28. Jace

Seven months. How could it have already been over a half year since the war with Eren? Every time I thought about it, it seemed less and less real. In some ways, it felt like only yesterday when I found him there by the creek for our final confrontation. In other ways, it felt like an entire lifetime ago. So many things had happened in the past few months that it was hard to keep track.

Kirsten was—in her words, not mine—as big as a house. The baby would be coming any day now. Every time I looked at her, all I could see was the love of my life. And I felt that nervous excitement that came with knowing how great a mother she'd be, no matter what she was afraid of.

"I didn't have a great role model for a parent," she'd told me a month or so earlier. She was obviously talking about her father.

I'd met her dad a few weeks after everything had happened, when Kirsten and I had driven down with a truck to pack her things up so she could move to Crestwood for good. She'd also brought along a box of items her grandmother had specifically left for her father in the will. We'd made a detour to drop them off. It had been a strange meeting, to say the least, but when he answered the door, I wasn't met with the slob I'd anticipated.

"Hey, Dad," Kirsten said as the door swung open.

The man inside was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, but his hair was neatly combed, and there was no telltale bloodshot look in his eyes.

"Hey there, kiddo," he said, then glanced at me, eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, I guess this is Jace?"

"Yes, sir, Mr. Holly," I said, extending my hand. "It's an honor to meet you."

Looking uncomfortable with my formality, he motioned us inside as he shook my hand. "Come on, then."

Kirsten put the box down on the floor in front of the well-worn recliner, then sat with me on the couch opposite the older man.

"Do you guys want a, uh, drink or something?" he asked.

"Not in the mood for a beer, sorry," Kirsten responded, a hint of iciness in her voice.

Her dad looked flustered. "No problems there. Got none in the house."

"No beer?" Kirsten asked. "What, just hard liquor?"

Her tone was harsh, and even I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. Her father shook his head and chuckled ruefully.

"Nope. I cleared it all out."

Kirsten paused and eyed her father speculatively. "You got rid of all your alcohol? Really? Did you decide to just become a full pill head or what?"

Her dad placed a hand on each of his knees and took a deep breath. "I've started going to AA. I'm thirty-eight days clean as of this morning."

"What?" Kirsten gasped. "You're serious?"

"I am," he said, giving her a proud but weak smile.

Kirsten blinked rapidly, as if her brain was short-circuiting. I was also surprised. She'd told me enough about the man that I'd thought I had a pretty good grasp on how he was. This was an interesting turn of events, to say the least.

He nodded to the box. "I suppose that's the stuff Mom left me?"

Kirsten's shock faded, and the coldness returned. "Yeah," she said, pushing it toward him with her toe. "Might be some great stuff to pawn." She sneered at the last word.

Her father, not noticing or caring, leaned down and lifted the cardboard flap. He froze. On top of all the items sat what looked like an antique dagger, inlaid with gold and beautiful. If he was going to sell this stuff, he'd make a hell of a profit.

He reached into the box and pulled out the dagger with trembling fingers, a faint smile on his lips. "I remember this," he said, turning the blade over in his hands almost lovingly. "Mom used it to cut herbs and stuff. She only brought it out at certain times, and she'd let me help when I was little. Wow, I haven't seen this in a really long time. Since I was a kid, I think."

Kirsten's brow was furrowed when I looked at her. She was staring at her father with confusion and possibly a little hope. He dug into the box more, pulling out other items, sometimes laughing in delight, and other times, sitting for several moments in introspective silence. ‘

The final item, an envelope at the bottom of the box, was a surprise to all of us. Kirsten hadn't mentioned it when discussing the contents on the trip down.

"What's this?" he asked, glancing up at her as he lifted it out. "It's got my name on it."

Kirsten shook her head. "Uh, I don't know. I don't remember seeing it when I sorted the items."

He shrugged and tore it open carefully, sliding out two sheets of paper. Even from my vantage point, I could make out the precise penmanship on the paper, but I couldn't read any of it. Her dad scanned it, then began to read more thoroughly. Kirsten and I sat in awkward silence as his eyes moved down the page. Eventually, his lower lip trembled, his face morphing into a mask of sadness. Tears glimmered in his eyes, and at one point, he let out a surprised laugh. He went to the second sheet, and by the end, he looked like a new man. His lips moved almost imperceptibly as he read the signature.

"‘Love, Mama,'" he whispered. He moved his hand across the page, as if trying to touch all the letters with his palm and absorb them through osmosis.

At last, he folded the paper reverently and held it to his chest, then looked up into Kirsten's eyes.

