24. Beatriz

TWENTY-FOUR

The entirety of the Wolfe family … excluding Caleb, of course … sped down to the shifter hospital. It wasn't a very long drive into the city, and thankfully, Tristan knew the best routes to get there. Being friends with the hospital staff and doctors also wasn't too shabby either.

Beatriz was on a high after the battle with Wallis, then the subsequent confession Mike had made to her in the shower. They were on the precipices of making celebratory love when the birth was announced, forcing Beatriz to switch gears once again.

This time, it was switching into family mode. The drive was exciting, adrenaline and adoration pumping through her veins like a torrid rainfall. It was all so thrilling and wonderful she thought she might burst at the seams with happiness.

The atmosphere in the waiting room was still one of anticipation but with an added spice of fear. Ellie and Caleb were having their first child, and despite the healthy birth of Karla and Nate's triplets, having a shifter baby wasn't exactly smooth sailing.

It wasn"t for any woman, human or not, but being a shifter made it extra complicated. Beatriz raced into the hospital, holding Mike's hand, her heart like a singing canary in the somber atmosphere.

"Everything going okay?" Mike asked.

Tristan, Barbara, Aric, Nate, and Karla had all arrived before Beatriz and Mike, but they hadn't missed anything. Barbara had gone into the hospital room with Caleb and Ellie after her contractions only had two minutes between them. Tristan paced up and down the hall, which was dominated by the Wolfe family. He looked nervous, his hands placed behind his back in his usual contemplative stance.

Mike held her hand for the entire twelve hours that the labor took, his touch sending shockwaves of affection through her bones. She didn't feel the same fear that Tristan and his children were feeling. She felt that a lot of it was normal, of course. A woman getting pregnant and pushing out a baby was threatening to her health, especially a shifter baby, but something told her that everything was going to come out peachy.

A shifter baby was already far more powerful when it was born than any human ever could be. The power of it was enough to shatter the pelvic bones of the person giving birth. Beatriz's own mother had injured herself once giving birth to the sixth child, and it was a wonder that she managed to recover as miraculously as she did.

But there was still that hope, that vibration in her, that knew both Ellie and the baby were going to be healthy as a lamb once the labor was over.

Since meeting Mike, there had been a fairy tale essence that hung in the air like spider silk. She squeezed his hand back, brought him coffee along with the Wolfe brothers, and did what she could to comfort Tristan.

She kept offering him her seat, but he declined politely.

She held up her coffee cup and tilted her head, feeling more charming than ever.

"Caffeine is good for the soul. I promise you. I know Ellie is going to be just fine."

Something glimmered in Tristan's wizened eyes. He flickered them at Mike, who was smiling up at Beatriz. He, too, began to smile, and it made Beatriz feel warm inside.

"I'm so glad you are here, Beatriz. I am even more glad that Mike smartened up."

He cocked an eyebrow in Mike's direction, and Mike chuckled. A few seconds later, the conversation was cut short by Caleb pushing through the double doors, ecstatic out of his mind.

"My son is here!" he exclaimed, babbling madly with tears in his eyes. "Little Caleb Rahound Junior is here! A healthy baby boy!"

Everyone rose to their feet. Mike and Beatriz let the family members embrace him first, the relief and delight in the room through the roof. Nate and Karla went in first, along with Tristan. Aric went in next, and everyone came out infatuated with the newest member of the Wolfe family.

"It's your turn now, sweethearts."

Barbara was the chaperone of the visits, guiding the family in and out to not overwhelm the new mother. Tristan remained in the room as Beatriz and Mike walked in, the new mom and dad with eyes as bright as the moon.

The moment Beatriz laid eyes on Caleb Jr., her heart swelled. He wiggled around in the tired but beautiful Ellie's arms, the light of the room far too much since emerging from the comfort of the womb.

He was the most precious, delicate, gorgeous thing Beatriz had ever seen. She had seen many babies in her lifetime, being the oldest in the family. It had been a while since she had been in the presence of one, but she realized how much she had missed it.

