(Thanks to my loyal reviewer 'StalkerishEmmettFan', lol! This chapter is just about reuniting the clan, no drama really.)
The bike rumbled outside Sanctuary at dusk on Friday, the Howlers were playing and though it was only early the line outside was lengthening further and further down the street. Through his tinted visor Dev's eyes and that of tonight's bouncer, Jasyn, connected and the Katagaria hawk paused in his handling of the humans to watch the two figures, clad entirely in black leather dismount the motor cycle.
Dev removed his helmet and shook out his mass of curling blond hair, he looked at Sera who had also removed her helmet and smiled. She grinned back and hand in hand they walked together towards Sanctuary's open doors, Jasyn stepped back to allow them entry, while the jostling crowd stilled to watch two examples of physical perfection; perfectly suited to one another walk in to the bar. All the Weres in the bar stared at Dev who walked proudly through the bar into the back room.
Sera's heart was pounding with excitement and anxiety and though she walked in as if she owned the place she held Dev's hand in a death grip.
How you doing, Kerensa
Dev squeezed her hand and gave her a loving look; he wouldn't admit that it gave him a bit of a thrill to hear her calling him love in her language.
Fine, Bébé. You?
Sera grimaced in response and Dev chuckled until he caught sight of his mother and father followed by Remi and Colt walking out the door that led into the Peltier house. The clicking of Mama Lo's heels stopped at exactly the same time as Sera's heart and her whole mind was consumed with her panicked voice shouting 'oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God!'
"Devereaux, you have come back?"
"With my mate, yes." Dev eyed them all closely, his features betraying nothing, "unless we're not welcome here?"
Nicolette said nothing, her gazed moved over her son's implacable face, to the joined hands then to Sera. The girl was anxious but there was something different about her, her face was less guarded, softer, her body more relaxed and her mouth not set in a rigid frown of concentration anymore. But she still concealed her scent, so that if none of them had known they would have thought she were human. What a puzzling contradiction the child was ….
Papa bear moved forward and held his hand out to his son, Sera let go of Dev hand and unconsciously adjusted her stance, she looked protective and defensive. Nicolette liked to see that. Dev shook his father's hand, his throat tightening a bit, he loved and respected his father very much.
"Son, please tell your mate, I'm not about to rip your throat out so she can stop looking at me like she's about to pounce."
Dev's serious face, so alien to all of them broke in to a familiar blazing smile that they all knew, it lit up the room and he turned his eyes, crinkled with silent laughter to Sera who jumped and blushed a deep scarlet.
Dev drew her under his shoulder and suppressed a shiver when her arm slid slowly up to curl around his waist.
"She's protective of me, Papa. She knows I'm so weak I need a little slip of a girl to help me survive."
Sera's face looked deeply offended and thumped Dev on the chest with her clenched fist, Dev laughed but said 'ow!' all the same.
"Don't push it, little slip of a boy! Or I'll -" The rest of her words were muffled as Dev put a hand over her mouth and was delighted when he felt her lips curl under his palm.
"Ah, she is a mean little thing, your mate!" Aubert chuckled, he slapped his son on the back and extracted Sera from his arms, whilst pushing him towards his mother.
Dev looked his mother directly in the eye and saw they were filled with tears, something shifted in the region of his heart that was a space specifically for his Maman. He gave a gusty sigh before holding his arms open, he wasn't sure whether any of them would have accepted him back and he wouldn't have gave up Sera had she refused to come back and he wouldn't have begged. But to know that his head strong, stubborn mother realised that she had done wrong was enough to wash away the lasting anger with her, now it was time to move on.
Dev held his mother tight in his arms while she wept on his shoulder, she moved her head so she could whisper in his ear.
"Forgive me, Bébé. I meant only good for you." Dev rubbed her back and nodded.
"Maman, I forgive you, but its not only my forgiveness you need," Dev turned to see Sera watching with weepy eyes with his father's arm around her shoulders. Dev released his mother and she nodded stiffly, he knew it stuck in craw to apologise but he didn't care, if everyone else in the world had to swallow their pride then he was going to make sure his mother knew she was no different. He just hoped Sera would accept it, she had a heart of gold but hell, she was still a bit sore about the whole deal. She really wanted to kick Remi's ass still.
Nicolette moved to his side and Dev looked now to Remi, who was standing with his arms crossed and his face looking mean. Dev mirrored his stance and expression, and it only added a curl to Remi's lip, Dev tried his hardest to keep his lips from twitching.
