Well here it is, the last chapter of MOMS. These boys have been with me for almost two years and I'm having a really hard time letting go. I want to thank my wonderful beta, my partner in crime and the most wonderful husband I could've been blessed with. To the readers, without you the story would've been just letters in a screen, you brought the characters to life. To Ratts who gave me many wonderful ideas and endured my many freakouts. Last but not least to those of you who reviewed and gave me so much encouragement when I needed it the most. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Please continue supporting the many wonderful fanfiction authors, especially those in the Twilight fandom. Don't let it end; there are many imaginative and interesting plots left to explore.
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" Winnie the Pooh
Chapter 45
The babies were almost two months old and were thriving under the watchful eyes of their parents. Just as he suspected, Seth was able to nurse them, an act that proved more difficult to accept by the wolves than his pregnancy had been. He still giggled every time Edward looked the other way when he stepped in the room while the babies were being fed. Jacob had proven to be the most dedicated husband and father ever. The couple had taken to parenthood like they were born for it.
Seth and Embry had spent the last hour leading a meeting between the north and south factions, to establish the new laws regarding all citizens, submissives included. The delegations arrived the previous night and immediately sent the house on red alert. The protection of the submissives and the babies was of the utmost importance to everyone. Gone were the days of the wolves taking the subs for granted and what was worse, abusing them. The wolves now had a commitment that they were proud to honor.
After word got out about the new laws being enforced by the Blacks, two families that had been hiding their sons from the council stepped forward and added their individual abilities to those of the members of the Black household. After only a few weeks one of the subs found himself mated to Eric, who had to swallow every stupid thing he had said in the past about the subs. They fell for each other the instant their eyes met and became inseparable. The other submissive was not ready to settle down with anyone. After so many years prisoner for his own protection, he wanted to enjoy his newfound freedom.
"I can't believe I spent over an hour away from my babies. The worst part is that it was all for nothing. I swear those men spent more time trying to picture us in all fours than actually listening to anything we had to say." Seth had all the right to be extremely frustrated. Because of everyone's insistence he agreed to co-lead the council. If it hadn't been because he wanted to help Embry he would've never accepted. Embry was very grateful and happy that his friend offered him his support and was happy he didn't have to face any of those men by himself. It was true that Billy was there to keep everyone in check, but Seth was his friend. A small but very loud group of landowners were extremely resistant to the new bill of rights. This made everyone's life more complicated that it needed to be. The threat of a rebellion had everyone worried and plans were already in place to guarantee everyone's safety.
"We all knew this would be an uphill battle. They are used to getting their way and submissives not being seen or heard. To be totally honest I spent quite some time wondering if any of them had subs still enslaved." Embry shook his head to disperse the memories of his years as a slave. Both submissives were coping with the demons of their past better than anyone expected. Still, when they were confronted with the wickedness of some men it made them relieve all the pain and suffering they endured.
"If I had to put money on any of them it would be in the one who was sitting across from you. He was the most vocal about setting limits to the freedom granted to subs. I don't want to make generalizations but these men from the south are dicks." Even though he had all the reason in the world to be bitter and judgmental, Seth made a conscious effort not to. It wouldn't benefit him in any way, quite the contrary; it could permanently poison his spirit. He would not allow it, now more than ever. He instinctively acknowledged how important was to raise his children in a peaceful environment.
"At least most people around here respect us. Anyway I'm not letting their ignorance ruin my day, and neither should you, brother." Said Embry.
"I'm not going to let it bother me, especially when I'm tickled pink to see how the guys fared with the triplets. I guess two alphas are more than enough to take care of three little ones." He couldn't keep a straight face and let out a hearty guffaw that could be heard up and down the hallway that led to his room. Jake was a great father but he got flustered very easily. So far he hadn't taken care of the babies on his own.
When they entered Seth's bedroom they were immediately faced with a disaster zone. The subs couldn't believe their eyes. Empty milk bottles and dirty diapers littered the floor. Jacob and Edward looked frazzled and ready to topple over. Their shirts and even their hair had spit on them. Sarah and baby Jacob were being rocked by their father, one in each arm. Edward carried Leah, who was putting up quite a fight. It was obvious that there was somebody in charge in that room and it wasn't either one of the alphas. It was unbelievable how those three little persons provided so much joy and wielded so much power over their surroundings.
The submissives stood immobile, they were enjoying too much the view of their mates being beaten by three little ones. "Seth! Thank God you're here. I don't know how the hell you two do it on your own. They are spit, poop and pee producing machines! Why didn't you warn me about Jake? The moment I took off his diaper bam! He peed. Some went in my mouth, my mouth! I love my son but that's gross. He has never done that before, even when I change his diaper in the middle of the night. I swear he knew you weren't here and decided to mess with me. "
"You said they were going to sleep the whole time. As soon as you set foot outside this room they started crying. I could've sworn the whole house heard them. I don't know what Leah's deal is, she won't settle down." Complained Edward.
