AN:Sorry for the lack of updates, family drama has kept me busy and technology hates me. first my phone downloads a corrupt software update so I had to do a hard factory reset on it and now the f key on my computer isn't working so when writing this I had to copy the letter f and ctrl + shift + V every time I needed to use the letter. I can't afford a new computer at the moment with my cat needing surgery and my car insurance due.

I also fucking hate my writing at the moment so anything I write is too bad to post in my mind, and I want to change so much with this story but I need to finish it first.

I tried.

Nobu's POV

I wanted to be annoyed at Ro for kissing Jasper, hell, I was mad at Jasper for kissing Ro, but somehow I couldn't bring myself to be angry at my mate. It might have something to do with the fact that Jasper was running around the house like a headless chicken.

Ro's eyes were still a little red from crying as well, and I was still wearing his shirt, which meant he wasn't. Eidolon purred in the back of my mind, forgetting his own displeasure at our mate kissing someone else and scent-marking them, more than happy to charm Ro out of his pants for the third time today, if only just to make a point on who he belonged to.

My attraction to Ro went far beyond his appearance, but needless to say, I liked the way he looked, a lot. Walking around half-naked was certainly distracting to me, I just knew how warm and soft his skin was, his body firm but still comfortable, his strong arms that made me feel safe, his calming heartbeat in my ears and against my cheek, the sparse hairs on his chest a little ticklish, his happy trail forcing my eyes lower until I was staring at hem of his low slung jeans, the v of his hips further leading me to his lower stomach where the thin trail of hair disappeared, the band of his boxers on show and the front of jeans cupped his generous... uhh...

'Dick?' Eidolon supplied helpfully with a knowing smirk. 'And he certainly is generous with it.' he purred, a few memories, some very recent flashing behind my eyes, curtsey of Eidolon, of just how generous Ro could be and I felt my face warm.

When Ro's back was turned it was no better, I don't know why but I found his back so... sexy... I always felt bad when I scratched it up, but clinging to his strong back, feeling the muscles shift and ripple beneath my fingers felt so right, the way he'd shiver and groan as my nails raked over his skin told me he liked it just as much.

'His arse is also fucking fantastic.' Eidolon added.

I mean... I'd always thought so, but after recent events, I'd acquired a new appreciation for it.

Part of me still couldn't believe I'd mated Ro, how could I be mad at him after that?

It wasn't like I thought he'd go against his promise, or be unable to let go of control in the moment and allow me to mount him, something the council and society told us was wrong for a man to want or to have experienced, and especially enjoy.

I think that was part of it, he hadn't held back his voice, he hadn't seen it as something to endure, he'd helped me give him pleasure, made it enjoyable for the both of us.

I also couldn't believe that I'd done it, sure I'd wanted to, and had initiated it, but it all seemed so surreal still.

I had memories of it happening so I know it had, I know why Ro liked to have sex with me so much now, it felt incredibly good being the one mated, but being the one mating was a slightly different type of incredible. It was empowering, I felt more comfortable in myself now, despite my smaller size I'd brought Ro pleasure... after he'd given me a little guidance, but still.

I felt closer to Ro now and I liked that my scent was mixed with his so thoroughly and he bore my mark on his shoulder.

After he'd done that for me, after what we'd experienced together... not just the sex, not even just the care he'd shown me or the comfort afterwards, or the way he cried. It had all been a great stress reliever for the both of us and as much as it had hurt seeing him that way I knew he needed to get it all out and he looked better for it.

I understood why Ro had kissed Jasper, and what he did after, when Cyrus got here Jasper would never seek Ro's affections again, at least I hope. The Sabre-toothed cat, if he was catlike at all would want to claim Jasper in some way and make sure my older brother was satisfied to prevent him from straying. I know Jasper just wanted to learn but it wasn't like anyone had shown me how to kiss before I kissed Ro, or anything else for that matter, we'd learned all of that together, as it should be, it makes each of my firsts feel more special since it was with my mate.

