Chapter One: Our Baby
Michael
It’s been five months since Lyla and I returned home. She is in her last trimester. The heart inside my chest beat strong, even though Knight was still missing. The doctors had said it would take him a while to recover, but I hadn’t known it would take this long.
I could feel him moving beneath my skin, but his voice was still lost to me.
A knock sounded against my office door before Fari stepped inside carrying a thin packet.
“This came for you.”
I glanced at the front.
"No return address?”
“Could be more love mail from all of Lyla’s followers.”
Fari’s words didn’t bring me any comfort. Now that everyone knew about her powers, she was either worshipped or hated. Austin had sent half the royal guard to strengthen Lyla’s security. Now our home sat behind a wall of Lycans.
I didn’t like it at first until Lyla told me about the woman who had shown up. I wasn’t going to let my dislike for Austin’s son interfere with the guards that were sent to keep her safe.
I tossed the packet to the side.
“Anything else?”
“The hydropower plant passed its final inspection,” Fari said. “We can bring it online whenever you’re ready.”
“What about the additional housing?”
“The first section will be ready by the end of the week. We already have more applications than available homes.”
I ran my hand over my face. “We can’t fit everyone here. What is the pack saying?”
“They’re worried. They think they’re about to lose their Alpha and Luna. But we’re willing to move wherever you two go. We’ll follow.”
I couldn’t ask my people to pack up their lives and start over. Even those who were moving in. How could I say, Well, I know you just got here, but we’re leaving? Most of the people seeking to move here were from Dian, Lyla’s grandmother’s kingdom.
Brittany was one of the first transfers. After what she did for Lyla, I couldn’t turn her away.
“Jessie enjoying her new position?”
“You know she is. She said guarding Lyla doesn't even feel like working.”
“Good. Have—”
Pain tightened through my stomach, folding me forward over the desk.
“Michael?” Fari moved toward me. “Should I call the doctor?”
I pressed a hand against my stomach as another cramp twisted through me.
Michael. Lyla’s voice trembled through the link. The baby is coming.
“I have to go. She’s coming… The baby’s coming.” I scrambled to my feet.
Knight, I hope you can hear me. We need to get home.
I ran as fast as I could. Lyla’s screams bled through the woods the closer I got. I burst through the door and got ready to jump into the pool.
“Alpha, you can’t get in the water wearing all of that,” the birthing doctor warned.
I reached for the hem of my shirt. “Do I need to take my clothes off?”
“Seriously,” Lyla gritted out.
My hand stopped. I looked back at her and let go of my shirt. Eve was close to the surface. Lyla looked terrifying and terrified at the same time. I didn’t want to upset her.
“No.” I walked up to her. "What do you need from me?"
“I need you to rub my back.”
“Okay.”
I knelt beside the pool. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into her. She was shaking.
“Breathe, I’m here.” I rubbed circles over the lower part of her back. She took in my scent. Her nerves slowly started to calm down. “There you go.”
Her head rested against my shoulder.
“Our baby is coming,” she smiled up at me, already tired.
"She is.”
Lyla began to sway her leg back and forth.
“Is another contraction coming?”
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye down into the water. I massaged her back, hoping the pressure would help ease the pain.
“You know this is your fault, right?"
“Did John never tell you about the birds and the bees?”
Lyla bit my neck. “I’m talking about last night.”
I chuckled. The sound hummed in my throat. “That was your fault.”
“You should have told me no.”
My shoulders dropped a fraction. I knew Lyla wasn’t trying to throw my past mistakes in my face but knowing how our lives had played out because I refused to show her the affection she needed, I had vowed never to turn her down.
Her arms suddenly tightened around my neck. A cry tore from her throat as her body went rigid against me.
“I’ve got you.” I pressed my palm harder against her lower back. “Breathe, my air.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” I held her closer while the water churned around her.
The doctor moved closer to the pool. “Lyla, when the next contraction comes, I need you to push with it.”
Lyla lifted her head from my shoulder. Fear filled her pale eyes.
“Michael—”
I pressed my forehead against hers. “Bring our baby into this world.”
Her fingers tightened at the back of my neck as another contraction seized her.
“Push, Luna,” the doctor instructed.
Lyla screamed and bore down. Wind whipped through the living room, pushing against the windows. The ground shook, but the moment Lyla exhaled and the water turned pink, everything went still.
The birthing doctor reached into the water and guided our baby to the surface before placing her in Lyla’s arms. Lyla cried as she kissed all over our daughter.
“She’s perfect.” Lyla moved her so I could get a better look.
My vision blurred as I looked at my child. Pale ivory eyes stared back at me. They were exactly like her mother’s.
“Alpha?”
“Hmm?” I lifted my head.
“Would you like to cut the cord?”
“Yes.”
My hand shook as the doctor handed me the scissors. She had tied the cord in two places and pointed to where I needed to cut.
Lyla stayed in the pool until she delivered the placenta. The doctor checked our baby before examining Lyla.
“They’re both healthy. Keep her skin-to-skin. It’ll help with bonding and regulate her temperature.”
Once Lyla was ready, I helped her onto the pullout bed.
“Have you picked out a name yet?” the doctor asked.
I sat on the edge of the bed and glanced at Lyla. She had been keeping our daughter’s name a secret. I had given her plenty of options. Since she was a spring baby, I thought Lyla would have loved Daisy or Rose. After saying Dandelion out loud, I gave up.
“Her name is Harlison Snow Rivers.”
“Can you explain her name to me?”
“I can.” Lyla rested her head against my chest. “Harlison is a combination of your mother’s name, Addison, and my mother’s name, Harvest.”
I kissed her forehead. “And Snow?”
“Because of the winter flowers.” Her voice softened. “I wanted her to have something that connected her to the sibling she’ll never get to meet. At least not here.”
I held them both a little tighter. One child rested safely between us. The other a memory that lived in a field of winter flowers.
“Harlison Snow,” I whispered. “It’s perfect.”
