"Not a he, love. Jacob."
"Jacob," Yasmin echoed before kissing the lad's forehead again.
Layla had always wondered if she was truly mother material or not. Even knowing she'd have a frenzy with Chase that resulted in a pregnancy, she'd had secret doubts.
However, as she watched her sister and her brother-in-law stare down in awe at their child, Layla yearned to have that, too. A family of her own, one that she'd fight to keep from splitting apart or growing distant, like hers had done.
She only needed to get as much sorted as she could before she could begin that journey.
Her dragon huffed. Finally. Then you won't put off the frenzy forever?
No. I may not get everything lined up today, but as soon as I can.
Her dragon snorted. You have to be the only dragon-shifter in history to plan out their frenzy and schedule it.
I doubt that's true.
Logan arrived to take the bairn so he could check him over, and Layla focused back on her sister to deliver the afterbirth.
As soon as it was done and she'd cleaned up, she sent Logan to fetch Chase. After all, Jacob would be his nephew soon, too.
Layla finally had the chance to stand next to Yasmin's bed and take a good look at wee Jacob. He looked like most bairns—wrinkly—with a few wisps of dark hair on his head.
Yasmin lifted him up. "Hold him, Layla. For a while, I didn't think he'd ever get to know his auntie. But now that he will, he should know you from the very first hour."
As she took him, she smiled. "I delivered him, remember?"
"Aye, but that's a wee bit traumatic and was only your doctor's side. He needs to know just Layla, my lovely older sister."
Maybe it was the emotions of the day, but Layla had to blink back tears at her sister's words.
Layla rearranged the blanket around Jacob, and he moved a second before settling back down. "Hello, wee Jacob. Your mum thinks we need another first meeting, so here I am."
The baby didn't wake up and just laid there.
Her dragon chuckled. He's tired. One day, I'm sure everyone will wish for him to calm down a little.
She hummed a tune and just handed back her nephew when Logan returned. However, Chase wasn't right behind him. "Where's Chase?" she asked.
Logan shook his head. "He can't come right now. You're both needed in Finn's office, and he's waiting for you there."
What could Finn want from them?
Maybe if she weren't so tired—it was becoming harder and harder to merely focus her eyes—she'd be more curious. But for the moment, she just wanted to get it over with so she could go home and curl up in bed with her male.
Layla gave one last look at her sister. "Will you be okay for a bit without me?"
Yasmin smiled. "Go, Layla. After delivering two bairns back-to-back, you need a wee bit of rest. Besides, we'll be fine here with all the nurses and the other doctors."
Since both mother and bairn were in good health for the moment, Layla gave one last glance at her nephew and left the room, heading for Finn's cottage.
Chase stood inside Finn's office, hoping he'd made the right choice about all of this.
But after the events of the day and how close Faye had been to dying—reminding him of how short life could be—he didn't want to wait any longer. He needed to claim Layla as his own. Even if it was only in front of Finn and Arabella, without the clan watching on, he was fine with that.
But he couldn't wait another day to make Layla MacFie his mate.
Finn hung up his call with Stonefire's clan leader and turned to study him. After a beat, Finn stood. "Last chance, lad. Are you sure you can handle being mated to a doctor?"