Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Two and a half years later
Syrus
Fuck, I’m late. Running my hand through my hair, I hope it stays put as I walk quickly to the restaurant. It’s Silva and Lexi’s birthday today, and we’re having a big birthday dinner with both packs, as well as my sister and her pack.
It took me a while to warm to Maeve’s new pack because in my mind, no one is good enough for her, but I know that is my issue and not hers. I’m trying hard not to be overbearing.
My shift went over even though I tried my damnedest to get home in time to shower. Add in the fact that I’m in charge of picking up the ring, and it was kind of a shit show.
Now, I’m dressed in a suit, my blonde hair is slicked back, my shoes are even fucking shined. January is usually a cooler month, so I threw on my nice coat over it all.
The Gilded Skull is an upscale restaurant that opened recently, and is doing very well. They host daytime events for young professionals, wine tastings at happy hour, and have been doing really well. They also have a back room to host our huge family, along with the Widows.
Walking into the restaurant, I give the hostess an apologetic smile. It’s a Friday night, and they’re really busy.
“Sheriff, they’re just straight back. Would you like me to walk you?” she asks with a smile.
“No, that’s alright. I can make it. Thank you,” I reply, walking across the restaurant to the back room.
Everyone glances up, and Silva gives me a wide smile. God, does she fucking light up a room. She smiles and laughs more these days too.
“Happy birthday, you two,” I say. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Don’t be,” Silva says, moving her purse from the chair next to her. Fuck, she even saved me the seat nearest her.
Lexi is sitting on the other side, and Izzy smirks as he watches me puff up with happiness as I walk around to sit beside her. We have a huge table, allowing everyone to talk and chat.
“Everything good?” Silva asks as I kiss her cheek.
“Perfect now that I’m here,” I grin. “Everyone made it.”
“They did,” she says. Leena, Lexi’s two year old daughter, is playing with Sloane, giggling and having a good time. She’s such a well behaved little girl, you just have to keep her busy, like any kid.
The waitress comes by and gets drinks, and Harlan raises his brow at me. Nodding, I raise my brow back to see when we're going to ask her. Kyren holds up a finger as he scratches his forehead, and I decide to cool my jets.
“Having a Widow's birthday is like a national holiday,” Luna grins. “How many people tried to gift you guys things today?”
“My chai was free today,” Silva says.
Chai? What weird world is this? Since when does she drink chai?
“I ordered a cupcake, and the same happened to me,” Lexi laughs.
“The bar is closed tonight, so everyone was telling me happy birthday as I walked by,” Silva says. “It‘s been such a nice day.”
“It has!” Lexi says. “We had a snowball fight with Leena.”
“Yeah!” Leena yells excitedly as we chuckle.
“So, we kind of wanted to ask Silva something while we have everyone in her life here tonight,” Harlan drawls, standing.
Izzy, Kyren, and I stand, while Silva’s eyes bounce wildly between us all.
“Oh shit,” Lark whispers.
“Did you?” Silva drawls.
“Having you in our lives is incredible,” Izzy begins. “I get to wake up every morning with my best friends and lovers. Technically, our bites make us official, but we’re a little extra.”
“A lot extra,” I laugh. “You deserve the world, and that includes a wedding, saying vows in front of the people you love for all to see.”
“From rocky starts and electric prods,” Kyren adds as everyone smirks.
“To vengeance and nightmares slain,” Harlan says.
“We wanted to know,” I reply easily, pulling out the ring box. Yes, we did practice this for the record.
“Will you be our wife?” we say together as I open the box in front of her.
It’s a hexagon moss agate engagement ring with a diamond halo and moss inlay. We all agreed that Silva deserved to have something as unique as she is.
“Oh wow,” Silva whispers. “You could have proposed with a gum ball machine ring and I still would have said yes.”
“So is that a yes?” Izzy teases her as she stands.
She immediately begins to wring her fingers, and we all clue in quickly that something is going on in her head.
“Firefly, what’s wrong?” Lexi asks, squeezing her hand.
“I need to tell you something before I say yes,” Silva says, digging into her purse to pull out what appears to be a white stick. “I’ve been spiraling about this for three days, but now I think I’m okay. The question is, how do you feel about being fathers?”
She holds up a pregnancy test, and I yell as I squeeze her tightly.
“Is this why you’re drinking chai tea?” Izzy growls. “I thought I was proposing to a pod person.”
“A what?” she squeals. “I swear you’ve been watching too many sci-fi movies.”
“It still stands,” Izzy grins.
We all pass her around for hugs, telling her we’re very happy about this.
“Now what’s the secret password for your ring?” I ask, opening the box again.
“Yes!” she says. “I would love to be your wife.”
