Work Text:
A text notification beeps.
The phones go ignored. A pair of moans escalate, rushed and breathless.
Another notification sounds.
The rocking of weight pauses.
“What if-“
“It’s six am,” Shane hisses. “There’s no way it’s life or death.”
Another notification.
Shane narrows his eyes. “If you don’t give me an orgasm, I’m throwing out all your hidden snacks, and you are eating my rabbit food for a week.”
Ilya’s eyes roll into the back of his head. The widest sultry grin grows on his lips. “Lyubimyy. You can do better than that, my terrifying omega. A real death threat.”
Shane clenches deliberately tight around Ilya, and his cherry scent spikes with craving. He arches his back to entice him further. He tilts his head to show off the mating bite on his sweaty neck. “If you don’t do your job as my alpha and fuck me, I will rip out your throat.”
“Fuck,” Ilya groans. He snaps his hips, pounding into Shane with fervor. His eyes are nearly black, hazy with desire. “With your beautiful fangs.”
Shane lets out a sound that is a mix between a laugh and a whimper. He digs his fingers into Ilya’s back, rolling his hips to meet his thrusts driving into him hard. Ilya’s hips flush against Shane’s thighs, before pulling out and slamming forward with his weight.
Shane’s body jerks up the pillows, and moans fill the room, filthy and uninhibited. Ilya hurriedly uses his palm to cover his panting mouth, grinning devilishly with dark, wide pupils and flushed cheeks. His blonde curls stick to his forehead. He grabs the back of Shane’s knee, folding his leg to his chest and to the right. He leans back to watch his cock fuck into Shane, and to take in the sight of slick pouring out of him and onto his cock, thighs, and the blankets.
“My perfect omega,” Ilya purrs. Shane shivers at the praise. He bites at Ilya’s palm, and licks his fingers and wrist. His eyes glow omega gold, hungry and insatiable.
Ilya can never get enough of him. Nothing can get between him and his precious mate. Not a single thing holds up to the perfection of his radiant Shane. The little wrinkles around his eyes that Ilya wants to kiss and lick. The way he needs to wear his glasses more than he used to. Shane wears age as graciously as he does everything else.
He wishes he could hear the moans Shane was making, but watching him almost makes up for it. The flutter of his eyelids. His hazy, teary gaze. The glistening tears in his beautiful brown eyes threaten to fall, building from the pleasure cresting with each direct hit to his prostate. His omega is slick and hot, deliciously tight on his cock. Tremors move through Shane’s overwhelmed body, and his smothered moans turn desperate and feral.
He has a half a mind to edge Shane, draw out the pleasure until he goes insane with need. He wants to see his tears fall, and his own blood from Shane biting his hand too hard. Seeing Shane lick at the bloody wound he caused would send boiling lava intense pleasure in his veins and make him shudder. His mind would turn off, and he would come so hard he might pass out. He would knot Shane before he could stop himself, and Shane would be enraged at having his morning put on hold.
The omega might bite him again. Hm. Tempting.
He loves when Shane begs for him, and Ilya can witness his flawless serious demeanor he holds onto with an ironed grip scatter.
Life is busy with Shane playing hockey and both of them parenting four kids. It’s extremely exhausting, and they spend most of their time in bed actually sleeping. Which is fine - Ilya would never complain about cuddling his mate in their nest - but he’s a physically affectionate person. He missed having sex with his husband. His mate.
The bite on Shane’s inner thigh is more proof of his hunger. He has a matching one on his shoulder.
Shane’s cock pulses untouched, painting both their chests in his cum. Ilya is careful not to knot him because they don’t have time. He fucks as deep as he dares and comes hard with his face in Shane’s neck. He scrapes his teeth over his throat, and his alpha rumbles in his chest. Shane whines and purrs, and he kisses Ilya’s forehead.
“Ya lyublyu tebya,” Shane murmurs.
Ilya swallows, emotion building like a volcano ready to burst. “Ya lyublyu tebya.”
They take a few minutes to breathe and exchange kisses, and Ilya gets up to retrieve a wet cloth to clean them both. He starts the shower for Shane.
Shane enters the shower. Ilya checks his phone. It’s the group chat he shares with Shane and their babies.
Milochka: If you are going to use my hand mixer, you need to wash it once you’re done.
Milochka: Please.
Milochka: In the box. Preferably.
Lizonka: i use my hands 🙌🏻
Milochka: That is unhygienic. Don’t do that!
Lizonka: 2 late
Kolenka: she washes her hands. she doesn’t cook though. she burns water.
Milochka: I do not think that is possible?…
Papa: I used it to make muffins last night for Mishka. They’re for your Uncle Dykstra. He is staying with them for two nights.
