Katie POV
“What does that an?” I ask, panicking. “Is my baby okay?”
“It’s fine, Katie,” Sable reassures . “I’ll remove the cord, and then you can push again.”
My breath is trapped in my throat, and I am fighting to breathe. The wind picks up, and Quinn yelps when a tree branch bangs against the window.
“Don’t scare like that,” I sob and close my eyes.
“I scared myself,” Quinn whimpers.
“Keep calm, Katie,” Sable comforts . “I almost got the cord, and ... push, Katie.”
I master my last strength, clinging to Mason and Quinn’s hands, and push.
“It’s a girl,” Sable announces happily over my baby’s high-pitched cries. “A healthy baby girl.”
“Congratulations,” Quinn squeals with excitent, squeezing my hand.
“Thank, Goddess,” I sniff, and lean back against the pillows. It is over, and my baby is safe. My baby’s cries are soothing, and the world fades away when Sable places her in my arms. She is perfect, and my heart swells when I touch her rosy cheeks.
“You’re a badass, Katie.” Mason pushes the hair out of my face. “You’re going to be an incredible mom.”
“Hey,” Quinn looks at the window. “The wind has cald down.”
“It’s like Mother Nature telling us everything is okay,” Sable smiles.
“Thank you,” I take turns to look at Quinn, Sable, and Mason. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You did all the work, sweetie,” Sable replies softly. “We were only privileged to witness the miracle of life.”
“Am I too late?” Asher bursts into the room, wide-eyed and arms full of bags.
“Oh, no,” he drops the bags. “I missed it.”
“You’re timing is perfect,” I smile, not taking my eyes off my daughter. “Because she’s here and healthy and that’s all that matters.”
“She’s beautiful,” Asher coos, looking at her in awe. “Have you thought of a na for her?”
“I was thinking ... Stella,” I look up. “It ans star, and she’s my little star.”
“Pleased to et you, Stella,” Asher says, picking up her tiny hand and shaking it.
“Okay, boys, get out,” Sable ushers them towards the door. “Katie and Stella need ti to bond.”
“I’ll run Katie a bath while her wolf and Stella connect,” Quinn offers, and walks away.
“What does that an?” I frown. I am happy and comfortable; I do not want to do anything but stare at my baby.
“You need to shift, Katie,” Sable explains. “You’ll heal faster, and it’s important to commune with your wolf as soon as possible, so you don’t weaken the connection. She needs to bond with the baby just like you do.”
“Okay,” I whisper, kissing Stella’s forehead before handing her to Sable.
A rush of joy flows through at the thought of finally shifting for the first ti. Well, at least since I can rember. My body had to focus on growing this baby, and I was not allowed to shift.
“Lily, you’re ready?” I ask.
“I’ve been ready for a long ti,” she answers, running circles inside , desperate to be let out.
“Close your eyes, Katie,” Sable whispers. “Let your wolf take over.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, and Lily imdiately breaks free. My head jerks upwards, my back arches, and my nightgown rips to shreds as fur sprouts from every pore on my body.
Lily imdiately goes to Sable and Stella. She bends down slightly, so my pup is level with her head. Lily takes in Stella’s scent, and my whole body vibrates, my fur rippling from my head down to my tail.
Lily leans in, brushing my fur along my tiny Stella’s skin. She has been crying since she ca out of the womb, but suddenly she stops. We turn back around to face her, looking into her tiny eyes, and it is like she can see straight into our soul, and we can see into hers.
Light seems to blossom from the small space between us, and a warm flood of emotion erupts from my heart, travelling through my wolf’s body, down to the pads of my paws.
It is love. The strongest and purest I have ever felt before.
Suddenly, Lily backs away, releases a low growl. It sounds like a warning. Every hair on my body stands up. Sothing was very wrong.
“No,” Lily whimpers. “No, no, no.”
“Lily, what’s wrong?” I ask urgently, but she only growls, and I decide to take over.
I shift back to human, grab a gown, and put it on, but I am still shaken up. What if Lily had struck at Sable or Stella?
“What the hell just happened?” I ask, looking down at my new baby.
Why did Lily’s emotions shift so quickly? What could she sense that I cannot?
“You shouldn’t worry,” Sable comforts as she rubs my back. “It’s not uncommon for wolves to act with caution. The connection is there, regardless of what happened afterwards.”
“Okay,” I nod, keeping my fears to myself. Sothing is off with Stella, I can feel it.
“Katie, your body released so many crazy hormones,” Sable smiles. “It’s normal to feel out of sorts.”
“You’re right,” I nod, pulling the robe tighter against my body. Maybe I am just hormonal and out of my mind. I have not shifted since ... I cannot even rember. And my wounds might have healed, but I am still unsteady on my feet.
“Give it ti, Katie, and hold your baby.” Sable hands Stella, and I cradle her against my chest. “Feed her, keep her close, and all will feel right in ti, I promise.”
“Lily, what’s wrong with my baby?” I ask her urgently. I trust my wolf, if she says sothing is wrong, then there must be.
“She slls funny,” Lily replies.
“Are you serious?” I huff. “You scared the shit out of because she slls funny?”
“She does,” Lily insists.
I look at Stella. The love I feel is so strong it physically hurts. Lily’s nose is just oversensitive.
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