Epilogue

Sam became a certified nurse of the pack the following spring. He not only helped to bring Luna’s pup into the world last spring but his best friend Cameron’s pup too.

They held onto hope for a pup to become available for adoption from someone in the pack, but it wasn’t to be. Pups were treasured and there hadn’t been any family deaths to leave any orphans behind.

They were still hopeful and knew that it would take time, so they waited patiently.

In the meantime, they attended weekly couples counseling and Mik also went in for twice-weekly private sessions to work through the issues of his past. Mik also delved into woodworking and not only made a new bed for them but helped to build a cabin just for them. No more living in the guest house—they had their own now.

Sam covered his eyes as Mik led him into their new home with Alpha, Luna, and their pups, along with Cameron, his mate Olivia, and their pups trailing behind in the doorway to see their new home.

Standing in the middle of the living room, Mik told Sam to open his eyes.

Opening them, Sam gasped in awe, tearing up at the homey cottage-decor and rustic furnishings that Mik designed with the carpenter’s and Clement’s help.

“Oh my gosh!” Sam whispered in awe, a hand lifting to his mouth as his eyes, wide and shining, took in every nook and cranny. “Oh my gosh!”

It was open-concept with a loft overhead and a cold room, storage room, safe room, and a soundproofed “fun room” just for the two of them in the basement. The loft had their bedroom to one side and a guest room—or baby’s room if they found one—on the other. The structure was made entirely of wood, the beams supporting the loft were carved by Mik’s hand with intricate nature designs and wolves. A gourmet kitchen was under the loft, so all the hot air from the stove would rise up to warm it. The furniture had all been made by Mik with Clement’s help and guidance with hardwood flooring and thick carpets under the furniture to cushion their feet.

“Do you like it?” Mik asked, whispering in Sam’s ear. A smug grin tugged on his lips as he watched Sam take it all in.

“I love it!” Sam wrapped his arms around Mik and planted a kiss on the lips before rushing forward to see everything close-up.

Their friends stepped inside, expressing their approval as they slipped out of their shoes and followed Sam as he explored the house.

“You did good,” Alpha commented, standing next to Mik. He’d overseen much of the construction and seemed impressed with the final product.

“Thank you, Alpha.” Mik couldn’t help puffing his chest out in pride.

“I think this career path was a good choice for you. And to think, it all started with destroying a table in your rage.”

“It all started with Sam.” Everything started with Sam. He owed that male everything and he had the rest of his life to express it to him.

Alpha smirked. “True. He was too stubborn to give up on you. Bless him for that.”

“All of this is for him.” His labor of love. “I can’t give him a pup, but I can give us a home.”

“About that...” Alpha prompted, lowering his voice. “I’m afraid that the odds of you two being able to find a pup to adopt will be nearly impossible.”

Mik’s heart fell. While he feared the odds were against them, he knew Noodin was right.

“Might I suggest another option?” Alpha continued.

Mik’s ears perked up. “Like what?”

“Surrogacy.”

While Mik’s vocabulary had improved with his reading, he still only had a fifth-grade reading level. “What’s that?”

“It means that a female will volunteer her womb and carry a pup for you.”

Mik’s jaw clenched as rage began to build within him. “I’m not going to fuck—”

“No, no no, of course you won’t have sex with her. It’s completely and professionally handled by the doctor. All you have to do is give him a container of your sperm and he will handle the rest.”

Mik exhaled, his rage deflating. “You... You can do that?” The medical field was still very much a mystery for him.

“Of course. The hardest part will be finding a female willing to act as a surrogate. It might be easier to find one in the human world than ours. No male wolf will agree to share his female’s body for someone else’s pup and unmated females don’t have a heat without a mate, rendering them completely infertile. The lesbian couple up north are past their prime, so they would not be able to bear pups for you either. They got their pups through sperm donors in the human world too. What do you think?”

Mik watched Sam explore the rooms in the loft. He looked so happy with everything but how much happier would he be with a pup?

“I’ll talk it over with Sam later, but I would be open to the possibility of it.”

Alpha nodded, a pleased smile on his face. “He’ll agree. I know he will. But yes, definitely talk to him about it.”

“Mik! Hurry up! The pup’s coming!” Sam yelled from the front door as he slipped into his shoes.

Mik hurried out of the bathroom while zipping his pants up. “Can’t a guy take a fucking leak without being rushed?”

“Eh-eh-eh, no more swearing! And get used to it.” Sam grinned. “You’re never going to relieve yourself in peace and quiet from now on. Now let’s go!”

It was September, five years since they moved into their homey cottage. Finding a surrogate proved challenging in the human world. First, it took them a few years to save up enough money (mostly through Mik’s furniture business) since they were required to pay for all of the surrogate’s medical and pregnancy expenses. Second, strict governmental regulations forbade the “sale” of such services, so they had to search through a couple of consulting agencies and find a surrogate willing to volunteer her womb for nine months. And thirdly was the issue of their sexual orientation. Every surrogate refused to carry a child for them until they found a human female through Olivia’s extensive list of connections. Roxanne not only agreed to be a surrogate for them but understood Sam’s condition as well.

They went to every appointment with Roxanne, a fiery red-head with a heart of gold. She quickly fell in love with Sam and treated him like a brother. Mik, she was friendly with because he was, naturally, more socially awkward and stoic, but she melted when Mik was affectionate with Sam.