"I'm…" He paused, swallowing hard, tears still shining in his eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't the father you wanted. The father you needed. I've been a piece of shit my whole life, and I'm only now starting to realize it." He looked down at the paper in his hands. "It took losing Mom for me to really start seeing it."

Kirsten's jaw was hanging open, her face a mask of surprise. I reached over and wrapped my arm around her for support. Her dad continued patting the letter, running his hand down it like he was petting a treasured pet.

"I want to do better," he said, then shook his head sadly. "I don't know that I can be perfect, and I don't know a lot about being a father, but I'd like to try. Better late than never?" He gave Kirsten a heartbreakingly hopeful look.

Whatever spell Kirsten was under, she snapped out of it, chuckling softly to herself. "Um, I guess we could try that, yeah. It would be good, too, since there's more news you need to know."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

She took my hand in hers, and I could feel her girding herself, preparing to deliver the news and wondering how he'd respond. It was easy to say you wanted to be better, but it was much different to actually follow through.

"I'm pregnant, Dad. You're going to be a grandpa."

The man sat stock-still for several seconds as he processed the information. Slowly, a smile spread across his lips, and fresh tears—these ones apparently of happiness—slid down his cheeks.

"A grandchild? I'm going to be a grandfather?" He spoke the words the way I imagined a priest would speak holy words in a prayer. "Well, isn't that something? Congratulations."

Then, without warning, the older man came forward, kneeling down before Kirsten and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace. It seemed decades of pain and sorrow vanished in that moment.

"I'm so sorry, my girl. I'm so very sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Kirsten, frozen in surprise, slowly melted, eventually hugging him back. I could see tears in her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder, both of them sobbing.

Finally, in a husky and congested voice, Kirsten whispered three words to the other man. "I forgive you."

Sometimes, huge life events could change people. I hoped this grandchild did that for him. I remembered what life was like without a father, and if Kirsten could have something close to that, I'd be happy for her. If not? She had me and the pack, and that was all the family she'd ever need. I had the feeling, though, that she had us as well as her father again. You could never have too much family.

When we finally left a few hours later, Kirsten was still shell-shocked, but I could also tell she was at peace and happy.

"So, what was in that letter?" I asked as we drove down the highway. "Must have been pretty good to cause all that back there."

Kirsten smiled, running her hand over my knee. "I think Nana had one last bit of magic up her sleeve. I know that letter wasn't in that box. She did this. It doesn't matter what it says. That's between her and Dad. I think it was her attempt to fix something she wasn't able to fix in life."

"She was a pretty awesome lady," I said.

"Yeah," Kirsten said wistfully. "She really was."

There'd also been double duty over the last few months, with me running my own pack and helping Flynn get his in order. I'd worked harder the last six or seven months than I had in my entire life. Some days, I didn't even do a single thing for my own pack.

Flynn had inherited a real dumpster fire. It became obvious that Eren was even worse at the administrative aspects of being an alpha than he was at being a decent person. The other alphas and I had talked, and we all felt a sense of guilt. All of us thought that if we'd only done something earlier, things wouldn't be so bad.

It was a sentiment neither Flynn nor Stephanie shared. In their eyes, the only person to blame was Eren.

Thankfully, Flynn's discussions with the bank were fruitful. Apparently, even the president of the bank had a low opinion of Eren and was excited to learn that a new alpha had taken his place. They'd negotiated a lower interest rate and a six-month forbearance on payments. Between some of the new investments Flynn was making and the pack donations, they would be fine. Though, I finally talked him into letting me give his pack a small loan.

"Jace, I told you I don't need any money from you," Flynn had told me that fall. "You've already done too much, and you have a baby on the way. It's really not necessary."

I sat across from him, turning my beer bottle in a small circle, and looked him in the eyes. "I hear you, but I want to. Think of it this way," I added quickly as he opened his mouth to argue. "Let's say, God forbid, something happened to me and Kirsten, and my pack was being looked over by an adolescent shifter as the alpha. The pack would need help. They'd be fine in the long run, but wouldn't it be nice to help them get back on their feet? Would you do that for my son, Flynn? Would you let him refuse you?"

The big man gazed at me for a long moment, then smiled. "I suppose not. I'd get him the help he needed, come hell or high water."

"That's what I'm saying. How about this? Let's put it into a fund for the kids. Money for holiday celebrations, maybe buy some sports equipment, have some cookouts, stuff like that." I raised an eyebrow and grinned at him. "Are you gonna say no to the children?"

He grinned back at me. "You're an asshole. Okay, fine. We can do that."

Stephanie had been doing so much work helping Flynn that she was running herself ragged. Part of me thought her drive was to do everything she could to wash the stain of Eren from her life. He'd destroyed her life and, in doing so, had caused her to disgrace herself. She was desperate to change the opinion everyone had of her, and she'd done a hell of a job.

