"No one has seen Braun since the Packlands," Konnor states. "Pete went to check on Bayley and get some sleep."
"Shouldn't you be sleeping too?"
"Shift change is in a few hours," he shrugs. "Trent is still in the Packlands so you're stuck with me."
"I've been stuck with worse," I smile.
"Thank you, Ursus," he smirks. "I think."
"Alright Ursus, what is the problem today," Chad sighs. "Another fight. Training accident? Burn?"
"Pregnancy."
"Really," the bear's face lights up.
"According to the Pack doctor," I grin, handing over the file from Regal.
"Well let's just see. One second."
"Braun should be here for this," I state softly.
"Agreed. The Kings and Litter Guard are still looking for him."
"Litter Guard?"
"Litter," his hand rests on my stomach. "Multiple bear cubs."
"What will these be called? Especially if they are wolves."
"Whatever you would like. What are a group of your pups called?"
"Group of pups," I smirk. "The Ursinus will never allow my children to live if…they're like me."
"Braun will never allow…"
"You think Braun has any say in it? The king rules and we follow."
"He's changed laws for you. Trent and Nia. Pete and Bayley. They would never be able to live like they are. Me and Bo…" He trails off.
"As much as Tyler wants to say I'm not good at politics, I know the king. Those laws were just for his own…sick pleasure if you will. A way to keep his people beneath him. They had no impact on his actual rule. But this…You have heard him. No wolf can carry the royal blood."
"No little faggot can carry royal blood. That's what the king said when he caught his favorite bastard kissing my first boyfriend…my only boyfriend. I was supposed to die. Braun fought tooth and nail for my life. I lived. Cameron wasn't so lucky. No human can carry royal blood but after Hannah's first two cubs, Braun got with your Marrok to ensure every child born human in the Ursidae find a place in the White Lion's Pride or the human world."
"I'm going to gloss right over the fact you've just told me you're my brother-in-law and ask Hannah's first cubs?"
"Hannah had two boys before Ursula, they never turned. Ursinus never even blinked. He beheaded them in front of their mother and the rest of the royal family. It destroyed Hannah and I've never seen Braun so broken. He would never let that happen to your children, Tala. He would never let you hurt like that. You are the first woman he has ever loved, Tala. He wouldn't mess that up."
"What about Dana?"
"Dana, he cared for but would never… grow and change for. She wanted the power that came along with being with Braun and he cared just enough not to notice that fact. She was an itch that he liked to scratch to distract himself from being the Ursavus for a little bit. But you, he wants to rule. Because he has someone to love for the first time ever. He wants to be a better ruler for you. He wants to be a better man "
"You make me cry and I will kick your ass," I smile tearily.
"You ready to see your cub," Chad asks.
"Pup," Konnor corrects for me.
"Omegas carry multiples. What if it's both."
"Lie back and let's see."
"Can you tell in the womb," Konnor asks as the doctor spreads a lubricate across my abdomen.
"No," he smiles up at the taller man. "We probably won't even be able to see the fetuses. But we can count the gestational sacs and estimate how many little ones we could expect."
Reaching up I wrap my hand around Konnor's forearm and a calm washes over me. "I'm glad you're here. Uncle Konnor," I smile.
XXX
I lay in bed smiling at the ceiling. "Three," I think, my hand slides across my stomach. "Chad had counted at least three. I can't wait to tell Braun. The news actually pulled a genuine smile from Pete at shift change. Bayley sharing her news of twins between discussions of where we can put the wolves of my new pack. Seth and Ember the only two travelling back with us. Tyler joining me tomorrow with his mate while the rest will move in the next couple weeks. A soft rustle draws my eyes down to find Braun's silhouette shuffling into the room. "Hey," I smile.
"Hey Princess," he sighs, moving towards the closet.
"We need to talk."
"Not right now."
"It's really important."
"It's been a long day. I just want a shower and some sleep. I'm sure you need sleep too."
"I'll join you," I smile, moving to join him. "You'll really want to hear this."
"No," he snaps as I move towards him. "No," he states more softly.
The scent of guilt and shame wafts from him. "Braun?"
"Don't."