Dr. Waaban was waiting for them and would help deliver the pup at the nearest hospital in the big metropolis bordering the west side of the pack’s territory. The pack’s infirmary was ill-equipped to handle a human life-giver and didn’t have all the tools necessary for saving a human life should the birth threaten her life. Nevertheless, to ensure that the pup’s werewolf lineage remained hidden, he would be present to aid the doctor Roxanne chose to deliver the pup.

Climbing into Mik’s pickup truck, they raced to the main pack house to pick up the doctor before flooring it to the hospital an hour and a half away.

Sam was texting Roxanne on his phone the entire drive there. Her responses were delayed—naturally—but he was so excited he couldn’t help it.

“It looks like she’s got a long way to go. Only a few centimeters dilated.”

“Whatever that means,” Mik mumbled to himself as he drove like a wild man on the highway into the city.

“It means it will be several more hours, so slow down before we get a speeding ticket!”

Mik developed a love for speed once he learned how to drive—and was a little too aggressive behind the wheel, unfortunately for Sam.

Once they go to the hospital, Mik dropped Sam and the doctor off at the main entrance and went to park the truck. He followed their scent through the bustling building once he entered and found Sam in one of the waiting rooms.

He pouted. “They’re making me wait here.”

“What?” Mik was about to argue when Dr. Waaban strode toward them, dressed in surgical clothes with a mask over his mouth.

“Just for a minute. I’ve been briefed and they’ll let you both in now, so come and follow me,” the doctor said.

Sam jumped to his feet and they followed Dr. Waaban down the hallway. He led them into another hallway that required a security pass to enter and grabbed some disposable surgical clothes for them to put on.

“Suit up. No one’s allowed in without being properly dressed,” he said with a smirk.

They struggled into the half-paper-like clothing before speed-walking down the hallway to another room where Roxanne was sitting with her legs propped up and her doctor’s head two feet away from her pussy.

A contraction rocked her and Sam clutched Mik with a whimper.

“Almost there, Roxanne. Just a few more centimeters to go and then you can start pushing,” the doctor said as he pulled away.

He left and Roxanne relaxed, sweat coating her brows as she breathed in and out the way she’d been taught at one of her appointments.

“I don’t know if I can do this, guys,” she panted.

“What?” Sam exclaimed. He stepped away from Mik but Mik held him close.

“It fucking hurts like hell.”

“I know you had wanted to have a natural birth but would you like it if I requested drugs on your behalf?” Dr. Waaban asked.

“Yes! Dear God, yes!” she exclaimed.

“Are you sure it will be okay?” Sam asked Dr. Waaban.

He knew Sam was talking about the pup. “Yes, it will be fine.”

They still didn’t know the pup’s sex. Sam wanted it to be a surprise but he had a guess that he struggled to hide from Mik that had something to do with the heartbeat.

Dr. Waaban put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Yes. But we’re running out of time for it to be administered. I’ll be right back.”

As Dr. Waaban left, Roxanne collapsed in exhaustion. Sam hurried to her side and brushed her sweaty hair from her face and gave her a drink. Always the attentive, caring one to others. He attempted to help her get comfortable when her doctor returned with Dr. Waaban.

Mik had to look away, feeling uncomfortable and awkward there. The stench of her sweat was riling him up and making his nose wrinkle. Since mating with Sam, all other scents—both male and female—were repulsive to him. He couldn’t help it. He didn’t know how Sam could stand it but he managed it without difficulty.

After the doctor left again, she relaxed and they kept her company as the hours passed and the contractions built up.

Soon, the doctor returned and told her it was time to start pushing.

Mik stayed in the corner trying not to hurl while Sam held her hand and Dr. Waaban stood next to her doctor as she pushed the pup out.

“It’s a girl,” he announced and Mik nearly fainted at the sight of the screaming, bloody, slimy red thing that came out of her while Sam was all up in there, wanting to be helpful and gushing over how beautiful she was.

After cleaning her up and wrapping her in a blanket, Sam brought her over to Mik.

“Look! Isn’t she beautiful?” His voice was soft as she had settled down and looked half asleep.

She had soft wisps of strawberry-blond hair, pudgy cheeks, and pink pouty lips.

Mik melted and pulled her and Sam closer with an arm wrapped around his waist. He kissed Sam’s temple and then sniffed her before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

A girl.

How the fuck would they raise a girl? He had been hoping for a male because he had no idea how to raise a female but he felt his heart burst at the sight of her.

They turned to Roxanne and let her see the pup. Exhausted, she smiled and touched her cheeks.

“Thank you.” Sam’s voice cracked with emotion, already bursting with love for the pup. Mik echoed him.

“What will you name her?” she asked.

Sam turned to Mik. They had bounced a few ideas off each other for months and Sam cracked a smile when the same name played in their minds before voicing it.

“Roxanne. Definitely Roxanne.”

*

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Author’s Note: Thanks for reading. It was a tough journey but we made it! Would you be interested in a story for baby Roxy? (Just making notes if it's something readers would be interested in)

Book 3 is also posted and in the works (Chloe’s story) and will be the longest book I’ve ever written but there’s a lot to unpack in that one (). That one will hopefully be done by the end of this year.WAR CLAIM