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Story: Rory

Oh, Goddess help him. He was going to kick Rory’s butt for making him do this. He supposed he ought to be grateful that it was only Dean and Liam today. From what Rory had told him, he had an indeterminate amount of brothers. Far too many for one family.

And Fen was going to have to meet them all.

“We’ll know before the birth if it’s a boy or girl,” he said, grabbing a box of foodstuff out of the truck. “And where else would we put the baby but with us? Rory—we—have a house, you know.”

Liam nodded. “Sure. We helped frame it out. He wanted a little cabin, but for some reason, Jameson and Keegan told him to go bigger.”

“The alphas are very smart, intuitive.” He liked them both very much. They weren’t friends per se, but they were kind to him, welcoming him and allowing him to make his own way in the pack.

He was much more an artisan than he was an enforcer or guardian, so they ran in separate circles. But Jameson and Keegan were very kind, giving, and Rory seemed to have a veryclose relationship with their families, which helped cement his place in the pack.

It was so helpful to have such a smart and connected mate, even if it worried him sometimes how easy it had been for him to integrate into this new family, this new world.

“They’re something else,” Liam admitted with a wide grin. “Good men. We like them.”

They got to work unloading in earnest, and soon everyone in the pack was bringing things back and forth.

They sent bespoke furniture and hand-dyed woven fabric down to be traded, while the Calhouns had brought food, gifts for Yule, necessities, as well as a lovely tool chest for him along with a whole new set of tools.

“What is this for?” he asked, and Liam shrugged.

“Rory wanted you to have it, so here it is.”

“I will put it in the wood shop. We can all share it.” Fen’s cheeks burned. Rory embarrassed him by all this spoiling, but honored him as well.

“Now can we see our brother?”

He rolled his eyes. “I suppose so.”Mate, your brothers want to see you. They’re not angry.

I didn’t think they were angry, I just thought they’d be wigged.

Well, they’re a little, what do you call it, wigged. A little.

Okay, bring them to the house. I’ve got some cider warming on the stove. I’ll ladle up everyone a glass, and then they can leave.

Whatever you say, mate.He smiled at his new family. “He says come on. He’s got cider waiting at the house.”

“Well, go him, look at him deciding that we’re not the enemy.” Fen thought Dean sounded a little hurt.

“You’re not the enemy, he’s just very hormonal.” And if the brothers upset him. Fen might bite them both on the butt.

“Be nice, D,” Liam said. “Rory is still trying to figure all this out too. Right, Fen?”

“Very much so. It’s all new to everyone.” Fen chuckled. “Even me. I didn’t expect to find a pack, let alone a mate and one who thought he was human at that. So now we all have much to learn.”

Dean paused, staring at him a moment, then nodded. “That’s fair enough.”

“Lead the way, man. I wanna see my brother.” Liam didn’t actually wait for him to lead the way, which was fine because Liam knew where he was going.

“It’s going to be nice in the summer when everything is growing on your porch. It’s one of my favorite parts of Rory’s house. Your house. Y’all’s house.” Dean was obviously trying to make conversation. “The pack planted sunflowers all around the outside, that was really neat.”

“Rory said that he liked to watch things grow. And the children. He likes to watch the children. I like to watch the children too.” Goddess, this was excruciating.

“Are you excited about becoming a dad?” Liam asked.

Fen nodded, swallowing hard. “I never dared to dream that I was going to have a child of my own. I’m very pleased. I—I cannot wait.”

“That’s cool, man.” Dean clapped him on the back. “Don’t worry; you’ll get to know us.”