Wren POV
I step out of the cabin, leaving the door open behind me. The twins mistlings are right behind me, but Veyra and Coren linger inside. Their green eyes are wide with curiosity and fear, but I will help them see that the world isn't scary, like they have been told.
Kicking off my shoes, I wiggle my toes in the grass. "The first night I met you two, I made you a promise. Do you remember what it was?"
Veyra gasps and Coren jumps up and down with excitement. "Are you going to show us your wolf?"
I nod before letting Jasmine come forward. "Her name is Jasmine and she loves you two so much."
The shift is quick and painless, but the children look terrified. I wonder if I have made a mistake. Maybe going outside and seeing a werewolf for the first time is too much for one day. But once they look into her eyes and realize that I am still in here, they begin to get excited.
They push and shove each other in the doorway, but neither is brave enough to come outside. Jasmine sits just out of their reach, hoping to coax them to come to her. Coren's toes are almost over the threshold. His hand curls into a little fist. He is eager to touch her. I can see it.
Jasmine whimpers, and Coren steps from the cabin. As he does, Veyra holds her breath and looks to the sky. I know she is waiting for Selene to come down and snatch him away. But when Selene doesn't come, she joins her brother.
For a moment, they have forgotten that Jasmine is sitting in front of them. The grass tickles the bottoms of their feet, and they giggle loudly. Coren is the first to spread his wings out behind him. He stretches his arms to match and spins in a circle until he gets dizzy. Veyra covers her mouth, hiding her laugh, but then she does the same.
She falls against Jasmine's fur and lets out a tiny squeal. "She is so soft."
"I want to see," Coren shouts, running to her side.
They run their fingers through Jasmine's fur in silence. Jasmine lies on the ground and rolls onto her back, exposing her belly.
'Jasmine!' I laugh. 'Are you submitting to the children?'
She huffs but doesn't answer me because they have started to scratch her belly. Her back leg kicks, and I groan inwardly. I am just happy Destin and Charlie aren't here to see her act like this.
Rolling back over, she nudges Veyra with her nose and whines. Veyra's nose wrinkles. "I don't understand."
"I do!" Coren shouts. "She wants us to ride her."
Keeping herself low to the ground, Jasmine remains very still while the twins climb onto her back. Coren first and Veyra behind him. Their hands tangle in her fur when she gets back to her feet.
She starts with a walk until she is sure they are balanced, then she begins to run. Coren laughs loudly, but Veyra is squealing. I am not sure if she is afraid or not, but Jasmine runs carefully with them on her back. She weaves in and out of the trees, stirring up leaves and dirt. Mud flies up around her, landing on the children's legs.
I find myself getting choked up. Jasmine would have made the best mother, and that was stolen from her. I don't know if we can have children with Destin, and our chance with Charlie is ruined.
'Don't feel sorry for me,' she whispers. 'I can love these two like they are mine.'
'I know we will,' I cry. 'Nothing is working out like it is supposed to.'
Jasmine growls. 'Stop crying. I am trying to have fun.'
I sniff back my tears. 'Okay.'
Destin and Charlie's scents filter through the air, and I know they are close by. Jasmine pauses, lifting her head into the air and growling. Coren tightens his hands on her fur, and Veyra whimpers on her back.
'What are you doing?' I snap at her. 'They are our mates.'
The children slide off her back, and her hackles raise. 'I will not let them take the twins from us.'
'What are you talking about?' I ask. 'They wouldn't.'
Charlie comes through the trees first. He spots Jasmine and raises his hands. "Hey, pretty girl."
'Oh goddess,' I groan.
'Pretty girl?' Jasmine snarls at him, but he isn't smart enough to back away.
He reaches for her, and she nips at his hand. Destin appears next, and she places herself between him and the children. Teeth bared and pawing the ground. Neither man knows how to react to her.
'Wren,' Charlie reaches out through the bond. 'What is going on?'
'Jasmine has claimed the twins as hers,' I tell him before she cuts off the link between us.
Charlie turns to look at Destin. "Jasmine is staking her claim on the children."
Destin looks behind her, and then back in her eyes. "Jazzy, you are scaring the children."
"We aren't scared," Coren yells.
"I am a little scared," Veyra whispers.
She stops growling but won't let the men get any closer to her.
'What are you doing?' I ask her again. 'Give me back control.'
'No,' she snaps at me. 'You won't ask them to run away with the children. You don't have the strength to defy them, but I do.'
'What are you going to do?' I scoff. 'Live as a wolf forever? You can't care for children that way.'
'I won't lose them,' she snarls.
I begin to panic. She won't let me have an ounce of control. What if she keeps us in her wolf form forever? 'We won't lose them. You have to give me back control.'
She blocks me out, but she can't block out Veyra. She tightens her hands in Jasmine's fur and leans her head up against her. "Please Jasmine. Let Birdie have control."
'Don't fuck this up,' she snaps at me before retreating back into my mind.
Charlie places his shirt over my head, and helps me to my feet. He is concerned but Destin is pissed.
"What the fuck was that?"
I shrug my shoulders. "They are her pups. She won't live without them."
At the word "pups," Coren and Veyra drop to their hands and knees, pretending to howl like wolfs. Destin pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales his frustration. "What happens if she can't have them?"
Color drains from my face. "She will burn both realms to the ground to find them. Don't make her."