Taking another step, I test the air again. Dana. Guilt. Alexa. Shame.
"Tala, please don't do this."
Taking one more step, I stop. Two unknown female bears. And then I smell it. Sex. Clinging amongst all the she-bear scents and guilt is the smell of sex.
My heart freezes in my chest. "Tell me it's not true, Braun."
"Tala, I…" Guilt slams into me like a tidal wave.
"Seems my news doesn't matter. Your father finally got what he wanted."
"It's not like it seems."
"So you didn't spend the day screwing four different she-bears? Because you sure smell like you have. While I was in the Packlands injured, I might add. You decided that it was the perfect time to run off and have sex with four bears."
"Tala, I did this…"
"Don't," I interrupt. "Don't you dare try to explain this away."
"Father…"
"You made a choice," I scream.
Wolves stir along the pack bonds and I scramble to try to shut them down temporarily. "Bear business," I try to soothe as I glare at my husband.
"Tala…"
"I was so stupid," I moan. Orsin was never your father's heir in place of you, he's yours. Isn't he? A placeholder until you can have respectable bear cubs. Answer me," I snap when he is silent.
"Yes," he mutters.
"So, these four get pregnant, what happens after that?"
"The males would be my recognized bastards. Next in line after Orsin."
"So would my pups be before or after them in line?"
"I don't…Wait, what are you saying? Are…"
"Doesn't matter now does it?" I feel the tears streaming down my face. "You don't deserve to call yourself a mate. You don't deserve the trust I gave you. Never questioning all those nights you were gone. How many times have you…You know what, nevermind, I don't want to know. You don't deserve my heart. You don't deserve to be a father."
"Tala…"
The howl ripping through me drowns him out. Ember appears almost instantaneous, her eyes scanning the room for threats. Pete slides to a halt behind her. Both stare at me when no clear threat is visible.
"Take me back to the house, Pete. Then gather the other guards. I need to have a meeting."
"Now?"
"Now. Let's go. I'll send wolves for my things, Braun."
"Tala, just talk to me."
"I can't even look at you," I growl. "You knew what this would do to me but you chose to do it anyway. Guards."
"Tala," Ember whispers as we move through the hall.
"Not here," I sniff. "Not going to discuss anything until I can breathe again out from under this roof."
XXX
"How many of you knew," I ask as my guards sit around the kitchen table. Konnor and Trent sitting half asleep beside Pete and Ember along with Seth for some reason. "How many?"
"I'm afraid we are going to need you to be more specific, Madam. Knew what?"
"How many of you knew what my husband was up to today? Did you intentionally keep me in the dark?"
"What exactly did the Ursavus do," Pete pipes up.
"Four she-bears."
"What," Seth growls.
"I don't need to hear from you on this subject Seth."
"I sleep around, I'll admit that but I'm also unmated."
"Bears don't tend to care about such things, now do they?"
"I do."
"Same here, Madam."
"What about you, Konnor? Do you condone your brother's actions? Maybe even helped him."
"Why would he do that? He…You…Love," he sputters. "And…" he motions towards me.
"Recognized bastards. It's all about that throne to them," I spit. "You haven't answered my question Konnor. Did you know?"
"I pledged myself to you, Tala."
"Braun pledged to love and protect me; bear pledges mean nothing to me."
"Konnor pledged himself to you, Madam. He can't break that or he would lose his ability to change. He would be human."
"Pete?"
"I don't know about that. I trust Konnor."
"Then say you didn't know."
"I did not know a damn thing about Braun's activities today. I would never let him betray you like that."
"Why is that?"
"Because he promised me he would never be his father."
"Well I guess he lied to the both of us. Seth, you were under Tony workwise also, were you not?"
"Yeah."
"Change the locks here as soon as possible."
"I'll do it, first thing in the morning."
"Good. Everyone is dismissed," I sigh turning to leave.
"Tala…" Pete starts.
"I just need to be alone right now." I allow the change to take over as soon as I step from the house.
XXX
"You can't just hide out in the woods in wolf form for the rest of your life," Tyler sighs, seating himself across from me. "It's been a week. You have a pack to lead and so much to do."
I huff draping my tail over my muzzle.