She'd been the main person to bridge the gap between Flynn and the rest of the town. Even in the short time she'd been there, Stephanie had built relationships and trust that had helped the new alpha get a foothold.

With all that happening in Scottsdale, there was still stuff to do in my own pack lands. Kirsten had helped Abigail revamp the Crestwood school and had even talked Harley into going back to school to get her teaching license. When Harley agreed, Kirsten had been shocked because she'd said it as a joke. It seemed to signal a countdown to when Waylan and Harley decided to have a child.

Harley still maintained that she didn't want kids yet, but I'd noticed the furtive and longing glances she cast at Kirsten's stomach. It wouldn't be long after the baby was born. I was sure of that.

Kirsten asked to go along on my trip to visit Flynn again that day, and I'd said yes. She'd been cooped up in the house for a while. Her body was achy and drained from the last days of the pregnancy. Tinsley had given her a special tea on her last visit, which helped a bit, but Kirsten wanted some sunshine. It was nearly Thanksgiving—the leaves had already changed—and soon it would be too cold out to enjoy being outdoors.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as we pulled into Flynn's driveway.

"Exhausted," she said with a smile. "But good."

We headed inside, where Stephanie and Flynn were preparing lunch for us.

"This won't be any of that gourmet shit you make, Jace, sorry," Flynn said with a grin. "I hope sandwiches and potato salad work?"

"A man after my own heart," I said with a chuckle.

Halfway through our lunch meeting, Kirsten excused herself to go to the bathroom.

"How's Byron doing as enforcer?" I asked. "He looks like he'd be up to the job."

"He's great," Flynn said. "Really taking to it, which is good." He glanced at Steph. "There's only so much two people can do. I haven't filled the other spots in my council yet, so it's nice having an extra shoulder to lean on."

"Jace?" Kirsten said from behind me.

I turned. She looked at me with a somewhat terrified expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked, standing up quickly.

"I think my water just broke."

"Say what?" Flynn gasped.

"Oh, shit," I said, rushing to her side. "Are you sure?"

"Well, either that or I somehow pissed myself after already peeing."

"Uh…" I looked at Flynn and Steph.

Steph flapped her hand at the door. "Get the hell out of here. Go! I'll let everyone know. Hurry, Jace."

She didn't have to say it a second time. I scooped Kirsten up and rushed out the door, putting her in the car and buckling the seat as she grunted in pain.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I think, maybe, that was a contraction."

"I'll hurry."

I ran around the truck, jumped into the driver's seat, and sped out of the driveway. It would have usually been a forty-minute drive to the hospital, but I nudged the speedometer up further than I usually did. My speed still stayed lower than I would have liked, but the precious cargo in my truck forced me to maintain a less psychotic speed than I wanted.

Kirsten was breathing heavily and hissing in pain every few minutes by the time we got to our destination. Someone had obviously called ahead because Reese was waiting outside with a wheelchair.

"Looks like the big day is here, huh?" he said as he opened Kirsten's door.

"Apparently," Kirsten grunted through clenched teeth. "Is it supposed to hurt this bad?"

Reese burst out laughing, but stopped when he saw the look on Kirsten's face. "Sorry about that. Uh, yeah. It's going to be a bit unpleasant, but let's get you in here and see what we can do to mitigate that. Come on."

He helped her into the chair and wheeled her inside. I followed, hands shaking, knees weak, heart hammering in my chest. I was terrified and excited. I would get to meet my boy. It was really happening. After a century of waiting, I'd have my baby cradled in my arms. Soon, I'd be able to look into his eyes, hold him, and listen to his heartbeat against my chest. It was surreal.

Thirty minutes later, Kirsten was set with her epidural and in much less discomfort. One of Reese's nurses came by every fifteen minutes to check her dilation.

"Seven centimeters," the nurse said. "We're getting close. Do you want some ice chips or anything?"

"Yeah," Kirsten said. "That would be great."

"I'll be right back."

I placed my hand over Kirsten's stomach, hovering an inch from the hospital gown. "Can I touch you?"

Kirsten nodded. "It's all numb right now."

Gliding my hand over her belly, I could feel the ripples of contracting muscle beneath, making her tummy rock-hard for a few moments.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"I think so. I'm so nervous," I admitted.

Kirsten took my hand in hers, kissing my knuckles. "So am I, but it's going to be okay. We've got this. I know we do."

An hour later, Reese came in and nodded to Kirsten and me. A nurse entered behind him with a tray of tools. "Are you ready to meet this baby?"

