Chapter 474

I’m groggy, a few hours later, when I wake up because I honestly haven’t gotten much sleep. But still, I’m instantly aware that I’m awake because something in my body is...different.

s my eyes crack open, I have absolutely no idea what it is, and no real interest in finding out. Because nothing feels wrong or off...just... different... So, I yawn and snuggle my body back against my naked mate, my spine pressed to his warm stomach.

Sinclair gives a deep, sleepy little growl as he tightens his arm around me, holding me close even as he sleeps. I smile at this, happiness sweeping through me as I think about how lovely it is to have a mate that holds me and protects me even when he’s mostly unconscious.

And he’s so warm, and the bed is so soft, and the sheets are so smooth under my bare skin that I almost... Almost fall back asleep... But then? My eyes suddenly fly open.

Because there is...there is something new within me.

As I start to put the pieces together, I am instantly, starkly awake – and so is Rafe, I realize, as I peer through the dark over the side of the bed. My sweet baby is peering at me curiously through the slats of his crib – almost as if he can feel it too This new...

new thing within me, a bond that wasn’t there hours ago – but which is there now, just a tiny silver thread of something new My hands fly to my mouth and my eyes instantly fill with tears because even though I didn’t experience this with Rafe – my wolf wasn’t awake then, after all, to help me feel it – I suddenly know precisely what it is.

My voice is shaky as I breathe the word, hardly daring to voice it.

“...baby – ” Rafe burbles something, smiling at me and leaning forward, grabbing the edges of his crib, trying to pull himself up so that he can be closer – almost like he knows it too – And suddenly I’m laughing – the sound bubbling out of me, rich with joy.

“Baby!” I say again, sitting up in a flash.

“What?” Sinclair murmurs, his voice foggy with sleep, his had slipping to my waist as I spin to him, pushing him onto his back and throwing a leg over his hips so that I’m straddling him, my hands on his chest- “Baby!” I shriek, thrilled, almost in pieces because of it, completely unable to contain myself, or think coherently, or make any sense Sinclair blinks suddenly awake, his hands tightening on my hips as he stares up at me, confused – worried but one look at my thrilled face makes him realize that nothing is bad is going on so what... “Dominic!” I breathe, laughing and giggling as I lean forward. “Don’t you feel it!?” He frowns at me confused for a second – “Ella,” he murmurs, “what...” But then his eyes suddenly go wide and I know, instantly, that he feels it too.

Sinclair snaps to a sitting position as well, shifting me back a little so that I’m sitting in his lap, his arms going tight around me as he stares down into my face.

“Oh my god,” he murmurs, still shocked, still feeling it out- making sure that it’s really there – ” Ella, it’s...” “A baby!” I shriek, throwing my hands in the air above our heads.

“A baby,” he murmurs, his eyes suddenly flooding with tears as a mystified smile finds his lips. “Oh my god, Ella, another baby –

” And I squeal with delight as I wrap my arms around his shoulders, as he tucks his head against my neck and takes a few shaky, happy breaths, passing all of his emotions to me along the bond Happiness, and sudden anxiety, and joy, and pride, and a thrilled sense of fatherhood- I put my hand on my mate’s cheek and pull his face up to mine, grinning at him with abandon and wiping away his shocked and happy tears. “A little baby, Dominic,” I murmur, beaming into his face. “A brand new baby!” “The best surprise I’ve ever gotten, Ella,” he murmurs, staring at me like I’m a marvel as he sniffs his tears away, still laughing a little in shock. He pulls away from me just a little bit, looking down at my stomach almost like he will see a baby bump – though of course there’s nothing yet I laugh again, pulling Sinclair’s face back up to mine and kissing him, passing all my own joy down the bond. Because this moment – I’ve been waiting for it my whole life. A little surprise baby, much desired and already much loved Sinclair kisses me back with all the love in his heart, holding me close and rocking me back and forth before he lets me go, laughing again.

“Wait,” he says, his voice eager and thrilled, “let’s check -” “What?” I breathe, suddenly curious and a little anxious – is the baby all right? – is- “Here,” he says, putting a steady hand on my cheek. “Close your eyes,” he murmurs, his voice excited, if soft. I do as he says, loosing a deep breath and draping my arms lightly around his neck before I close my eyes. I feel Sinclair connect to me down our bond, and then together we turn to the little silver bond that runs between both of us, just as Rafe’s bond does so slim, so tenuous and new I feel Sinclair move forward to it, almost as if he puts a mental finger out and strokes it, just gently –

And in a glowing rush, I suddenly know...so, so much about her.

Her bond feels a great deal like her brother’s, but also has a line of sweetness and determination within it not that that Rafe lacks those traits, but there’s just more When I open my eyes they’re filled with tears and my lower lip is trembling.

“Did you know all this?” I ask quietly, completely overwhelmed. “When Rafe was still growing? When he was this little?” Slowly, Sinclair nods.

“Why didn’t you tell me!?” I ask, smacking him on the shoulder and laughing.

“I didn’t want you to be jealous,” he murmurs, “which you definitely would have been.” I laugh with him, conceding the point as tears slip down my cheeks, as I look down at my flat belly and press a hand over it where she exists, where she’ll grow. “She’s already...like the start of a whole little person in there...” “We’re born who we are,” Sinclair murmurs, “so much of our personality already intact. It makes sense that it’d be there in the beginning.” “Yeah,” I say, rubbing my belly absently, and then I burst into a grin again and sniff my tears back as I lift my eyes again to my mate’s. “Plus,” I say, joy sweeping through me again, ” it’s a little girl!” I squeal the last word, thrilled, making Sinclair laugh his booming laugh and pull me tight against him.

“I know,” he whispers, falling back onto the mattress and taking me with him, turning me in his arms so that we lay side-by-side, our faces close together.

“You two are going to run me ragged.” “That’s the plan,” I say, giggling with my joy, running a finger down his beautiful cheek.

“Now the numbers are even. But me and Babygirl are going to get Rafe on our side for the important votes – don’t worry – ”

“Oh?” Sinclair asks, his voice dry, an eyebrow raised. “Is this family suddenly a democracy?” “Oh,” I say, pouting and teasing him, “did the poor King think that he was in charge? Get it out of your head, Dominic,” I say, laughing and shoving his shoulder with my fingertips. “Me and Babygirl are in charge now.” “Is that what we’re calling her?” Sinclair asks, his voice soft as his eyes shine, taking in every aspect of my face. “Babygirl Sinclair?” I smile as I gaze back at him, as I feel him connecting with the new baby again, already passing love down the tiny sliver of a bond.

I wrinkle my nose at him. “Just for now,” I whisper. “Although Princess Babygirl is very cute.” “A Princess,” he says, his eyebrows suddenly going up as if he considers it for the first time. “Wow, a Princess...” “Our Princess,” I whisper, grinning at him and leaning in for a kiss – But before I get very far, my phone on my bedstand begins to ring.

And I sit straight up Because only one call would come through at this time of night.

Cora.