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.”

Lanie pushed up on her toes to her mouth. The sensation of feeling

Unformed thoughts, like hints of ideas or stream-of-consciousness pictures. Not like when she communicated

I was careful

to think anything about it. I wasn’t sure I was sending the way she was, but I didn’t want her to know that I was receiving her. Not if

or fe

how to work with, though. I thought of it as a gift, something unique to us because of our unique relationship, but I guess

all a puzzle still missing some pieces,”

best

the small, child-sized table to show me the blocks she’d been sorting.

little girl this morning,” my mom said proudly. “She’s sorted all

1/2

too,” Stella

to kiss the tops of each twin’s head, then Stella’s. “Good job, all of you. And

me, but there was a hint of worry in her

up with Asher. We’d all been letting him know we were

a lot on his mind,” I

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,

to argue with her. I watched the kids playing with

and Isaac I thought to Lanie. “She’s speaking in full sentences. She’s sorting the blocks like she’s

Lanie thought in

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