"So you mean to tell me that three tiny babies kicked your behind?" The submissives were making a monumental effort not to laugh but that was one battle they were losing.
Leah was inconsolable; the poor child's face was red from the effort. Seth sat down with her in his arms and she immediately started nursing. As it always happened Edward averted his gaze, too embarrassed to even look in Seth's direction. "Ed, get over it man, it may seem weird to you but it's the best thing to do for the babies. Wait until it's your child and then it will seem completely natural to you." The cook quickly shifted his gaze to his mate, hope and love evident in his face. Embry's warm gaze connected with that of his lover and engaged in a silent conversation that answered his question. They had been discussing whether or not Embry would go in heat as Seth did, but the truth of the matter was that no one knew.
"Guys, Leah was starving; no wonder she was so upset. You know that nobody gets between her and her food. What happened? I left more than enough milk for all three of them." Seth cuddled his daughter, her eyes focused on him like she was thanking him.
After handing Sarah to Embry, Jacob walked around the room cuddling his son close to his chest to calm him. Edward collapsed on the other rocking chair, exhausted like he had been running for hours, when in reality he hadn't even left the room. "I don't know what to tell you baby; Ed fed Leah while I fed the other two. We followed your instructions to a T."
"Wait, Jake I fed Sarah, you were going to take care of Leah and Jake remember?"
"No Ed, I fed Sarah and Jake, you had Leah the whole time." The submissives sighed and exchanged looks, feeling more frustrated than amused. It was obvious that they both fed Sarah and nobody fed Leah. The dominants avoided the subs accusatory gaze. They believed in their mates and wanted them to lead the council, so they could take the nation in the direction it was destined to go. They really made an effort but proved to be very incompetent when it came to taking care of the infants.
"Shit baby we tried, I'm sorry." Embry placed his hands on baby Sarah's belly to soothe the colic that her babysitters caused by feeding her too much. In no time she was asleep in his arms.
After a while all that could be heard in the room was Leah's soft cooing and Sarah's calm even breathing. Baby Jake went totally quiet for a change, just staring at his exhausted father. They took the opportunity the quiet moment provided to revel in the babies beauty and innocence, to breathe their wonderful scent and to run their fingers over the rose-leaf fragile skin before them. Jacob admired his son's tiny hands and round-cheeked face. With their mere existence the three angels they held in their arms gave hope to an entire nation.
Hundreds of miles away The Whitlocks arrived at the port late at night and didn't disembark until the next morning, knowing it wasn't a good idea to start their long journey at that time of the night. Leah had barraged Quil with a million questions about her brother and his relationship with Jacob. Even though Quil spoke highly of his alpha she was still distrustful. For years all she heard about the Black's household was related to Jacob's cruelty when it came to the slaves. She struggled to respect the Aleph for enabling his son, who looked the other way instead of preventing such shameful violence. Only after becoming a mother she understood him a little, but not enough to earn her complete respect. Her son was only five years old, she and Jasper were resigned to not having children, but one day there he was. Bearing the name of his uncle, Seth Ivan became the light of their eyes. They were very reluctant to the idea of bringing him along; even considered leaving him under the care of their friends. But neither one of them had ever been away from him for more than a few nights and they knew nobody could protect him like they would. Between that and his puppy dog eyes as he pleaded his case, they decided to bring him along. Both parents prayed that it wouldn't be a decision they would live to regret.
Quil was under the assumption that Seth was the oldest living submissive but during a conversation with his brother he learned that this was not correct. As it turned out Brady was seven months older than him. One of the many theories Carlisle had about submissive's pregnancy was that it could happen in cycles, nature telling their wolves it was time to increase their numbers. The five subs that carried pups all became pregnant in a window of three years. If that was the case, Brady should've gone into heat before Seth, but that didn't happen. Quil's only guess was that since Albert was also a sub his wolf recognized his mate wouldn't be able to impregnate him and the heat cycle became unnecessary.
Quil was really looking forward to having a long conversation with Carlisle on this matter. Since he wouldn't have to spend so much time traveling anymore, he would have a lot of time in his hands and wanted to refine his understanding of submissives. After engaging in long conversations with Jasper and Leah he recognized the need for more knowledge about the subs. Not everyone was onboard and to have some real change they needed to lure the skeptics in with hard facts. The Whitlock's had zero tolerance for any kind of abuse directed to the subs in their land. They wanted to extend and expand on this. They wouldn't rest until the day the submissives could walk freely among the dominants without fear.
