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I ’ll never find them. After I turn a sharp corner and yet again discover another sterile white hall without any indication of where I’m going, I’m seconds away from giving up—from shifting and tearing down this place with fangs and claws. Brick grabs my arm, steadying my canine brain, reminding me there’s no need for such dramatics. It’s just a hospital.
I whirl to him, hoping he holds my answers. Sure enough, because he is annoyingly perfect, he points to the sign above the double set of doors. I breathe, turning toward the entryway, barreling down the new hall while reading the names next to each door.
Badson . I storm in, stopping once I enter, the sight before me leaving me breathless.
Red lay in the hospital bed, looking more beautiful than I have ever seen her. Her hair’s a mess, and her face is puffy, but a glow shines through her pores. My brother hovers over her, looking so different, so at peace, so complete. He stares down at the bundle in Red’s arms. When he pulls his eyes away to catch me, I feel immense guilt—how rude of me to interrupt this moment—but Cameron’s smile doesn’t falter. He stands, motioning for me to come closer. “Come meet your niece,” he whispers.
I creep forward, feeling like a child again, unable to hold down the emotions tugging my heart every which way. Red doesn’t look up until I’m standing next to her. “Isn’t she perfect?”
I take her in. Truly perfection personified. The tiniest nose above a pair of lips. “She’s so beautiful,” I say, tears running down my cheeks. God this day is making me a softy.
“Do you want to hold her?” Red asks.
“Yes.” I lean over to grab her from Red, immediately regretting my decision to take on such an immense responsibility. I’m going to drop her. “You’re a natural,” Red says, once the baby’s safely in my arms. I roll my shoulders, letting the compliment ease my nerves. “What’s her name?” I ask, not removing my gaze from her sweet face.
A silence passes and I glance up at Red and Cameron smiling at each other. “Christine Carmen Badson.”
“No, shit?” My cheeks hurt from my smile, and tears completely fog my vision.
“Shit,” Cameron replies.
I give a content sigh, still in disbelief at the angelic bundle in my arms. “Well, I hope for your two’s sake she’s less of an ass than her name suggests.”
Red slaps my arm. “Hey! Her first name is my middle name.”
I eye my brother. “Good luck, man.”
Red laughs at that even as she mutters profanities under her breath.
I’d been so distracted that I completely forgot about my mate I left stranded in the hallway. “Come on in,” Cameron says, and I turn to catch Brick hovering in the open doorway.
He enters, his head bowed. “Congratulations,” he whispers, coming up from behind me and placing his hands on my shoulders.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” I ask, staring up at him.
“So beautiful.” He smiles down at her, a reverence and awe shining in his irises. Seeing him look at little Christine stirs something in me. Damn it.
As if listening to my ovaries, Cameron says, “You two are next.”
My stomach drops. What a stupid-ass-brother thing to say to the man I’ve been seeing for mere weeks. And here I was, thinking fatherhood transformed him into something more respectable.
“Cameron!” Red scolded, just proving her best friend pedestal in my mind.
“One day,” Brick says, rubbing his thumb over my protruding shoulder bone. Something shivers down my spine even as I try to catch it and push it away.
“We have to build our house of wolves. Keep the family strong,” Cameron says, pumping his fist.
“What is this medieval times?” I snap.
“I might not fit in with the House of Wolves,” Brick says, angering me even more at my brother’s words. Of course, Cameron knows that Brick isn’t a werewolf but a werepig. He’s been initiated in the pack regardless, even though Brick protested that he wouldn’t fit in.
Cameron walks around the bed, slapping a hand on Brick’s shoulders. “You’re one of us. Welcome to the family.”
It’s touching to see my brother welcoming my mate into our family in the small hospital room filled with such joy, but also so cliche and kind of makes me want to puke. I do my best to stuff away a witty mark—something about how they should kiss on the lips to seal the family bond.
As if also being weirded out by the bro acceptance scene in front of us, Red clears her throat. Reaching for Christine, still in my arms. “Okay, enough of that. Back to telling me how cute my baby is and how awesome I am for pushing her out.” That snaps Cameron out of it. He rushes to her side, kissing her cheek tenderly. “The most amazing thing I’ve ever seen and the cutest baby that has ever existed.” He stares down at his daughter, shaking his head. “Sorry guys, it’s going to be a tough competition.”
“God, you’re insufferable.” I roll my eyes, even as Brick kisses down my neck and whispers in my ear. “We’ll make the cutest piggy-wolves.” I laugh, because he hates when I refer to him as a pig or a piggy. I twirl around, lacing my arms around his neck and kissing his lips. “Anything with you will be perfect.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
I smile against his lips. “Finally, something we agree on.”
And just like that, it’s a perfect day, filled with my favorite people, my favorite words, and the beginning of my new favorite love story.
And now that my new favorite person is Earthside, I have a kick-ass story to write to expose the shit out of the Hunters. Who cares what the Federal Dick-partment of Supernatural says? I’ve never been a rule follower.