Lizonka: wut? i can watch him.
Papa: You are going out with your friends.
Lizonka: he can come with! we’ll watch a scary movie
Papa: No, lisichka. You go out with your friends. Have fun! You know Mishka loves it over there.
Papa: Malysh, I am very sorry I did not wash the hand mixer. I was very tired. It will not happen again! 🫡 love you love you
Milochka: I love you too, papa.
Lizonka: r u making pancakes?
Milochka: Yes.
Lizonka: 🎉 🎉🎉YESSSSS
Kolenka: blueberry or chocolate chips? 👀
Milochka: I am trying a new recipe with strawberry cheesecake.
Kolenka: you are my favorite sister.
Lizonka: ??? that’s so fucked up.
Papa: Language. Edit that before your Dad reads it.
“Who was texting us? Is everything okay?” Shane asks.
“I forgot to wash Millie’s hand mixer,” Ilya explains. He joins Shane in the shower. Shane grabs the body soap and lathers Ilya with it. Ilya swoops in to kiss his lips. “She’s making pancakes.”
Shane’s brows shoot to his forehead. “You might not get any. She’s serious about people washing her things when they’re done.”
Millie has very expensive kitchen tools. Some of which she bought herself with her allowance. Shane is very adamant that his kids know how to be responsible with money. If she wants new kitchen tools, she’ll need to earn them.
Ilya does try to back Shane up on his decisions, but their kids know all they have to do is pout or be extra affectionate with their papa to get what they want. Ilya will hold firm more than half the time, especially when Shane catches them in their scheme. Millie is the least problematic kid and rarely plays dirty like her siblings.
Troy is normally the one who buys her what she wants or Harris gifts her something he doesn’t use much.
Ilya pouts. “Will you get enough for both of us? Give me some?”
“Unlike you, I don’t betray my kid’s trust.”
Ilya gasps and clutches his chest. “You’re so mean! My vicious omega. I am going to starve.”
Shane smirks. “You should’ve thought of that before you left dirty dishes in the kitchen.”
Ilya kisses a trail over Shane’s shoulder and neck, using more tongue the closer he gets to his mating bite. He nips the sensitive area, and Shane whines and tilts his head back. His cherry scent spikes once more. Ilya kisses a degree softer, tongue poking out and teeth lightly grazing the skin.
Ilya begins washing the conditioner out of Shane’s hair. He shields Shane’s eyes with his hand. When he finishes, he kisses the nape of his neck while he sneakily brings one hand down to squeeze the omega’s ass. Shane yelps, and Ilya escapes the shower to dodge Shane’s responding bite.
“Asshole!”
Ilya goes downstairs to the kitchen, where all his kids are. Millie is making pancakes, eggs, sausage, and preparing fruit. Effie is sitting at the kitchen counter with Artur. She was brushing his hair and applying a small bit of black eyeshadow to his eyelids. Nikolai is scrolling on his phone. Ilya kisses all of them on the top of their head, and he goes over to the sink to wash his hands.
“Goodmorning, babies,” Ilya says. “I’ll wash and cut the strawberries.”
Millie doesn’t look up at him, but she flashes a sweet smile. “Thank you, papa.”
“Do you have your headphones? Charged?”
“Yes, I charged them last night.”
“You pack comfy clothes in case you get cold?”
“Yes, I put my purple jacket in my bag,” Millie says.
“Are you still okay sleeping over at Harris and Troy’s?” Ilya asks. Millie has changed her mind a few times in the past, and she’ll want to stay home or go to the camp instead. She was close friends with Harris and Troy’s daughter, Gracie. She’s a sweet girl, and Millie loves cooking and baking with Troy.
“Yep! Troy said he wanted to try making birria tacos again. We burned them last time,” Millie explains. “Is Dad going to take us to the farmers market on Sunday?”
“Your Dad would never miss the farmers market with you, malysh,” Ilya reassures.
Shane and Millie have a routine of going to the local farmers market together on Sundays. The only time they miss it is when Shane is out of town for a game. Even then, Shane will do all he can to make it back for her. Millie can get anxious and irritable when they don’t go, so Shane will go far out of his way to go with her.
Millie loves the farmers market. She’ll buy different juices, restock on fruit and vegetables, and shop for jam, eggs, honey, and bread. Shane enjoys going to, happy to shop for culinary items and ingredients for his shakes and smoothies. They’ll both come home and show off their finds, and list all they can make. Their faces bright with excitement.
Ilya loves them so much.
Shane joins them for breakfast, and instantly starts listing their to-do list. There are large digital calendars on the wall - Shane fell in love with it the second he saw it online. There are five in total; one for Millie, one for Nikolai, one for Effie, one for Artur, and one for him and Ilya.
