Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Three months later
Lore
“You’re impossible to track down,” Devon says, jogging in my direction.
“If you wake this baby up, I’ll have my mate stab you and bathe in your goddamned blood,” I hiss.
I’m walking with Marie and my daughter in the park down the road from my house, because she only sleeps with fresh air on her face. It means we’ve spent nights sleeping on the back porch together, and taking walks. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this many steps in my entire life.
My hand rubs Cat’s back where she stirs in the wrap strapped to my chest. She’s so damn tiny at a month and a half old, it’s unreal.
Marie named her Catriona, so we call her Cat for short.
Her blonde curls peak out from where her head is laying on me, and when she opens her eyes, her brilliant blue eyes make my heart clench with love.
She is perfect, just like Marie.
“Sorry,” he whispers. “You’re avoiding my calls.”
“Because you’re being obnoxious,” I say, continuing to walk. “If you want to talk, move your ass.”
“Cat needs a nap or I’m going to kill people,” Marie says sleepily. “Don’t make me become a serial killer, Devon. My baby needs me.”
“You’re so dramatic,” he sighs, though he starts to move his feet to keep up with us. “When was the last time you slept?”
“A month and half ago,” she says, yawning widely. “The day she was born.”
“Oh god,” he says, horrified.
“You learn to cope,” she shrugs. “Now, the reason he’s not picking up the phone is because I need him more. You’re welcome to bring your issues up with me, and my very unsympathetic self will listen to you.”
Devon pales at the thought, and I can tell he’s beginning to wonder why he rode all the way to Minneapolis.
“What made you decide to check the park?” I ask.
“I was driving past, and saw you,” he explains.
“So you haven’t been to the house yet,” Marie says.
“No…”
“Amelia is staying with us,” I say.
“Who?”
“Your sister,” I sigh. “Devon, what the hell?”
“I don’t know if she’s our sister,” he denies. “Maybe she just wants money.”
“She’s currently working part time and applying to the University of Lyons,” Marie says. “She’s not taking any money from us. Though, if she doesn’t get any of the scholarships she’s applying for, she’s going to find herself with a suspicious private grant.”
“That’s my girl,” I chuckle. “Why would anyone lie about having Callous James as their father, Devon? Come on, we don’t even want to be related to him.”
“Ugh, fine. What am I supposed to do with a sister, Lore?” my brother asks.
“Be nice to her,” I reply.
“Or answer to me,” Marie growls, looking around the park.
While we are here so that Cat will sleep, we also invited Tommy and his pack to meet the baby. So, we’re walking around until they get here since we left the house earlier than expected when our daughter began to show signs that she was falling asleep.
“Fine,” Devon groans. “You really did make an adorable baby. It’s too bad they’re all hell on heels when they grow up.”
“That’s such a blanket statement,” Marie says, rolling her eyes. “Try some new material, Prez. This shit is tired.”
“Burn,” I tease Devon.
“Ugh. Fine. So she’s at the house?” he asks.
“Yes. Remember: be nice,” Marie says. “She probably won’t open the door, but the guys are there. Try calling Ransom.”
“Yes, Mama Boss,” Devon snorts. “I’m planning to hang around for a few days. Is the baby too small to be held, or does she just kind of sleep in that baby pocket thing?”
“The baby carrier?” I ask, rolling my eyes. “Holding her is entirely up to Marie.”
“You have your mission,” my mate says with a shrug. “Go complete it.”
Tommy walks into the park as we turn to watch Devon ride up to the house. Marie’s brother is surrounded by his pack, and he smiles nervously as he walks toward us. He has a bag of things in his hand, and I’m curious as to how this will go.
While I know he’s trying, it’s hard to curtail bad habits over and over again.
“Hi, Marie,” he says, smiling. They’re not huggers, and he gazes at the baby’s head with wide eyes. I move the material so he can see Cat, and he grins. “She’s beautiful. You did so good, Marie.”
“Thanks,” she says. “She’s amazing.”
That’s the thing. It doesn’t matter how sleep deprived Marie is, she still adores her baby. I keep waiting for her to snap, or get angry, but she never does. We’re out here breaking generational curses one day at a time.
“Sorry, I can’t stop staring,” he says, chuckling.
Cerenity’s pack chats with us, and she coos to the sleeping baby.
“Ugh, this is giving me baby fever,” Cerenity sighs.
The guys freeze as they stare at her, but not one of them says anything to the contrary. It’s more as if she just shocked them in the best way possible.
“Most babies sleep,” Marie laughs. “Mine wants to be where she can hear people talking and the birds chirping. I can’t really blame her. I’m catching cat naps when I can. It’s hard not to stop staring at her.”
“Was it a hard birth?” Tommy asks, his ears turning red. He gets embarrassed over the most ridiculous things.
“My water broke at four in the morning,” she explains.
“We got in the car, up to labor and delivery, and then Catriona was born six hours later. She was a textbook birth honestly. My pain tolerance is so high, I was talking through contractions. The nurse wouldn’t have believed I was in labor if she wasn't watching my stomach have contractions. Labor was fine, Tommy.”
“Are you going to do this again?” he asks, waving toward the baby and I.
“Babies?” Marie laughs. “Oh yeah. Maybe a couple more times.”
She hadn’t mentioned this to me yet, and I grin widely with excitement. A house full of kids sounds fucking awesome to me.
“I don’t blame you,” he says. “She’s adorable. It’s making Blue want one. I, ah, brought you a few things. I didn’t know if you’d want any of this...”
“Tommy,” Cerenity sighs. “Use your words.”
“Fine, fine,” he grunts, pulling out a tartan blanket. “This is one of the softest, warmest blankets. I was downtown meeting with someone, and I saw that they’re imported from Scotland. Cerenity mentioned that you’re sleeping outside a lot with Cat, so I thought of you.”
Marie takes the blanket and smiles softly, taken aback. Yeah, he did good. Offer an omega a blanket, and chances are she’ll like it. Offer it for her baby?
Forget about it.
“I’ll definitely be using this. Thank you, Tommy.”
“Welcome. I also found a robe for you to sit outside. It’s more for the winter, but it’s warm…”
As he continues to show her what’s in the bag, I quickly realize they’re all things for Marie to use. Often, the emphasis is on the baby, and people forget about the mom keeping that kiddo alive. Damn.
Who would have thought he had it in him?
“This is all amazing. Thank you,” Marie says, brushing away tears.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asks, worriedly. “Are these good tears?”
“Yes,” she laughs. “Really good tears.”
“Good,” he breathes. “I just wanted to bring some things for you. The baby has everything she could ever want since she has you.”
Marie throws herself into his arms, and he hugs her tightly, even though he looks as if he’s worried he’ll break her. Tommy may have a lot to work through, but I think he and Marie will be alright.
Soon after, they say goodbye to us, and I thread my fingers through hers.
“One more loop around the park before we go back?” I ask.
“That sounds great,” she says, her lips curving up as she leans against me.
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