And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

"Okay, you two... whose ready for a bath-"

James stepped into the room with a stack of towels in his hand, and as his eyes latched onto mine, he froze in his step. The only sound was Castor laughing and clapping her hands at the reaction before her. "Hey, James." "You're awake," he mumbled as he glanced from the twins to me, and then back to the twins. "How-"

"Do you really wanna know how, or are you going to give me a kiss?"

He didn't waste a second before he was across the room, pulling me into his arms, pressing his lips to mine in a slow, deep, passionate kiss. To me, it was only yesterday I had kissed him, but to them... it had been much longer. Pulling away, I smiled softly, wincing at the pain in my side. "How long have I been out?"

"It's been a year, Ivy," he whispered, his eyes falling to my lap as he seemed to try and hold back the tears. "No one thought you would wake up... but I didn't give up. I couldn't."

Running my hand over the side of his cheek, I kissed him again with a smile.

"Well, why don't I surprise the others?"

Furrowing his brow, he smiled at me. "What do you mean?"

"Hand me my children, and I will show you," I laughed.

"Oh, shit... sorry, sweetie," he said, jumping to his feet and striding towards the twins. They were both eager at this point to get out, and were trying their hardest to escape him as approached the bed.

As their sweet faces came closer, they crawled onto the bed. Their arms wrapped around me as they snuggled into my chest, laying their heads against my breasts. They had missed me just as much as I missed them, and as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I thought of the others.

'I'm home.' I said through the link, causing James to smile.

It didn't take but a second before I heard the thundering footsteps of the men racing up the stairs, heading down the hallway straight for me. My door burst open as Talon, Hale and Damian stood before me.

The twins had smiles upon their faces that brightened my own, and as they rushed to me, kissing the side of my head while they held me, I couldn't stop staring at Damian.

The last time I had seen him, he died in front of me.

Loki had slit his throat, and his body laid lifeless upon the ground. A sob left my throat as my red-rimmed eyes, filled with more tears, stared at him. "You're alive."

Never once had I really ever seen Damian show so much emotion as he did in those two seconds after my words left his lips. He nodded his head in silence as he approached me. Almost as if he was waiting for me to disappear again. "Ivy-" he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" I laughed through my tears. "It wasn't your fault."

"All of this is my fault. I should have done things differently from the beginning, but for so long, I kept you at arm's length and didn't realize what I had until it was too late."

Looking to Hale and Talon, they

moved over so I could get to Damian. He came close, sitting on the edge of the bed so I could wrap my arm's around him the best ly could with the twins still stuck to me. You don't have to apologize to me. I'm your mate forever and always. I love you, no matter what."

It was a touching moment for us, and having them all back made my heart swell with happiness. The time ticked on as the men told me about everything that had happened since I was asleep, including the twins' first birthday I wasn't present for

"We didn't do anything big for them," James said softly. "Maybe we can, now that you're awake."

The guys

all

looked at each other in

approval before looking at me. I

smiled as my eyes drifted down to my now sleeping twins on my chest. "I think that's a great idea. But maybe in a week or so, once have regained my strength."

"Of course, Ivy. Why don't we celebrate it during the upcoming festival?"

"Festival?" I asked Hale. "What festival?"

"The lunar festival to celebrate the gods," Talon replied with a sneer. He wasn't too happy about the festival, but as soon as I laid a soft hand on his arm, he seemed to calm under my touch. "None of this was their fault," I said to each of them. "We mustn't hold grudges."

"That's easy for you to say, Ivy," he replied with hurt in his voice. "We watched you basically wither away over the past year and wondering if that was the day you were going to stop breathing. It killed us." My heart hurt for them, but I could understand what they meant.

I, myself, hurt because of all the time I had missed with them, but now I was awake, and that was all that mattered. "Everything will be okay now. I just need to get my strength back." Nodding, they all agreed, even Talon, who was reluctant.

I wanted everything to be perfect, and I wanted to pack to know I was still here for them. I was still their Luna, and would protect them no matter what.

"The festival is then. Let's let the pack welcome back their Luna."