Chapter Text
The garden of the main house was large and lush, surrounded by tall oak trees that had grown alongside the family. The gentle breeze of early summer caressed the leaves, filling the air with the fresh scent of freshly cut grass and wildflowers that Ten had planted years ago. The sun, at its peak, bathed everything in a golden light, and although the heat was beginning to be felt, the weather was still pleasant. It was a typical early summer day, perfect for outdoor training.
Johnny stood in the center of the garden, watching with a fatherly smile as his two sons, Mark and Yangyang, practiced with the wooden spears. Each blow resonated loudly, and the sound of the boys' laughter broke the silence of the place. Mark, at sixteen, was already almost as tall as his father, while Yangyang, with his inexhaustible energy at fourteen, moved with impressive speed, but also with the carefree attitude typical of his age.
“Come on, Mark!” Yangyang shouted, dodging a punch from his older brother. “You’re slower than an old bear.”
Mark, with a sly grin, responded with a quick punch that Yangyang barely dodged.
“That’s because you don’t want to fight seriously. If I don’t try hard, how will you learn?” Mark countered with a spin, but Yangyang managed to get out of the way just in time.
Suddenly, the laughter and practice were interrupted when Ten appeared through the back door of the house, walking with a tray in his hands. His belly, already swollen with the new puppy, moved slightly to the rhythm of his steps. He had been watching his family in these moments for years, and every time he saw them together, love and peace filled his heart. Johnny, with his strong and dominant bearing, always so protective of his puppies, and the boys, who had grown so fast, were living proof of how far they had come.
“Enough of the punches for a while!” Ten said with a smile. I brought you something to replenish your energy. There are sodas and sandwiches for everyone.
Johnny looked up and smiled as he saw his omega approaching. There was a serenity on his face that made him feel at home, no matter where he was. He walked over to Ten and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” he whispered, taking one of the sodas from the tray. “Just in time, these two are draining their energy for nothing.”
Mark and Yangyang immediately dropped their spears and ran to the sandwiches.
“Thanks, mom!” Yangyang exclaimed as he grabbed one of the larger sandwiches. “I was starving.”
“And when am I not?” Mark mocked as he grabbed his own sandwich.
Ten, with a soft laugh, settled down next to Johnny, watching his children. Although the day was perfect, there was something more important on the horizon.
“Finish up soon, you have to get ready.” “I know,” he said firmly, glancing especially at his pups. “It’s the summer solstice, and they need to be ready before the sun goes down.”
Mark sighed, glancing sideways at his father and then at his mother, clearly not wanting to interrupt the training.
“I know, I know. I promised to help Winter with the campfire.”
Yangyang let out a mocking laugh, taking another sip of his drink.
“Ha! I’m sure it’s not just the campfire you’re interested in, bro. Winter’s been talking about you all week.”
Mark instantly blushed, shooting Yangyang a withering glare.
“So what if it is?” Mark replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “You talk like we don’t know you’ve been making eyes at Sungchan’s younger sister, Ningning.”
Yangyang, startled, dropped his sandwich in surprise. Mark smiled triumphantly, knowing he had hit the mark.
“That’s not true!” Yangyang protested, trying to hide his discomfort as his ears turned red. “I… I’m just being nice to her. Nothing more!”
Ten let out a soft laugh, and Johnny, who had been watching the entire exchange with a smile, finally decided to step in.
“Enough with the jokes, guys,” Johnny said, his voice deep but affectionate. “Listen to your mother. It’s an important night, and you need to be ready before it gets dark.”
Mark and Yangyang nodded immediately, both knowing that even though their father was usually laid-back, when he gave an order, it was best to obey it. They put down the remains of their sandwiches and sodas, and without another word, they ran into the house to get ready.
“These guys…” Ten muttered, shaking his head, though he couldn’t help but smile.
Johnny put an arm around her and pulled her closer to his side, his hand resting gently on Ten’s belly.
They're just like you, you know? Ten jokes, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "They have your energy, your fire."
Johnny looked at him with eyes full of love, a mischievous smile on his lips.
“And is that a bad thing?” Johnny asks, raising his brow.
Ten let out a deep laugh, shaking his head.
