Page 36 of Briggs (Paranormal Council Enforcers #16)

“Very much so.” Briggs looked at me and smiled.

The way he was looking at me, he’d done so before.

Even before we’d shared those most important words with each other.

I now knew that he was looking at me with all of the love he felt for me.

“I love Todd more than I’ll ever be able to convey to him.

He is my entire world, and I’m thankful that he’s going to be the other daddy to our babies. ”

There was an aww that came from Alpha Mate Mina, I was certain, but I was too busy staring into Briggs’s blue eyes to focus on who exactly had made the sound.

“I love you too,” I whispered to him through our bond.

I wasn’t ashamed of Briggs, nor was I unwilling to share my affection with him around others.

It just seemed more fitting to tell him privately in that moment because this was his moment. He’d been asked the question by John.

I realized the room was quiet, and when I turned to look at my brother, he offered me a smile. “You’re lucky, and I’m happy for you.”

I leaned over and put my arm around John’s shoulders.

“Thanks. I know I’m lucky.” I wanted to ask so many questions, but now wasn’t the time.

Maybe I’d get a chance to later. What I did notice was that Tracy was on the other side of the table, sitting next to Alpha Mate Mina.

I smiled at that, and John seemed to pick up on it. “What?” I asked him quietly.

John shook his head. I dropped it for now.

I would make sure I got the chance to talk with my brother after dinner.

What started out as small talk quickly turned to my pregnancy being the center of attention.

I understood to some extent, but it seemed like the more the babies were discussed, the more withdrawn John became.

Tracy didn’t seem to care one way or another.

I did understand. She was ten, and, well, she was all about Alpha Mate Mina.

It was so obvious now that I was seeing it from a different perspective.

Tracy didn’t dislike me, but she didn’t really know me.

She’d been through a lot, but thankfully not nearly anything like what I’d been through.

But now she had stability, and it was obvious that she adored Alpha Mate Mina and Alpha Babak.

I had no doubt that Tracy would flourish with them as her adoptive parents.

“You’ve gone quiet, Todd,” Alpha Mate Victoria said. “Have we been too intrusive?”

I focused on the wolf shifter and shook my head. “No. I have a lot to think about lately, and it can be difficult to shut the thoughts off at times. Twins are one more than I was expecting, but I’m not upset. But we’ll have to get two of everything, and now we have to pick two names.”

There were chuckles around the table. “Yes, but think of all of the adorable names you can give them,” Alpha Mate Victoria said.

“True. We’ve not really started thinking about names.

” I looked to Briggs for help. He smiled and shook his head in agreement.

“I’m sure that will be a stressful thing once we do.

” We had to come up with good names for our little girls.

They would have them for the rest of their long lives, and the last thing I wanted was to name our daughters something horrible and they ended up hating it for centuries to come.

“It’s on our list of things to do, but we just had the scan yesterday, and we didn’t know what to even consider just yet,” Briggs added. “And with everything else going on, we’ve been incredibly busy. Todd was sick, then overly tired, but he’s finally starting to feel better.”

“And your due date?” Alpha Babak asked.

“November twenty-fifth,” I told him. “Dr. King doesn’t think I’ll carry them that long though. Not with me having twins.”

Alpha Dane spoke up. “All children are such a blessing,” he said, and I noticed he placed his hand on top of Alpha Mate Victoria’s. “I’ll make sure you have plenty of time off starting in November,” he told Briggs.

“Thank you, Alpha Dane. I appreciate it.”

“May I be excused?” Tracy asked. “I’ll clean my plate.”

“Your brother is here though. Do you not wish to spend time with him and get to know his mate?”

I waved and shook my head. “It’s all right. I understand that me and the babies are boring to her. I truly don’t mind,” I said. “I realize it’s not my home or rules though.”

Alpha Babak looked conflicted for a moment before he nodded. “Please clean your plate and put your dishes in the dishwasher.”

“I will.” Tracy was all smiles, and she gave Alpha Mate Mina a side hug after she stood.

Briggs placed his hand on my back, and I took that moment to yawn. I wasn’t actually tired, but I had a feeling that things were going to become awkward.

