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Adelaide was still sore from the night before but was smiling and relaxed when Gavin stepped out the door.
"I'm going to be away for the next two weeks, but will message on my way back."
Adelaide nodded, watching as Gavin drove away. She couldn't wait to begin preparing the lesson plans for the morning.
The children were smiling and happy when he'd tucked them into bed for the night, promising to bring something home from his trip. They were so excited about going to the ranch and loaded with sugar from the birthday cake. Overall, it had been a good twenty-four hours.
The lights were still on when Gavin drove up the winding gravel driveway. Home. It had only been a month and yet, when he was at the ranch, Gavin felt like he was returning to where he was meant to be. It was a long shot and would never happen, but Gavin wished Adelaide would accept the situation and move to the ranch as well. It would save the commute and it would be far easier not to be leading a secret life. Hearing the sisters talk today gave him a glimmer of hope that one day it just might be possible to have both of his wives and his children under the same roof. He needed to think longer about the logistics. If no one breathed a word about his connection with Arlana, he could possibly mention it on Canada Day. The timing would be the best.
Gavin didn't waste any time, kicking his shoes off at the door before taking the stairs two at a time as he headed toward their bedroom. He needed Arlana like a man needs air, but she was fast asleep, her hair fanning the pillow. It was probably for the best, Gavin realized as he hadn't showered that morning. Stripping, he grabbed the towel and a fresh pair of pants before heading to the washroom.
Scrubbing hard, Gavin once more thought about his plan. He was relatively certain Arlana would be okay with it and of course, the children would be. Again, it would depend on Adelaide. She would never have to know that he and Arlana were intimate with each other. He could keep it under wraps - at least for a short while until Adelaide made friends and put down roots. Drying off, Gavin tugged on his pants before heading back downstairs to make a coffee.
Turning on the kitchen light, he wasn't expecting to see Marina-Lynne pressed up against the wall with Arthur making out with her like a randy high school student, both jumping when they realized they'd been caught.
"I didn't hear you pull in," Arthur admitted, looking over his shoulder. "For a moment I thought she was off work early."
Gavin didn't say anything as he poured coffee into a mug.
Marina-Lynne spoke first, running her fingers through her long hair before tying it up in a messy bun.
"Arlana knows about us. That's why she got Orania a job at the club - at least I think it is. Well, it keeps her busy all night, but Orania doesn't know so please don't say anything..."
Gavin shrugged, taking a sip of the steaming liquid.
"I have two wives so I am not exactly in a position to judge, if you know what I mean. So, what's the plan? Are you guys just going to keep hiding behind the bleachers, as it were, or are you going to tie the knot like Arlana and I? "
"It's complicated," Arthur sighed, pouring another cup of coffee. "Are you heading back up or do you have time to talk?"
"Arlana's sleeping so I thought I'd make a coffee. Sure, I have time."
"Okay, well, you know about bloodlines right? Do you know how Arlana was impregnated during that ritual?"
"Yes, I was there."
"Well, everyone that comes to the club, or has any association with it, has to have their blood test done first. My results came back that I have...I have the seals."
"All four? Like Arlana?"
"Not quite. How do I say this? Well, I heard that you don't want to know about your biological family. Is that still true?"
"Not really. Since being involved with the club, having a family has begun to mean more to me. I get it, but I am not quite ready to find out who my mother is and why she just abandoned me."
"That's understandable. Well, here goes. The results came back that you and I are brothers."
"What?!"
"Ya, it took me as a surprise too, but I can also see it. We are rather similar if you stop and think about it. We have an older brother - he is a missionary in Romania. You are a lot like him, actually."
"A missionary?"
"No, not that. You have similar features. Anyway, we have the three seals and are both part of the wolf clan. You know how Mollie and Arlana are focusing on genetics and DNA. Well, I can't just have kids with anyone. I think Orania might know. All these years she has never let me...you know...normally. There is no way we can have kids. She never came out and told me why we can't be normal, but that's just the way things are.
I don't mind really, but if I do marry Marina-Lynne as you did... What I'm trying to say is we can't have kids together. She will have Invitro and I have agreed to it - we do want children, even if not biological and this way Marina-Lynne will know how it feels to be pregnant.
As for me, I will wait until the next ritual and Mollie has assured me that it will be by insemination. It's an honor, really, but something I still need to wrap my head around."
"I see..." Gavin grew quiet, realizing that, as his brother, Arthur should have been at their last ritual.
This was all a lot to take in.