They traveled for hours, only stopping twice to eat and drink some water. Leah kept pushing forward unwilling to wait one more minute to see her brother. She even rode on her husband's back at one point so little Seth Ivan could nap in her arms. "Lee, we have to stop. We are going to spend the night in one of the outposts. They will provide us with some protection; there we'll be able to rest. I promise we'll be on our way at dawn. By tomorrow night you'll be with Seth." Jasper tried to balance his wife's need to see her brother with the safety of the group. He needed to rein Leah in, especially since she was very impulsive.
"I guess you're right, my only concern is Al and Brady's safety. Will they be safe there? I honestly don't trust any of these strangers." Jasper had been opposed to the idea of the subs accompanying them, it was too risky. Albert had pleaded and Brady, even though he was scared, humored his husband. Al hadn't been in the United States in over twelve years. There was so much he wanted to do. He wanted to visit the family that kindly took him and his brother in when their parents died. But more than anything he wanted to meet Seth. He had heard countless stories about him and couldn't wait to put a face to the legend. Leah agreed with Albert, he deserved a vacation and a change of scenery.
It was Quil who answered her. "Leah, believe me, if any of those wolves try to put the moves on my brother or his husband, they'll regret opening their eyes in the morning." She sighed; feeling the anxiety rise, but they would be more at risk out in the open at night.
They were greeted by the outpost's alpha who welcomed them for the night. He was happy with having a change in their routine and was honored by their visit. The entire group breathed a sigh of relief when they were informed that Jacob had ordered the alphas in the general area the group would be traveling in, to impose an alpha command on their men to prevent them from even looking in the subs' direction with nothing but respect. Leah still didn't trust them and asked both Albert and Brady to sleep with them in her and Jasper's room while several of their guards stood outside the door and some others patrolled around the house. Quil experienced a new level of admiration and gratitude for Leah and her husband. They truly cared about his brother's welfare and that in his book earned them his loyalty.
The group bid goodbye to their hosts and left at first light. Several soldiers from the outpost accompanied them to provide them with extra support. By early afternoon Quil announced they were entering the Black's lands and Leah's reaction was to push forward like a hound out of hell, leaving the main group behind. She was stopped on her tracks by several soldiers who intercepted the group. Just like they had done when Seth was delivered by the transporters, they questioned them as to the reason for their visit. Any concern was pushed aside when Quil vouched for the visitors.
"Jake what's the matter with you? You've been jumpy all day. Are you expecting a visit? You keep looking out the window every couple of minutes. To be totally honest it's getting on my nerves. Can you please stop?" The alpha had awoken earlier than usual, too excited to sleep. He knew Leah was on her way and couldn't wait to see the joy in his husband's face when he saw her. The small part of Seth's heart that had been missing, the one that prevented him from being completely happy, was on her way. He would be complete at last.
Jacob left the room with the excuse of attending a meeting in his father's office, but in reality he was getting ready to meet his sister in law. He was an alpha and the future Aleph but Leah scared him to no end. Due to his history when it came to the subs he knew there would be a lot of initial resistance but he was determined to woo Leah. How would he do it? He had no idea and would have to play it by ear.
Billy and Jacob walked across the yard to meet their visitors. After almost thirty minutes the group emerged between the trees. Billy was surprised to see two submissives among them and wondered who they were and what the reason for their presence was. Quil shifted and after donning his pants hugged his alpha. The happiness in his heart was spilling through his pores and the most sincere smile they had ever seen adorned his lips. "I found him." The emotion was too intense and he couldn't elaborate. Jacob held him while he cried softly with his head on his shoulder. After a few minutes he was able to compose himself. "Al, please shift; I want you to meet my friends. They have suffered with me all these years and they shared the agony of the uncertainty. Now I want them to share my joy in the same way they shared my grief."
The submissives shifted and shyly got dressed shielded by Jasper's wolf. "I want you to meet my brother and his husband Brady." Albert extended his hand to the Aleph who shook it nervously. Jacob couldn't believe his eyes and wanted nothing but to give them a big bear hug. He couldn't though, it didn't escape him how uncomfortable the subs felt interacting with him and decided a handshake would suffice by now.
Soon enough a strikingly beautiful woman with proud features and eyes just like those of his husband stood before him. There were a few tense moments when Jacob extended his hand to greet her and she didn't move. Instead she stood like a statue, drilling Jacob with a stare that felt like it could freeze an ocean, fighting the urge to at least slap him a few times. Out of politeness and not true desire, she shook his hand briefly. "Welcome, it's great to meet you at last. We mean no disrespect by meeting you so far from the house but your brother's hearing is so acute that he would've heard you talking and I really want this to be a surprise." Explained Jacob.
"Is my brother well?" Leah found it difficult to look Jacob in the eye, she hated him, but she proudly held her gaze. She hated everything he stood for. She didn't even want to know all the horrible vile things her brother had been subjected to. She had heard more than one horror story and Jacob's reputation worked against him.
