Midfield Academy: Book 3

Chapter 5: Closure (15 Months)

Darius held on tightly to Raven's hand and led him to the creek's edge where Daven was playing under his mother's watchful eye. The white wolf stumbled. Darius kept him upright, but the boy's leg was dragged through the dirt.

Storm sighed. "It's impossible to keep that boy clean."

Her mate shrugged. "Downfall to having white fur."

Raven flopped down by the edge of the water by a patch of mud.

"Really, Darius?" She raised an eyebrow.

"He's already dirty. I mean look at him," he motioned to his other son who was mashing the mud into his fur, "it's only fair." He slipped behind his mate and put his arms around her waist.

"They've gotten so big," said Storm. "They're growing too fast."

"They're one, Storm."

"Fifteen months, practically two."

Shaking his head, he tried not to laugh.

Raven slowly rose to his feet and tentatively waded into the water. Daven spotted him and raced toward his brother. Raven screamed before his twin even got to him. Darius snatched the boy under his arms before Daven could tackle him. The black and red pup threw his hands down and let out a howl.

"His father is coming out in him." Storm pursed her lips at the sight of her son.

"I could've let him nearly drown Raven if you prefer. That's what my dad would've done with me and Titus."

"No thank you." She took the white pup from him. "Your brother is being naughty, isn't he?"

Raven turned to Daven and waved his arm. "No. No."

Storm laughed. "Yes, no, no. Don't be mean to my Ravy. You learned that too quickly." She nuzzled his neck, making the child giggle and squirm in her arms.

Darius squatted down to Daven's level. The boy stumbled over, moaning. From his mother's story, Darius had a feel his mate was right. He was coming out in the boy.

"Do you want to take a bath? Hot water?"

"Yes, yes." The pup threw his hands in the air with his tail swinging back and forth.

"Thought so." He squeezed the boy to his chest until Daven had enough and clawed at his father's arms.

The family headed inside to the hot pools. They settled into the shallow pond they had made for the boys. Daven ran around screaming, throwing his balls around the area, while his brother chewed on a toy, perfectly content in his father's lap.

***

(16 Months)

Aden stood by the doorway, listening to the excited noise coming from next door. Peter and Rupert had returned a few days ago with their baby boy. They named him Archer. The pup's grandparents were over there, laughing and fawning over the child, while Aden's heart was breaking.

Titus hugged his mate from behind. "It's okay."

Turning around, Aden started to sob. Titus picked up his little human mate and carried him to one of the armchairs.

"It because I didn't want one," he wept. "It's god punishing me for it."

"Don't do this, Aden." He rubbed the boy's back. "This isn't something we can control. It just happens." He kissed his cheek.

"But why us? Why did it happen again? Why did it have to be our baby?"

Titus rocked back and forth. "It's okay. Everything's okay."