Shane checks with Effie and Nikolai on the stuff they packed for the summer hockey camp. Nikolai doesn’t skate for sport, but he does play soccer with Luca and Shane during freetime. He goes with his parents and siblings because he enjoys spending time with the pack over summer. He’ll help with cones and setting up the rink for drills and practice games. The soccer camp he takes part in occurs two weeks after hockey camp ends.
When he’s not helping out or playing soccer, he’s doing an online debate. He’s part of his school’s debate team, and there’s an online summer team he can do too.
Ilya was surprised when he learned that Nikolai was interested in debate. His son was not characteristically loud, nor did he tend to get into arguments. He was very quiet when he was younger, so it was strange to learn he wanted to get on a stage and debate someone.
Ilya supposed he could say the same about Shane. He was quiet and not very sociable, but he could be loud and friendly when he felt comfortable. He’s partially like that during games. When the situation called for it, however rare, he could be both of those things and more.
Ilya and Shane watched Nikolai’s first debate in wonder, taken back by how professional and so much like an adult their son appeared on the stage. His voice was even and confident, as he listed points and structured arguments. He was firm, kind, and patient - everything Nikolai has always acted.
Afterwards, Shane hugged Nikolai and kissed his forehead. “My smart little alpha. You did a great job.”
Nikolai turned red and hid his face in Shane’s chest. His black hair was a mess.
Effie plays U15 AA, with the plan to play on the U18 AA team to put her directly on the path of scouts to be selected for the provincial team. Her season just ended, and she was overjoyed to coach younger kids with her pack. She got along with everyone, and she had dozens of friends at camp, on her team, and at school.
She worked alongside Wyatt with players who wanted to be goalies. She is exceptional and a total menace. Ilya and Shane are beyond proud of her.
They’re proud of her even when she’s not. She’ll come home from a game, disappointed and mad at herself for not blocking goals. She’ll blame herself for the team’s loss, and she used to decline going out when Shane or Ilya announced family outings after games.
One game ended with high frustration and a score of 1-5. Shane and Ilya were waiting for Effie outside. She was taking longer than usual. Ilya texted her first in the group chat with him, Shane, and Effie.
Papa: Where is my lisichka? We’re going to get pizza 🍕
Lizonka: i want to go home instead. i’m not hungry.
Dad: Honey, you worked very hard. You must be hungry.
Lizonka: i’m not. i want to go home.
Papa: What about ice cream 🍨? You need a reward for your hard work out there! You blocked so many goals.
Lizonka: you didn’t read the score post. we lost.
Dad: I didn’t read it because it doesn’t matter. I was watching my daughter play her best. I watched my daughter smile and shout, and laugh with her team. I watched you have fun out there. You did your best. You are still the best in my eyes.
Five minutes later, Effie came running out with tears running down her cheeks. She ran into Shane’s arms and sobbed. Ilya sandwiched her, hugging her tight and telling her how amazing she was. When she stopped crying, Ilya wiped her eyes, and they got into the car and got ice cream.
It was a learning curve for Shane and Ilya to properly support their kids in times like this. Yuna Hollander was a wonderful mother and manager, but she does have her faults. This included her not congratulating Shane when he lost. Her validation only came when he won, and it affected his own response to his loss.
Ilya didn’t get support from his father. It didn't matter if he won. He always told Ilya he could be better, and he pointed out all his flaws and mistakes.
Ilya made a point to never do that. He gave his kids all the love he hadn’t gotten, and it was healing for him. He checks in on her to make sure she knew he was there for her. He doesn’t want her to suffer like his mother and himself suffered. His mother suffered alone, and it took time for Ilya to open up to Shane when he felt depressed. He doesn’t want Effie for one second believe she has to deal with any mental health issues alone.
Millie will sometimes come to the summer camp too, but mostly she stays with Harris and Troy at their big orchard farm. Troy is a coach too, so she’ll go with him on whichever days she likes. She doesn’t play hockey, but she does enjoy figure skating. She won’t compete on a team, and Ilya could tell right away that skating was another safe place for her.
Millie is not very sociable, and she’s not one to go outside often. She’s a happy kid though, and Grace Barrett is her best friend. She is freakishly good at boardgames, which Shane and his mother both get very competitive in. Ilya remembers the first time Millie beat Yuna and Shane at cards, he laughed so hard he cried at their disgruntled faces and little Millie’s proud, somewhat sheepish grin.
Millie is very close to Troy, and acts like a duckling. She loves her siblings, and she enjoys spending time with her pack. She attends Effie’s games, Nikolai’s games and debates, and camp days. She may sit towards the side of the pack nest with her headphones on, and occasionally she’ll snuggle up with her parents, Grace, Troy, or her siblings.