"Yes he is; I know I'm not one of your favorite people in the world but we're family now and I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me. Seth has taught all of us the true meaning of the word forgiveness. Your brother has the most beautiful spirit; he has been able to bring this whole house to its knees without even trying." It was heartwarming to hear the love and admiration in Jacob's voice.
"I wish I could love you Jacob Black, but as of now I'm making an effort to be civil. For my brother's sake I'll try to accept you, but even that will take time." Leah's reply was the best she could manage under the circumstances.
Jacob didn't blame Leah for her attitude, hell, he was expecting things to be much worse. As meeting the in-laws go he wasn't doing too badly. "Thank you, that's all I ask, to be given a chance. I want you to know that I adore your brother and if I do something good in my time on this earth that'll be to make him happy and replace every bad memory with a good one. But I know you must be dying to see him. Will you please follow me?"
The group followed Jacob to one of the side entrances in an effort to avoid the great room. They ascended through a narrow stairwell that put the visitors on high alert. They wanted to trust Jacob and his father but struggled to do so. "Why all the gates and guards?" Asked Jasper curious and distrustful.
"They are for the sub's protection; the guards have been sworn to protect Seth and the babies with their lives if it's necessary." The word babies didn't register with any of the visitors.
After crossing the third and last gate, they reached the floor where Seth's room was located. As the group walked in the direction of the room the sound of Seth's laughter reached them, making Leah freeze in place. It was just like she remembered it, it sounded exactly the same. The laughter she seldom heard, the one she thought she would never hear again. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth at the same time her legs felt wobbly and if she hadn't been holding her husband's hand she would've crumbled to the floor. "Lee, is that him?" Whispered Jasper to which Leah nodded in affirmation, since her voice seemed to be stuck in her throat.
The flood of conflicting emotions that she felt now was something she had only experienced once in her life and they hit her like a ton of bricks, preventing her from taking a step. She was saddened by all the years that she and her brother spent apart, the crippling emptiness that plagued her since she saw the most horrible sight ever, what she thought were her brother's ashes. The guilt for what had been her biggest failure, not protecting the defenseless angel she was entrusted to keep safe. She was angry for everything that her brother had gone through, for how unfair and evil the whole system was, for all the lies and the greed. She was ashamed for being given everything in a silver platter for the simple fact of being a female.
Her brother's laugh was the wind that blew away all those negative emotions. The storm clouds were gone, leaving in their place brightness and hope. She experienced happiness and completion that no words could convey. Now she was complete, she had her husband and her son; they had made her life worth living. Now the only part that was missing was within her reach and was pulling her toward him.
Sensing Leah's anxiety, Jacob walked ahead of her to open the door that led to the bedroom he shared with his husband. Seth had been too distracted and didn't realize who was at the door. He stood up to greet his husband, but felt his heart leap within him when the person who crossed the door was not Jacob but his sister. Without a single word, they walked toward each other and melted in an embrace, a long overdue heartfelt hug. Unable to verbalize anything at all they collapsed in tears, breaking down into a sobbing mess of overwhelming emotions. The siblings prayed this was not a dream and they were really hugging each other.
Leah kissed the top of Seth's head, just like she used to do when he was little. Her arms wanted to hold every inch of him and never let go. All they did was look at each other and cry. Their tears an interminable waterfall of relief and peace. They tried to speak but all that came out were pitiful whimpers thick with tears. There wasn't a dry eye in the room; Embry was weeping buckets and Jacob was dying to comfort his mate and wipe away his tears but he knew these were happy tears. The tortuous journey that started fifteen years ago was over. The nightmare was no more, their joy was complete.
They held onto each other for a long time until at last they calmed down enough to be able to speak. "Seth, it's really you?" Whispered Leah.
"Yes Lee Lee, it's me." There were no words to describe how he felt right at that moment. He didn't know if he was shocked, dumbfounded or just plain insane. "How did you find me?"
"Jacob had been trying to reach me for months but I never replied. Then he sent Quil to look for me. I couldn't believe it at first when he told me you were alive. This is a miracle, little brother you are a miracle." She kept looking at her brother's face, recalling every detail from his past. Anger bubbled inside her when she caught sight of the scars that marred her brother's flesh. She could only guess how the rest of his body looked. "What have they done to you?" Leah's voice sank plaintively to a desolate sob that seemed to originate in her aching soul.
"It doesn't matter, I only have one important scar and that's the one they did to bring my babies into the world." Seth was not going to allow the horrible experiences of his past to tarnish the joy of this moment.
"Wait, what do you mean babies?" Leah searched the room for Quil. "Why didn't you tell me there was more than one?"
"Believe me, it was hard as hell, it almost slipped out in several occasions but I wanted Seth to be the one to tell you." He apologetically explained.