“The meal was amazing and the company even better,” Briggs said.

“But I beg your forgiveness for cutting the evening short. I should get Todd home to rest.” Briggs looked at me, and I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.

“He’s had a busy couple of days, and I don’t want him to overdo it. ”

“Of course,” Alpha Babak and Alpha Mate Mina said at the same time.

A few minutes and several insistent stares from Alpha Mate Mina that we did not need to stay and help clean up, and Briggs and I were finally at the front door.

“You are…I’m not sure how you knew because I didn’t say anything, but I’m so thankful that we’re getting out of here. They’re super nice but very intimidating.”

“Todd? Can I ask you something real quick?” John called out as we were walking through the door.

“Of course,” I told my brother. “You can always ask me questions.” I was surprised when Briggs and I found ourselves alone and outside with John.

My brother looked incredibly uncomfortable, and I reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze.

He was going to be an amazing alpha someday. I just knew it.

“I get it now,” John said. I was confused, and I was sure it showed on my face. “You not coming around. Not going running with me anymore.” John looked away from me, staring blankly off into the distance.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to be around you, John. I’ve been sick and?—”

My brother looked back at me. “Yeah, I understand.” John sighed. “I…” He stopped and started nodding. “I’m sorry I pushed to come live with you.” When my brother looked back at me, my heart broke.

“Oh, John. You are more than welcome to come stay with us,” I said. Immediately, Briggs was there, agreeing with me.

“Certainly,” Briggs said. “We even have a room all ready for you,” Briggs said. “Well, it has a bed and everything, but you would have to decorate it how you want. Right now, it’s sort of plain.”

I bit my lower lip because I knew the bedroom Briggs was talking about was basically our spare bedroom.

It was true though. There was a bed and a dresser in it, but that was about it.

We’d put my old bedroom furniture in the room farther away from ours, just in case.

Was it technically for John? No. But I had thought that at some point he might want to spend the night at a minimum.

When my brother’s eyes widened and he looked from me to Briggs and back to me, I felt absolutely terrible about the entire situation with my siblings.

It was completely a mess, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

I was the adult. I should know what to do in these situations. Yet, here I was, still struggling.

“Do you mean it?” John asked, the hopefulness in his voice undeniable.

“Yes,” Briggs said.

“Absolutely,” I agreed, then shrugged. “I thought that you and Tracy were happier here though. I don’t wake up in my cheetah form anymore because I can’t shift. But that might change once I deliver the babies.”

“My only stipulation, though—” Briggs said, immediately getting John’s attention.

My brother’s smile dimmed, and he looked like the world had just been taken away from him.

“—is that you be understanding with your brother,” Briggs said.

“He’s pregnant, and he tires easily. You need to be respectful, and don’t make more work for him. ”

“I won’t. I promise.” John looked like he was about to explode he was so excited. “Can I come now? Tonight? Or is it too soon? Tomorrow might be better, huh?”

I chuckled. “It might, yes. You need to pack.” I looked up at Briggs. “And we should probably go shopping and get more food if we’re going to have a growing teenager in the house.”

“I understand,” John said. “I can’t wait. I’ll go tell the others,” John said. He hugged me, his arms lingering around me just a bit longer than usual. “Thank you,” John whispered, but I still heard him. I was certain that Briggs did as well.

John was gone before I could say more, and I just looked up at my mate. “I’m sorry this was sprung on us.”

Briggs cupped my face with both of his hands, and when his lips gently touched mine, I sighed as I melted into his embrace.

“That’s all right, sweetheart. I meant it when I said your siblings are welcome to live with us.

” Briggs broke the kiss, and when I opened my eyes, it was to find him smiling at me.

“I love you. And if having John with us is what’s best, then that’s what we’ll do.

I’m sure Alpha Babak is about to come talk to us a bit before we can leave, and we should probably talk about Tracy when we get home. ”

I nodded. I already knew Tracy was where she belonged. I’d seen it over and over during dinner and had already come to that realization. Anything else I was going to say was interrupted by the door opening, and sure enough, there was Alpha Babak. Thankfully, he didn’t seem upset at all.