She is very neat and orderly, just like Shane. Effie and her do each other’s hair and makeup. Millie helps Effie relax just like any alpha does for an omega. Effie invites her to hang out with her friends, and Millie declines more often than not. She does go sometimes, and Effie is ecstatic to have her join them.
Last, but not least, Artur.
Artur - or Bear - spent his summer time with Dykstra or Marleau. He preferred ‘Bear’ ever since he learned what his name meant. He’s eight, and he already has a big personality. For someone who is Shane’s twin, he doesn’t share anything in common with him.
Well, that’s not true. His passion and confidence come from Shane. He holds information like he does.
His interests don’t align with either Shane or Ilya.
Bear was really into…horror movies.
Shane and Ilya were at a loss when Bear came to them asking to dress up as Ghostface from Scream for Halloween. They had no idea where he even heard of that movie, considering they themselves never watched it.
They soon found out it was Dykstra to blame.
The pack visited Dykstra at his cabin, and at some point Bear joined Dykstra on the couch and watched Halloween. Then Halloween II. Halloween IV. Friday the 13th. Scream. Every night Dykstra put on an old scary movie, and he and Bear watched it together. Shane was pissed at learning about his youngest son watching scary movies. He couldn’t believe Dykstra could let a child watch such movies, but Dykstra swore Bear liked them and wasn’t scared at all. He apologized, and genuinely felt bad about it.
But then Bear would ask to watch a scary movie every night, and Shane and Ilya quickly learned the best case scenario happened. Bear really wasn’t scared, and instead found the horror genre fun and interesting. When Svetlana found out, she suggested Goosebumps and other kid ‘horror’ shows and movies. At a Halloween party, Svetlana did his zombie makeup.
Bear loved Svetlana’s leather belt with metal skulls. He cried, “Pooky!”
Dykstra built an entire corn maze near his cabin and decorated it heavily. Bear was excited to visit for Halloween.
Marleau likes scary movies too, and he will show Bear things he may like. Shows, movies, and books. Marleau got Bear into sci-fi movies, and Ilya will visit him in Boston with Bear so they can watch a scary movie in his home theater. Marleau wasn’t the best with kids, but it seems one shared interest is all it takes because now he’s constantly asking Ilya how Bear is and when he’ll next bring him over.
“And your other kids,” Marleau quickly added.
Ilya rolled his eyes.
Bear is entirely and completely himself. He reads goosebump books and manga, and he watches scary movies and practical effect videos. He was a happy, super sweet boy. Ilya was obsessed with him, and how much he looks like Shane. Bear is his mini Shane, and he loves him so much. Bear is his pride and joy. It doesn’t matter he doesn’t know much of anything about horror. Bear is happy to ramble and explain every last detail. He wants to go to ‘Comic con’ and Ilya has no idea what that is, but he’ll take his son there if he wants to go.
Unfortunately, Hayden Pike knows about ‘Comic con’ and wants to take Jackie and their kids too. Whatever. He’ll hang out with Hayden if it makes Bear happy.
Ilya does forbid anyone from putting makeup on Shane. Effie once put makeup on Shane, and she covered his beloved freckles with foundation.
Ilya screamed.
Mentally. In his wounded, bleeding heart.
Physically, he collapsed to the floor in an outcry. All his kids jumped on him.
It was time to leave. Ilya and Shane watch amused as their babies scent each other. Bear is ambushed first. Effie and Nikolai rub their cheeks in his hair and pets his neck. Bear laughs the whole time. Once they’re done, Bear goes over to Millie. Millie gives him a small smile and pulls him into a warm hug and scents him too.
Bear hasn’t presented yet. He was a late bloomer. Ilya and Shane aren’t too sure what he’s going to be. It was easier to tell with the others, but Bear could be an omega or an alpha. Or a beta. A beta child from omega and alpha parents is rare but not impossible.
Millie is scented next. The approach with her is different. They don’t hug her, but they do rub her wrists and run their palms over her neck. Millie is wearing one of Effie’s thin jackets, and a beanie that belongs to Nikolai. She is drenched with pack smells.
Then Nikolai is next. Effie scents him heavily, rubbing her cheek over his face and hugging him obnoxiously tight. She giggles and he squirms in feign annoyance. Bear hugs his side and scents his wrists. Millie comes over to hug him.
Effie is last, and she laughs when they all attack her. Once they’re all content, they all get into the car to start their summer adventures.
When they get to Harris’s orchard house, Shane and Ilya take turns scenting Millie. Millie giggles with pink cheeks when Ilya kisses her face. Shane gives her more space, and he tells her how much he’ll miss her. He tells her how much he loves her, and he rubs his cheek on the top of her head.