Ro had given us front seats to the show, he'd sat in the armchair in the sitting room and had pulled me onto his lap. I was still purring, snuggled up against his warm chest, almost a puddle on his lap as he nuzzled his cheek against my head, one of his hands caressing the bare skin of my thighs, the dry and slightly roughness of his larger hands along with their warmth brought me much comfort and I welcomed Spooks as she hopped up onto my lap and curled up, her purring mixing with my own as I gently pet her fur whilst I scratched under her chin in the way she loved, her blue eyes lidding and falling closed. My own weren't that far off despite the awaited arrival of Cyrus and I was in a dose when harsh and rapid knocks echoed from the entryway.

Jasper had frozen his previous pacing in front of the tv to Emelia's annoyance, Otto was unbothered and otherwise occupied with his computer, still steadily typing away like he'd been since he got home, briefly pausing his coursework for dinner of course and to refill his coffee cup but otherwise, he hadn't moved from his spot on the far end of the sofa, textbooks scattered on the coffee table beside the arm of the sofa and on the arm of the sofa, a pile of more at his feet along with pieces of paper filled with notes. Like always when he studied his headphones were on and he slightly bopped his head along to the music, I strained my ears for a moment, catching a riff from a Seether song I'd heard him play aloud in his room a few days previously.

Mum was in the kitchen making our lunches, I'd already gotten a worried lecture about how little I'd made of mine and Ro had suggested adding more fruit, and surprisingly some crackers and cheese, which gratefully my stomach seemed to approve of, although I didn't know if it would feel that way tomorrow when I came to eat it.

My dad had previously been in his office with the door ajar, finishing off some work no doubt but he left his office to answer the door, better him than anyone else.

A more impatient and blustered round of knocks sounded before dad reached the door, letting out an unimpressed and annoyed 'what?' as he opened it.

"Cyrus? What brings you here at this time in the evening?" my dad sounded worried, it was an almost constant tone in his voice by now and it made me feel guilty that I was mostly the cause.

"Jasper has tried to rile me up in order to progress our relationship, is he in at the moment?" I could tell Cyrus was trying to remain calm, especially in front of my father but there was an edge to his voice I'd never heard before, even if another student was being especially frustrating. It seemed the photo had succeeded in riling him up and from the way Jasper turned even paler, he knew that as well.

"Of course, he's in, it's almost six on a school night. Jasper! Get your butt here right now and explain yourself!" he shouted and then sighed heavily after. "I'm sorry about this Cyrus, I know you probably have papers to grade and lessons to plan, but this is what you're in for if your seriously considering taking Jasper as your mate in the distant, distant future."

Ro snorted a little at dad's words and Jasper managed a glare before reluctantly making his way out of the sitting room and down the hallway to the entranceway, muttering "it will be in the near, near future if I have anything to say about it." as he went.

"Well?" I heard dad huff.

"Ro sent that picture! Believe me, I tried to stop him!" Jasper whined out defensively.

"Was Ambrose also the one who made you look like that?" Cyrus questioned, his voice turning colder and full of silent rage.

Uh, oh.

A furious, lion-like roar echoed down the hall moments before Cyrus stalked down it and into the sitting room, guess he'd smelt Ro's aroused scent all over him.

You'd think Jasper would have the sense to change his clothes before Cyrus got here, and at least jump in the shower to wash the scent off, but no, then again he might have wanted Cyrus to focus his anger on Ro rather than himself.

Cyrus glared at Ro as he approached and to my surprise and pride Spooks let out a loud hiss, her fur standing on end and tail lashing as if she could sense Cyrus' anger and that it was aimed at her precious daddy that spoiled her to no end.

Ro looked proud as well and soothed our fur baby by running his hand down her back, smoothing down the raised fur and calming our ferocious kitty with a few cooed assurances and how good of a girl she was.

Cyrus' angry façade faltered for a moment and amusement flickered on his face before he schooled his features back into an expression that couldn't be misconstrued as anything but intense ire.

"You should teach that cat some self-preservation and basic sense after you learn yourself of course." Cyrus bit out to Ro.

"Says the feline who went extinct thousands of years ago." Ro fired back with a smirk.