“Never”, Ten replies, wrapping his arms around his alpha’s neck.
The afternoon sun was beginning to tint and spread across the sky in warm shades of orange and gold, while a gentle breeze swayed the leaves of the trees in the huge garden. The last few days, the weather had been perfect, neither too hot nor too cold, and the fresh air of early summer made everything feel balanced. The natural landscape around them, with the wild flowers and tall oak trees, gave them the peace they valued so much in their home.
Ten sighed deeply, rubbing his huge belly with one hand. He was tired, not only from the advanced pregnancy, but also from the energy of his children and the preparation for the summer solstice. Despite everything, there was a calmness in his face, a serenity that only love and the certainty of a bright future could bring. However, his eyes revealed an undeniable physical tiredness.
Johnny, who had been silently watching Ten as his sons ran off to get ready, stepped forward and wrapped him in a firm but tender hug. His hands, rough from years of leadership and training, softened against Ten's skin. He pulled Ten closer to his chest, allowing him to rest his head against his strong torso.
“You’re tired, sweetheart,” Johnny murmured in a low, almost purring voice. “You should get some rest before the celebration.”
“I will soon,” Ten replied in a whisper, “but right now, I like being here, with you.”
Johnny looked down at Ten’s prominent belly, his expression changing from concern to pure adoration. Slowly, he crouched down, placing one firm, protective hand on the rounded belly, while the other gently caressed it. Ten’s warm skin, full of life inside, thrilled him. With infinite tenderness, Johnny pressed his lips to the belly, leaving a soft kiss.
“I can’t wait for him to be born,” he murmured against the skin. “It doesn’t matter if he’s an omega or an alpha, I will love and care for him forever. I will teach him to be a strong wolf, just like his brothers.”
Ten watched him from above, feeling the heat in his chest expand with each of Johnny’s words. But then, as Johnny spoke of his plans, Ten smiled with a mix of sweetness and nervousness. He leaned slightly towards him, his voice shaky but full of emotion.
“Johnny…” he interrupted softly. “It’s not a he.”
Johnny frowned, looking up at him, but not taking his hand off his belly. Ten swallowed, his gaze beginning to shine with unshed tears.
“It’s a girl, Johnny.”
The alpha stood still, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, the words didn’t seem to make sense, and then, like a bolt of lightning, understanding hit him.
“A girl?” he whispered in shock, his voice barely audible, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
Ten nodded, his eyes filling with tears that now fell unrestrained.
“A girl,” he replied between soft sobs, his voice cracking with emotion.
Johnny couldn’t move immediately. The world around him seemed to stop. A daughter. He had two sons that he already adored, but the idea of a girl… It was something he had never imagined so clearly, and yet, hearing Ten say it, everything seemed to fit together perfectly. His heart began to pound, a mix of surprise, overwhelming joy, and unconditional love filling him from head to toe.
He slowly stood up, wrapping Ten in his arms tighter than before, as if he wanted to embrace not only his omega, but also the little miracle growing inside him. His lips found Ten’s in a soft kiss, full of love and unspoken promises. Afterward, he rested his forehead against his, closing his eyes for a moment, letting the emotion envelop him completely.
“A girl…” Johnny repeated in a reverent whisper. “My girl… our girl.”
Ten, still crying, nodded and let out a soft laugh through his tears.
“Yes… our little girl.”
Johnny let out a low, excited laugh as a furtive tear rolled down his cheek. He wasn't the kind of man who cried often, but right now he didn't care. The late afternoon sun bathed them in warm light, and everything around them seemed perfect.
"I'm going to take care of them," Johnny said, his raspy voice thick with emotion. "I'm going to protect them with everything I am. God, a little girl... I can't wait to meet her, to hold her... and teach her to be strong like you."
Ten smiled through his tears, his hands resting on Johnny's, which were still caressing the omega's belly.
"And she's going to have your strength too," he replied sweetly. "And your heart... full of love and kindness."
The warm summer air enveloped them in a bubble of love and promises, as the sun began to descend behind the trees, covering the garden in soft shadows. It was a moment of peace, a reflection of the future they would build together with their little daughter, and with their two sons already strong and full of life. Everything was perfect, as it always had been since they had each other.