At Dykstra’s, Ilya picks up Bear and spins him around. He kisses his cheeks until he shrieks and giggles.
“You’re so cute! I’m going to miss you so much. My adorable mini Shane,” Ilya coos in Russian. Maybe it’s because Bear looks the most like Shane, or the fact he was his youngest baby now, or because he hasn’t presented and could be an omega. It could be a whole array of reasons, and his heart hurts.
“Please don’t play a movie that’ll give him nightmares,” Shane tells Dykstra and his wife.
Bear runs into Shane’s arms. “I don’t get nightmares from movies, Dad.”
“We’ll be careful,” Dykstra promises.
Shane hugs and kisses Bear’s cheek, and he nips playfully at his neck and jaw. The same fangs used to tear flesh from bone are being used to press kisses and be affectionate. Bear giggles and wiggles in his arms. When he’s sufficiently scented, he runs to Dykstra with a list of movies to watch.
*************
“I pay for new camera if you kick the ball at Marshall.”
Nikolai frowns. He responds back in Russian. “What? Papa. No.”
Ilya scoffs. “So like your father. One kick. It’s all I ask. One kick. I won’t tell anyone.”
Ilya watches Nikolai mull it over. He loves taking pictures. When he was younger and kept stealing Shane or Ilya’s phone to take pictures, Jackie gave him a camera suited for children. He took dozens of photos per day and insisted they print all of them. He covered his entire room with them.
One of the first times they visited Dykstra at his cabin, Nikolai climbed a very tall tree to get a good picture of the sunset and the wide forest landscape. He inevitably got stuck, and he used the walkie talkie he got from Luca to call Effie for help.
Effie forced out a nervous laugh at the dinner table. Both her parents surveyed her with varying intense eyes. She fumbled with the walkie talkie, trying to silence it.
“Elizabeth?”
Effie winced and met Shane’s piercing gaze. “Yes?”
“Where’s your brother?”
Effie smiled innocently and pointed at Bear, who was eating a plate of cheerios. “Right there.”
A wrinkle formed on Shane’s forehead. His jaw clenched painfully. His eyes glowed gold. Effie looked helplessly at Ilya, who looked similarly angry.
“Am I cooked, chat?” Nikolai’s voice rang through.
Shane crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
“Yes,” Effie sighed into the walkie talkie. “You’re cooked to shit.”
It took Shane and Ilya thirty minutes to get Nikolai safely out of the tree. Nikolai was finally in their sights when Shane glared at Ilya.
“He certainly didn’t get this from me.”
Ilya gaped at him. “I’ve seen you chase players into the benches for saying anything about our babies. If a player climbed a tree to get away from you, you would follow them up.”
Shane grumbled and caught Nikolai when he jumped down.
Now, Nikolai has a really nice camera that Luca gifted him for Christmas two years ago. More professional. He took it everywhere. Ilya bets it was in his backpack.
“I think everyone will know it’s me,” Nikolai says evenly. “Since I’m the only one with a soccer ball.”
“You can blame your Uncle Luca,” Ilya reasons. He waves at Luca. Luca waves back with a big smile, none the wiser. “He’ll take it. He loves you. He loves me. He’ll agree with lie.”
“I’m not kicking Marshall,” Nikolai refuses. He bites his lip, considering. “I’m sure Papa will yell at him if he doesn’t stop bothering Effie and not paying attention.”
“He is horrible left winger,” Ilya complains. The beta boy shoots another look at Effie, clearly not even trying to score. “If he doesn’t stop flirting with my daughter, I will make him run scrimmage until he throws up.”
They both watch in silence as Marshall misses another pass due to looking at Effie. He was a good player, up until recently when Effie took the previous goalie’s post. He showed off for a little while, but now he won’t stop getting distracted by her.
Shane shouts at Marshall. His face is pinched with annoyance. The play is done five more times, and Marshall is still an issue. Shane yells at him again.
Nikolai frowns at his stressed father. He really doesn’t like when his omega parent is upset. Shane is the most stressed here, with kids not even trying.
“Bet. What kind of camera are we talking?”
*************
An alpha girl goes over to Nikolai. He sits on the lower benches. He’s texting somebody, Ilya guesses. He has a bunch of friends too. Not as many as Effie, but he was popular. He and Effie had plans to hang out with friends after camp today.
Of course his babies are popular. They have Hollander and Rozanov genes. Hollander’s pretty face, his ferocity, his intelligence, his earnestness, and all the other ways to describe the league’s Golden Boy. Rozanov’s charm and chaotic, fiery personality. All wrapped in four little bodies.
