Page 69 of Just a Beta (Betas in Waiting)
She sighed and kissed him back.She pressed her forehead to his and glanced over at her brother and in-laws.“So, you can hear him?”
Mateo paused.“It is very low, but yes, I can hear his voice.”
Echel chuckled and whispered, “I can be heard when I want to.”
“Oh.”
“You can be heard when we want you to.”
She smacked her hand over his mouth, and he grinned behind her fingers.
She snorted and looked at Persephone.“Do I need to bring them home today?I don’t think they make carriers that will fit.”
“Well, they do, but they are dog crates.On the plus side, you can crate them together.”
She nodded and sighed.“Where can I get a crate?”
Echel smiled and kissed her forehead.“The crate will arrive in the next thirty minutes.”
Mateo grinned.“Nice.We can find out what you want for your birthday next month.”
“My birthday?My birthday was five months ago.”
Mateo frowned and shook his head.“No.I have seen your birth certificate.Your birthday is next month.”
“Augusta’s birthday...oh, there it is.How could I be so stupid?”
Mateo was shocked.“They moved your birthday?”
“Yup.Summer to winter.Augusta and I had one shared birthday, I think.There were pictures.She didn’t look happy.Wait twelve-six to six-twelve?”
Mateo nodded.“I remember the first time you had a birthday with us.It is—was—in the summer.We had a picnic, and you blew bubbles.Your mother and stepfather were under guard and glared at every move you made.Grandmother was laughing every time you did.She loved watching you play and loved making bubbles for you to clap at.”He smiled.“I remember there was a spider caught in one of the bubbles, and you cupped the bubble in your hand and walked it to the gardens with a very serious expression.You put it in the roses, and the bubble popped.You waved and saidbye, cousin.I never understood until the last few weeks that you saw the arachnids when you looked at us.”
Emhara blinked.“It came on gradually, but between eight and twelve, it kicked on hard.”
He grinned.“You are looking at me like you can see a human face now.”
“I can.I have had more experience with human features, and they are easier to put in place.”
Donut turned and bounced into the room to play with the other cats.Micro sighed and lumbered after her, ready to stomp any kittens who offended his sister.At one point, he simply stood on top of her to keep the others away.
Emhara smiled.“Now that is a brother you feed every day.”She looked at Mateo.“You can get your own.”
He grinned and then sobered.“I am sorry I didn’t protect you from my mother.”
“You didn’t have to.That was Dad’s responsibility, not yours.It was his fault I was there.He needed to protect me from the result of his actions.You stick your dick in crazy, you deal with the result.”She waved her hands on either side of her head.“Ta-dah!”
Mateo laughed and then looked at Persephone, who gave him an angelic look.“Right, but crazy does make adorable babies.”
Echel stroked Emhara’s hair.“It certainly does.”
She wrinkled her nose at him and watched her new cats playing with the others very carefully.Donut was huge as well, but Micro was enormous.
“Persephone, can we get the paperwork done?”
Persephone grinned and showed her the paperwork.It was all filled out.“We have pamphlets to give you, and you are going to need an enormous litter box for obvious reasons, but the babies go home with you today.He can manage a regular litter box, but he isn’t happy about it.”
She looked at the big fella and spoke to her sister-in-law.“Do we have any neighbourhood dogs?If we do, we won’t for long.”
