Page 30 of All That We Keep (Always Yours #3)
Luca
The living room transforms into our own little world as we spread out board games across the coffee table, the stress and tension of the day melting away with cardboard cutouts and dice.
Grayson suggested game night and I think we all needed something light and normal to focus on instead of the darkness that keeps trying to creep into our lives.
Blake is sprawled across my lap on the couch, his head resting against my shoulder as he studies the Monopoly board. Having him this close seems to settle the babies a little bit, like they can sense their other parent through my skin.
"You're cheating," Maceo accuses Grayson with a playful grin, pointing at the stack of money in front of our Alpha. "There's no way you legitimately own that many properties already."
Grayson throws a handful of fake bills at him in response, laughing as Maceo dramatically dodges them. "I'm just naturally gifted at real estate acquisition. It's not my fault you keep landing on my properties."
"Naturally gifted, my ass," Luther grumbles from his spot on the floor, but there's a fondness in his voice. "You've been playing this game since you were five years old. Your parents probably let you win every time."
The casual mention of family makes something warm bloom in my chest. This is what I always dreamed pack life could be like—easy laughter, gentle teasing, the comfortable intimacy of people who love each other unconditionally.
For so long, I thought this kind of happiness was something other people had, something I would never deserve or experience.
It pains me a little that my parents will never be part of it but I don’t need them when I have all this.
Blake shifts against me, his hand moving to rest on my belly where the babies are kicking. "They're really active tonight," he murmurs, his voice soft with wonder.
"They like the sound of everyone laughing," I tell him, covering his hand with mine. "I think they're going to be social babies."
"James and Samuel Keller, the life of every party," Grayson says with a grin, and my heart does a little flip at hearing him say their names out loud. He hands me the dice and I shake it before throwing it onto the board, groaning when I realize I’ll be landing on Grayson’s railroad.
He just grins, wiggling at his fingers for me to give up more of my bills.
Blake lets out a soft sound before sitting up and clearing his throat, everyone’s attention moving to him.
"I've been thinking about what we talked about earlier.
About the future and having children." The room goes quiet except for the soft background music playing from Grayson's phone.
"I think I do want to have children someday," Blake continues.
"And I want to preserve my eggs before the Delta transition becomes permanent. "
"I'm gonna have your babies," I say immediately, leaving no room for doubt. "I'm gonna have all of your babies." Blake has always been there for me, from day one. He’s been my first love, my first protector, my first everything, really. It’s the least I can do to offer to carry his babies.
Blake's expression softens as he leans in to kiss me, his lips gentle against mine. When he pulls back, his eyes are glassy with unshed tears. "Cupcake, let's just have the first two first, and then we can deal with everything else."
Laughter bubbles up from somewhere deep in my chest, mixing joy with the hormonal emotions that have been so close to the surface lately. "You're right. These two are going to be enough of a handful."
The moment breaks some of the tension in the room, and soon we're all laughing again, Maceo reaching over to ruffle Blake's hair affectionately. "You're going to be an amazing father to all of them."
"The best daddy," I agree, pressing another kiss to Blake's cheek.
We try to return to the game, but I notice Blake starting to shift restlessly against me. His scent is changing, becoming more complex, more tart rather than sweet, and I can feel heat radiating from his skin even through his clothes.
"Blake?" Luther's voice carries a note of concern. "How are you feeling?"
Blake pauses in the middle of rolling the dice, his brow furrowing as he takes inventory of his body. "Hot," he admits. "But not like before. Different."
"What do you need?" Grayson asks immediately, already pushing the coffee table farther away.
Blake leans back against me, his breathing becoming slightly labored.
"I know what Quentin said about having one more heat cycle, but I don't think I'm actually going to have a heat.
I think things are already changing, and if I want to make a decision about preserving my eggs, I have to do it tomorrow before everything becomes permanent.
For now, I just want to be held. I just want to know that I'm loved the way I am.
I just want to know that regardless of what changes happen, of who I become, of what I become, that I still have a place in this pack. That I'm still yours."
Luther moves immediately, settling on Blake's other side so that our mate is surrounded by the four of us.
"Baby, you will always be mine. You will always be Grayson's, always be Maceo's.
" His voice carries that Alpha authority that leaves no room for argument.
"And I think Luca would kill us if we ever took you away from him. "
"Damn right I would," I laugh, tightening my arms around Blake's waist. "You're mine, Blake Keller. Delta, Omega, Alpha, Beta, I don't care what designation you are. You're mine and I'm yours."
Blake shifts slightly in my arms, reaching for the dice that fell to the floor when we abandoned the game. "Hey," he says with mock indignation, "you're messing up the game. Now you're gonna make me lose."
More laughter fills the room as we all realize how thoroughly we've disrupted our game night with emotional declarations and impromptu cuddle sessions. Not that I’m mad. I like these moments just as much as everything else.
"I think you were losing anyway," Maceo teases, retrieving game pieces that have scattered across the nest. "Your real estate empire was built on questionable financial practices."
"Says the man who's been stealing money from the bank when he thinks no one is looking," Blake shoots back playfully.
"That's called making change. Perfectly legitimate banking procedures."
Grayson snorts with laughter. "Is that what we're calling embezzlement now?"
We slowly untangle ourselves enough to continue the game, though Blake remains curled against my side and Luther keeps one hand resting on Blake's thigh. The physical contact seems to ground all of us, a reminder that we're here together despite everything trying to pull us apart. And maybe not tomorrow but one day soon, we’ll be able to start that happily ever after we’re all so desperately working toward.