Page 50 of Alpha's Secret Baby

A year later, I found myself once more confined to bed. Yet, this time, I felt truly blessed and had a perfect bundle in my arms. “Oliver,” I whispered down at my sleeping baby.

Dylan sat on the edge of the bed, looking exhausted but happy. “Oliver,” he said gently, trying it out.

We’d just arrived back from the hospital, and although I was sore, I’d never felt more content. Fern had been ushered by her Nana and Pops back to their house so that we could get some proper rest.

“I like it,” Dylan said. “We don’t have an Ollie in the pack.”

I grinned at him. “I know.” My eyes strayed back to the tiny face of my son. I thought of the huge Starsmoon family he’d grow up with, and my heart felt full to bursting.

Over the last year, Dylan had given me all the freedom I could wish for, letting me go back to designing and managing the store in Seattle just as I had in Berlin. He’d taken on most of the pack business so I didn’t need to spend time visiting the local community as Heather had done. I’d been truly touched by his thoughtfulness. But a few months ago, I’d decided to recruit more staff to manage the store so that I could help with the running of the pack.

As fulfillment washed through me, I knew that was the best decision ever. Because, as I’d vowed, I wanted to be by my mate’s side, nourishing and fighting for him, our family, and our pack with everything I had.

I reveled in Dylan’s closeness now as he watched our son in my arms. His expression showed the same wonder that I felt. We’d been given another blessing from Nuu-Chah to shower with love and watch grow up.

“You’re going to be the best father to him,” I told Dylan as my mate’s eyes moistened with emotion. Carefully, to not wake Ollie, I moved so that Dylan could come into bed with us.

As Dylan carefully settled himself beside us, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, we continued to admire the miracle we’d made.

“He’s so tiny,” Dylan whispered.

“But he’ll grow to be as big as his dad one day,” I joked.

But Dylan had a slight crease between his brow. “Was Fern so small?”

“Yes,” I nodded, smiling reassuringly. I realized Dylan’s protective instincts were showing, and he was already worrying about what was “normal” for our son. After all, he hadn’t been there at the beginning when Fern was a newborn. But Dylan had been the most loving and attentive father over the past year, and I was thrilled he’d get to experience everything right from the beginning with little Ollie.

As I nestled into the warmth and strength of my mate, I knew our family here in Lord Hills was complete. As Dylan ran his hand up and down my arm, I imagined the many happy years ahead of us, in which we’d watch our children find their place in the Starsmoon Pack just as we had.