"Are you the leader or are Bayley and I running this damn pack? Tala!"
I ignore the Beta.
"Marrok is coming, just so you know. Today." He tosses clothes between us.
"You have ten minutes, Sigma," Marrok's voice floats through my mind.
I sigh, curling myself more tightly. My human self is ripped to the surface. I gasp at the lingering magic tingling through me.
"You can't ignore me."
Tyler smirks.
Stretching, I grimace at the sore muscles protesting the movement, I reach for the clothes. "What has been going on since I left?"
"Viktor and Mustafa were the first to move. They set up their shops. There have been a few that have moved into the house. Seth is settling into the apartment you gave him."
"Any trouble?"
"Nothing that can't be handled."
"Anything else I need to know."
"Tony wants to bring over the plans for a pack house whenever you are feeling up to it."
"Get word to him that I will see him tomorrow."
"So, you're coming out of the woods and going civilization again?"
"I have a feeling I'm going to be forced to," I sigh as he combs his fingers through my hair pulling leaves and twigs from the tangles.
"What are we going to do?"
"I'm still the Ursus. I still have a responsibility to the bears and now the wolves. I'm going to get over myself and go to work. I have a ranch to run, bears to tend to, and a new pack to lead."
"What about your prince?"
"Screw him. They thought I was ruler by name only. Let's show them how much I'm actually run this place. Pack meeting in two days, spread the word."
"Yes, Sigma," he grins.
"I hope he doesn't kill me," I mutter settling on a log.
"I don't tend to kill my wolves unless they deserve it," Marrok states softly.
"Why did you send me here," I ask as I feel him approach. "You know about the bears tendency to screw anything that walks in their path? Did I do something to deserve this as a punishment? Hasn't my life been punishment enough?"
"Not a punishment, Sweet Omega," he sighs, settling on the log beside me. "I thought sending you from the Packlands would be best for you."
"Why," I sniff, fighting back tears. "You knew I needed a mate."
"You weren't going to find a mate in a Packland," he states firmly. "I thought maybe…"
"You could have sent me to Kassius. I could have found a lion or a human. Someone who truly loved me. Not just play on my naivety and…I feel so broken.
"I see so much of your mother in you," Marrok sighs, eyes glued on the woods in front of him. "She had no respect for my authority either."
"But you loved her."
"She was pig-headed and so damn stubborn," he shakes his head. "She had no regard for her own self. Always throwing herself into danger for someone else because she thought it was the right thing to do. She had these strong beliefs of what was right and what was wrong. You could never dissuade her from those beliefs. Those beliefs made her kind, caring, and the sweetest wolf I have ever met until I met her daughter. She aggravated me every day. Bucking against me at every turn. As a Beta she wanted to lead a pack. She said she could run a pack better than any Alpha. She actually tried to sneak into an Alpha fight," he chuckles softly. "I should have let her fight. She would have beat half of those Alphas. But I pulled her before her first fight. I was trying to protect her. She had everyone telling what she wasn't but she always knew what she was. And I loved her for every aspect everyone hated her for."
I sit in silence taking in the information.
"She predicted you by the way. She got so mad at me. Told me one day, there was going to be a Sigma leading a pack and it will be her child. Her child will show me that the lesser wolves are just as strong as my Alphas. You would make her proud, Tala. You are too much of her child to ever break. You've endured so much from your father to let a teddy bear be the one to break. Remember that. You can stumble but never break."
"Yes sir," I mumble.
"I'm proud of you," his hand wraps around my arm flooding me with emotions. "So continue to be your mother's child and give your current ruler a headache. Show them how to rule with grace. You're doing a great job."
"Thank you Marrok."
"And tell that one to stop glaring a hole in my head," he points over his shoulder.
"Pete is not a fan since our time in the Packlands."
"And you thought you haven't found love among the bears."
"Am I dismissed, Sir."
"Are you going back to town."
"Yes."
"Go," he chin jerks.
Standing I move towards my bear before turning back to the older wolf. "I never got to meet my mother. I don't even know her name."
"Matilda. Tilly to her friends."
Leaning down, I press a kiss to his temple. "Thank you for telling me about her."