That kinky bastard was enjoying this, wasn't he? Just because Jasper was a pushover when it came to teasing doesn't mean his possible future mate will be the same.

I hadn't seen Cyrus in my prophetic dreams, I'd seen Inaco, but now that I think of it they did act more like friends than mates, I also hadn't identified any of the many children as Jasper's, loads of Emelia's considering the amount of them that had Arnold's red hair. Then again I don't know if any of the other children were Ro's and I's either, I knew we were having at least three, the two boys in my belly right now and a girl a few years later but we'd barely be into our mid-twenties by then, something told me Ro would get me pregnant a few more times after that before he was content with the size of our litter, and even after that we might get an unplanned pregnancy or two, nothing was off the cards at the moment so I wasn't going to just believe that because I'd only seen three of our kids in my dreams that they were the only ones, keeping an open mind would mean I'd be less shocked than I was on Christmas day when I found out I was pregnant.

I honestly didn't mind how many cubs we ended up having, well... to a certain extent, there was a limit and I'm sure that after the twins were born that limit would get significantly lower, but I also believed that we'd have the amount of cubs that we were meant to have. My body wouldn't allow conception to happen if it thought we couldn't care for more cubs, if there weren't enough resources or if safety was a concern.

Cyrus' gaze then went to me and he regarded me with some confusion. "Why aren't you mad that Ambrose came onto Jasper?"

I barely held in a snort, if anything it was the other way around. "Jasper was the one who kissed Ro first, twice in fact, he should know better by now not to provoke Ro, and Jasper asked for Ro to teach him how to kiss, we both refused, obviously, but Jasper is stubborn and doesn't understand the meaning of no. If anything you should be teaching Jasper not to go around kissing those who already have mates. I can assure you I'm far from pleased by what happened but I know Ro returned Jasper's second kiss to mess with him, not because he had any to desire to, and he sent that picture so you'd hurry up and kiss Jasper so he'd stop asking." I finished with a huff.

"No desire to? Is your sense of smell compromised or something? Ambrose's aroused scent is all over Jasper." Cyrus practically growled and jabbed a finger in the shaking tiger's direction.

"My sense of smell is better than ever thank you very much." I harrumphed. "And if you cared to check that same scent is all over me too, and far more intense. Jasper burst in on a private moment between Ro and I, something he, unfortunately, does quite often." I paused to glare at Jasper before continuing. "It is your potential mate's bad timing that has put such a scent on his clothing, and kissing does require getting close enough to touch, holding someone down to forcibly kiss them even more so." I stared at him, daring him to challenge my words, a small smirk forming on my lips when he didn't immediately have a rebuttal at the ready, in fact, he was quiet and still for quite a few seconds.

His eyes then went wide and he took a step closer, Ro growling in warning when he stepped past that invisible line that was the border between a respectable distance and way too close.

Cyrus jumped at the growl and wisely stepped back passed the line, staring at me in disbelief, his eyes not focused on my face but far lower.

"...You're... pregnant?" he whispered hoarsely.

My hand flew to my neck, my collar not around it as it should be and I realised with horror that I hadn't put it back on before we came downstairs, I hadn't even thought about it.

I glanced back at Ro but he only placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and settled his hands over my stomach, a calming snuff puffing against my skin before he nuzzled his chin against my hair.

"Yes, he is." Ro declared with pride.

Cyrus's head whipped around to find my dad who'd been watching all this play out with crossed arms, leaning back against a wall and he raised a brow when Cyrus just continued to stare at him, as if waiting for some sort of confirmation or an explanation.

After a few moments more of just staring my dad sighed and relented. "Ambrose went into rut unexpectedly, we managed to confirm that Nobu was also in silent heat. They had protection, but evidently, it wasn't enough, it's sooner than expected but we're all happy."

"You let Ambrose mate Nobu whilst he was rutting at their age? You didn't keep them separated?" Cyrus exclaimed with shock and disbelief and my father's expression turned hard.

"That was not for me to decide. Ambrose helped Nobu through his heat and he wanted to help Ambrose through his rut."