"So," Marina-Lynne reached for Arthur's hand before changing the topic. "How did it go at home? Does Addy have any idea? Arlana mentioned she agreed to come on Canada Day. You'll have to be a good boy and keep your hands to yourself."
Gavin grinned as Marina-Lynne laughed.
"No, she has no clue, but I was thinking of suggesting to her on Canada Day that she and the kids move here. James has agreed that I can build a house closer to the river. If we keep things quiet for the first little while, I don't see why I couldn't keep it a secret and I'm sure Arlana will be okay with it. She'll see me on weekends this way..."
"You're playing with fire, Bro," Arthur chuckled, "but why not? You're wasting unnecessary time driving back and forth. Speaking of which, I took the liberty of calling our brother. He wants to meet with you when you head to New Brunswick. Timothy is back on furlough and will meet you at the border. Well, I'll give you the details before you leave. When are you planning on heading out?"
"I'd like to be on the road before noon," Gavin glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just past 1 am.
"I found a website that sells period clothes," Marina-Lynne pulled out her phone, showing Gavin what she had found. "I can message you the link, but that is where we bought our outfits from. They say it should arrive in two weeks, but I wanted to make sure we have plenty of time just in case of a shipping delay."
"This is great. Thank you. Well, I'll let you two get back to whatever before Orania gets home," Gavin winked before placing his mug in the kitchen sink.
Arthur chuckled before Gavin stepped out of the room, his focus on the website. It didn't take Gavin long to order costumes for him and his son - matching but in different sizes, along with accessories for Joshua. The girls came next - a purple dress for Sarah with shoes from that time period as well as for Isabella, but her dress in pink. Adelaide's dress was green with small white flowers in the pattern.
Arlana's was more difficult - at least Gavin thought so. He finally settled on pink satin in an off-the-shoulder dress that was more revealing than Adelaide's. It suited the wife of a mayor or captain - the style from the French courts of the day. The dress was as stunning as his gorgeous bride, but Adelaide would never wear a dress like that - not without putting a turtleneck on underneath. Gavin rolled his eyes at thought but knew it wasn't an exaggeration.
Placing the order, Gavin wasted no time in pulling off his pants. Slipping beneath the covers, the bed shifted beneath his weight as his hands found Arlana's body. Moments later, Gavin found a slow and steady rhythm, Arlana moaning softly as she welcomed her husband home, completely forgetting that Zek was under the blankets, having woken up during the night from a nightmare.
Zek sat up in the bed, pushing the blanket away from his face as he stared for a long moment at Gavin's naked body as he made love to the child's mother just to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
"What are you doing, Uncle Gavin?"
The soft light of the moon had revealed too much, their naked bodies and limbs entwined.
"Damn," Gavin swore beneath his breath before he flipped over holding Arlana on his lap, their bodies still joined together. "Your mother is going to have a baby and I was helping rock him to sleep."
Arlana flushed as Gavin winked at her. The excuse was ridiculous and Arlana wasn't planning on telling Zek about the new baby until she was really showing, but it was too late now.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Gavin struggled to focus as he draped the blanket over their bodies before finding a rhythm once more, only slower.
"I was dreaming wolves were eating my mother."
"Mmm," Gavin groaned, his voice husky at the image of what Zek must have witnessed the previous night during the celebration. "Well those wolves have returned to their den now and your mother is just fine, right? Let's get you tucked into bed."
Zek nodded a moment before Gavin whispered against Arlana's lips, "I'll be right back. Hold on, Baby, I'm just getting started."
Gavin returned a few minutes later, the moonlight dancing on his body, illuminating his muscles.
"I need you," Arlana whispered, holding out her hand to her lover and husband.
"Trust me, it's mutual. I think we should head out soon, though, before Zek wakes up. If we leave before he gets up for the day, hopefully Zek will think it was all just a dream. I worry he might say something..."
"I hadn't thought of that..."
Arlana didn't think of that or much else for the next few hours.
Scribbling a note explaining they had left for their honeymoon tucked into an envelope with a hundred dollars to help with groceries and any emergencies, Gavin swept Arlana off her feet, carrying his bride out the door and to the waiting car, the stars above winking at the couple below.
"I'm driving straight through 'till we get to a hotel."
"You're insatiable," Arlana laughed as Gavin winked, but didn't deny it.
"And you, Baby, are my perfect match."
"Mmm."
Hoarse laughter filled the vehicle as Gavin attempted to focus on their destination.