Naming

RORY

Returning to life was always shocking and painful, but finally meeting and holding my babies immediately made me forget the deep ache in my muscles.

They’re even more incredible than I could have imagined, these little tiny people that I love with my whole heart. I feel like I know them already. Maybe it’s because of my goddess powers.

The knowledge of how to save our son from Martha was just there, in my mind, when I returned to my body from the Spirit Realm. Gods and goddesses don’t need words, I guess.

My hands are clenched in the blanket over my lap, frustration bubbling in my chest. I can’t believe I fell asleep before I could tell Everett what I’d learned from Achlys.

A minute or two after Freya, Mama, and Mia leave, the door is flung open again, and Everett comes rushing in like there’s a fire. He kneels at the side of my bed and takes my hand.

He kisses it. “How are you feeling? Do you need anything? How are the babies?” The questions come fast until I put a finger on his mouth.

“I’m fine, tired but fine. They’re sleeping. You’ve only been gone for, like, forty minutes. Take a breath.” He does, and I take my finger off his mouth. “I need to tell you what I learned in the Spirit Realm.”

“Right, right.” He rubs the back of his neck, boyish and embarrassed, a side of him reserved mostly for me. “Freya said you know a way to protect our son?”

“Yes.” I close my eyes, letting the words in my mind come to my tongue. “Achlys told me we should perform the Alpha Circle, and then Martha won’t have any claim on him.”

Everett’s brows come together, and he frowns. “The Alpha Circle? Why would she suggest that?”

“Why, what is it? Won’t it work?” My chest gets tight, and it’s hard to breathe. Achlys can’t have been wrong, can she?

“Well…” Everett bites his lip, thinking hard. “It’s meant for adults, not infants. It’s the ceremony that initiates a new alpha, a blood oath.”

Oh. That doesn’t sound like the kind of thing a baby should be involved in, but if it’ll keep him safe from the Red Moon… “Are there rules against doing it with children?” I ask.

“No, I don’t think so. I think it even used to be done a long time ago.” Everett’s face clears as he warms to the idea. “We would name him my successor, but he won’t actually take the role until he’s an adult.”

I slump back against my pillows, relieved. “That sounds alright. But why would that change anything? He’s already your heir.”

He kisses my fingers. “Yes, but not officially. Technically, someone else could be named alpha.”

I squeeze his hand tight. “That won’t happen.” I can’t imagine Everett dying young; I absolutely won’t let it happen. And the pack would never turn on him.

“Hopefully not.” The shadow of his parents’ early death hangs over us. “With this, he’d officially be the Shadow Blood Pack’s next alpha.”

“Which means?” I prompt. I don’t know all the ins and outs of pack laws, and I want to know exactly how protected my baby will be.

Everett smiles at me. “He can’t be claimed by another pack without his consent.”

“Alright. That’s one down.” Everett and I both laugh, so tired we’re a bit loopy. “But Achlys didn’t have an idea for our daughter yet, and neither do I. I don’t suppose you’ve come up with anything?”

He shakes his head and sighs. “No, not yet. But Lucius, Ace, and I were discussing what we’ll do if it comes to a fight.”

“Oh!” He startles at my outburst and I blush. “Well, I wanted to talk about keeping the babies safe first, but I didn’t just see Achlys. I met my mother, my birth mother.”

“The goddess?” His eyebrows shoot up. I haven’t seen her in so long; I don’t blame him for being surprised.

“Yes, she’s been taking care of Nadia in the Spirit Realm. And she told me that my powers will grow now that I’m a mom.” I duck my head, feeling a little shy about it. It’s not like I know how.

His face is soft as he looks at me, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. “That’s incredible.”

“You won’t be the only one fighting to protect our kids,” I say, jokingly holding up a fist.

He kisses me, soft and sweet. “I never thought I would.”

One of the babies starts crying, and the other one immediately wakes up and joins in. “Looks like they’re up,” I say, wondering what upset them.

“I’ll go get them,” Everett says, kissing me again. They quiet down as soon as he picks them up, like they already know he’s going to take care of them.

He puts them on my chest, like before, and climbs in bed beside me. We both just look at them for a while, and I can feel our love fill the room, safe and comforting.

“They’re completely incredible, aren’t they?” Everett says quietly, touching first the girl’s nose, then the boy’s. They both screw up their faces and grunt in response.

“Yes, they are.” I stroke my son’s soft baby hair. “I hope he’s not too upset with us. What if he doesn’t want to be alpha?”

“We’ll figure it out,” Everett says, ever confident. He gives me a shy smile. “Though I admit, I hope he will. But mostly, I want them to be happy.”

“That’s the most important thing,” I agree. “What should we name them? They’re here now; any ideas?”

“I thought you wanted to pick,” he says, kissing my cheek.

I give him a look. “I know you have a name in mind, for the boy at least. What is it?”

“I thought maybe Jason. And Zane, for the middle name.” He looks at the babies, not me, while he says it, a little subdued.

“Jason,” I say to myself, looking down at our son. The middle name is for Everett’s father. “It’s perfect. I think it suits him just right. I don’t suppose you have any girl’s names?”

“Well, since you ask…” he says, blushing a bit. I laugh. “What about Lucina?”

I think about it. “I like it. And Riley as a middle name, for your mother.”

A quiet knock at the door interrupts the moment. “Come in,” Everett says.

Lucius peeks in. “Sorry to interrupt. But the messengers have returned with a response from the Red Moon Pack.”

That has both of our full attention. “What did they say?” I ask.

“They said since the delivery was difficult, and there were unexpected developments—meaning the second baby—they’re going to give luna six weeks to recover. Out of respect,” Lucius says.

He and Everett both roll their eyes and scowl, making it clear what they think of Martha’s ‘respect.’ She probably just wants time to prepare for a fight or some other plan.

“That’s good,” I say slowly, thinking it over. “This means we have a month and a half to figure out how to stop her claim.”

“I’ll let you guys get some more rest,” Lucius says, starting to close the door.

“Wait,” Everett says, and he stops. “I need you to contact our allies and invite their alphas here.”

Lucius nods. “Right. What reason should I give?”

“We’re going to be performing the Alpha Circle.” Everett’s smile is wolfish and fierce, and I let myself believe that everything will be alright.