Well, just say you love me and we'll call it quits!
Remi's eyes narrowed and he bit his lip, Dev's smile once again broke across his face.
Man, I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, I'll make it up to you, I only did it 'cause I thought she had tried to kill you.
Dev laughed and moved forward pulling his twin into a hug, Remi punched him on the back and then pushed him away quickly with a mean scowl on his face.
"Homo."
"Remi!" Nicolette reprimanded sharply.
"Yeah, well this is a real choker, Remi saying that is like I love you from a normal person," Colt said chuckling and Remi gave him a fierce scowl that Colt snorted at.
"Aww, little Colt's just jealous, 'cause he missed me," Dev said grabbing Colt in a head lock and rubbing his knuckles painfully into Colt's scalp.
"Ah, he's right you are a homo! Get the hell off me!"
Dev let go and turned his gaze towards Sera who was watching with a smile on her face, she rolled her eyes at him.
"I don't know why your looking like that, Chéri. I'll wrestle with you next."
Dev started forward only for Colt and Remi to launch themselves on his back and all three fell to the floor, shifting into bear form.
Sera laughed aloud as she watched Nicolette trying to command order on her unruly offspring; she looked up at Papa Peltier and her throat tightened at the look on his face, it was strange. Something she hadn't seen in a long time, fatherly.
"My son has found a beautiful mate for himself," he said quietly, then as an after thought he muttered. "He is a good man and bear."
"I know that," Sera said her voice lowering with his, thick with emotion. "I love him very much, Aubert."
Papa blew out a breath and nodded, smiling slightly. "I'm glad to hear it. Its not always easy for males to be mated."
"Its no better for the females, I assure you."
"Yes, this is true. But some males as you know like the freedom they have unmated. But Dev for all that he did, he longed for his mate."
Sera arched a disbelieving brow and Aubert laughed. "You don't think a father knows his own son. Believe me, Dev has been yearning for you for many years. I'm glad your not merely a willing body for him, but a full heart. Its nice to see someone who wants their mate, truly wants to be mated, to experience the sheer magnitude of what it is too share such a phenomenon, you both deserve it because you savour it."
Sera gazed up into Aubert's eyes. "Your very wise. And kind," she said as an after thought.
Aubert laughed. "You must know that I liked you very much, you are a lovely young girl. And I am glad to see the shadows are gone from your eyes."
Sera turned her head to watch Dev again with a frown of thought on her face, then back to Aubert. She realised thinking back that yes, perhaps he did like her; when Mama Peltier would give him orders not to have too much to drink Sera would slip him a glass when she wasn't looking. They would converse on many subjects and he liked that she knew a lot about the spate of killings in the 17th century when many Katagaria were slaughtered by sentinels, it was said in were-hunter history as being one of the most blood thirsty centuries ever recorded. Yes, as it happened he had liked her, like a favourite niece.
"You have your son to thank for freeing my eyes of shadows," she hesitated before broaching the subject, but bravely carried on. "When I came here, it was not with the intention to hurt you or your family. I -"
"Had your reasons."
Sera let out a relieved breath and felt her eyes burn when he leant down and kissed her forehead, she allowed herself to sniff delicately when he moved away from her. She looked up and noticed Nicolette Peltier watching her, not sure what to expect Sera gave the elder woman a steely stare.
Nicolette moved towards Sera and noted the young woman tensed, always expecting a fight, they would have to get her out of that habit.
"A truce, Sera?"
"An apology, Nicolette?"
Sera watched Nicolette's face go a mottled red before she took a deep breath and let it out, their eyes met again and Sera quirked a brow. Nicolette exhaled again and her face softened into one of weariness.
"I am sorry, le petite," she sighed and held up her hands and dropped them helplessly at her sides. "I didn't mean to cause harm. Mon dieu, I was just angry that you had deceived me and perhaps endangered us. I didn't give you chance to explain and when you tried you were right. You had bested me, I like to think I know all that goes on in the walls of Sanctuary but I didn't even suspect you."
Sera gave her a small smile, her apology was so heart felt Sera felt herself welling up again, she might act like a tough nut but inside she was a marshmallow waiting to be crushed to mush. "It matters little now, Lo. We're mated, there's not much that can be done, except work through it, get past it and be happy. Don't you think?"
