Revolting

Daisy closed the door to the conference room and took a moment to lean against Boyd. She was still conflicted about her second chance mate, but she wasn't about to run away from him either. He'd been like an angel through everything. Who meets their new mate and then follows her straight into the delivery room? But Boyd had not left her side even for a moment. Every time she felt like she was going to drown or fall apart, all she had to do was slip her hand into his and lean into him, and the most beautiful feelings of calm and wellbeing flowed into her.

He gave her back a reassuring rub, before she turned and headed straight for the nursery where she'd left her newborn for the few minutes it took for her to speak her piece at Michael's hearing. She opened the door and smiled at the scene that greeted her. A teenage girl sat on the floor with the newborn cradled in her arms, and the two little girls sat beside her in awe over the tiny baby.

Raine looked up over her shoulder and gave Daisy a big grin, and Victoria, the smaller toddler, copied her friend. The two girls could almost pass for sisters, both of them with dark curls and extraordinary eyes. Boyd moved into the room and seemed to be a bit awkward around all the small creatures.

Victoria's small brow wrinkled up, and she pushed herself to her feet, pushing her diapered bottom into the air before she straightened up. She toddled toward Daisy and Boyd with a determined look on her little face. Daisy, still sore and worn out from the delivery, lowered herself into a chair.

Victoria came and leaned against her knees, placing one chubby palm against Daisy's bare arm. Daisy felt a warm tingly sensation travel across her skin, along with a sudden flush of energy. Apparently satisfied, the little girl toddled over to Boyd and stopped right in front of the tall, lanky man. She put her arms in the air in the international sign of "pick me up, stupid."

Boyd sent Daisy a panicked look, which made Daisy laugh. "Its okay, just pick her up, she won't break." Boyd swallowed nervously and put his hands around the girl lifting her against his chest. He wasn't used to children, let alone the baby of an Alpha. He no sooner had her settled, than he felt a tug at his pant leg. He looked down perplexed as the other child pulled at him and also put her arms up. Raine was more vocal, as she demanded, "Up! Up!"

"Uh," Boyd gaped at the girl and then at Daisy, who giggled behind her hand and simply motioned to him to pick up the second child. Boyd bent down and awkwardly scooped up the bigger toddler, and straightened so that he now had a kid in each arm. By the expression on his face, he might have been holding a skunk on one side and a porcupine on the other.

Victoria reached for him first, patting his face first and then settling her little hands on his neck, right above the old scar. Raine wiggled forward and put her hands just beside Victoria's. The two little girls leaned their heads together. Suddenly there was a pulse in the atmosphere which sent Boyd stumbling backwards. He barely caught himself so that he didn't fall down with the children in his arms. An art easel set up in the back with finger paints tipped over, and a bunch of board books toppled off the shelf.

The two little girls looked at each other and broke into squeals of laughter.

The teenager deposited baby Gabe back into Daisy's waiting arms, and reached for Raine, untangling her from Boyd's neck with some difficulty. "And that," the teenager said with a snicker, "Is why we have plexiglass windows in this room." Baby Victoria looked deeply into Boyd's eyes and pulled at his beard playfully before she wiggled her way out of his arms. He set her down and watched her toddle back over to her friend. He rubbed his neck, and cleared his throat, which suddenly felt a little scratchy and strange. He gently helped his mate to her feet and held the door to the nursery so she could take the infant back to their room.

Once inside Daisy's modest room, he grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it down. Daisy was watching him with raised eyebrows. "Boyd? Are you okay?" He cleared his throat again and rubbed at his neck, his fingers grazing over the scar that he'd had since he was a child.

He opened his mouth, and felt a strange sensation slide down his pharynx, like tumblers aligning in an old lock. The single word was torn from his mouth, "Daisy..." The name came out hoarse, and almost unintelligible, his voice had been silent and inactive for so long. His eyes grew wide with shock, as did Daisy's.

"Boyd, you...!" Daisy shook her head in amazement, her wide mouth curving into a smile. "You spoke!"

He gulped some more water and tried again. "What... What did those kids do to me?" It was little more than a whisper, but it was spoken words, for the first time in more than two decades.

Happy tears welled up in Daisy's big blue eyes. "Raine and Victoria," she shook her head and laughed, "You'll get used to them."