“Thanks.” Indigo smiled. “It's definitely a learning curve.”
As the class reconvened, Judy addressed the final topic: “Now, let's discuss the immediate post-birth bonding period. This is crucial for establishing pack connections.”
She gave a detailed explanation of how new shifter parents often spent the first days with the entire pack making short visits to scent-mark the newborn, establishing their place in the hierarchy.
“After that, we recommend at least a week of seclusion for the new parents and their cub.”
Indigo spoke up. “Like a babymoon, but after birth instead of before.”
“Exactly!” Judy replied.
We were preparing to leave when Indigo grimaced, and his hand flew to his belly.
“Indigo? What's wrong?”
He didn't answer, instead doing the breathing technique from earlier and howling. Gods, was the birth imminent? I panicked, not knowing what to do. Did I hold him? Everything Judy had said vanished from my memory.
But Judy breathed with my mate and encouraged everyone to do the same. We got into a rhythm and howled.
“That was a contraction.” Judy told us it was likely Braxton Hicks, as my mate was thirty-six weeks. “How are you feeling now?”
“Better.” Indigo straightened, and I hugged him. “It's finished.”
“False alarm,” Judy announced. “Though well timed for our class.”
I kept my arm around my mate while my wolf badgered me to take him home.
“We should call the doctor.”
“It was one contraction, Riven.” Color returned to my mate’s face.
Judy reminded us practice contractions were the norm but we should contact the doctor if we wereworried. We thanked her and said our goodbyes. The other couples told Indigo to join their weekly parents’ group after the baby arrived.
“That was interesting.” We were in the car on the way home. “I enjoyed it, especially the howling, and I learned a lot. But it was nice to see how welcoming everyone was.”
“You were amazing.” I was so proud of him. “Your howling exercises sent chills through me, and I loved the den we built.”
“I’m not sure about cedar boughs in our closet. Would pine be a good substitute?”
I nodded.“We're really doing this, aren't we? Having a baby. Becoming parents.” I took my eyes off the road. “Scared?”
“Terrified,” he admitted. “But also as ready as anyone can be for something so life-changing.”
“We'll figure it out.”
“But if you start howlingbeforeI do, we're going to have words.” He squeezed my thigh.
“Scout's honor.”
“Were you ever a scout?” Indigo giggled.
“Nope. Okay, make it wolf's honor.”
FIFTEEN
INDIGO
“The Marshall quarterly reports should balance now,” I told Ray, saving the spreadsheet I'd been working on for the past hour. “Their shifting expense allocations were categorized incorrectly.”
