Chapter 24: It’s Time!!

AsaLynn

~THREE MONTHS LATER~

Things have been great since Flora and I have been back. The men have been attentive. The pack seems to be flourishing. It’s basically been heaven on earth.

With Flora and I becoming walking balloons, we have been limited on what we can do, but I consider myself very lucky.

Now I am full term, but I also am only having one kid. Poor Flora has been giving everyone hell because she looks like a beautiful blimp.

“I can do it my damn self!” Flora yells at Zade, trying to put her shoes on.

Truth of the matter is she can’t, and she knows it. Her stomach is larger than her arm’s length, and she can barely even walk.

Flora will be Flora though. Damn stubborn woman.

I laugh from her bedroom door and finally go in to help poor Zade out.

“Okay, she-bitch, calm down and let me help you,” I say as I struggle to bend and put on her flats for her.

“You’re just as far along as I am. Why don’t they treat you like this! I’m not a kid, you know,” she says angrily.

“Flora, seriously, look at me and then look at you. You literally have to carry your own stomach with your arms. You are ~supposed~ to be on bed rest.

“Give your man some slack. He is worried about you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m hungry, and if they make me stay in the damn room for one more moment, I’m gonna rage and hex this whole continent.”

I giggle. “That’s why your mom put a lock on your magic. We don’t have much longer, so just ~try~ and relax some, okay?”

Zade comes to my side and places a kiss on Flora’s forehead then gives me a hand so I can stand back up.

We both stand at either side of Flora and help her to her feet so we can make our way down to the kitchen.

A feast fit for a small army is set up in the kitchen for us. Flora is out of breath and plops down onto a chair.

She begins stuffing her face, and we all can’t help but to chuckle.

“Shut up. I’m eating for five!” Flora says in response to our laughter, with food flying out of her mouth.

I finally begin to eat, and we hold small conversations about Flora’s pups. She refuses to figure out the genders, and we have bets placed. I say all girls.

She may act grumpy, but she is loving all the attention. Everyone waiting on her hand and foot. Such a knack for the dramatics.

“Tonight’s the pack baby shower. Are you girls excited?” Levi interjects.

“Fuck yeah! Loads of free baby stuff! I’m so ready!” Flora squeals.

“You know we can afford enough for a million children, right?” Zade jokes.

“Dude, it’s free stuff!” Flora replies.

“And each item is gotten or made with love and from their hearts, right, Flora?” I butt in.

“Yeah, that too.” She rolls her eyes.

“Okay, momma, let’s get you upstairs to get ready. We’ve got five hours, and I know how long you take to get ready,” I say.

“You do know ~you’re~ pregnant too, right?” Flora lectures.

“Maybe, but you’re bigger and two weeks further along than me.”

Zade and I help Flora get back upstairs.

Thank the Goddess that when we found out we were pregnant, Levi had an elevator installed because neither of us would be able to hike up three-four flights of stairs multiple times a day.

Not to mention trying to take babies up and down would be madness.

Zade leaves us to get ready, and I begin to rummage through all of the new maternity clothes we got a few days ago.

I try to help Flora try on a few, and nothing seems to be going over her massive bump.

“Yo. What. The. Fuck. We ~just~ bought these. How did I grow so damn much in a matter of days!”

“The babies are growing fast now and bigger each day. I did buy something for you in case this happened.”

“Bitch, why didn’t you grab that after the first four outfits didn’t fit?” Flora says with an angry glare.

I run to my room and grab the dress I got her and bring it back. I hand her the box, and she opens it. A slight gasp escapes her mouth as she glides her hand across the silky material.

“Oh my Goddess, are you kidding? This is beautiful! Even if it is bigger than my bedsheet,” Flora exclaims with fits of laughter.

“Well, pull it out so we can put it on, dammit.”

Flora pulls out the dark grey gown, and I help her slide it on.

It fits perfectly and glides right over her big belly. It hugs her breasts in just the right way, giving her the support she desperately needs.

Then the rest flows loosely over her body. It trails onto the floor in the back. It’s like a beautiful waterfall.

Flora stares at herself up and down and begins to sob. “Fucking hormones, man…”

“I’m happy you like it. Let me go grab my dress. I have the same one, but mine is ocean blue.”

A few hours later we both are finally ready and the men have arrived to escort us to the convention center building for the party.

Once we arrive, we enter through the grand entryway, and the entire pack is snacking, drinking, and having fun.

“This looks like more than just the pack, love.”

“Some of the alphas and their mates from around the world have come as well. A siren queen and true witch having children is a huge deal. It will change the world.

“~Sirens~ alone are new to everyone, and there’s never been more than two true witches in the world at one time.” He grins.

I walk through the crowds and see my dad.

“Daddy!!” I say as I run over and hug him.

“Look at you. You’re…big. Ha ha. You look beautiful. The true definition of a queen,” Dad says softly.

“Thank you. I miss you all so much. Thank you for coming.”

“I couldn’t miss my baby girl’s baby shower. These are my grandpups, after all. I wish your mother could see you now.” Dad’s face drops a little.

