So this was what it meant to be a pack, have a family.
I think I liked it just fine.
THE END
6 MONTHS LATER
My bare feetswiped over the wooden boards of the wrap-around porch as I rocked in one of those rocking chairs. No one ever uses them; my entire pack prefers the darkness of the indoors, but the late spring breeze felt too nice to ignore.
I let a hand slide absently up and down over my stomach. The bump was very present now, so much so that I could barely see my feet beneath me. We decided to keep the gender a secret, since it didn’t really matter to any of us. Everyone was on team healthy baby.
“You ready to go, final girl?” Marcus asked from the door.
He looked fine as ever, his large frame basically filling the entire space. He wore a black t-shirt with some kind of horror movie logo on the front. His legs were clad in thick black jeans, even with the beating sun. Normally, he’d be at work today, but he took the day off.
I got the email invite a few days ago; he and Cameo wanted to take me out, and I couldn’t say no. It’s not like I had a reason to anyway. I was still banned from the Streamverse site. Though it was frustrating, I’d forgiven them for it. So much had happened, and they did a lot to make up for it.
Including following up on supporting my game studio, though it’s been slow. The first trimester proved to be full of morning sickness and naps. The second has been much better, especially with a personal chef making everything I’ve ever craved. So I’d been working to line up software engineers and collaborating with Indi on the story. Since we’ve played so many, storyboarding with them has been fun. And Joon has been helping me with the art. I was planning to hire someone, but why when their designs are so unique?
“Ready,” I said. I went to stand, but with my front heavier than usual, my balance was off, and I plunked right back into the chair.
He was there in a second, holding his hand out and helping me up. They were all so sweet to me—sometimes, it made me want to cry. Though I blamed that on the hormones.
I pressed into him briefly, his sweet scent almost having me turn us right around inside.
Who knew pregnancy could make you so horny all the time? The smallest thing would make me jump one of them, though no one really complained.
His large hands circled my waist, “Cameo’s waiting for us in the car.”
I nodded, shelving my X-rated thoughts for later.
The day was still young.
We walked hand in hand to Cameo’s car, and he opened the front door for me, not saying a word when I ungracefully fell to the seat.
Cameo’s attention was drawn from whatever he was doing on his phone. They were both taking the day off, so I assumed it was work stuff.
“You’re glowing, tesoro,” he said, leaning in to kiss me on the lips. The car rattled as Marcus squeezed himself into the back seat, looking like a folded piece of origami.
“I could sit in the back,” I said as Cameo started pulling out of the drive, one hand gently placed on my thigh.
“I’m fine,” Marcus assured, though all his adjusting back there told me otherwise.
I let my head loll to the side towards the window as the rolling trees of the suburb gave way to the concrete of the city. My eyes got heavy, threatening to shut multiple times, but I managed to keep them open.
Or so I thought, until Cameo was gently shaking me. “We’re here,” he said lightly.
It took me a moment to realize whereherewas, but as soon as I looked up at the building beside us, it was obvious.
“Why are we at the Streamverse headquarters?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” he promised.
Everyone was quick to get out of the car, but I was still sitting there frozen. The door opened, and Marcus led me out and across the parking lot. I had no idea what we could be doing here. Did they set up a meeting to get my account back?
Even more surprising, standing at the door was Tara and her pack, my best friend animatedly showing her alpha something on her phone. Probably that short video repost she sent me this morning about the wild animals who tried to steal Halloween candy, only to be scared by some porch animatronic and turn the whole place into a disaster.
“Eva!” she screeched as she saw me and ran forward, her heels clicking against the asphalt. “I’ve missed you.”
