“She? Wait, where is he taking her?” Niko said breathlessly, glancing at me. Sweat dripped down his brow and made the hair stick to his forehead. He looked exhausted but the realization that his baby had been born made him forget allofthat.
“I’ll just be a moment,” Kenpromised.
Niko groaned in frustration and anger. “I wanthernow!”
I squeezed his hand, hoping to calmhimdown.
“I know exactly how you feel,” Wesley added. “But Ken is doing it for her own good. She’ll be in your arms soon. Don’tworry.”
Just when Niko looked like he was about to burst into tears, Ken reappeared from the other room with the baby wrapped up. With a smile he handed her to us. Niko took her first with shaking arms and pressed her to hischest.
“Oh… Look at you,” hewhispered.
“She’s beautiful,”Isaid.
Her cheeks were flushed bright pink underneath a soft mop of dark blonde hair. She was grumbling and pouting, which I considered was fair considering the ordeal she’d just beenthrough.
“She looks so cranky. Just like David,” Jericho said withagrin.
“Oh, shut up,” I mumbled with asmile.
“I cannot believe how amazing she is!” Charlie said excitedly. “Oh, this makes me want another one sobadly.”
“I know,” Mason agreed. “I’m trying not to look at her. Maybe that’ll stave offtheurge.”
Wesley rolled his eyes playfully. “I’m already pregnant with another. I don’t need a thirdjustyet.”
“She’s lovely,” Flint agreed. He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, David. You’re going to make an amazingfather.”
Our friends agreed, making me blush - which Jericho promptly made fun ofmefor.
“Anyway, we’re missing the big picture here,” Jericho said. “Namely - whatisthe baby’s namegonnabe?”
Niko and I exchanged glances. During the months leading up to the birth I’d given it some thought, but I wanted to hear Niko’s opinionaswell.
“What do you think?” I askedmymate.
He shot me a sly smile. “Wasn’t there one name in particular we bothliked?”
It was true we didn’t quite think of a name we both liked, except for one we were both considering if we had a girl. Niko had been the one to suggest it originally, as a nod to the man who was both our saviour from Scarlet Ridge pack - and ourfriend.
“Raven?” I asked. The name conjured the image of Virgil’s raven form as he helped usescape.
Niko nodded with a smile. “That’stheone.”
To show my agreement, I leaned down and kissed himpassionately.
“Raven it is, then,” he announcedafter.
“That’s a beautiful name,” Charlie said. “It sounds a bitfamiliar…”
“Remember how we told you about our time in Scarlet Ridge?” Niko began. “Our friend Virgil was a double shifter. His other form was a raven, so our girl is named after him, inaway.”
“A double shifter, huh?” Jericho mused. “That still boggles my mind. I’ve never heard of such a thing until you guys told usaboutit.”
“It’s a big world out there,” Ken said. “A lot of things arepossible.”
“You’reright,doc.”
