Page 34 of Puck of My Life

“Are you okay?” He was already squatting in front of me.

“Yeah. I’m just—I think I’m in labor.”

“I’ll call the midwife.”

“No. Have your wolf walk around with me, and I’ll tell you all about my new job.”

The midwife had told me that walking during labor was good. She said it made everything easier, and I was wanting easier.

Archie shifted back and walked along my side. It wasn’t long before the pack members started to figure out what was happening. I had offers of casseroles, doing housework, coming to sit with me, and running errands. Anything and everything they thought they could do to help. It was sweet. But, eventually, it got to be too much, and we went home.

That was when I did have my mate call the midwife, despite knowing that we were probably looking at a few more hours at least. Archie was getting too antsy watching me in labor, and if calling made him feel better, calling it was.

It turned out to be pretty good timing because the midwife arrived just as the intensity and frequency kicked up a notch. I could no longer continue walking while contracting. She was great, talking me through what was happening, and more importantly, helping my mate not be too overstressed.

It shouldn’t have surprised me that this was harder on him than me at this point. He was very overprotective of me on a good day. Seeing me cry out had to be difficult for him. It would be for me if this was in reverse.

It was close to midnight when the midwife determined that it was time to push. I’d had so many plans of how I wanted to deliver. Being on my knees, squatting, being outside by the river were just a few. But now that it was time, I had no energy for any of that and ended up on my back, because it was all I thought I could handle physically.

My mate reclined behind me, and I settled my back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, and I held onto them as I pushed and pushed and pushed. And then when I didn’t think I could push anymore, the midwife told me to stop and breathe.

The break was short and she had me pushing again. It was when the burning sensation hit that I knew it was time.

“You’ve got this, honey.” My mate kissed the top of my head, which was now drenched in sweat.

He’d been praising me the entire labor, but this was exactly what I needed to hear. I doubled my efforts and gave the final push.

The screams of our little one filled the air.

“He’s beautiful,” the midwife said. She cleaned him up enough to set him on my chest.

I looked down at our little one.

“What are you gonna name him?” the midwife asked.

“Joseph,” my mate and I said in unison.

“Is that a family member?”

“No.” I chuckled at the ridiculous way I knew this was going to sound. “He was my coworker who needed his appendix out and made me cover his story while he had surgery.”

She didn’t know what to make of that and instead asked Archie if he wanted to cut the cord. Which he did.

After she left, the three of us lay on the bed together, our little one having an early-morning snack.

“He’s so perfect.” It wasn’t the first, nor did I think it would be the last time he’d said that. “Thank you for making me a father.”

“Thank you, for protecting me when I didn’t know I needed it and keeping me safe until it was time to start our life together. I love you, alpha mine.”

“Not as much as I love you.”

EPILOGUE

WALTER

Pack runs had been my initial true connection to the other pack members, and I always enjoyed them. But now that I was a dad, they were quickly becoming my very favorite thing. I didn’t feel left out because I couldn’t run. I mean, I suppose I could run in human form, but I wasn’t doing that for anything. Even in my youth when I thought I was the fastest, fast runner to ever run, there’d been no way I could keep up with a wolf.

I cherished the community of it. I loved that we all brought our favorite food to share. I enjoyed seeing kids everywhere, giggling and having fun. There was something special about the pack chatting without having to rush off to work, answer a phone, or run an errand. It was like a slow, leisurely, amazing time to just be together. And today was no exception.