Seth was overjoyed and couldn't wait to see his sister's face when he told her about the babies. "You have two nieces and one nephew."
"Triplets?!" Seth nodded and letting go of his sister for the first time since she walked in the room he took her hand and guided her to the babies' room. They walked hand in hand, both visibly overcome by emotions.
"This is our quiet one, her name is Sarah Noelle." Whispered Seth as they both admired the beautiful porcelain doll that slept peacefully in her crib.
"My baby boy is Jacob William." The submissive could sense the change in his sister's demeanor when she was told the baby's name. It became obvious that his husband would have to do some serious butt kissing to earn his sister-in-law's approval. He looked forward to see that.
"This little one is our warrior; there was no other name for her than Leah Grace." Leah was deeply touched by her brother's gesture of naming his daughter after her. It was a celebration of what she meant to him.
Leah was dying to hold the babies, but as a mother, she knew she shouldn't interrupt their nap or they would have in their hands three very grumpy babies. They went back to Seth's room where everyone was sitting comfortably.
"My gosh, the babies are so beautiful. I can't believe it, I'm a freaking aunt!" Exclaimed Leah, running to her husband and picking up her son.
Seth walked to where Jasper was sitting. Their son had been so quiet; sitting uncharacteristically still on his father's lap. Even at his young age Seth Ivan understood that this was mommy's moment. That didn't mean he was calm, he was as excited as his mother and desperately wanted to see the babies. "Hello Jasper, good to see you again." Greeted Seth as he gave Jasper a one arm hug.
"You're a sight for sore eyes brother. This is nothing short of a miracle; here you are, in the flesh. I…I.. I'm speechless." Jasper's voice betrayed him a few times. He adored his wife and the joy he saw in her eyes moved him almost to tears.
"Mommy told me you're my uncle." Seth Ivan's sweet innocent voice brought a smile to everyone's faces. The poor child had been doing a monumental effort to stay quiet but just like his mom he was thrilled and couldn't wait any longer.
"Yes I am, my name is Seth. What's your name?" The submissive's soft tone of voice helped the child feel at ease with the stranger before him.
The little boy giggled amused. "Seth Ivan, I'm five years old."
Seth turned to look at his sister who was gently wiping tears from her face as she witnessed the encounter between two of the three most important men in her life. Seth leaned toward his uncle and planted a big sloppy kiss on his uncle's cheek. The room was filled with an air of celebration. The feeling that prevailed was one of pure joy. Everyone in the room shared the same sense of relief, like they ran a marathon and after so many years reached their goal.
Quil was itching to introduce his brother to everyone. He controlled himself for Seth and Leah's sake. He felt honored for having been able to witness their reunion. It was something he would never forget. Looking around the room he felt like the luckiest man in the world. He had his family in Albert and Brady. He had the best friends anyone could wish for and hope for the future. After so many years of heartache, loneliness and pain he was at peace.
After talking to his nephew for a few minutes Seth moved toward his husband who opened his arms to embrace him. Quil took this opportunity to approach him and after hugging and saying hello he introduced him to his brother. "I found my brother; he has been living in South America for ten years and is married now." Seth searched around the room and noticed for the first time the submissive whose resemblance to his brother made it easy to know who he was. He was introduced to Albert and Brady. Seth in turn introduced Embry to everyone in the room. The power that emanated from the four submissives didn't come from their muscles, it was an outward expression of what being strong really meant. They were survivors; they had prevailed against all odds.
All the visitors except Leah followed Billy to the dining room to have lunch. This gave the siblings a chance to reconnect. Not wanting to leave Seth alone with so many strangers around, Jacob remained in the room but sequestered himself to his office so he wouldn't be in the way. Leah felt her heart hurt and at the same time swell with pride as she heard her brother's tale of survival. They cried and laughed as they learned more things about each other. Leah was not even slightly saddened when she learned of her parents' downfall; after all they were horrible people. She didn't tell her brother all the awful things their parents did throughout the years, like the way they dismissed his bad fortune like it was a big joke. It would've been cruel to do it and served no purpose at all.
Every once in a while Jacob would glance in his husband's direction and noticed some of the traits he and Leah shared. They had so many similar mannerisms that a lifetime of separation couldn't bar them from sharing, from the way they sat to the way their noses crinkled when they smiled.
At last, what Leah had been waiting for happened. The softest little coo made her jump off the sofa and run to the babies' room. She peeked inside the cribs only to find Leah Grace with her eyes wide open and slightly cross eyed as she played with her hands. After changing her diaper the submissive removed his shirt to feed her. He chuckled lightly when he noticed the way his sister was looking at him. "Lee don't tell me you're going to get freaked out too. I nurse the babies, it's no big deal."
