and scrunching up her nose. Up until recently, I had always thought my answer would be yes, I would change so much but now, finding my mate, meeting Tala, dying, the answer is no. No, I wouldn’t change it because then I wouldn’t have found her.

“I don’t think so, I mean there are some things I definitely would leave out,” she squirmed and I could guess what those things were “Honestly though Kel, if we were able to and did change things, would we be where we are today”

I didn’t think we would. Would we accept whatever fate we changed just as easily though

“I really like Tala, she is special you know, I can feel it. And the way she looks at you, the way her eyes light up in your presence or just the mention of your name… She loves you.”

“I love her too,” I admitted.

Lamia scooted sideways and propped her legs up over mine. The shorts she was wearing rode up and I could see the deep scars from her first fight with a rogue bear. It seemed like that was the beginning of everything. “I have a scar like that too.” And lifted up the leg of my shorts to show her the marred skin where the Lion had left his claw marks on me that last day in the arena.

Funnily enough, my back had been scared from the whip yet when I awoke in that pit of death, they had reduced to nothing but thin white lines, some were a little raised but they were hardly noticeable. But the Lions marks had stayed, like a badge of honor, depicting a story.

“I swear to the moon goddess, we should have been twins.” A chuckled mixed with her sigh. “I didn’t get you a present this year, just so you know. I was kind of busy.”

“You gave birth to three healthy babies, you gave me two nephews and a niece. I think that’s the best present ever.” I rubbed her bare leg in comfort and noticed the faint tingles spark on my fingertips and I frowned at the all too familiar feeling.

“I feel them too,” she whispered “I don’t think they will ever go away.”

“They won’t,” I replied and after a beat of silence added, “I didn’t get you a present either, I was a little busy myself.”

“Fucker, your home and alive, that’s the only present I need.” She swatted at me and I feigned hurt giving her a smirk.

“Hey weren’t you and Tawny supposed to head up to Lonely City and party for your 21st like we did for Mike's” I was half teasing but also quite curious that one Tawny wasn’t here, after all those two were just as close as we were and two, Lamia hadn’t even mentioned the were-cat.

“Ahh, well Tawny is dealing with her own mate problems right now, and I wasn’t due to give birth for another couple of weeks. She is going to be super pissed she missed the birth. I already called her, yesterday.”

“What she say” I was truly interested, I had missed Tawny and was gutted when she decided to stay in the were-cat kingdom and not come back home.

“You know, I’m not sure it’s my place to tell you, she’s tough though. She can handle it and I am sure once she gets the message that I gave birth her ass will be straight over to Riocht.” Again, Lamia let out a small chuckle and I joined her knowing she was right. That feisty little cat will be majorly pissed she wasn’t here for Lamia.

“Wait Riocht” Her words just sinking in.

“Yeah, it's not quite finished but that’s where we have decided to settle and I will be leaving in the next few days with Mathias and Tobias. Mom and dad will be moving there too and momma Amitola will visit but she wants to stay at the Clan mansion to help Ria through her pregnancy.”

“Ria is pregnant” I swiped a hand down my face “Ha! About time they completed the mate bond,” I shook my head, I truly had missed a lot in the few months I had been away. The thought left me feeling a little more detached. I would also be losing Uncle Marcus a man I had been as close to as my father, closer than I am to Mike’s father. “It’s a new era and you just gave birth to the first of a new generation, I feel like life is moving too fast, I don’t want to slow down though in case I miss the important parts and at the same time I pray for peace and quiet.”

“I know exactly what you mean. We are about to turn 21 and I already have three rug rats and had two and a half mates.” I wondered if I should tell her about meeting Ashe in between my stasis of life and death, I had a feeling she already had an inkling. So I didn’t.

Instead, I lifted my watch up again, 11.58. I bent down and picked up the box settling it on Lamia’s legs and pulled a lighter out of the box I had already put in there and lit the two cupcakes. Once lit I gave her one and took the other for myself.

“Happy birthday beautiful,” I told her.

“Happy birthday Handsome” She replied and we blew out our candles, both closing our eyes and making a wish.

We sat there for a good while munching on our cupcakes, sometimes speaking, sometimes letting our own minds think, and sometimes we shared a glance. Just being with each other was enough comfort for both of us, there was no need to make conversation.

“Hey, you want to go for a run It's been a while since I have been able to shift into my wolf form. I could morph into my beast while pregnant but my skin felt way too itchy and uncomfortable.” She shuddered, wiggling her shoulders like she physically remembered the sensation.

I stood up “Race you!” I yelled and shifted into Conri in a matter of seconds and he took off towards the tree line.

“You’re going to need a head start cheater!” I heard her yell behind me before the sound of her giant paws padding heavily against the forest ground reached my ears. I sped up, knowing I couldn’t outrun her but loved the idea of competition anyway.

Our wolves ran and played for what seemed like hours, they had missed each other too, until we found ourselves by the side of the lake, a favorite spot for the three of us growing up. Lamia shifted back into her skin form and dived right into the lake. “What are you waiting for” She laughed as soon as her head emerged to the surface.