Nicolette smiled and reached up to brush a raven curl from Sera forehead, Sera's stomach clenched, again that feeling that one of her parents were near her came over her and it was all she could do not to cry.
"You are wiser beyond your years, and much braver then you should be." Nicolette cupped Sera's cheek and Sera bit her lip to stop the tremble.
"I'm not brave," she denied, with a small shake of her head.
"Yes you are. I was blind, Chéri. Seeing only a devious woman, but now I see a young girl that was all alone, that should never have been. And was clever enough to keep herself alive and protected without the aid of her clan. My son is lucky, no?"
"I'm the lucky one," Sera snivelled quietly.
"Perhaps both of you are. I'm sorry I struck you child," she said running her thumb back and forth over Sera's cheek bone where the bruise had been. "I'm surprised you didn't hit me back."
Nicolette quirked an eyebrow and Sera knew they were becoming friends again. "Well, I thought about it," Sera said mischievously, "but I don't hit old women."
Mama Lo looked outraged, "such cheek!"
They both laughed and Nicolette gave her a brief hug before letting her go to find her mate, Sera watched her track Aubert towards the bar and turned her eyes back on the wrestling three that had stopped, shifted in to human form and were looking up at her with dopey grins.
Dev got to his feet and shackled her wrist yanking her into his arms, Sera laughed and turned in his embrace to face Remi and Colt. Colt was smiling openly, Sera moved her eyes to meet Remi's and she thought that for a brief moment he looked uncomfortable. His face shuttered down and he they merely stared at each other, Sera didn't budge one inch, he wasn't getting off the hook without squirming.
With an inward smile Sera raised an expectant eyebrow.
"I suppose I owe you an apology .." he muttered, shifting from one foot to the other.
"Yep."
Remi scowled at her, while Colt and Dev hid their smiles.
"Well, I'm .. I apologize for my treatment of you. It was uncalled for." Sera gave a triumphant grin. "But necessary."
Her face darkened and she had the urge to throw something at him but she merely clucked her tongue while she felt Dev's tough, hard body moving behind her in silent laughter.
"We'll see how necessary it was when I lock you up for a few days, won't we?"
Colt choked while Remi glowered and took a deep breath, Sera could tell it was only a deep need to make amends with his brother was stopping him from saying something foul.
"Yeah, well, sorry," Remi ended lamely there was a bit of a tense silence where Sera let the full weight of her stare pierce Remi. She kept an admirable poker face while Remi became increasingly uncomfortable; Dev nudged her.
Oh, alright then, she thought and gave Remi a wide grin, he answered it with one of his own and the thickness in the air dissipated. Dev leant down and gave Sera a scorching kiss before he was tugged away by Remi. Dev laughed when Remi put his hands firmly on Sera's shoulders and looked down on her delicate face that he knew masked a will of iron and a fiery spirit.
"I didn't think I'd be able to say this to an Arcadian but welcome to the family. You're a good woman," Sera felt her throat tighten again, what was it with this family that they said things so lovely they brought tears to her eyes constantly? Sera watched the humour die from Dev's eyes when he realised what his brother was about to do. Remi brought his lips down on Sera's with a firmness that surprised her, Dev gave a furious growl and swiped at Remi, while yanking Sera back to his side. Remi danced out of reach, laughing evilly, Dev was still scowling his arm locked around her possessively, Sera who was grinning like a Cheshire cat locked eyes with Colt, he raised a flirtatious eyebrow.
"My turn?"
Dev growled ferociously once again. "Don't try it, Colt! Your not allowed within smelling distance of my woman, that goes for the pair of you!"
Sera tried to stop a thrill racing through her but hell she was only a woman at the end of the day and it was nice to know her mate wanted her all to himself. Sera laughed and reached up to rub a soothing hand over his jaw, "don't worry, love. I'll take care of them if they come near me, I'm all yours."
Dev passed a shit eating grin to his brothers who made noises of disappointment before vacating the room, Sera leaned back against Dev rubbing suggestively up him.
"Are you really fine with coming back here, Bébé?" Dev asked, his voice showing more of his trepidation then he wanted; Sera smiled and took his hand kissing his marked palm.
"You know since I came into this house I feel very much at home. Thank you, Dev."
He inclined his head and Sera felt her body clench in desire, for as long as she lived she would never get enough of this man.