Not so little anymore. Nikolai is already nearly as tall as Shane. Effie is muscular despite her shorter frame, and she’s loud and wild. Millie is quiet, but she still holds that quiet commanding presence. She doesn’t need to be loud to be heard. Bear is unapologetically himself, chaotic in an organized, fearless way.
Ilya pauses.
Maybe Bear was how Ilya would’ve been if he hadn’t grown up in an abusive, restrictive household. Unworried about doing what he wanted.
Oh, yes. His babies will take over the world.
The alpha girl leans over the wall and says something Ilya can’t hear. A shadow of a smile grows on Nikolai’s face. His blue eyes soften, and he puts his phone in his pocket to respond to her. His long legs drop off the bench in front of him, and he leans forward with all his inherited charm.
Ilya grabs the megaphone behind the boards. The one he hid from Shane. He inhales.
“The next person to flirt with someone with the last name Rozanov, Hollander, or both, will be forced to stand in front of goal with no gear as I practice my aim!”
Everyone stops moving. Most of the kids go pale with alarm. Marshall slowly backs away from the goal post. Ilya hears Effie grumble in annoyance.
“What about when you flirt with Shane?” Hayden asks. Shane puts his face in his hands, which goes to show how vexed he was. Millie got Shane paranoid about bacteria. His face and neck are red. Hayden laughs, and tries to appear serious. “Does that count?”
Their first ruling as family - throw Hayden Pike into a very big hole he can’t come out of. Then imprison all Pikes, except for Jackie.
“You watch him change into his uniform for six years. You invite him over every day. You call him a handsome guy, and you say ‘Oh, Shane, you can do so much better. Be with me. Love me. I will be very good mate.’ You should hope I don’t count you.”
Hayden chokes. “F - Frick off! I don’t do any of that!”
Ilya ignores him. He aims his megaphone directly at Nikolai. “Everyone is doing scrimmage until I say so.”
Shane glares at him. His fangs poke out.
“Until Shane says I say so. Go!”
*************
Bear jumps into Ilya’s lap in the car when they come to pick him up after camp ends. He waves a drawing he made. Dykstra puts Bear’s bags in the back and says hi to the other kids.
“I want to be Babadook for Halloween,” Bear announces. He holds up his drawing, to which Ilya assumes is a picture of this Babadook. “He’s a gay icon.”
Ilya blinks, and he looks between his son and his interesting drawing. He turns to Shane. “I am a very good English speaker, you know this, and I will let you explain to the others what he just said.”
“Uh,” Shane says, confused.
Dykstra chuckles. “The movie was accidentally put into the pride category. Hence, why he’s marked as a gay icon.”
“Right,” Shane says, even more confused.
Bear laughs in joyous delight and presses into Ilya’s chest. Ilya kisses his head, smelling sugary blueberries, and he studies the drawing. “He looks like Russian vampire.”
“I don’t think so,” Bear disagrees. He shakes his head. He’s beaming at his papa. “That’s a really big smile.”
Ilya bares his teeth, and he bites at his son’s cheek and button nose. He aims for the freckles splattered on his face. “Russians smile, mishka. They smile when they eat their babies. When their babies scream in terror.”
Bear screams, but not in terror. He screams childishly with bright eyes. He bares his blunt teeth and pushes Ilya’s face. Ilya tilts him back, so Bear is hanging upside down. His arms dangle over the ground. Bear erupts in laughter, shrieking when Ilya tickles him.
Ilya brings him back up and kisses his cheeks. Bear squirms, still giggling, and he crawls over to Shane in the passenger seat. Shane pulls him in close and kisses his temple, and he scents him. Bear stuffs his face in Shane’s neck. His hands go into Shane’s hair.
They don’t get out of the driveway before Nikolai reaches over to get Bear. All the siblings are both arguing and bonding, happily telling stories from the past week. When they get home, they all unpack before piling into the family nest.
*************
The next morning, they wake to the doorbell.
Most of them do. Shane is already half awake and on his phone, answering text messages and emails. At the sound, Shane slips on Ilya’s shirt and his sweatpants.
Bear is in the kitchen eating cereal and watching TV on low. He gets out of his chair and walks to the front door. He’s barefoot and wearing Nightmare Before Christmas pajamas. He rubs his eyes sleepily and reaches for the door.
Bear is shoved to the side at the last second. He grumbles and shoves Effie back in retaliation. “What’s that for?”
“Don’t answer the door to strangers,” Effie hisses through her fangs. Her brown eyes are stern as she looks like she raced out of bed. “You didn’t even check who it was.”
“What if I want to meet the Boogeyman?”
Effie rolls her eyes and peeks through the curtains. A man stands outside. He’s tall and burly, and he’s alone.
“Open the door,” the man grunts in Russian.
Effie assesses him, taken back by the language. Her voice comes out cold. “Don’t order me around, asshole. I’ll break your face and slash out your throat.”
