Freya dissolved into a smile. “I hope we’ll have a cub. Or two. That would be wonderful.”
Tiger frowned, as though Freya puzzled him. “They will come soon.” He waved blunt fingers vaguely at her abdomen. “They are there now, she and he.”
Freya started. Nell had told her a little bit about Tiger when they’d gone shopping—his amazing strength as well as his great compassion, and also his uncanny ability to know things long before others did.
Freya made herself meet Tiger’s steady gaze, and the strong tiger within him acknowledged her resilient wolf.
Freya knew in that moment that Tiger spoke the truth. That she and Shane had started twins of their own, perhaps more Guards to come. It was daunting, frightening … and glorious.
“Oh,” was all that emerged from her mouth.
“Seriously?” Rolf demanded. When Freya swallowed and nodded, he let out a laugh that rang with his former high spirits. “Wow. I’m gonna be an uncle. That’s awesome, sis.” The words ended in a shout as Rolf hugged Freya hard. “Just awesome.”
“How did you know?” Freya turned back to ask Tiger, but the big man had vanished. A scan of the crowd showed her Tiger already across the way, sliding an arm around Carly. The two of them leaned into each other as they moved to keep an eye on Seth and the wolf cubs.
“See what I mean?” Rolf said. “Scary.”
Freya was too happy to worry about Tiger’s unsettling abilities. She kissed Rolf on the cheek then released him to hurry toward her new mate.
“Shane!” she yelled.
Shane broke from his brother and Xav, the flower crown slipping over his left eye. “Freya!” he roared. Shane opened his arms, welcoming her to him.
Freya ran to him, her heart soaring with happiness. She leapt the last few paces, and Shane caught her, spinning her around and around, laughing his great bear laugh.
“We’re having twins,” she told him breathlessly. “Tiger said.”
Shane frowned in confusion at her for a moment, his gaze darting to Tiger and then back to Freya. Then his brown eyes widened, and he let out a yell that rang through the trees.
Shane whirled around with Freya, she secure in her arms, both of them laughing, punctuating their joy with kisses.
“I love you, mate of my heart,” Shane declared to the world.
“I love you.” Freya’s response was quieter as she traced his cheek. “My one true mate.”
Shane pulled her close, his searing kiss chasing away every last fear in her heart. The mate bond wove around them, and Freya’s wolf noted flickers of blue among its golden threads.
The wind caught the circlet of flowers, spinning it upward into the clear sky, petals bursting from it like stars against the night.
