“Willow, I’m so sor—”
“Isn’t she perfect?” Willow smiled at me, stroking the baby’s dark hair.
I caught myself. Why would I apologize for a healthy human baby? There were plenty of people who would kill for one of those. As I stared at the child, I realized she was right. She was perfect. Ten fingers and ten toes. We’d been wrong before to worry about all the children born without wolves.
“She’s absolutely perfect,” I agreed, my throat tightening.
“And she’ll have a playmate.” Willow looked at my mom, who was watching me with eyes that brimmed over with tears.
“Oh, honey, you had a baby without me,” my mom croaked, stepping forward. Sawyer’s mom stood beside her. She was beaming as she looked down at Creek, who looked so much like Sawyer that it made me sad sometimes to look at him.
I rushed toward my mom, opening my arms and smooshing her in a hug. Creek was pressed between us, sucking the nipple of a plastic bottle and probably wondering what this plastic thing was. He’d never seen plastic. Or the white cotton diaper he was wearing, or the clean yellow onesie. He looked … like a city wolf. I enjoyed learning to live off the land, but something about disposable diapers just made everything seem right with the world.
Sawyer’s mom stood near us, shifting awkwardly like she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what. Reaching one arm out, I pulled her into the hug with my mom, making it a three-way.
“I hope it’s okay I gave him a bottle,” my mom fumbled as she pulled back from our group hug. “He was crying and you weren’t here and—”
I smiled. “It’s fine. I’m just not used to diapers and clothes and stuff.”
Wow, where had my social skills gone?
My mom looked at my skimpy suede dress, unshaven legs, and the hunting knife strapped to my thigh, and nodded. “Well, whatever you’re comfortable with, dear. I can change him back into the rabbit fur if—”
I laughed, and so did Sage, who stood behind my mom. If I never had to skin another rabbit it would be fine by me.
“Normal clothes are fine,” I assured her. When the time was right, I would teach my baby to live off the land too, but some city luxuries were awesome to have in the meantime.
Sawyer’s mom reached out and gently touched Creek’s forehead. “I’ll have to show you a baby picture of Sawyer. I grabbed a few before the evacuation…” She shook off the memory. “They look so much alike.”
I nodded. “I’d like that. Also, I wanted to tell you. His full name is CreekCurtCalloway-Hudson.”
Her breath hitched, and then tears spilled over onto her cheeks. “I love that.”
I smiled, trying to keep from crying myself. “It has a nice ring to it.”
Without warning, she reached out and pulled me in for another hug. “Sawyer always talked about having kids one day. He would be so proud.”
Would be…
He wasn’t gone yet. She’d already given up hope?
I nodded into her shoulder, trying not to get too emotional. It was all so overwhelming. “I’m going to get him back. Don’t worry.”
My dad had been silently watching me the entire time. “They say you’re their alpha now?” He slung an arm around my mother, looking from Rab to Arrow. Poor guy seemed confused by the whole thing. Could I blame him?
Something stirred within me at my father’s words.
Anger.Why?
Because I wasn’tjustthe alpha of the Paladins. With Sawyer gone, I’d need to be the leader of both packs until he could return, something I didn’t think they would like but was necessary.
“I’m everyone’s alpha now, Dad.” I tipped my chin up, and Eugene, who was standing next to my father, gave me a maniacal grin.
“Until Sawyer is back, I’m your alpha too, and I’m going to have to make some hard decisions so I can get us all out of here and back topside.” Then I popped on my toes and kissed his stunned cheek. “Missed you, Dad.”
My dad looked shocked at my declaration. My mom too. But I didn’t care. That’s the way things were going to be. We needed one leader to unite us all or there was no way we were going to survive and eventually take Wolf City back.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Raven squeaked beside me, and I yanked my bestie into a hug. When my arms wrapped around her, the earthy scent of magic and spell work surrounded me and I felt like I was home, back in my parents’ apartment in Spokane while Raven and I giggled about cute boys at Delphi when we were thirteen.
