The breeze felt amazing against my skin, the air was fresh as I sucked as much of it as I could into my lungs. The smell of the sea mixed with the sand and the seaweed made me feel at ease, but not as much as the scent of my mates. I breathed in the mixture of wood carvings and coffee as it wafted through the air, those intoxicating scents that made it hard to stand on two feet.

It was midday and we had taken the family to a beach at the edge of the pack lands. Vladimir and Idris were here, the only way we got them to agree to come with us on such short notice was if we let them take care of Luca. Idris still wasn’t a fan of the sun even after all these years and being at the beach during the day certainly wasn’t his favourite thing, but our new addition to the family seemed to work as a good bribing strategy that I was happy to use to my advantage.

Since Luca’s arrived I’ve found it the hardest thing in the world to not have him in my arms at all times. The first week in the hospital wasn’t too bad, I could manage because he was always either in my arms or he was resting in his bed next to my bed, or he was in one of my mates arms whilst they lay next to me. But now that I was out it was this parental instinct to just keep him by your side, that if I were to let him out of my sight something may happen to him.

I knew he’d be fine, my mates were here, my father in laws were here and members of our pack were also here. He was protected, he’d be fine.

I had my back plastered to Matt’s bare chest as Damien messaged my ankles, he was convinced that I needed to be pampered 24/7 but I was fine. It had been around a month since I left the pack hospital and I was ninety percent there. Though what had puzzled me was the scar that remained on my abdomen from my surgery. As wolves we heal very quickly and as Alpha’s we heal even quicker, but the scar remains. When I enquired about it to the pack doctor he said it was because I was a male carrier, as being an Alpha male carrier was extremely rare for our time. Male carriers not so much as there was a growing number of same sex matings all across the globe, but for a male Alpha to bare a child, it was practically unheard of. The scar was like a permanent reminder of the rarity and great power that one possesses. I didn't mind the scar all that much, it made me proud knowing that I was able to accomplish something that most Alphas couldn’t.

“Our baby boy is in a world of his own, would he mind returning to the land where his daddies reside?” I heard Damien joke which immediately pulled me from my thoughts. My cheeks burned as I locked eyes with my smirking mate as he continued messaging my supposid swollen ankles. I was doing that a lot recently, spacing out, falling into my own thoughts.

“Sorry daddy.”

“Nothing to apologise for sweetheart, we think you're adorable when you're in your own little world.” Matt said as he snuggled me further into his chest. His comforting words bring a smile to my face as our bare skin touches one another sending the most amazing pleasure shooting through my veins. One of the perks about being in recovery was that I got an unlimited amount of cuddles and time spent with my mates away from the pack, away from the responsibilities of being an Alpha.

I didn’t wish to be away from my duties as an Alpha, I loved my pack and I loved being their leader. But Alphas need time away too.

It was nice, I was happy.

“When did Simon say he was coming down?”

“They should be here any minute now.” Damien said as he reached over to give me a kiss on the head.

“Have you given our discussion anymore thought Xander?” Matt asked with a hopeful smile but my slumped shoulders quickly replaced that smile with a frown. “Sweetheart please.”

I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had this conversation.

“I don’t want anything to happen to him, what if we’re ambushed on the way, what if he falls ill, what if-” A sweet pair of lips envelope with mine, I draw comfort from it as my eyes open to view my mates worried ones.

“Xander you can’t stay locked inside the pack for the rest of your life.” Vladimir’s voice chimed to my side as my mates nod in agreement.

My mates have been trying to convince me to come visit their coven again, this time to be properly introduced to Carden and Ren. Vladimir and Idris had told me so much about them, and I did want to meet them since my mates spoke highly of them, though Ren made me a little weary.

“It doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me.” This pulled chuckles from all four of them as I was pulled up and settled into Matt’s lap, facing all of them. I smiled as I watched Luca sleep peacefully in Idris’ arms, the sight warmed my heart as his delicate little body curled up in his arms.

“Well it is. Look baby you're a strong Alpha with two Vampires for mates, there's nothing to be worried about. "

Matt's words dawned on me as we let silence take over us, nothing but the sound of the sea filling our ears.

Was I being dramatic?

Maybe?

Did I have good reason to feel this way, yes?

But they were right, I was an Alpha. I will have to leave the pack grounds again at some point, whether that be on business or for personal reasons.