"Ambrose could have hurt Nobu! A male in rut doesn't have any restraint and no sense can be spoken into them. Besides the last thing Ambrose's shift would have wanted was to use protection, how do you know they used it every time?." he challenged.

"Well, he didn't hurt me, if anything I hurt him! And for your information, Ro showed admirable restraint and he did listen to me when I spoke. Sure he wasn't happy about using protection but I insured we used it every time and made sure he understood we weren't doing anything until he was wearing a condom." I snapped, feeling quite offended he thought we'd be so irresponsible.

Cyrus' gaze went back to Ro. "Is this why you were so adamant about the unreliability of human contraceptives for shifters in our discussion earlier? Because they'd already failed you?"

I purred when Ro's arms squeezed me a little tighter, feeling warm and perfectly immobile against his strong chest, his lips pressing a wet kiss to my temple and I nuzzled back, ducking my head under his chin and pressed my forehead against the side of his neck. I breathed in his scent mixed in with mine, mewling softly as one of his hands ran through my hair, the other rubbing and gently squeezing my bare thigh.

"They've been ineffective, sure, human sizing doesn't work for shifters and the material is too flimsy for our physiological differences. We're not educated on their use, nor has any research been done on how our natural lubricant affects their durability and their too easy or our shifts to tamper with."

"Aren't they more you problems rather than shifter problems?" Jasper cut in, seeming to forget he was still in the bad books. "Human sizing doesn't work for you, not every shift has a magnum-sized dick and if you weren't so rough with my brother then I'm sure tearing wouldn't be such a problem." Jasper huffed. "And tumults are rare, it's not like every shift can take control whilst their human is sleeping and use a needle to poke holes in condoms."

"There is no use in arguing about that now." dad sighed. "The council won't provide a suitable contraceptive for shifters, and the point still stands that when mating for the first time no contraception can be used anyway, pregnancy is always a possibility with a mated pair, no matter how careful or cautious they are."

"The council encourages abstinence until a pair is ready for children because of that. They also advise isolating during times of increased fertility and not mating until the pair is older and at a time in life when they have steady jobs and are mentally and financially capable of raising young." Cyrus informed.

"So I'm expected to force my children to be apart from those they love knowing it will cause them pain? You know kids as much as I do Cyrus, and they will do what they want, our approval be damned. I'd rather my cubs be safe, happy and trust me. If I don't allow something under my roof then they'll find somewhere a lot more dangerous to do it and maybe with someone who would hurt them."

The wind went out of Cyrus's sails and he sighed deeply, nodding in defeat at my father's wise words. "I didn't intend to try and tell you how to raise your children Lukas." he apologised.

"It shows you care if nothing else, but what works, in theory, doesn't necessarily work in practice. You'll learn soon enough that saying no to Jasper means nothing to him. You can even try and explain your reasoning but he'll do what he wants regardless."

"You're damn right. I'm not waiting until I'm old to mate, fuck that, and it's not like we can have kids anyway." Jasper said to Cyrus.

Dad sent Cyrus a look saying 'see what I mean'.

Cyrus went over to Jasper, wrapping his arms around Jasper's leaner frame and staring slightly up at my brother with an unsure and almost pained expression. "There's no need to rush my sweet tiger." he rumbled softly and caressed Jasper's cheek.

Jasper chuffed and leaned into the touch but determination lined his features and filled his icy blue eyes. "There's no need to wait either and I'm tired of taking care of myself. If I have to go through another rut alone I'll go insane or do something really embarrassing. I know we've only just met but I really like you, Cyrus. I'm not saying we have to mate right now but I want more than the occasional conversation and hug, I really like your hugs but I'm going crazy here."

Cyrus chuckled and ruffled Jasper's crazy hairdo. "Plus those two fuck like bunnies, which is so unfair, and my dad put the parental controls on my phone so I can't read any juicy Wattpad stories or webcomics."

"You were reading about torture techniques." dad reminded him.

"It's BDSM dad, not torture, and Ro knows more about that stuff than me!" Jasper wined out defensively.

Dad's eyes landed on Ro and he lifted a questioning brow, silently asking if Jasper was telling the truth.

Oh dear, payback really is a bitch.