Reluctantly His

Epilogue

"How long has it been?" Wolfric asked for the thousandth time.

"Only a couple of hours," Dolf replied.

Everyone sat in the living room trying to watch television. The only two members of the household who were missing were Raed and Lexi. They were upstairs in the bedroom with the midwife. Lexi had gone into labor a few hours before.

Nika thought the strain of waiting for it to be over was harder on the warriors than herself and Kamryn. Wolfric had begun pacing the floor shortly after the midwife had arrived. Dolf kept flipping through the TV channels, never settling on one station for very long. Brand, being his usual quiet self, seemed to be taking it in stride, but Nika had caught him gazing up at the ceiling from time to time. Algar appeared to be less anxious than the others. Nika had to think having Kamryn with him helped.

Nika turned her head to look at Garrick, who sat next to her on one of the leather couches. "How are you holding up?"

He smiled. "Fine. I'm just glad it isn't you up there. I don't know if I'm ready to watch you go through labor."

Nika had been waiting to tell her mate until later that night, but since he'd brought the subject up, she said, "Do you think you'll be able to handle it in eight months?" The room went completely silent. Nika looked around to find all eyes on her.

Garrick swallowed audibly. "Are you telling me you're pregnant?"

"Surprise," she said just before her mate gathered her in a crushing embrace.

Nika smacked his back. "I may be immortal now, but I still need to breathe."

He loosened his hold, but didn't let her go. "I'm going to be a father."

"I don't know if I can handle going through another birth so soon," Wolfric said from his side of the room.

Just then, the sound of a newborn baby's cries sounded from upstairs. Everyone in the room rushed out of the living room to stand at the bottom of the stairs that led to the upper level. A few minutes later, Raed appeared at the top carrying a well-wrapped bundle. He came down the steps wearing the biggest grin Nika had ever seen.

"Lexi knew you would all be impatiently waiting, so she told me to bring the baby down." He pulled back the blanket from the child's face. "It's a girl."

They all looked at Lexi and Raed's daughter and congratulated him. At the sight of the newborn's precious face, Nika couldn't wait to hold her own baby in her arms.

Garrick pulled her close and moved her a little away from the others. She looked at him.

"Will you be ready to have one of those?"

He kissed her forehead. "I think so." Garrick then put his hand on her still-flat stomach. "I'm looking forward to seeing your belly grow big with my child."

"And I'm looking forward to sending you out into the night to pick up whatever food I start craving."

"Whatever my woman wants, my woman gets."

Nika sighed contentedly and leaned back into Garrick's embrace. She'd definitely gotten one of the things she wanted—a werewolf for a mate who would do everything in his power to keep her happy.

~The End~