He was very amused with his sister's reaction until he noticed how her calm demeanor changed and her face contorted in an all-consuming anger. "What the hell is that?!" She pointed with a shaky finger in the direction of Seth's chest. The submissive honestly didn't know what caused this sudden change until he looked down and saw it. The initials JB that had been branded in his skin stood out like an anchor that wanted to keep reminding him of his past as a slave.
"What does JB stand for? Who did this to you? I'm going to fucking kill him!" She was beyond furious, this was an outrage. Then it hit her, she knew whose initials those were. Seth tried to open his mouth to defend his husband, even though he knew that Jacob's past behavior was inexcusable. Leah wouldn't have any of it, only lifting her hand in a silent request for him to not even try to justify him. Her face was contorted in fury, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled with ferocity.
She walked slowly, each step heavy and deliberate. Standing by the open door that led to Jacob's office she gave him a death stare that he didn't see. Jacob lifted his eyes to look at his sister in law and was taken aback by her appearance. "Leah, is everything ok?" He asked concerned.
"You animal! How could you brand my brother like cattle? Seeing how happy he is I considered giving you a chance, thinking that maybe your bad behavior was greatly exaggerated!" She moved closer to Jacob's desk. "Bravo, you fooled me and everyone else too. Now I see the real you, the bastard that made a sport of killing submissives. My poor brother…" Leah pointed in the direction of the nursery where Seth struggled to tend to the needs of his baby as he listened to the argument taking place just a few steps from him. "…convinced himself he is in love with you to make peace with every depraved and horrific act you put him through. It'll be better if my brother and the babies come back with me to Argentina. I'll help him detox from your putrescent influence. When he sees he doesn't have to be afraid of you, he'll stop justifying your behavior."
Jacob knew his husband didn't justify him. He never denied what happened or saw it as a twisted way of loving. To them it was simple, they were in love. It didn't erase the past, that was as much a part of them as the scars on the sub's body. But there was no way Seth was going to let that past define him. He wouldn't deny them their happiness because of it; if he did he would be giving it power over him.
The alpha stalked on and stood menacingly in front of her. Even though Jacob towered over her, Leah didn't back down, quite the opposite, with every passing second she was more determined to take her brother away. Jacob crafted his response carefully. "Let me tell you something, you're not going to destroy my family! Yes I was an animal, I hurt you brother in more ways than I care to remember. Every time I look at him I'm reminded of our past. Don't you see? I hate myself! I'm a fucking criminal!" The alpha had to pause to compose himself before continuing. "The spirits of the men that perished at my hands burn me from the inside out, they will torture me until the day I die. My own thoughts judge me; my guilt is like a rodent gnawing my flesh. I don't deserve Seth's love. I don't deserve the children he gave me. I don't deserve to be alive when many others died because of me. Your brother loves me and I adore him. And though I will never understand why he loves me, I do know that he is not fooling himself or rationalizing our relationship. His spirit is too strong to allow him to be deluded, at least give him some credit. I also made the mistake of underestimating his strength, and look at me now. I can try to make you happy and jump from the highest cliff onto the jagged rock, but who will that hurt the most? Your brother will be a widow and the babies would've lost one of their fathers. Is that what you want?"
"Jake you're not an animal." The soft voice of the submissive filled the room with its peace. Jacob and Leah instantly stopped their argument. "Lee, my place is here with my husband. I know what you're thinking but you're mistaken. If he was still abusing me do you think I would've stayed? I would never put my children's life at risk. More importantly, I love him.
"Seth how can you love him?"
Seth chuckled sadly. "Jake is no angel, he is just a man. A tormented soul that won't even let me forgive him. He says he doesn't deserve it but I disagree. When things were really bad all I saw was this cruel demon, but little by little the human side of him started peeking out. He was a shattered man filled with pain and remorse. I've held him in my arms throughout the night, drying his tears when he woke up from his frequent nightmares. I would lie next to him, running my fingers through his hair and caressing his back. Feeling as my love for him grew more each day." The submissive moved until he stood next to his husband. Craning his neck to look at him with the most loving gaze Leah had ever seen.
"Did you know that Jake tried to sell me to Emmet?" Leah shook her head in negation. "He knew he would grant me my freedom and almost forced me to leave. He thought I didn't know better and just wanted to cling to what felt good, and at the moment that was him. Since becoming a slave no one had treated me with a shred of compassion. He was the only one that showed me what kindhearted affection was like. I know he will follow me to the deepest and darkest depths of hell of it means we can be together. I'm convinced that if we had been born in another time we would've still found each other. Jake wouldn't have been my master though, just a hopeful lover. You ask me how I can love him; I cannot give you an answer. All I know is that I do, mind and soul."
