Midfield Academy: Book 3

Chapter 2: Not Ready

"Darius," Storm hurried out of the bedroom. "Darius, please take him. I finally got Daven to sleep. Please just hold Raven for a bit."

He set his pen down on the desk and took Raven, who was all wrapped up in a blanket. "Come here." He waved his mate closer and kissed her. "Get some sleep. I'll stay up with this little guy."

She smiled. "I wonder what everyone would say if they saw this side of you."

"Let's keep it secret. It would ruin my image. Right, Raven?"

The boy squirmed in his arms and started to cry.

Storm tried to hush him. "Oh no."

"It's okay." Darius stood. "We'll go for a walk. Show the kid our territory."

"Stay in the cave," she said firmly.

"Come on, Storm. I'm not going to take a newborn hunting." He walked toward the door.

"Hmm..." She folded her arms.

"I love you," he said with a cheesy grin.

Her head fell to the side. "Just don't do anything stupid."

"Promise." He gave her a firm nod and wandered off down the hall.

The little pup curled into his chest. He was easy enough to tend. As long as he continued standing, as he found out the moment he tried to sit down.

"Where's grandma when you need her, right?" He nuzzled the boy. "Or even great-grandma. They always want to hold you when you're cute and just want to sleep." He stopped just inside the cave and peered out into the trees.

The night patrol nodded at him as they passed. One perk to having pups, he wouldn't be expected to do that anytime soon or ever again. He moved his chin so their fur brushed together. He never thought he'd love being a dad so much.

Raven let out a shaky breath before falling back asleep. He couldn't wait until the twins were older and running around. After that, they could stop growing. The teenage years already scared him. If they were anything like him and Titus, he was in trouble.

He peered down at his boy. "You're going to stay here with me, alright? No mates. You can stay my little boy forever. Sound good to you?"

Raven opened his eyes and let out a soft bark.

"That's my boy." He held the child close. "Daven can deal with all the mating stuff. But you, you just stay here where I can protect you."

Shuffled footsteps sounded behind him. He glanced back to see Aden trudging along with a blanket around his shoulder.

The sub glanced up. "Hey."

Darius nodded. "What's keeping you up, princess?"

Aden rolled his eyes. "My mom is visiting tomorrow."

Darius laughed. "Yes, she is." He propped the pup up. "You're going to be mauled all day. Thankfully there is two of you."

Aden sat down on a boulder and pulled his legs to his chest.

"What's beating you? Your mom visiting usually doesn't make you this depressed."

"It's everything," he breathed. "For the past three days, all I hear about is pups. I want a grandbaby, I want to be a dad. Look how cute Raven and Daven. I'm not ready, okay."

Darius nodded. "Then just tell them you don't want kids right now."

"That's the problem." He rubbed his arm. "I kind of do, but me as a parent..." he peered up at Darius. "I can't even take care of myself. My whole relationship with Titus is me making one stupid decision after another, and Titus having to save me. If something were to happen, I'd feel guilty for the rest of my life. I just," he tugged at his hair, "I don't know what to do."