The man’s face blooms with rage, and his red alpha eyes flare. He charges at the door, rattling the wood. Effie shields Bear behind her. Her claws and fangs lengthen into deadly weapons. Her gold eyes shine.
“Open the fucking door, you little bitch. I want to talk to my piece of shit brother.”
Effie has no idea who the aggressive man was referring to. Her dad doesn’t have siblings. Her papa got quiet when his old family was brought up. All he ever said was how his old pack wasn’t safe or warm, and that’s why he loves her, her siblings, and her dad so fiercely.
Effie didn’t care if this stranger was related to her papa. Her omega didn’t care. She was turning feral. Her vision was turning red, and her fangs throbbed to tear this man to pieces. All she cared about was the stench of fear from her baby brother standing behind her. It grated on her nerves, pushing her to attack and defend her family. Her omega’s claws scraped and tapped menacingly in her chest.
Click, click, click.
“I want my fucking money,” the man snarls. His alpha fangs are out, shorter than Effie’s. “I’m going to kill him.”
She didn’t realize she opened the door. All she knew was that she needed to kill this man. She needed to slash his throat and cut out his tongue for daring to threaten her pack. Blood roared in her ears, and she attacked.
Except she doesn’t get far.
A large body intercepts her, and her arms are grabbed. She growls and hisses, using her legs as leverage. She snaps her teeth and uses all her strength to try to break free. Blood roars louder in her ears, and she sees nothing but pale skin and a throat. She tries to bite, but she’s held firmly in place.
“Shhh, my lisichka,” a deep voice says. “You are okay. I am here. Elizabeth.”
Effie’s face crumples at the affectionate nickname. Her alpha’s steel voice is a cool balm to her raging, chaotic body. Her chest muscles constrict, citrusy scent bitter and angry. Her shoulders are stiff, and her eyes fill with tears. She heaves for oxygen, and honey hits her nose and slowly washes over her pained body. She stood on the fine line between attack kill and relax it’s okay.
She couldn’t cross it. She shakes, overwhelmed and angry. She tries again to get free. She snarls and bares her fangs, more groggy this time. Her alpha’s honey scent spikes, subduing her further.
A Russian curse. More Russian she can’t understand in her state. “I cannot finish this. I need to help him. Take her. Careful.”
Honey lingers on her skin, staying with her as her alpha parent runs outside. Her vision is blurry, and she can barely make out the hazy shapes of her papa going to her feral dad. Her omega parent was fighting the stranger, hissing and slashing with deadly claws. She sees him grab the hostile alpha’s arm and bite his neck.
Another pair of firm hands grasp her wrists, and she tugs hard. The scent of candy apple hits her nose, not her alpha dad. Nikolai. The familiarity makes her bottom lip tremble.
“Sestryonka,” Nikolai murmurs. His alpha voice filters in. His scent spikes, patiently pushing Effie to submit. He rubs soothing circles on her wrists, saturating her with his comforting alpha scent. “Effie. You’re okay. Everything is okay.”
The pressure in Effie’s chest diminishes, and she inhales candy apple when she matches her brother’s breathing. He wraps his arms around her, and he rubs her back to calm her down.
“Ya lyublyu tebya, sestryonka,” he whispers in her hair. His tone is steady, pacifying Effie’s feral state. He tells her she’s safe, and everyone is okay. He tells her to breathe with him, encouraging her to relax. He talks to her in English, Russian, and French.
Effie is not sure what happens after that. Her parents are outside. She can hear her papa shouting angrily at the man. He’s speaking too fast in Russian for her to understand him. She can’t see outside with her face in Nikolai’s shirt, and she’s crashing down hard.
Nikolai leads her to the nest in the living room. Millie and Bear are there; Millie is cuddling Bear to her chest. He’s pressed against her in a ball, with his face in her neck. He’s trembling, and Millie massages his back and runs her fingers through his hair. He opens red-rimmed eyes, revealing gold.
Omega gold.
Effie remembers how painful it was going feral for the first time. Her teeth ached and eyes burned. She felt lost and out of control. He needs comfort and pack, and she feels settled enough to join them. All four of them cuddle together in the nest.
Ilya and Shane come inside a little while later. The man from earlier is gone, and neither of them go into detail. They explain they’ll never see the alpha again, and he’s returning to Russia on the first flight available. They bought his one-way ticket.
Ilya is in the middle explaining when Bear looks up at him with sad, glowing gold eyes.
Ilya’s eyes go wide, and his jaw drops in awe. He falls to his knees with his arms splayed out. Bear crawls out of the pile, and Ilya scoops him up. Bear puts his face in his neck, and his tears soak Ilya’s shirt.