Leah stood motionless as she tried to internalize her brother's words. It was amazing to see the intensity of his love for the alpha and as much as she hated to admit it, she saw a perfect reflection of that emotion in Jacob's eyes. Her brother was a grown man, not a little kid she needed to protect. He was perfectly capable of making his own decisions; that reality finally hit her. If being with Jacob was a mistake it was his mistake to make. In her eagerness to make up for not protecting Seth, she overstepped the boundaries of what was acceptable behavior. She never should've suggested breaking up their family. She could hate the wolf with every fiber of her being but as long as he kept treating her brother well she would keep her mouth shut.
Five years after the birth of their triplets the submissive went in heat again and nine months later they became the proud parents of the smallest and most perfect baby boy. Much to Seth's dismay the baby had the make of a submissive, even Leah confirmed how much he looked like her brother. He wouldn't love him any less for this of course, but would live in constant fear of the day he phased. If they had been determined to end slavery once and for all, after having him it became imperative.
Jacob would have many opportunities over the years to prove to Leah and any other skeptics he had changed for the best. She wanted to be a part of her nieces' and nephews' lives and traveled frequently. This gave her a front row seat to observe her brother-in-law's behavior. She had to admit that Jacob and Seth were made for each other, even if they annoyed her to no end when they finished each other's sentences and had what seemed to be silent conversation.
Albert joined her many times so he could visit his brother. Quil knew his brother was safe and had a family. This helped him decide to remain at the Black's manor, feeling he would be of much better use there. The fight for the complete abolition of slavery was something he felt strongly about and wouldn't rest until the last slave was granted his freedom. There was resistance from some smaller cells in the South, but the threat of war was enough to convince everyone that ownership of slaves was not worth losing their lives. They knew the Black's wouldn't back down and had more conviction than ever in favor of the cause.
In the spring of the year two thousand nine hundred thirty four, seven years after Seth was bought by William Black, slavery was declared illegal. After countless negotiations, sleepless nights and endless debates the treaty was signed by every landowner in the United States. The penalty for anyone harboring a slave or depriving anyone of their freedom based on the old caste system was the loss of any property they owned. That was in addition to being incarcerated for a time that was in accordance with their crime. It was a day of celebration than nobody thought would happen. The quote from the declaration of independence 'all men are created equal' held a special significance for the submissives. At last they were considered equals among men, with all the rights and responsibilities of any free man.
The memory of the men that had perished during the genocide became a symbol of the cruelty that people are capable of and served as a warning for future generations. A group that comprised three different packs took upon themselves the monumental project of re-writing the history and legends of their people. The biggest volume was about the submissive and it contained, among many tales, all the names they could find in the few archives of the old council.
Embry finished his education and became a doctor; he stood proudly before his friends to receive his diploma from Carlisle. Among all the voices there was one who cheered the loudest, Edward. The submissives still presided over the council, with Quil and Paul, as elders. They had been doing a wonderful job as the governing body of their political system and were respected members of society. Edward mustered the courage to ask Embry to marry him but to everyone's surprise he turned down the proposal. Embry loved him desperately; he knew he was the only one for him but couldn't say yes. The cook was utterly devastated but loved him too much to let go and they stayed by each other's side. The first week was the hardest; they cried themselves to sleep, sometimes holding each other for comfort. There was no explanation required or provided, it was too raw and too painful to talk about.
With Billy and Seth's help Embry opened up is heart and the reason behind his rejection came to light. Embry felt inadequate and worried about being second best to Benjamin. Edward and Ben had the perfect storybook romance. Two lovers that were shunned by society, who fought and became victorious in the game of life. How could he compete with something like that? After being a slave for so many years he thought he had nothing to offer his mate. In his own eyes he was damaged goods and not worthy of such a commitment. Ed explained to him that he'd come to the conclusion that Benjamin was his best friend and lover, but Embry was his mate. He had been a very important part of his life but the sub was his life.
Their wedding was a simple affair, very in accordance with their personalities. It was a huge surprise when after only four days into their honeymoon the newlyweds returned home. Unlike Seth, Embry's heat cycle started suddenly and without warning. They needed the protection of the pack and the comfort of their family. Dominants were ordered to keep clear of the hallway where their room was located. Two subs, Billy and Jacob patrolled the hallway while several trusted wolves stood guard outside their window. Things were changing and submissives were respected, but the heat cycle elicited primitive instincts that otherwise stayed dormant. The couple had been resigned to never having children of their own and enjoyed spoiling their godchildren. But fate gave them a wonderful surprise and exactly nine months after getting married, they welcomed their baby girl into the world. Elise Gabrielle became the queen of the Masen household.