Family was important to her … more than anything in the world.

"Come in, come in," Ellie exclaimed.

She was beaming. Little Caleb was swathed in a powder blue blanket, adjusting to his small form. Beatriz went to Ellie's side, gazing with adoring eyes at the sweet child.

"My God, Ellie," she said, her voice wavering. "He is beautiful."

Caleb and Mike stood behind her, the pride in the new father's eyes brimming. Ellie raised the baby from her chest, and Beatriz gave her a look of surprise.

"Do you want to hold him? You're part of the family, too, Beatriz," she said.

Barbara and Tristan stood by as careful and caring watchers. They gave her and Mike an approving nod.

Beatriz gazed around the room. Blue Creek was her new home. It reminded her of her nine siblings back home. It was a glorious feeling.

"Well, you've convinced me," Beatriz said gleefully.

Like holding a small bomb, Ellie guided her newborn son into Beatriz's arms.

She held him still and close. His eyes were like gems, peeking out from beneath his thin pink lids. He was no longer restless but soon fell asleep. The fresh baby smell wafted up into Beatriz's nose. It was the most fragrant scent she'd ever absorbed.

Mike came to her side, gazing over her shoulder. He laid one of his big hands on the baby's small head and stroked him gently.

It gave Beatriz the most wonderful chill.

"Would you like to hold him?" Beatriz asked.

At first, Mike was bewildered. But soon enough, he was eager, taking the little bundle into his massive tree trunk arms. It was the sweetest sight, and it made her ovaries bloom. She could only imagine what it would be like to have a little pup running around.

"He is so little," Mike whispered. "He looks like the both of you already. Mostly Ellie, thank God."

Caleb and Ellie laughed, as did Barbara and Tristan. The little one remained undisturbed, dozing in Mike's arms.

They handed the baby back to his parents and joined the celebration in the hallway. Everyone gave the new parents and little Caleb some space, talking and chatting until the sun began to settle.

Ellie would remain in the hospital with her little boy for another night, with Caleb by her side. Tristan and Barbara invited the entire family back to the estate for a nightcap.

Mike and Beatriz walked out to the car, the sun staining the parking lot a rosy hue. They sauntered, their fingers still intertwined. Beatriz couldn't get the image of Mike holding little Caleb in his arms out of her mind.

They locked eyes, and Mike must have felt it because he stopped. He pulled Beatriz into his arms, his hands gripping her waist as she began to giggle uncontrollably.

"What's gotten into you?" he teased, running his hands up her back.

"What do you think?" she said, feeling over the moon. "That really did something to me, you holding him so tenderly."

Mike's eyes glowed the most potent shade of green Beatriz had ever seen. He bit his lip and pulled her in even closer.

"Oh, is that so? What did it do?"

She growled at him, desperately trying to pull his mouth down to hers. The two lovers giggled, brushing each other"s lips with the delicacy of a butterfly's wings.

"Tell me," he hissed at her.

"Take a wild guess," she said, still giggling. "I want to … I want to have a baby with you."

Mike"s hands were all over her, and hers were all over him. He pressed his forehead against hers and let out a long sigh. There was a pause, and Beatriz waited with bated breath.

He always had a way of taking her breath away.

"Beatriz, I am insanely in love with you. I want to do everything in the world with you. I never want to make a stupid mistake like that again. Never."

Beatriz felt like she was floating. Words fluttered out of her mouth, the easiest ones she would ever say.

"I am in love with you, too, Mike. You are mine, and I am yours. We are going to take on this world together. And I can't fucking wait."

They finally crushed one another with their lips, everything in her life leading up to that moment. They held each other close, their entire lives laid out ahead of them along the burning road of twilight.

They arrived late to the celebration, but Beatriz knew that Tristan and Barbara wouldn't mind. They were having a celebration of their own and would for the rest of their lives.