“No…that isn’t what Theo needs,” Colton replied softly.
“How the hell do you know what he needs?” shouted Wesley.
Colton remained silent for a moment before saying, “Because I know Theo and what he went through. He needs you, now…alive, not dead…to help him put the pieces of his life back together…to make him whole again. Only you and your wife can do that.”
“What about his mate? Isn’t he helping Theo?”
“Of course he is, but his mate cannot replace you or your wife.”
Shaking his head, Wesley muttered, “Then we’re all doomed. Without my bear’s strength, Theo and his cub will die, and if that happens, so will my wife.”
“Maybe not.”
“What do you mean?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Colton said, “You’ve already seen what I can do.”
Hope suddenly filled Wesley’s eyes as he remembered Colton had saved his wife. “You can help Theo survive his pregnancy?”
“If need be,” Colton said, “but medicine has come a long way in the last few years, and I’m confident Theo and his cub will be fine, though there is one thing you can do to help your son.”
“What? Anything!”
“Tell Mac everything you know about Ghost Bear pregnancies…especially those that happen before the age of 25.”
“I can do that, but I’m not an expert. Most of what I know has been handed down by word of mouth.”
“Old wives’ tales are usually based on truth.”
“Right,” Wesley murmured to himself, already thinking about the advice his mother had given him when Heather was pregnant with Theo. “I remember…
“Hold that thought,” Colton said. “It’s late, and you need some rest. We can talk tomorrow…after you've had breakfast and met with Jackson.”
Wesley opened his mouth to argue, but when a yawn emerged instead, he sheepishly looked at Colton and nodded. “It’s been a long day…a good one but still too long.”
Smiling, Colton said, “C’mon…let’s get you into bed.”
~/~/~/~/~
Logan followed Kieran, jotting down notes about his mate’s renovation ideas for Ian’s castle. He wasn’t sure how much time Ian, Colton, and their three children would spend in Scotland, but his mate was right about turning the cold, stone castle into a home filled with warmth and love. While it was up to Ian and Colton to provide the love, he certainly could give them the warm and cozy environment it now lacked. This job would be the biggest he had ever tackled, but he was confident he could do it.
“Macushla! Are you listening to me?” demanded Kieran.
“Huh?” Logan looked up at his mate, who was tapping his foot impatiently with his hands fisted on his hips in front of a huge, old, wooden door while displaying the most adorable pout he’d ever seen. “Of course I was…see all my notes,” Logan said, smiling and holding up his notebook.
“Humpf.” Kieran turned around and pushed the door open. “As I was saying, this was Ian’s room when he was a pup, and I thought it would be perfect for Lory but then maybe his two sisters should be in here with him too so then they would haveeach other’s company, you know, until they get used to living in Scotland and make new friends. Of course, maybe Ian and Colton want them to have their own rooms, and they can, but not at first cause I wouldn’t want them to be scared or lonely here. And this room is big enough for three cribs and everything else they need. But maybe Lili and Killi would prefer being in a room together since they are girls and you know how boys can be with teasing their sisters.”
“I don’t think that would happen until they were all older,” Logan said weakly, remembering the teasing his younger brothers had done to his sisters.
“Hmm,” Kieran hummed, walking around the room, looking out the windows and poking into the alcoves built into the stone walls. Stopping in front of the biggest window, Kieran murmured, “This faces east so they could see the sunrise every morning.” Then, swirling around, he pointed to the wall opposite him. “Their cribs should go there…it would be the perfect spot for them to see the pink sky before the sun appears.”
“Babe, you do know it rains a lot in Scotland, especially during the winter months.”
“That’s why this room needs to be done in shades of yellow and pinks cause that way they will be surrounded by a sunrise. Isn’t that the bestest idea I ever had? Can’t you see it now?” Kieran asked, twirling around with his arms outstretched. “All of these walls covered with yellow and pink fabric, bringing sunshine into each day regardless of the weather outside. The floor will have the softest, warmest rug, and the ceiling should be the Scottish blue sky. You know, I don’t think there’s a better blue than the blue of a Scottish sky…oh, and maybe there should be some white fluffy clouds floating in it…just like there are on a sunny day during the summer.” Looking at his mate, he asked,“Don’t you think it would just be perfecto for Lory, Lili, and Killi,macushla?”
Smiling tenderly at Kieran, Logan said, “I can’t imagine anything better for the prince and princesses. Why don’t you do a mood board for Ian and Colton so they can get an idea of what the finished spaces will look like?”
Grinning mischievously, Kieran said, “Already done.”