Page 73 of Ulf's Destiny
“Einar. Oh. What a beautiful idea, thank you. Your father will love that.” His mother was crying by the time she knelt down by his wife and son. “I’m so relieved it’s over and everything went well because, to tell you the truth, I am not sure I would have managed to deliver my grandchild without bursting into tears. But I can help deal with the afterbirth,” she added, when she saw Ylva wince.
Of course. How had he forgotten about that? It was not quite over yet. It seemed that his mother had arrived in time for this all too important part. Ulf was grateful for her presence, because he knew this was often where things went wrong for the mother.
“Ulf, will you hold your son while I see to your wife?”
Say what she might, all tears had instantly been forgotten, and his mother was once again the competent midwife.
Though he’d held more than one babe in his life, Ulf felt an odd stirring in his gut when he placed his son against his chest and felt the little head settle in the crook of his neck. Such happiness, such pride!
By his side, Oslac was wiping his own cheeks, not trying to hide his emotions.
“I have a nephew.” He sounded awed at the realization. “I’m so happy to be here to see that.”
“Yes. I’m glad you are here to meet him.” It surely meant a lot to Ylva to have her only brother here with her as she became a mother. And his brother-in-law was a good man, one whohad helped get him out of the cell all those months ago without hesitation when they barely knew one another. “Thank you for going to get the cart to bring Ylva and Einar home and fetching my mother.”
“I cannot imagine what you and poor Ylva went through. I’m sorry I wasn’t faster but it?—”
“It’s all right.” The man would have done all he could, Ulf didn’t doubt it, but he could not fly.
“Next time don’t let Ylva sway you,” Oslac said, shaking his head. “She will have to stay within walking distance of the village when her term is near.”
“Yes. I confess I won’t mind if I never have to do this again.”
“I can imagine.” His brother-in-law made a grimace of sympathy. “Truly, whatever some people say, women are not the weaker sex.”
Being married to his she-wolf, Ulf could not agree more. He closed his eyes and lifted his head to the sun.
“There. All done,” he heard his mother announce a short while later. She sounded satisfied, which told him everything was as it should be. Now everything was truly over.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. But I suppose we had better put the little one to Ylva’s breast now. Look.”
Ulf laughed. Indeed the babe had started to burrow into his neck in search of something he would never find. Only his mother would be able to help. “Yes. The poor mite is getting agitated.”
Lying on the blanket, Ylva looked exhausted and yet, unutterably beautiful. He gave her a kiss as he deposited the baby on her chest.
“Everything all right?”
Ulf couldn’t help a smile at her question. “I think I should be the one asking you that, my love. But yes, Einar and I are both fine. What about you?”
“I’m f—” A wince interrupted her. “I’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
Yes, but she would be in pain right now. By the gods, why hadn’t he been the one to suffer? Why did it have to be her? Why didn’t she hate him, after what she’d been through?
“I thank you for the gift of my son,” Ulf said, placing another kiss on her temple. “I love him more than words can express.”
Her face softened and all her pain seemed forgotten. “I know. So do I. And I thank you for the gift as well. I didn’t make him on my own, you know.”
No, he knew. He would cherish the memories of that night forever, the night he had found the adventurous lover he’d dreamed of, the woman he needed, the wife he loved and the mother of his children.
“Here, Ylva, if we do this right, it shouldn’t hurt.”
Once his mother had helped position the baby correctly, she retreated to the cart with Oslac, giving them privacy.
Ulf sat down next to Ylva and allowed himself the pleasure of watching his son feed. He couldn’t wait to get to know this child, the first of the next generation of wolves.
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