A kiss can lead to many things, as Dev had found out for himself, one desire for a kiss had paved the way for him to find his mate. One kiss in the parlour of his home lead to him carrying his mate over his shoulder to his room for some not so quiet fun. Life couldn't get much better for a bear, Dev thought with Sera draped over his chest while his hand riffled through her ebony locks. Their breathing had barely come under control when a soft knock came at the door, both gave a groan.
"You get it," Dev breathed, "I can't move."
"You can't! I'm the one that's walking bow-legged."
Dev laughed and couldn't suppress a surge of pride that made him want to get up and beat his chest like a cave man. He didn't do anything quite so primitive but brought his hand down playfully on Sera's firm bottom, she yelped and bit him on the shoulder in small reprimand. The knock persisted, getting a little louder; Sera crawled up Dev's side so she could lean into his ear.
"If you answer the door," She whispered sexily, "I'll .."
What she suggested actually made Dev's eyes cross and he was up and bounding across the room to the door with Sera's laughter echoing in his ears. He manifested a pair of jeans on to his body and opened the door. Aimee stood outside wringing her hands nervously.
"Your back," she said with obvious relief. Dev was reminded of the promise he'd made to her whilst they were in the bayou, it churned his gut guiltily that after getting back on such good terms with his family that he may have to take sides with them again. Aimee was apparently also worried about where his allegiance would be now he was back.
"Yep, I'm back. How's Fang?"
The gratitude and relief on his baby sister's face was so enormous that Dev's quibbles about where his loyalty should lie ceased immediately.
"He's good, he's well. I'm missing him, he usually goes for a little while without getting in touch because of … well .. You know." Aimee was breathless and eager to talk to someone, anyone about her relationship with the wolf; Dev could see that. He wanted to groan at how impossible it all seemed but refrained, knowing Sera would be watching and would probably have his balls if he did anything to upset Aimee.
"Well, if he really needs to talk to you he can go through me or Sera," Dev wanted to bite his tongue in half but bravely soldiered on, no matter how much he hated the thought of Aimee growing up. "Or … I'll .. I mean .. Shit! I'll cover you when you want to see him!"
Dev raked a hand through his hair and cursed again, Aimee squealed and threw her arms around him, "I love you, Dev!"
"Yeah, yeah, now go, I need sleep."
Aimee flew back to her room and Dev kicked the door shut, he turned back to see Sera laying propped up on her elbow on her side, she was smiling tauntingly at him.
"What?!" He feigned indignation, "I'm a helpful guy!"
He crawled back into bed and lay spread eagle, taking up most of the bed so Sera had to shove his limbs aside.
"Well, I was just wondering how you'll be if we have daughters," Sera said casually but Dev stilled. Sera gave him a shifty look under her lashes, he had gone silent and very still.
"What are you thinking, Dev?"
Dev did a movement that was meant to be a shrug, then rolled over so he could hug Sera's waist and lay his head on her stomach.
"I don't know. Lots of things."
"Such as?"
"Am I going to be a good dad when we finally have kids?" he muttered quietly, but Sera caught every word. "How am I going to cope with daughters? How am I going to cope with sons after seeing what my father went through with us? Will it still be the same between us?"
"You think we'll change if we ever have children?" Sera tried to keep her voice steady, she had never really thought having a baby could change the feelings two people had for one another, not if they were real. The dynamics of a family would change of course, its to be expected, but her mother and father had loved each other until the day they were slain and that was after numerous litters of children. Varying between Arcadian and Katagaria and sometimes hybrids.
Dev kissed her stomach and looked up to see her pretty eyes darkening with worry, this time he didn't wish he could take back his words, he would start as he meant to go on, with never an untruth between them. Not on something as serious as this.
"I would say no because I love you more then words can say."
"But?" She prompted.
"Lots of things can happen. I don't ever want to lose you, especially not to childbirth, I don't think I could take care of my cubs or babies if you were not there."
Sera laughed as understanding dawned. "You fear my dying in childbirth and leaving you? Gods, Dev your such a worrier!"
Dev nuzzled the unbelievably soft skin of her belly, "maybe. But I just don't want this to end."
"Dev, honey, I think I have to tell you something .." She felt him stiffen and he looked up to meet her gaze.
"What?"
"We're bonded, remember?"
His face was completely blank for a moment then he let loose a loud laugh, a deep rolling belly laugh that bounced off the walls, Sera shook her head. It was going to take her years to understand this bear, she just knew it, but by Artemis did she relish the challenge.