“I know, Dad.”

“So is it true that you’re a…siren?”

“Yeah. Apparently Mom was a full-blooded shape-shifting one, and the true witch, who apparently is my best friend’s mom, covered her scent and, well, yeah.”

“That makes a lot of sense, actually. Well, regardless, I’m proud of you.”

After a few more minutes of chitchat, I begin to make my rounds, greeting everyone. Then I go to check on Flora. She looks sick.

“You good?” I ask, concerned.

“Yeah, these Braxton Hicks suck major donkey dick though,” Flora says bluntly.

“I feel you, though I’m sure yours are worse,” I reply.

“Be a super bestie and get me something sweet. I am craving sweetness!”

I laugh and run over to grab an assortment of sweets and begin to make my way back through the crowds.

Something off hits my nose. I look up and see Zade barreling through the crowds in the direction of Flora.

I drop the plate and begin to push my way through too. Levi catches me when I trip and lets out a booming growl.

“Move!” Levi commands.

Everyone moves out of our way, and I see Zade helping Flora to her feet.

Flora gives a half smile. “My water just broke.”

I squeal in excitement. “Baby time!!!”

Everyone starts cheering and moving so we can get Flora out of the building. We make it to the exit and load Flora into the car.

By the time we arrive at the hospital, Flora is screaming in pain. Poor Zade… I’m pretty sure she broke his hand in a few places.

The doctors take her in. Once they finish setting her up and giving her some meds for the pain, Levi and I head over to her room.

Levi decides it would be a smarter idea to stay outside of the room while I went in.

I walk over to Flora, who now has a big old smile on her face.

“Feeling pretty good now, huh?”

“Man, I need some of these drugs to go home with me. I feel like I’m fucking flying right now.”

I burst out laughing as Zade slaps his own forehead and turns to go talk to Levi.

“I love you, you crazy bitch.” I chuckle.

“Uhhh, I love you too, but you may need to get a doctor,” Flora says, her face half-smiling, half-serious.

“Are you okay? Is it time to push?” I say frantically.

“Not for me, dude. Your water just broke too.”

I look down and see I’m standing in a puddle of liquid.

“Shit… Leeviiiii!”

“He already went to get someone and get your room ready. Looks like we might just have five babies born today.”

Flora begins to laugh again. “Dirty-ass Moon Goddess.”

Zade and I look at each other and back to Flora in confusion.

“Tonight’s the super moon, the night the moon is the closest to the earth. The one day our powers are the strongest. She planned this.

“A child born under the super moon normally is stronger and has better abilities than others. Sneaky bitch.”

Six hours later, both Flora and I have welcomed our beautiful pups into the world.

Flora had three boys. Eli, Zeus—named after our packmate who tried to save us—and Zade Junior—the oldest.

Then she had the baby girl last. Her name is Petra. All spitting images of their mom with just a hint of daddy mixed in.

I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl, Lilliana, named after my mother, Lily for short. From what Levi says, she was born four minutes after Flora’s oldest son.

She has wild blue eyes, thanks to her siren, and my blonde curly hair. No wonder I had such bad heartburn the whole pregnancy.

I now lie here in the recovery room with my baby girl and Levi. We have been waiting about two hours for Flora.

After she finished delivery, we made sure the nurses would bring her and her pups into the room with us to share.

Levi holds onto Lily, and there is so much love in his eyes. It reminds me of the memory of when my mother held me before she died.

I can’t believe how incredibly full my life has become in less than a year.

“You did amazing, my love. She is very strong like you. I already feel it.”

“I wonder what powers she will have,” I say.

“Whatever they are, I have a feeling she is gonna be trouble. Hell, she already has me under her spell,” Levi jokes.

“My King, Queen, Flora will be in shortly with her pups. Where would you like us to put them?” the nurse asks.

“Let’s bring in the custom crib and put it between mine and Flora’s beds.”

The nurse leaves and brings back the massive crib—it could probably hold two full-grown adults—and places it next to me.

Shortly after, Zade, Flora, and her pups come in.

“Wow, you have a whole adorable army in tow,” I joke.

“Oh yeah, and Little Miss Petra has three big brothers to kill anyone who tries to hit on her as she grows up,” Zade says.

Flora punches Zade in the arm. “She is her own person and can be with whomever she wants. She is a woman!”

Zade rolls his eyes, and we all laugh together.

Flora and Zade place their pups one by one in the crib, and I stand up to do the same with Lily. I place her closest to my bed, next to Zade Junior.

We all hover over the crib, staring at this abundance of cuteness.

“I can’t believe they are ours,” I say, cooing over the babies.

Flora goes to look at Lily, and all of the sudden, the power in the room shifts. It’s even stronger than my own.

We all look around, trying to figure out what’s going on. Once we look back down, we see Lily’s head is turned to Junior, and she is beginning to glow blue.

“Welllllll, shit,” Flora murmurs with a smirk.

“What!!!” I say, panicked.

“Looks like Lily and Junior are ~fated~ mates.”

—End of Book One—