"Okay, maybe soon. But please don't rush me into it, I want to wait till we have maybe a few new developments on Luca's species before I even think about him leaving the pack grounds." I sighed deeply and leaned into Matt's chest for comfort. It was still early days, there was no way of telling yet of what Luca would become.

Would he be more wolf than vampire, or the other way around. Hybrids weren't as common as some may think, not to mention over the past few centuries as more emerged the more people grew weary of them.

Like they were afraid of them.

A hybrid was by definition more powerful than a singular species alone, and Luca would no doubt face his own challenges in the future.

And I couldn't prevent that, even if I wanted to.

"We appreciate your answer baby boy, as Luca's fathers and your mate, we promise we won't let anything touch a single hair on his head."

I knew that they'd never let anyone hurt him. From the small amount of time I'd spent out of hospital they had been amazing fathers. So gentle and kind with Luca, so devoted.

"We're here, sorry we're late." I heard a voice from behind, turning slightly. I see Simon with his mate Thana walking towards us.

"Hey!" I sat up slightly as they came to stand in front of us. "Come place your stuff down here." I said gesturing to the empty space next to our towels.

"How are things Xander, I see this fine young man is looking handsome." Simon said as he crouched down to where Luca lay in Idris' arms. I watched as Luca's eyes curiously stared up at him as Simon showed him a big smile.

"He likes you."

"I know he does." he laughs, earning a playful kick from me.

I see to my left that Thana has already set up their gear and is preparing to sit down.

"Thana I told you I'd do that." Simon complained as he turned to his mate and sat down next to her.

Thana was a vampire just like Matt and Damien, she and Simon discovered they were mates when she joined our pack a few months ago.

"And I told you to stop fussing, it's not like I'm due anytime soon." she complained but her comment makes us all share looks of confusion.

"Due?" I ask, my curiosity taking hold before I could stop it.

They share a look with each other before turning towards me with smiles on their faces.

"We are expecting our first child Alpha Xander." Thana said, placing a hand over her stomach to which I only now realise is slightly bigger than normal.

I smile widely as I look at my best friend who is equally as happy as I was.

"Oh goddess that's amazing, I'm so happy for you both."

"Thank you Alpha Xander." Thana replied.

"Thana, we've been through this before. No need to address me as Alpha, you are my betas mate, you are family. Okay?"

I meant it, Thana was a sweet lady and she made Simon the happiest if ever seen him. It felt weird for her to address me as Alpha, she wasn't just a regular member of the pack.

"Okay, sorry."

I gave her a warm smile as she rested against Simon's side. "No apologies needed."

I felt Matt stir behind me and Damien rise to his feet. "Come walk with us baby, we could do with stretching our legs." Damien said as he reached his hand out for me to take, which I did.

"Okay daddy." I said earning a kiss to my cheek from him, making me blush slightly. I turned back to Vladimir and Idris as Matt got himself up. "Will you guys be okay here with Luca?"

"We'll be fine Xander, enjoy your walk." Vladimir replied.

I nodded hesitantly and gave Luca a quick kiss to the top of his head before taking my mate's hands. The breeze was nice and warm against my bare chest as my body filled with tingles of pleasure from my mates touch.

"You know Xander, when you spoke to Thana back there you were using your Alpha tone." Damien said, snaking his arm around my waist.

I shivered against him, "Really?"

"Yes," he then leaned into my ear and whispered huskily "and it was so hot too. Our sweet little mate."

Damien's arm was the only thing stopping me from collapsing then and there, goddess they made me melt.

"It's our job to make you melt sweetheart, what kind of daddy's would we be if we didn't?"

My blush spread all up my body as we continued walking, well I tried to. My legs felt like complete jelly, and it was their fault.

"Oh don't act like you don't love it baby." Damien smirked, all I could do was lean into his side and scowl, I couldn't deny it. I always liked it.

I can barely stop myself from drooling. Oli's deep voice commented, I could feel him panting inside of us.

"Is that Oli?" Matt asks and I nod, his face looks like he was thinking of something. "How would he like it if we went for a run, a proper run that is?"

I chuckled when Oli's ears shot up and his snout rose to attention.

"We've seen his form before but we've never got the time to play with him in his true form. Would you like that Oli?" he asks, waiting patiently. But he didn't have to wait long as Oli began prancing about in my head, tail wagging furiously.

Yes yes yes, a thousand times yes.

"I think he's more than happy with that, I'm afraid his tail will fall off." I say making them laugh.

"Good, let it be soon since you are all healed."

"Okay daddy."

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