Everyone cheers as I slide the ring onto her finger. It’s a perfect fit, and Silva gazes down at it with wonder.
“How is this so perfect?” she whispers.
“We’re creepers who measure your finger while sleeping,” Kyren says, completely unapologetic.
“I kind of figured,” Silva grins, sitting down.
Food orders are taken, conversation begins again, and I notice that Silva and Lexi have their heads together for a lot of it.
“Psst,” I finally say, nudging her. “Share with the class, guys.”
Sheepishly, Silva and Lexi look up.
“Prepare for us to be really obnoxious together,” Silva says.
Sloane, Emmett, and Aiden look absurdly proud of themselves, and I start to figure out what she’s going to say.
“You too?” I ask Lexi, jaw dropping.
“Is there something in the water?” my sister asks teasingly.
“I’m pregnant too!” Lexi says, shrugging. “I’m a little further along, but this will be fun!”
Or frightening. Well, here’s to a ride. I should have known something like this would happen with twins.
“Congratulations,” I tell Lexi’s pack. “This is wild.”
“I’m going to say some things are meant to be,” Emmett says with a shrug.
He’s not wrong, and now Silva can go through pregnancy with her sister. I know she’s been hesitant about it, who better to go on this journey with?
I’ve always wanted to be a father, and I can tell that Izzy, Kyren, and Harlan are equally as excited too.
It feels impossible to be this lucky to propose to the love of my life, and find out she’s the mother of my child, but it appears that the universe is smiling down on us today. We deserve it.
Silva
“Wait,” I hiss, crawling after Leena as she squeezes herself under the table.
I’m thirty-six weeks pregnant, and babysitting Leena while my sister is having twins. Ah! Twins!
I’ve had low level contractions all day, but nothing really to worry about. They’re not anything I can time yet, they don’t really hurt, and Leena has kept me busy playing with blocks, coloring, and eating snacks.
She’s been freaking amazing.
“Hey, come out,” I say. Leena pouts, and I can see that she’s getting sleepy. “I have snuggles, blankets, and pillows…”
“The way mommy does it?” she asks.
“Yes,” I reply. “Mommy showed me how. Want to see? If I mess it up, you can help me, okay?”
The benefit of being an omega aunt is that I’m very particular about bedding. I get it. Lexi made me show her how Leena likes to be snuggled with a doll until she was satisfied.
I will not fuck this up!
Twenty minutes later, Leena’s mouth is open as she snores in my arms on the couch, and I fist pump in victory. We’re next door in Lexi’s house because we figured that being here would help Leena. It definitely has.
Getting comfortable, I close my eyes and allow myself to drift off.
“Auntie Silvi!” Leena yells, waking me up with a gasp. “You peed!”
Glancing at the clock, I see that we’ve been asleep for two hours. My back is fucking killing me, my stomach is harder than a rock, and I feel really fucking nauseous.
Shit.
“I think, Auntie Silvi might have to go visit your mommy,” I whisper. Pulling out my phone, I see there’s already a missed call from Izzy.
A loud knock before the door opens follows that, and Leena almost screams before she sees my pack coming through.
“Auntie Silvi peed!” Leena squeals, making me blush as we get up.
My maternity pants are soaked, and I groan as the most uncomfortable cramp hits me hard. These are different from my heat. Maybe that’s why I ignored the lower level pain earlier. I have a higher tolerance for pain, which means I’m in deep shit now.
“I think we need to go to the hospital,” I admit.
“Your water broke,” Harlan murmurs, already texting someone. “It’s okay, we’re fine. Your papa says that Auntie Maeve wants to hang out with you while I take Silva to the hospital to have this baby, Leena. What do you think?”
“No,” Leena pouts. “Maeve doesn’t know how I like my bed.”
Harlan glances at me, and I shake my head.
“I need to change clothes,” I murmur. “I will show Maeve how you like your bed afterward, okay? We’re going to need to replace her couch, guys.”
“Aiden mentioned that they were already looking for something else,” Harlan shrugs. “I’ll tell him we’re paying for it and he’ll tell me to…umm…sit on my thumb and spin on it.”
Being around children and watching our mouths has been an adventure.
“Still waiting for your answer, Leena,” I remind her.
Closing my eyes, I sway as pain hits me hard. Fuck, that one was definitely rougher.
“Spitfire?” Syrus asks, his hands around my biceps to keep me upright.
“Okay,” Leena says. “You’re going to see mommy.”
“Yeah,” I breathe.
It takes another thirty minutes to change, get Leena settled (which included a change of clothes), and to make sure that the bedtime routine won’t be fucked up before I can get into a vehicle.
By this point, I can’t even talk because I’m in so much pain.