~Alexei~
"Alpha and Beta, we've used as many resources as we could but it appears nothing in the past two years has done anything to resolve the animosity between the house of Forester and House of Lotus,"
Our adviser speaks out as Artemis and I sit beside each other in deep thought at the head of the conference table. Advisors from every level pestering us for our stance in the war when we were trying to be neutral. But with Forester lowering food supplies to Lotus and Lotus declining to give medical care to Forester, no battles had to be fought for the island to feel the effects.
"Well, it's complicated because this war has started over a personal vendetta of Sora against Chase for the romance between Beta Sora and Alpha Chase. There's nothing we can do or say to make any of this better," I groan as I run my fingers through my thick locks from the stress of it all. Ari gently rubs my shoulder and I hear the footsteps as the advisors leave us from her signaling.
"I think we should pay a visit Alpha Sora and Beta Chase, even bring Prince Cyprus. It will be good for him to gain experience like this," She explains and I understand.
"But what will we tell them Ari? More like what are we going to tell Alpha Sora? Are we going to stroll up to Lotus and be like 'Good afternoon dipshits. Sorry you were mated to a cheating scumbag who slept with my brother-in-law's husband but if they can move on you can too or reject each other and move on but for god's sake, this needs to end'?" I groan and Ari agrees with me.
"What about a peace conference? We meet at some kind of middle ground on the island with Forester and Lotus together and we'll act as a middle ground," She suggests and I agree it would be better but I don't understand how it'll happen when the two groups can barely stand each other.
"And how do you suppose we do that?" I ask her and she smirks, cracking her knuckles as she did so, telling me she's going to do it the Crimson way.
"Let me handle that, give me two days," she says and I put down the tablet containing the case file on the table.
It's already close to midnight and I know it's too late to put any of my four babies to bed which saddens me, I check my phone to find a single text from Wei with a little heart. He knows just how much I hate nights like these but never once makes me feel bad. If anything he tries to alleviate it but it doesn't help that much.
I don't want my babies to grow up thinking I was never there for them or that I wasn't home enough. They're just growing so fast, it feels like just yesterday I saw the triplets for the first time and now I have a thirteen-year-old son, three toddler boys, and a six-month-old daughter.
"How's Nathan?" I ask her about her four-year-old baby boy and she lets out a long sigh.
"Absolutely exhausting, I don't know how Dante does it and I certainly don't know how Waylon handles three on his own, nevermind three plus a baby. I would die," she jokes but I didn't think it was very funny.
"I offered to get him help but he refused, he said he wanted to do it by himself," I explain, scratching the edge of the wooden table.
"No Alex, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry, don't get all sensitive on me now," Ari adds and I scratch the back of my neck, craving to just curl up to my gentle mate, resting in his arms now more than ever.
"I know, it's just hard. If I could do all this from home I would. I feel like my heart is torn because they're so little," I tell her and she agrees while sitting back in her chair.
"I think we should rethink your schedule. you've been working your ass off but I can see the toll it's taking on you. After this meeting with Forester and Lotus you've got to cut back," She offers. I don't say anything as I just hunch over the conference table in my depression. Rubbing the exhaustion out of my face.
"We'll see what happens after this meeting but I have to go home and you do too," I finally stand up, almost falling as I do so but caching myself last minute.
***
Coming home, I quietly put up my things in the mudroom before tiptoeing upstairs to the triplets' bedroom. My sons were passed out together in a little pile of cuteness as Micah and Casper had their arms wrapped around Galen who laid in the center. They still refuse to sleep without each other so Waylon and I decided when they turn five we'll separate them but for now, we'll let them be babies.
Sitting on the edge of the bed beside them, I gently wrapped my arms around my three boys. Kissing each of their foreheads and checked out of a natural panic to make sure they're still breathing. Casper took a deep breath as he snuggled into Galen's armpit and I brushed back his beautiful brown curls.
Galen snored slightly and I love the way his thick black hair gives him one little curl on his forehead similar to mine when I don't gell it back. He's the calm baby I would have been if my father didn't abuse me. Thankfully Cyprus, Galen, Casper, Micah, and Noah will never have to experience anything remotely close to what I went through.
Micah's fluffy blonde hair was all over the place and every time I tried to lay it down it stuck straight up again. After kissing little Micah's forehead, I stood up and gazed upon the beautiful little boys I had been blessed with as their little dinosaur nightlight changed colors.
"I love you, Casper," I whispered as I pulled the covers up to his chin after he had managed to kick them off himself and half of Galen.
"I love you, Galen," I whispered while fixing the covers for him too, pinching his cute little chin.
"And I love you just as much, Micah," I make sure my sensitive little guy isn't left out before getting up and leaving the door slightly ajar behind me.
"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders"
Waylon's soft voice sings as I walk across the hall to our daughter's nursery, pausing in the doorway for a moment as I watched Wei rock our baby girl in the rocking chair. Singing to her as she drank from her bottle.
"Let me walk upon the waters, Wherever You would call me," He smiles when he looks up and finds me looming over them, but doesn't stop.
"Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, And my faith will be made stronger," He continues as I draw closer to them, sitting on the little padded footrest while gazing upon my beautiful daughter, Noah Kaila of Crimson.
"When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace, For I am Yours and You are mine," I finish the song and grasp my little girl's fingertips. The same fingers she practically has me wrapped around with her sweetness and pure beauty.
"Sweetheart, I've got this. Go get some rest," Waylon smiles as he gently rubs my hand once our baby finishes her bottle.
"You know I could never," I coo at little Noah as she gazes upon me with her sleepy gray eyes and just the slightest tint of brown. Safe in her loving mother's arms as I held Wei's hand in mine.
"I never thought love could be this tangible," I whisper as I kiss my husband's hand and our daughter falls asleep between us.
Since I'm closer, he quietly shifts her to my arms and I hold Noah close as I rock her to her crib. Putting her down for the night where she would stay asleep for at least five hours. Waylon rests his head on my shoulder as I do so and afterwords I wrap my arm around his waist, kissing the top of his head before we leave her. Holding hands as we walk to our bedroom across from the boys room.
Sitting on our bed, I watch Waylon stumble and pull him close to me. It's then, in the light of our room that I catch the dark circles under his eyes and the tired sway of his small body. Any weight he gained from the babies is gone now and he's losing even more than that.
"Sorry, I'm okay just a little bit more tired than usual today is all," He smiles as he says it and that's what hurts me the most. He's trying so hard to hide it, but it's not working.
"Waylon," The tenseness in my voice has him as he collapses into my shoulder.
"I can do it," he says and I know for a fact he can and has but not like it should be.
"I know peaches, you've been doing such a good job. But you're putting our babies first and completely forgetting about yourself. I know you're being the best mommy in the world for them but they're not going to have a mom if you keep doing this," I say and I'll admit it's a little dramatic but it's the truth. I can feel his tears touch my neck as I hold him, gently rubbing his back to comfort him.
"I wanted to be strong, like you. How can we be mated if I can't take care of our babies by myself knowing you're an alpha and you'll be away? I'm supposed to be strong enough to do it all by myself," He points out and it hits me hard as I give him a tight squeeze.
"I'm staying home,"
******
We're back!
Meet little Noah Kaila Crimson