Thirsty (Black Wolf Pack 1)

“I’m trying to act like I have my shit together.” I grabbed her hand and brought it up to kiss her knuckles. “But you and our children are the most important things in my life. The very thought—”

“Shhh.” She smiled. “Everything is fine. Everything will be fine. Leland is with my dad, probably learning all the ways to get into stuff he shouldn’t, and this little girl will be here before we know it.” She rested back on the pillow, the smile still on her face. “And we will all be okay.”

“I know,” I whispered. “Hell, I’m pretty sure I’m more nervous than you are, and you’re the one in labor.”

She chuckled, and the sound was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.

Mia closed her eyes, and for long moments, the silence descended around us. I took that moment to try to focus on other things, stuff that would take my mind off my anxiety.

There were these two elastic straps going around her belly, with these twin circular clips pressed to her bare flesh. The machine monitored the baby’s heart rate and her contractions, and for a moment, I just watched the little lines move up and done on the screen. Thank God she’d gotten an epidural a few hours ago, because I was pretty sure I would have broken a bunch of shit if I had to see her in any more pain.

“You’re still tense,” she whispered, her eyes still closed.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Let’s focus on you. Are you still comfortable? Do you want me to get the nurse? Up the pain meds?”

She shook her head and opened her eyes, the worn-out look covering her. She was so strong.

“I know you’re tired.” I leaned in and kissed her forehead.

The knock on the hospital room door came through, and I straightened, my hand still twined with hers as I looked over my shoulder at who entered.

The nurse came in with a wide smile on her face. “How about we check your progress?”

I helped Mia get adjusted on the bed, then moved back so the nurse could do her thing.

It felt like an eternity passed with Mia getting checked, and the entire time, my focus was on my mate’s face, making sure she was okay and they were being gentle with her.

“Looks like you’re fully dilated and effaced,” the nurse called out, and I let a harsh breath leave me.

And then everything was a blur as the doctor and another nurse came in, and the supplies were brought to the bedside. Before I knew it, the doctor was instructing Mia to push, and I was right by her side, holding her hand and pushing her damp hair from her forehead.

“One more push, Mia, and your baby will be here.”

I stared down at my mate. She looked exhausted, and I wished I could take the discomfort from her. “You got this.” I leaned in and kissed the crown of her head right as she gave one more push. “That’s it,” I praised her. “You’re doing so well. You’re the strongest person I know, Mia.” And just as I said that, a loud, fierce scream came through the air as our daughter was born.

Mia started crying in that happy way, and I didn’t give a shit if it seemed “unmanly” to follow suit. I cried out of sheer joy as I watched them place the baby on my mate’s chest while they rubbed her little body off. I cried as I cut the cord and touched my daughter’s tiny head with downy-soft hair for the first time. And I grinned like a damn fool when they cleaned my baby girl, bundled her up, and placed her in my mate’s arms.

I wiped the wetness away from my cheeks, my grin so fucking big my face hurt.

Before too long, the flurry of activity dimmed, and we were left alone to bask in the afterglow of having our daughter, the newest edition to the Black Wolf Pack.

“I love you so much,” I whispered as I leaned down and claimed her mouth.

I felt her smile against my mouth as she whispered, “I love you too.”

Mia pushed the blanket more fully away from our little girl, and I felt my heart grow. “She looks like you. She’s so beautiful,” I whispered, staring at my daughter, shocked that I had even more room to love another being as much as I loved Mia and Leland.

We had a daughter.

I have a little girl.

Mia opened the baby blanket and adjusted our daughter against her bare chest—skin to skin, they called it.

“I can’t wait until Leland and my dad get to meet her. They are going to be so in love with her, just like we are.”

I smoothed my hand over her head again and grunted in agreement. “They’ll be overprotective for sure. Three Black Wolf males watching over her? All the little assholes in the pack better watch themselves.”