I shifted and dived in swimming under to grab her legs, only the moon provided us light and we splashed and played like little kids until the position of the moon told us it was time to head back. We both walked out of the lake, stark naked, and for the first time, I didn’t have those lustful thoughts when I glanced at her womanly body. Her healing abilities had put her back to the way she was before being pregnant.

“It's weird isn’t it” She asked “Being able to look at each other naked and not wanting to jump each other’s bones. That’s the mate bond for you.”

“Mmm,” I hummed back not thinking she needed me to answer. We shifted back and ran back to the palace slipping on some spare clothes we had stashed in a box by the entrances. We parted ways on the stairs with a kiss on the cheek and a simple goodnight.

I entered the Royal suite, quietly so I wouldn’t wake Tala and crawled into bed next to her. I gently pulled her into my arms and spooned her, inhaling her scent. She was my home, my happiness and I couldn’t wait for our lives to begin.

I went to sleep that night feeling more like myself than in a long time. And I knew things would be ok, life was going to be good. All I needed was my little flame to help light the way.

“I love you” I whispered to her before my eyes closed.

*****

The next morning after making love to Tala and then ravishing her again in the shower I found myself at the training grounds, meeting up with Rogue and Mike. Mike was wearing a permanent grin on his face and I wondered if the wind changed, would his face stay like that

“What are you laughing at” Mike's grin still in place questioned me.

“Just wondering if your face hurt, from wearing that stupid look you’ve had since we came home.” I laughed at him.

*You have that same stupid grin* Rogue scoffed at me through the mind-link, including Mike in it.

“See, I’m not the only one.” Mike chuckled.

“Why are two idiots smiling like you won a golden egg” Mathias’ deep baritone voice cut into our bantering. Like the shits we are Mike and I just kept smiling back at him “I take it you both got laid last night.” He grunted knowing full well we did, well me this morning.

“You,” He pointed at Rogue, “Let’s go see if we can fix you.” He said giving the former Gladiator a measured look, his Silver eyes putting the moon to shame. “This could make you sick and I can’t guarantee it will even work.”

Mathias stomped off, Rogue giving us a worried glance as he ventured to follow the King.

*You will be fine* I linked him *He is really a big teddy bear*

*If this works, chocolate for everyone!* He laughed and I laughed along with him, being reminded of how he ate his piece when the rest of the Gladiators used their pieces of chocolate to pay tribute to me.

“What do you want to do with Rogue” Mike asked as soon as they were out of earshot. “We already have Tyron as the next Gamma,”

“Let’s see what King can do first; if he can do anything. Rogue is a good fighter, smart and quick and he has strength. I don’t think he was born to be a rogue, more like a Beta. His wolf is almost as big as yours.” I hadn’t decided where Rogue would fit in, but I hated to waste his talents and give him a warrior position. Unfortunately, his lack of speech was a hindrance, despite his skills. It was ok to mind-link but he needed a voice if he was going to communicate with Pack Alphas or other kingdoms.

“Jonda said she and Tala were going to visit with Lamia and the babies today,”

“That’s what I heard, between all her moans this morning.” I waggled my eyebrows at my best friend.

“I’m glad Jonda decided to give Tala a chance and I am really happy they are making an effort with Lamia. I know she can be intimidating and for Tala, everything is new.”

“Me too, I think the three of them will become really good friends in time. Let’s just hope Tawny doesn’t feel shoved out. I’m a little concerned that she is alone in Cambiador, and I really miss her.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” Mike's smile dropped just for a second as he thought of Tawny, “You know though, she is not the scared little girl Lamia rescued three years ago. Besides, if Lamia didn’t think she was ok, do you really think any of us would be sitting here right now Hell no, Lamia would send her army down there and fuck shit up for the little kitty.” He laughed, and he was right.

Still Tawny had become part of our family and I wanted to make sure she was ok on my own. I knew I would be making a call later on, but right now, “Are you ready to get your ass kicked” I half jested with Mike.

“Get my ass kicked Please! I’m not the one who has been on vacation, sitting on my ass for three months.” His words were playful but he knew full well my time away had neither been a vacation nor had I been sitting on my ass.

“Whatever, have you seen how big my arms are now” I threw off my shirt and flexed my muscles for Mike, making a show of it.

“Put that shit away before you embarrass yourself!” He chuckled pulling his own shirt off, twirling it around his finger, and then flinging it at me. “I missed you dude.”

“I missed you too big guy.” I winked at him playfully earning fluttering eyelashes from Mike. Fucking Mike.

The both of us laughed at each other stepping into the sparing ring, noticing a small crowd of warriors that were already here gathering around. “See that, they all came to see their king kick your ass,”

“No, they came to see the Beta put his King in place,”

“Game on brother!”

After some time of grappling and throwing punches, we took a break. “Holy moons man, you are not even sweating,” Mike exclaimed as he panted from our workout.

“I told you, I have never trained and fought so hard in my life than my time as a Gladiator. I eat slept and shit fighting.”

“TMI, definitely, I don’t need to hear that again.” He shook his head making a disgusted face at me. It was nice that we could just fall right back into our friendship, that he didn’t have to tiptoe around me. I guess that’s one of many reasons why I love him.

I had come back bigger stronger and wiser. I had left a boy, a lost prince and I had returned a man, a Gladiator Wolf King.