“My baby! My little omega baby,” Ilya coos. He kisses Bear’s teary, inflamed cheeks. “Malysh. Ya lyublyu tebya. You presented. I’m so proud of you! You’re a big boy now.”
Bear turns into velcro, wrapping arms and legs around Ilya. Ilya begins to lowly sing a tune Effie instantly recognizes. He sang it to all of them when they were upset. He told her the lyrics one day, and they’re Russian. A Russian lullaby their grandmother sang to him.
Effie joins them. She crawls over and presses her body to Bear’s back. She kisses the back of his head. Ilya reaches for her with a warm smile, gesturing for her and the others to come too. Millie and Nikolai join the pack pile. Bear begins to finally relax with all of them scenting him, and being in his alpha parent’s arms.
Shane appears from upstairs. He’s wet from the shower with a fresh pair of Ilya’s clothes. He joins the nest, and Nikolai and Millie immediately lay on top of him.
Effie opens her eyes to find Ilya reaching out for Shane. Unhappy his mate is too far, he carefully scoots closer with Bear strapped to his chest. He guides Effie with him, keeping her close. The pack adjusts to them.
Shane kisses Bear’s forehead, and he kisses Ilya on the lips. Ilya stretches to follow him, so their heads are a foot apart. They look at each other, expression open and conveying layers of worry and adoration.
The kids are fast asleep. Shane and Ilya communicate quietly with mouthed words and candid, loving eyes. The silent support is needed on both ends. Shane for the mental and physical after effects from his feral state. Ilya for being forced to face his abusive brother coming back to demand money, and shouting and threatening his children.
But the scents of happy purring children bring a smile to Ilya’s and Shane’s faces. Today brought a lot of surprises - good and bad - but they’re full of love and rely on each other to get through it.
Shane and Millie eventually get up to make lunch. Nikolai puts on a scary movie, and Bear watches it while holding fistfuls of Ilya’s shirt. Effie shows him videos explaining how the special effects were done for the movie. Millie brings over a sandwich cut and shaped like a pumpkin. Ilya hands Bear over to Nikolai to eat.
The kids cuddle on one couch, and Ilya finds Shane on the other. He places his head on Shane’s lap. Shane pets his hair and massages his neck.
Ilya rolls onto his back and smiles cheekily at his mate. He wiggles his brows.
“What?”
“I have the prettiest mate in the world,” Ilya purrs.
Shane blushes. “Shut up.”
“So vicious and beautiful.”
“You were vicious too.”
“Not nearly as pretty.”
Shane shakes his head, smiling fondly.
“Is why our babies are so pretty.”
“Fuck off.”
“And pretty language,” Ilya adds with a whistle. “Effie swears like a Russian sailor.”
Shane frowns. “She swears in Russian?”
“She is banned from being mic’d,” Ilya admits. “Someone told them she was swearing in three different languages. Nikolai taught her German ones too.”
Shane sends Nikolai a reprimanding look. The young alpha proceeds to hide behind a giggling Bear.
“I’m talking to Luca,” Shane huffs.
“No, you cannot.” Ilya kisses his stomach. “He will be scared of you for a week, and we need him to babysit. The kids will not have any fun at all. They need unrestricted fun time with parents away.”
Shane rolls his eyes.
“They are good kids,” Ilya says.
His gaze darkens, and his sultry tone sends heat through Shane. His cherry scent spikes, and Ilya’s grin turns wicked with lust. His pupils are blown.
Ilya leans up to bring their faces close. Shane’s heated gaze drops to the alpha’s lips. His heart beats fast in his chest.
“And I want unrestricted fun time with my mate,” Ilya purrs. He nips at Shane’s jaw and mouth. He swipes his tongue over Shane’s fangs. “Have you hanging on my knot and making pretty noises for me. Hissing and biting with those fangs. Without being interrupted.”
Shane tilts his head down, looking at Ilya through his eyelashes. His brown eyes are dark with hunger and desire. He’s flushed and breathing heavy, sharing the same lewd thoughts. “If you knot me, I’ll bite you.”
Ilya’s mischievous grin widens. Barely restrained and unabashed want spreads across his entire face. Shane has an easy time reading him, thanks to this. Combined with their bond that gives them the power to always be mentally and emotionally connected. He knows exactly how much his alpha wants him.
“Promise, Hollander?”
Shane’s smile softens, and in response Ilya softens too. The crackling fire between them roars from the primal urge to bite and claim, and it switches course for a more intimate, sensual need to cherish and savor. The heat dwindles to a warm buzz in his belly and coats his heart beating in his ribcage. The love he feels for his mate is monumental. It rattles inside him and fills the space Ilya claimed for himself there.
“Promise, Rozanov.”