Epilogue - Aris

The sound of Linnea's screams rings out through the house, and I turn on my heel again, pacing back the way I came.

"It sounds bad," I say, and Bigby looks up from his knitting to meet my eyes. When Linnea grew tired of the sound of him constantly sharpening his knives, she found him a different way to occupy his hands. Right now, he's knitting a tiny pink sweater.

"This is normal," Bigby says, giving me an exasperated look. "You know that."

"I know," I say, gritting my teeth. "But I just can't shake the feeling that I need to go in there and make sure she's okay."

"Last time, you almost fainted. That's why she told you to stay out here."

"I know, Man," I say, sighing and rubbing my hands over my face. "I just—"

I'm cut off by a squeal of delight and look up to see Araya—named after Linnea's grandmother, running down the hallway toward me. She's wearing a pink princess dress, and her matching plastic heels are clapping against the hardwood. Linnea has to hide the shoes before we go out for the day so Araya doesn't try to wear them to the store or park, but they're free game at home.

I crouch down and open my arms for her, and she leaps up, her mess of curls flopping around her shoulders. I've always given her the option of jumping into my arms ever since she was old enough to toddle around on her two chubby little legs. As I hoist her up, I think about the vision Linnea had the other day—Araya shifting for the first time around fourteen.

That settles it. Our first child is taking after me, but the ones following have a chance of inheriting either my shifting or Linnea's visions. Bigby has been able to provide us with a lot of information and contact with professionals.

"Daddy…" she says, her voice sweet and small. I tighten my arms around her, hefting her up higher. Despite my worry for Linnea, I can't help smiling at my little girl.

"Yes, Love?" I ask, tucking some of her hair behind her ears and patting down a few errant curls. A moment later, Ado appears at the end of the hallway, a tiara perched on his head.

"She escaped me," he admits, which Bigby snorts at.

"I can see that," I say while Araya giggles again, making a heart with her hands for Ado. I recapture her attention. "What is it, darling?"

"Is Mommy okay?"

I swallow, my eyes darting back to the room where the screams have subsided, but there's still heavy panting and grunting.

"Yes," Bigby cuts in. "Your mommy is fine. Do you remember what we talked about?"

"She's having a baby."

"That's right," Bigby says, sparing a glance up from his knitting to meet Araya's eyes. "And what does that mean?"

"That means it's going to hurt a lot," Araya says. "But then I'll have a brother."

"Well, not necessarily a brother," I say. "It could be a brother or a sister."

"But Mommy said—" Araya starts, and then claps her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. I raise my eyebrows at her.

"Did Mommy have a vision about the baby?" I ask her, tickling her sides when she doesn't answer me. She squirms in my arms and giggles, hiding her face in my shoulder.

"Okay, yes!" she says. "No more tickles!"

I set her down, running my hands over her hair once more before planting a kiss on her head. She pouts up at me.

"I told Mommy's secret."

"It's okay, you didn't mean to. We'll pretend like I didn't know. Now, go back with Uncle Ado. Right now, we need the adults only, okay?"

"Because Uncle Ado isn't an adult!" Araya squeals, turning and taking his large hand in her small one, leading him back down the hallway to the playroom. Ado sends me a scathing look over his shoulder, but I know he's just saving face. He loves playing princess with Araya—he's even the one who got her the tiara and dress.

"Aris!" Nancy, one of the pack elders, says, appearing at the top of the stairs. "It's time!"

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders and turning to follow her up the stairs. The house was in pretty bad disrepair when Linnea and I first unlocked the door. We had to stay in her parents' house for a while we remodeled and got the plumbing and electrical up and running again.

My great-grandpa was a carpenter, and he built this house with his own two hands. It's high-quality, made from solid wood, and just needed a little TLC to return to its former glory. We took my parents' suite, complete with an attached bathroom and huge tub Linnea has especially loved using during her pregnancy.

Araya's playroom is carpeted with pink, featuring cloud-painted walls and as many toys as we could fit. I also built her an indoor slide and jungle gym with foam beneath it, which Linnea says is a hazard but I think encourages her to build up her flexibility. Though Araya will be the first female shifter to show her wolf form at sixteen, I'm going to secretly do what my father did and encourage her to exercise it before the ceremony so she can show off to the pack. It's what everyone does, and I won't have my daughter looking scrawny in front of everyone.

As I climb the stairs, I have to monitor my breathing. I can hear Linnea starting to scream again, but she must be close if the woman is encouraging me to come. Everyone in the pack likes to bring up how I almost fainted the first time, when Araya was born.

"Come on, Dad," Nancy says, taking my arm and leading me into the room. She was there for Araya's birth, and it went as smoothly as possible. Linnea has a strong bond with her, seeing her as a motherly figure, and Nancy has helped her come into her role as luna.

I enter the room and see Linnea immediately, my body drawing to hers. I can feel her heartbeat strong, beating hard and fast, and when I come to her side, she reaches out, taking my hand in hers.

"Aris," she breathes. "Don't you dare ever get me pregnant again, you hear me?" she says, gasping and leaning back as another wave of pain washes over her. I feel it in my bones and wince as she squeezes my hand.

"I thought you wanted more than three," I tease. "And a pig."

"Shut up," she snaps. "Just shut up."

"I can do that."

"Can you?" she asks, just before erupting into another scream.

"Good, good job, darling." Nancy says, "You're just about there!"

A few screams later, Nancy is pulling the baby away, smiling down at him.

"It's a boy," she says. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," I say, holding back my tears when I see him for the first time. Just like Araya, he's so tiny. It's impossible to imagine he's going to grow into a man.

"Would you like the do the honor?"

I take the scissors and cut the umbilical cord, feeling immense pride in Linnea. I lean down and kiss her forehead, telling her how much I love her.

Our baby wails as Nancy moves him to a separate table. The women come together, all shushing and cooing, cleaning the baby.

"Araya told you it was a boy, didn't she?" Linnea murmurs, looking up at me. Even with her bangs sweaty and plastered to her forehead, she's the most beautiful woman I've seen in my life. I put my hand to her head, laughing as I remember Araya's slip-up.

"Yes, she did." I murmur, "But I couldn't care less what the baby looks like—I'm just proud that the two of us made him together."

"Me too," she says, grinning up and me and taking my hand in hers.

A moment later, Nancy brings him over, and he's already fallen asleep. When Araya was born, she came out screaming and didn't stop until she turned one year old. This baby boy looks peaceful and calm, like the world could shake, and he wouldn't be bothered.

When Nancy nestles the baby in Linnea's arms, the baby is smiling softly. Linnea looks up at me immediately, her eyes teary and wide.

We should name him Percy? she says. Look at how he's smiling.

I place my hand on the baby boy in her arms. Percy Cadell. My son.

*****

THE END

Hi lovely! Thanks so much for reading Aris and Linnea's story. I hope you enjoyed it. Would you like to read Rosa and Bigby's story too? Then be sure to…

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