That first morning after she left, I was deeply upset and ashamed that I hadn’t been able to show her that staying with me was a good idea. When I returned home, I didn't want to say anything to my brothers but admitted to my father what had happened. Eventually I opened up and told everyone that I had found my Bride and filled her with my seed but lost her, because I couldn’t hide my anguish.

There was no way to find her. Legally, I was unable to go into human communities to search for her.

As the months progressed, I went through a nesting phase as any orc male would. My brain and body knew I had a growing son even though my female wasn't nearby. I tidied up my cabin and invested in upgrades and remodeled. I even crafted a wooden crib with my bare hands, in the way all fathers have done for millennia. I imagined often that she would arrive just in time, that she would come to her senses and find me and come to my hearth. Finally, when I knew that the time came, and my son would have been born and yet she hadn’t arrived, I concluded that she’d terminated the pregnancy and moved on with her life, considering the whole thing a mistake.

That was when I began to exclusively hunt. This took me into the wilderness by myself because I wasn't good to be around. Depression hit me hard. Tears often filled my eyes. I couldn’t stand to be in the cabin with an empty crib. I began to wonder how I was going to be able to carry on. I wanted my female in my bed as much as the son she was carrying. I want my family at my hearth.

Instead, I am alone.

I pause before I stride up the pathway that leads to the front steps of my small cabin because from this distance, I see a light on inside. What is going on?

There’s a soft whistle and Urdan, the head of security, waits in the shadows.

“What has happened?” I growl.

He steps forward. “Your Bride is right now sleeping in your bed.”

I place a claw on my chest and freeze. “And my son?”

He nods. “They are here too.”

“They?”

“Yes. You will see.”

I throw back my head and let out a thunderous roar of pride and domination.

My friend grabs my arm. “Whelan, calm down, I am here to caution you before you enter and do anything you will later regret. Your female drove up to the gate today with your offspring. Rogan, Kelt and I spoke to her and allowed her into your cabin so you can speak to her too and decide the next steps. I am here to warn you that if you attempt to cause her harm there is a group of us surrounding your cabin and we will rush inside, take you down, chain you up and toss you in the pit. This is not an idle threat. I will not allow you to harm that female.”

“Understood,” I pant. Then I snarl and push him aside and jog up the path and enter my cabin. I close the door behind me and look around. A single light is on in the front room. My chest fills with her scent. My Bride. I slump back against the door with the enormity of this discovery.

Two more scent trails enter my lungs. Two? I have two sons?

I stand back up and race down the short hall and enter the spare room I’ve created for my offspring. I built this addition with my own two hands. Everyone thought it was sad and in fact crazy of me to go through the bother, considering they must’ve all secretly thought it was for naught. That I was preparing for a female and a son that would never join my hearth. But I was compelled by instinct. I had no idea there’d be two of them. She must’ve brought a second crib with her because there’s the one I made and another that is store bought. I snort with disgust. Soon I will craft a second for my other son.

I lean against the wall of the nursery, watching my sons both sleep for a moment in the moonlight, inhaling their scent, enjoying the curve of their faces and their black starter horns. My sons. I use the back of my hand to wipe away the tears that stream down my face.

Then I stride down the hall to confront their mother.

Chapter 5

Drew

“Female? Wake up,” a harsh voice snarls.

I snuggle deeper into my pillow, which smells of Whelan Overlook, and try to remain asleep, despite the disturbance. For once the babies sleep soundly and I’m trying to take advantage of this magical occurrence before I need to awake and feed them again. Also, this bed is so freaking comfortable. “Leave me alone,” I mutter.

Something shakes me awake.

My eyes flutter open.

A huge, menacing Orc growls from above and bares his tusks.

I squeal with fright and reach over to click on the bedside light.

“You are here to return my sons?” he growls.

I sit up straight because I’d know that deep voice anywhere. My body instantly heats up in response to his nearness. I push my hair back from my face, wishing I’d had the foresight to pull it back into a ponytail. “Oh my gosh, it’s you? Whelan? You’re back?” My eyes roam from that familiar face down his chest. I haven’t seen him in a whole year. His wide, green, bare chest is smeared with dirt. He smells like soil, leaves and leather. The long black hair I remember is tied up in some sort of man bun, which I find sexy as hell. And of course, my gaze drops down his amazing muscular chest, past the belt buckle to the bulge of the package down below, that looks just as intimidating as I remember.

A whimper escapes my lips. I’ve missed him so much. I had real, tortured reasons for leaving and then staying away for so long, but right this instant, as I sit in his bed and gaze up at all that is him, those reasons seem silly. Why didn’t I just stay?

A snarl rumbles in his chest. “You’ve learned my name? This is more than I know of you,” he accuses. “And I have two sons?”

Oops. My eyes dart back up to his harsh face and the tusks that erupt past his lower lip and my cheeks burst into flame. “Oh sorry, my name is Drew, Drew Reilly. And yes, I’ve…” I swallow against the lump in my throat, “You have two sons who are identical twins and I’ve brought both babies back to you.”

He gives a curt nod and turns to exit the bedroom. I fly off the bed and race after him down the hall. Whelan enters the nursery and stands next to Owen’s crib. The curtains are still open, allowing a bit of moonlight. He reaches out a hand, like he’s going to try and lift the sleeping baby into his arms.

I let out a squeak of dismay. “How about you take a shower first,” I whisper, “and wash off all that dirt, before you touch the babies.”

He gives a curt nod and points to the sitting room. “Wait for me until I return.”

“I will.”

I stumble into the front room and sit on the couch, grateful that Whelan hasn’t yet attacked like the others said he would. His voice sounds harsh and rough, which is new and different since I’d only ever seen the sweet, sexy side of him. Mainly I’m stunned because I haven’t seen my orc in over a year. And I think he’s more focused on his twins than on me.

The shower starts and I glance out the dark window, knowing the orc guards are out there somewhere but I can’t see them. I’m assuming they saw him arrive and moved in closer than before.

The shower shuts down and minutes later Whelan stomps into the front room.

I look up and catch my breath because the male I remember has returned, even more spectacular than before because now he’s barefoot with only black pajama pants. I love his twisty horns that burst out from either side of his forehead. And I remember how easy it was to still kiss him despite his tusks and how I loved holding onto those horns when he gave me the most amazing oral sex. His hair is long and damp down to his shoulders. And I want to climb him like a tree.

My body is enflamed, exactly as before.

And this time I’m sober.

He holds up a hand and shakes his head. “Don’t.”