We said we were, though that was probably a lie. How was anyone ready to become a parent? No amount of reading or researching could prepare you for such a life-altering experience.

Kirsten began pushing, and I held her hand, letting her dig her fingers into my flesh as she struggled and groaned. Sweat poured from her face, matting her hair on her forehead and cheeks. I'd never seen any person work so hard. She was amazing.

"I see the head, Kirsten," Reese said. "I need you to give one good push to get that out, then maybe two more for the shoulders. Can you give me three pushes?"

Kirsten nodded. Sweat dripped from her nose as she did, her breath coming in rapid pants. She couldn't speak, and her face was red from exertion.

"All right, deep breath, and we'll push for five counts, okay? And… push. One…two…three…four…five. There's the head. He's got dark hair like his parents! Let's go, Kirsten, we're almost home."

After the second push, Reese gave out a whoop of excitement and raised my baby boy up to the world. His little eyes were closed, but his mouth was open, screeching out to the void that he was here. He was here, and the world had better be ready.

He was amazing. Tears sprang to my eyes, and I started sobbing, all with a goofy smile on my lips.

The nurse took him to get weighed, measured, and cleaned up. Kirsten lay back, panting for breath, tilting her head to see her baby.

"Hang on," Reese said, kneeling before Kirsten again. "We, um, we may have an issue here."

"What issue?" My bliss vanished in an instant, and a hundred terrible possibilities ran through my mind. Was Kirsten bleeding? Had something been damaged within her?

Reese looked up at us with shocked eyes. "She's crowning again."

"What?" Kirsten and I said in unison.

"You're crowning," Reese said. "There's another baby in here, and they are coming. I need you to push again. Now."

"Oh my god," Kirsten said, but like a trooper, she gritted her teeth, pushing again.

A second baby? Twins? What the hell? I gaped, and less than two minutes later, Reese stood again, holding a much smaller baby. He was laughing as he did.

‘"It's a girl. She's so tiny, her brother blotted her out on every scan we did. I can't believe it," Reese said, shaking his head. "It shouldn't be possible, but here she is."

"Is she healthy?" Kirsten asked, looking even more exhausted.

"From what I see, she's fine. Just a tiny little girl."

A few minutes later, after both babies were cleaned and swaddled, Reese and the nurse nestled them in Kirsten's arms. Kirsten kept looking from one to the other, happy tears streaming down her cheeks.

An alpha son, and a little princess? I thought Kirsten had every ounce of love I had to give. Then, when I saw our boy, it was like a new chamber had opened in my heart, more love than I could imagine bursting through it. And now? Looking at the tiny girl beside her big brother, my body ached with the power of the love I felt. Looking at the three people who meant the most to me in the whole world nearly brought me to my knees. I couldn't have asked for anything more than this. Never.

I stepped forward and kissed Kirsten on the forehead, brushing her hair away. "You did so well. I've never been so proud in my life."

"Do you want to hold them?" she asked.

For a moment, I was scared, worried I'd drop one or hurt them, but then I realized there was nothing I wanted more. I nodded.

The nurse helped me, and soon I had the two babies in my arms. My boy on the right, and my baby girl on the left. We still hadn't picked a name for the boy, and now we had to figure out a girl's name as well. I gazed at them, fresh tears filling my eyes. I kissed each one on their heads.

Looking up, I locked eyes with Kirsten. Seeing her smile made my heart swell again. Deep in my mind, I thought back on that night so long ago. Kirsten's great-grandmother and her curse. For so long, I thought it had been the worst thing to ever happen to me. Now, I saw the truth. Her great-grandmother had given me a wondrous gift. Unexpected, and more than I ever could have hoped for. I sent her silent thanks for helping give Kirsten and me this family. This happiness.

It would be a really great life. I couldn't wait to see what it had in store for us.

Want to read another story about Opposites Attract romance with a strong female lead? Get your copy of The Alpha's Fated Encounter in the Fated To Royalty Series today!

I walk into the bar with my pack, and I scent her straight away.

She's lying behind the counter with blood trailing from an injury to her head. My desire to protect her stuns me almost as much as her beauty.

But it's the smell of her blood that stuns me the most—it's something not quite human.

When she wakes up, her fear tells me all I need to know. She definitely thinks she's mortal.

I choose to disagree.

I make my pack watch over her while she heals, and she's surprised I want to protect her. It"s obvious she hasn"t had good experiences with shifters in the past, but I intend to show her I"m different.

I also need time to find out the truth about her, including why she"s being hunted by our kind for reasons I'm yet to understand.

All I know is that whoever this woman really is, she's special. And she"s mine...