I crowded in to stroke Lark’s soft hair. “Like they don’t clap?”
“Exactly.”
“You clapped at Storm’s birthday.” August pressed in close behind Ness to get a better look at the newest werepup. “Got it on video. I can pull it up if you’d like.”
Instead of one of his usual barbed comebacks, Lucas went back to grinning.
Storm’s birthday had been bittersweet for all those who’d known Tamara, since it was also the anniversary of her death. Nevertheless, the OBs had all mustered bright smiles and plenty of cheer to make Storm’s celebration extra special.
“Can you bring the party inside the bedroom? You all know how I feel about missing out,” Sarah bellowed just as Matt and Amanda blustered in, along with Cole and Haley, all of them weighed down by gifts.
Sarah’s family strode in next. First her mother and sister-in-law, both armed with designer babywear giftbags, followed by Sarah’s brother Robbie, carrying his twin fifteen-months-old daughters.
Where the men stayed out in the living room with little Lark, the women gathered around the new mama’s bed, which resembled a crime scene yet smelled like new life—sweat, sunshine, and blood.
The balcony windows had been thrown open, and the May sun streamed in, illuminating Sarah’s flushed cheeks and golden curls.
“That’s one pretty baby you popped out, lady,” Ness said around a smile.
“Let this be known, Lark didn’tpopout. She came out slowly and painfully.”
Her sister-in-law smirked, probably reminiscing on when she’d given birth to not one, but two babies.
“She’s beautiful, honey.” Nora kissed her daughter’s forehead.
“Thanks, Mom.”
One of the twins, Evie, or maybe it was Daphne, toddled toward the bed. Sarah reached over to clasp her niece in a hug, but then Storm appeared in the doorway, and the child lost all interest in her aunt. Storm rushed over to me, taking refuge behind my legs as the twins crouched around him to entice him to play.
I threaded my hand through his curls that had grown so dark I was beginning to think he’d end up with his father’s coloring.
“Since everyone’s here”—Ness inhaled deeply—“I have an announcement.”
Sarah and I exchanged a look because we already knew. Lucas, with his insanely sharp hearing, had picked up on it last week when we’d eaten Seoul Sister takeout on our brand-new terrace overlooking the compound.
“Ugh. Here I thought it would be a great surprise, but of course you guys already know.”
“We can act surprised,” I offered.
“You’re pregnant?” Amanda squealed, her eyes lighting up as though she, too, had shifter blood. She was still hoping Matt would come around and allow Bea to alter her genetic makeup, but Matt refused to let Amanda be a guinea pig, especially since Bea had yet to test her venom on humans and shifters alike.
“Babe, you said you’d wait for me to tell all of them.” Matt stood in the doorway as though unsure whether it was safe to step past the threshold.
“Wait . . . what?” Sarah sat up in bed so fast she winced and slid right back to her propped-up position. She leveled her gaze on Amanda’s abdomen. “How did I miss that?”
“Probably because Lark’s heartbeat wasloud,” I suggested.
“You guys are having a baby, too?” Ness gasped.
“Matty!” Amanda shook her head.
“Oops,” Matt said before a big hand snagged his shoulder and pulled him backward into the living room. The sound of loud shoulder pats echoed throughout the house.
A second later, he popped back into the doorway. “If you weren’t telling them about our news, who else is preggers?”
Ness pointed at her still-completely flat stomach.
“Little Wolf’s having a baby! Whoop!” Matt burst in and swung her around.
