Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Chapter 274

Xander

I watched our mate and pups, busy with a few learning games my mother had been teaching them. Counting, alphabet, stuff like that. It was hard to believe the three pups had gone from infants to toddlers in what felt like a few hours. But, in the way of our kind, they’d continue growing and maturing at an even faster pace now.

“If they’re getting older, what does that mean about us?” I laughed as Zane brought me a mug of black coffee

“You’re o

old,” my mother shot over to me with a wry grin. “And I’m even older.”

“Well,” my mate said as she got up to greet us both with a kiss, “I’m not old yet. Morning, my loves.”

Zane gave her a mug, too, along with a kiss. Watching the two of them together lifted my heart in ways I’d never known it could feel. For a second, I shot back to the Mating Day when we’d found out she’d been given us. Hot shame washed through me at the memory of how st upid we’d been. How arrogant and…yes, even

cruel.

“All forgiven,” Lanie thought-whispered.

to

“But not forgotten,” I replied firmly. “I will never allow myself to forget how badly I behaved. I never want to be that way again.”

emotions wound through me. She was touched. Lanie pushed up on her toes to her mouth.

Unformed thoughts, like hints of ideas or stream-of-consciousness pictures.

it bothered her, but I was careful not to

I was sending the way she was, but I didn’t want her to know that I was receiving her. Not if it was going

or fe

with, though. I thought of it as a gift, something unique to us because

still missing some pieces,” Zane thought

was the best way to describe

over to the small, child-sized table to show me the blocks

mom said proudly.

1/2

too,” Stella said with a wide

then Stella’s. “Good job,

me, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. She lowered her voice. “How’s

the house all morning, getting ready to go into town and meet up with Asher. We’d all

a lot on his mind,” I told

course. You all do. There’ve been a lot of changes around here in a very short time. But I have faith in the Moon Goddess that her plans are all meant to come to fruition. Whatever she has in store for us, it’s going to be

have my mother’s faith, but I knew better than to argue with her. I watched the

and Isaac I thought to Lanie. “She’s speaking in

Lanie

eye from across the room and gave my head a subtle shake. “Proud.