Chapter 379: Family Planning

An hour later, we were a ridiculously cheerful group when Roger and Cora joined Sinclair and me in his small clinic room. Roger burst through the door, his face etched with worry, having learned—likely from Hank—that Sinclair was awake.

"Dominic—" he began, anxiety lacing his voice. Cora followed, quietly closing the door. Roger stopped dead in his tracks, seeing Dominic sitting up in bed, smiling at Rafe, who had just woken from his nap and finished eating. I had a front-row seat beside Sinclair.

"Hey, Rog," Sinclair greeted his brother with a warm smile.

"Seriously?" Roger stared, dumbfounded. "You slept for three days after a miraculous healing, and all I get is 'Hey, Rog'?"

Sinclair frowned, confused. "What else do you want?"

Roger threw up his hands in exasperation. "Something more significant, I guess—some acknowledgment of the fact that you had us worried sick."

Cora crossed to Sinclair's side, kissing his cheek. "Ignore him," she said cheerfully. "He's just had a rough couple of days groveling to Hank after punching him in the face and almost handing Rafe back to his kidnapper."

Roger scowled, shoving his hands in his pockets and glaring at us. "Seriously? Three days later, and I still can't get a break about that?"

I raised my eyebrows, gesturing between Cora and myself. "We've forgiven you," I said, enjoying his awkwardness a little. "But Dominic hasn't even had a chance to be mad. And Rafe? When we tell him in ten years, he's going to be furious."

Roger clenched his fists, his anger resurfacing. Sinclair, to my amusement, played along.

"You're demoted," he declared with an alpha's authority, glaring at his brother. "No longer my beta, Roger. I'll find you some menial task; maybe you can earn my trust back."

Roger gasped, his face falling. But the slow smile spreading across Sinclair's face had Cora and me cackling. Roger quickly caught on.

"Jackass," he growled, smacking his brother's calf.

"Ow!" Sinclair feigned injury, flinching. "Roger, I'm healing—"

Our renewed laughter left Roger speechless. He crossed his arms and glared. "I reject you all," he muttered, looking at each of us in turn. "I break the bonds of mate, of family, of…sister-in-law," he continued, fighting a smile. "Because I refuse to spend my life bonded to jerks who revel in my guilt and pain—"

Sinclair interrupted, laughing and looking at Rafe, who cooed and smiled. "Oh, get over it, Roger. It's fine. No one blames you for anything. Except maybe Hank."

Roger groaned, sitting on the edge of the bed as Cora put an arm around him. "I almost wish it was Hank who betrayed us and tried to kidnap Rafe," he murmured, looking up at her. "Then I wouldn't have to be nice to him."

Cora frowned insincerely. "Poor baby. You'll just have to get over it. And, of course, admit I was right."

"Never," Roger growled, pulling her close, making her laugh.

Sinclair shifted Rafe, who he hadn't put down since receiving him. "How's the baby, Cora?" he asked. I watched, pleased by the obvious love between my mate and his son.

Cora smiled, placing a hand on her stomach. "The baby's okay. I lost a lot of blood, but after Ella healed me," she shrugged, meeting Sinclair's gaze, "we were anxious for a day or two, but Roger says the connection is still strong. I don't think there's any reason to worry anymore."

Sinclair raised an eyebrow. "Good. Rafe needs his buddy."

Cora raised an eyebrow sarcastically. "Oh yes, as long as Rafe gets his buddy, I'm glad my pregnancy can continue."

I sighed, leaning against my mate. "Precisely the right attitude, sis."

Sinclair leaned back into me. "Where's Dad?"

Roger nodded toward the door. "In another room. He's okay, but tired. And I think he feels a lot of guilt." He grimaced. Henry and the other men had been badly hurt at the bunker. They'd won, but not without loss. Henry felt immense guilt.

We—except Sinclair—had spent considerable time convincing Henry that we'd all agreed to the plan. But he hadn't let it go.

Roger shook his head. "You should talk to him. He might listen to you."

Sinclair's eyes fixed on his son. "I will," he said seriously. I sensed his hope that he'd never put Rafe in a similar situation, or fail him as his father felt he'd failed his children.

I pressed closer, sending love and reassurance through our bond. Sinclair kissed my forehead gratefully. I nudged him with my nose as he turned back to his brother. Instead of Roger, my eyes fell on Cora, who looked at me with a strange expression. She blushed and looked away.

It was jealousy. While she and Roger were incredibly close, she lacked the wolf bond I shared with Sinclair. I knew, in my heart, she desired it, perhaps even feeling guilty about not being able to provide it for him.

My face fell. I called her name softly, but she shook her head, not wanting Roger to know she felt she had failed him in some way. My heart ached knowing she felt his choice meant sacrificing aspects of his ideal relationship.

I nodded, promising secrecy. She nodded back gratefully.

Sinclair's words drew my attention. "We have to decide what our next step is. What we want to do next. As a family."

"Really?" I asked, surprised. "No more reconnaissance meetings? No more boardroom councils? Just…us?"

Sinclair glanced at Rafe, who made a happy sound. "Those didn't work, did they? Dad will be involved, of course, but moving forward…" He looked at us, trying to gauge our feelings. "I promised Ella peace, and I meant it. But the best way forward is to stick together. Us four. No more splitting up. We have work to do."

Cora raised an eyebrow. "Well, I like it. We've got a doctor, two gigantic wolves, a goddess-gifted healer… I think we're quite a force to be reckoned with."

"Hey," I frowned, "I'm a wolf too."

"Fine," she said loftily, "two and a half gigantic wolves."

"And one and a half tiny babies!" I pointed out, tickling Rafe. "Who are very cute, if helpless!"

Sinclair chuckled. "They're here for morale."

Roger nodded. "So, we stick together. But what do we want to do next?"

We looked at each other, realizing we had no plan.

What on earth were we going to do next?