The house that in the past had been cold and gloomy turned into a place filled with light and happiness, a real piece of heaven on earth. The floor was littered with toys, the walls and the furniture had small handprints all over them but they wouldn't have it any other way. A classroom was built next to the playground and in it Seth imparted lessons to all the children. With each passing day JW looked more like Jacob, Leah was the firecracker everyone expected her to be and Sarah was a little princess that enjoyed smelling the flowers and catching butterflies. Five year old Nils Daniel gave his three siblings a run for their money. He was the comic relief of the family, a happy-go-lucky child that possessed Seth's charm and Jacob's talent for getting in trouble. Everyone was curious as to which child would be alpha. Billy had decided that as soon as his son could take over as Aleph, he would step down from that position so he could have more time to spend with his grandchildren. He only waited for his older grandchildren to phase and whoever became alpha to take over Jacob's pack.
"Son what are you doing here?" Asked Billy curious as to the reason behind Jacob's presence in the house in the middle of the day.
"Seth is waiting for me in the playground. The children earned a free afternoon and they'll get to play as much as they want." The Aleph joined his son and they walked together the short distance to the playground.
"Son, I don't know if this happens to you but every once in a while I look around and can't believe everything that's happened to us. Sometimes I fear that it's all a dream and one day we will wake up and things will be as they used to. Men in chains and our spirits ashamed of inhabiting us."
"Dad I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and have to get out of bed to check on Seth and the children. Only after I see they are fine I can go back to sleep." Jacob's eyes flooded with happiness. His life turned out to be the most beautiful work of art ever created. Seth taught him how to love and live, he showed him he deserved to be loved. Many would say he deserved a slow painful death and maybe he did. But life had given him a chance, the forgiveness of one of his victims saved him.
Billy rubbed his eyes to prevent the tears that pooled in the corner of his eyes to slide down his cheeks. "We're a couple of idiots; nobody is going to take away our happiness." Jacob agreed but his heart would forever be filled with worry. He had experienced an undeserving and immense amount of happiness. Even though his pain couldn't compare to that of the slaves he didn't want to experience it ever again.
Son hold on." Billy held Jacob's arm to make him stop. "I know I don't tell you enough how proud I am of you. You have grown into the leader, husband and son I knew you could be. I know your mother is watching you from heaven and bragging to all the other angels about her wonderful son. Thank you… for everything."
"The only one that we need to thank is Seth. Singlehandedly he turned this house upside down and tamed the demon that resided in me." Billy nodded in agreement.
Jake's eyes shone with excitement when he spotted his husband and children on the playground. Even after ten years his beautiful husband still made him weak at the knees and he didn't want that to ever change. "Hey babe, how are our little troublemakers?"
"Happy as they can be. If it was up to them this is what they would do all day, every day. They went as far as suggesting it." Seth directed his husband's gaze toward their oldest son. "I've been watching JW and I think he has a little crush on Sophia, it's the cutest thing."
"What does Sophy think of that?" Fifteen year old Sophia was already being courted by several suitors. Her father seemed to have changed from a wolf to a watch dog, ready to rip to shreds any man that would dare hurt his daughter. But he wouldn't need to do that since after Emily was done with them there wouldn't be much left.
"I think she is flattered but that's where it ends."
"Let them figure it out. Love, dad, Embry and Eric are here, they can keep an eye on the kids. Can I have some alone time with my husband?" Jacob nuzzled his husband's cheek before moving to suck on his earlobe. Old habits die hard and those two were still the kings of the horndogs.
"In the middle of the day?" Questioned Seth, mostly to play hard to get since he couldn't wait to get to their room.
"Why not?" Mischief shone in the submissive's eyes. Seth ran to Embry and after whispering something in his ear left the playground with his husband in tow. After four kids they cherished any moment they got to spend by themselves. They adored their children but knew they couldn't lose sight of the relationship.
Once in their room, they enjoyed the rare opportunity to be together without the possibility of a child walking in on them. Even after ten years they craved their bodies like the first time they made love. The day all their walls crumbled down, the day their spirits returned to their bodies. When with only the waterfall as their witness they became one in body and spirit.
In the language of the heart words are unnecessary. Their bed was made of hopes and dreams. Jacob didn't know what would've been of him if Seth hadn't come into his life. His husband's inner light banished the shadows that covered his spirit and his warmth melted his heart of ice. "Baby you have no idea how much I love you. I've said it before but I need to tell you again, in your arms I learned to love."
"Actually I do, you love me almost as much as I love you. You always say that I showed you what true love is, but in reality it was always inside you." Seth rested his face on his husband's chest, feeling content and closer to him every day.
Their love story was written in the stars before they even met. A story of pain, loss, hope and redemption that went against all reason. It was meant to happen, like the sun is meant to come up in the east and set in the west. Their melody was one and their own; it was the music their hearts played as they beat in unison. Love like theirs has nowhere to go but deep inside, it feeds them and becomes…. The master of their souls….
*********************** F I N****************************