Krys walked in first, dark circles under his crystal-blue eyes, his black T-shirt inside out. His arms were covered in dry blood, his long dark hair disheveled. Everyone jumped up to greet him—everyone except Virgil, who swiftly fled the room.
Seeing Krys in that state made my stomach drop.
Atticus and Tak spoke privately in the doorway, and Atticus appeared apologetic about something.
“With everything going on, I forgot to mention it,” he said.
I looked to Robyn on my left. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know.” She leaned to the left to see around the group. “Someone else is here, but I can’t see them.”
Tak walked onto the front porch, and an icy wind blew into the house.
“Will someone shut the blasted door before she gives birth to a baby snowman?” Milly shouted from the birthing room.
Lakota was about to close it before he got caught up in what was happening on the porch.
A minute later, Tak walked in. “We have an unexpected visitor.” He whispered something to Lakota, who then hurried into the hall and up the stairs.
A young person walked inside wearing a bloodstained white T-shirt and what appeared to be a hospital gown beneath it. Theywere barefoot, and when they saw all the faces, they hid behind Krys.
Tak shut the door. “I want everyone to be respectful to our guest. She’ll be resting upstairs, so we’ll have introductions later.” He crooked his fingers for her to follow. “Come with me.”
Everyone looked to Krys and Atticus for answers.
Krys peeled off his black shirt, revealing his sinewy torso. “Slight hiccup in the plan. One of those Vamps gave her a memory wipe, so we have no idea who she belongs to.”
“If anyone,” Atticus tacked on. “She doesn’t have a name. We couldn’t abandon her, so Tak will decide what to do with her. She’s seen us, but I don’t feel right erasing a child’s mind—especially one who’s already had so much taken.”
I moaned and leaned forward.
Atticus rushed to my side and stroked my back. He was so attentive, always helping me if I needed to sit or stand and even letting me hold on to his neck and hang while I rode out a contraction.
By the time the contraction ended, I realized Milly’s magic pills had worked. The pain was more removed with each passing second.
“That one wasn’t so bad,” I said, praying the meds would last long enough for me to get through this.
“You’ve been walking around long enough. Let’s get you back in bed.” He lifted me into his arms with ease and carried me into the birthing room.
Milly was in there on her phone. While she wrapped up her call, Atticus cracked the east-facing curtains to draw more light into the room.
As soon as I sat on the bed, a bad case of chills racked my body. My teeth were chattering, and another wave of contractions hit me. It radiated through my back, lower belly, and pelvis.
Milly walked over. “No more soups or foods. Stay hydrated, but you’ll need someone to walk you to the bathroom. I brought a bedpan in case you can’t make it. No shame in that. I also need someone to get that wolf out of here before I trip over him.”
“Catcher.” Robyn snapped her fingers. “Come on. Your watch has ended.”
Catcher licked my hand before taking his leave.
When the contraction stopped, the shivering worsened. “I’m scared.”
“That’s a perfectly normal emotion,” Milly replied matter-of-factly. “It’s the fear of the unknown. The second time around is always easier.”
“I don’t plan on doing this again.”
Milly moved my gown away and used her equipment to monitor the baby. She took an ultrasound and confirmed that the fetus was still in human form. It reminded me that I needed to put my fear away before my baby shifted again. Now wasn’t the time.
The mower cut off outside.
