Ava
“Oh my god! It’s happening!” Braiden is running around in a panic, his face pale.
“Where is the bag? Dammit, I should have put it by the front door.
Aliana, are you ready!”
I can’t help it. I start laughing.
This stops Braiden dead in his tracks as he slowly turns on his heel to face me.
“Calm down. Just because my water broke, the baby isn’t going to fall out immediately. We have time. And
besides, the contractions are far apart.”
I shuffle towards him and then put a hand on his face, his whole physique calming.
“I don’t know how you can be this calm.” His hand finds its way to my huge belly, the look of adoration on his face
never getting old.
“I’m ready, Daddy!” Aliana comes barreling down the stairs, her pink backpack already on her back.
“I packed my favorite teddy and some books so that I can read to my brother. I can read big words now.” The pride
on her face makes us laugh.
The next minute, Braiden swings her up in his arms, a big kiss plastered onto her cheek.
Her giggle is short-lived as the door swings open. Nick is hot on the heels of Samuel, and the look of concern on
both their faces is comical.
“My King, My Queen, Princess,” he greets, bowing slightly. “The car is ready, and Dr. Adams is on standby.”
“Ava, oh my god, I’m so excited. I’m going to be an uncle again!” Nick hugs me gingerly, the joy on his face
contagious.
“Come.” He holds his elbow out, which I take before we all head out the door. Braiden grabs my maternity bag,
which is actually by the front door, just on the opposite side. I roll my eyes, and somehow, he knows it even with
his back to me.
“Your tally is up to twelve, Ava.” I blush, and Nick snorts, knowing precisely what this is all about. We had
stopped being intimate until about a month ago, and to say that I was feeling d eprived was an understatement. I
couldn’t wait to feel Braiden's hand on my ass as he dished out my punishment.
“You know you must wait a while before you can be freaky again.” I punch Nick in the shoulder as embarrassment
flames my cheeks. Braiden smirks, my thoughts and feelings not hard to read.
“What is being freaky, Daddy?” Oh god. The whole group bursts out in laughter while Braiden fumbles for words.
“Um. Well. Look at that rabbit over there.” Braiden points randomly to a bush in the distance, and Aliana
immediately focuses on that instead.
“Where, Daddy, where? I can’t see it.” Aliana’s little hand shields her eyes from the sun as she bobs her head left
and right.
“It must be hiding.” Braiden gives Nick a look that would send anyone else running. But as my best friend, he has
immunity.
A short while later, we were all in the car, and Samuel was carefully driving us to the pack hospital.
“If you go any slower, she will have the baby in the car.” Braiden is anxiously tapping his leg with one hand while
the other holds my hand in a death grip. He is so nervous. It is bittersweet to have Braiden around for this
pregnancy when he wasn’t for Aliana’s.
We found out shortly after shutting down The Underground that we were pregnant. I was nervous to tell him, afraid
it was too soon, but he was over the moon. That same night, the whole pack was informed, and we were walking
into a full-on celebration. This was stolen from us the first time I was pregnant with Aliana. All the love showered
on me, on us, it was
exquisite. It still is. To be part of a pack that loves and cherishes each other is something I sometimes struggle to
believe is real.
But it is. And it is all thanks to the man beside me—caring, strong. My mate. Mine.
He growls quietly as I push my thoughts down our bond.
He leans forward, his lips inches from my ear.
“Mine, little minx.”
I smile and then turn my head, green and grey eyes clashing.
“I love you, My King.”
He leans forward, capturing my lips with his before pulling away. In his eyes, I see something I have been
searching for all my life. Love. Home.
This is where I belong.
“I love you, My Queen.”