20. Leigh

TWENTY

LEIGH

L eigh was thrilled to be a part of the team, helping Barbara decorate the main Wolfe family home in celebration of Babs. She and Claude had just finished making love again that morning and sauntered over to Tristan and Barbara's, glowing like lanterns in the night.

Leigh felt like she was constantly blushing—at least, that was how Barbara made her feel. When they first walked in, hand in hand, they were the first of the family to arrive.

The matriarch gave her an approving wink.

"Come on, Leigh, help me finish putting up these streamers. Claude, you can help Tristan in the kitchen. When the boys get here we'll start the BBQ."

Leigh gazed at Claude, who gave her a warm smile. She didn't want him to feel overwhelmed by all of the Wolfe men. It was a comradery she was used to, having grown up around it. She didn't know how vampires got along, if they varied in personality compared to Claude, or if there was a general introspection and propensity for brooding.

But when he waved her away toward Barbara, she felt reassured. She didn't need to take care of him. He was a grown man who would put in the effort required to honor his place as a member of the family.

"Get going, then. Those streamers won't put up themselves," he quipped.

Leigh kissed him lightly and felt her stomach flip.

"See you soon," she whispered.

They parted, with Claude meeting Tristan in the kitchen, and Leigh following Barbara down the hallway toward the lounge where the celebration was set to occur.

When they walked in, Leigh was moved by the adorable decorations that the Wolfe matriarch had already applied. Blue and pink balloons, a bedazzled sign, and matching red and blue plastic cups. Little wolf stuffed animals lined the mantle of the fireplace, in all colors of the rainbow. It was all very cute and welcoming.

"This is so sweet, Barb," Leigh said, clapping a hand over her cheek. "I think Mason and Emma are going to love it."

"I know they will," Barbara said, smirky craftily. "The real question here is whether you and Claude will like it."

Leigh moved to the coffee table where Barbara was sorting through glittery mobiles she wanted to hang in the doorways. She felt the prickly sting of the blush again.

"Whatever could you be referring to?" she muttered, fiddling with the arts and crafts.

Barbara laughed, then reached out her hand to tug at Leigh's ear. It was a motherly gesture that made the wolf feel at home.

She stared into the sage matriarch's eyes, those bright, icy blue pools.

"Trust yourself, Leigh. I can see it in your eyes the second you walked in here with him. You can't bear to be apart. It's like peeling off skin."

The palpability of Barbara's description struck Leigh, and she took the wolf's hand in her own. It was cozy.

"Thank you. I'm really trying to listen to my own intuition. I know you understand."

"I really do," Barbara said, smirking again and eyes drifting longingly toward the kitchen. "I really, really do."

Leigh could hear the echoes of both Tristan's and Claude's laughter sneaking down the hall. At that moment, Leigh knew she would never escape her relationship with the vampire unscathed.

And she didn't want to.

At the same time, a barrage of Wolfes pushed through the front door with their little pups in tow. Claude, Tristan, Barbara, and Leigh all went out to greet them.

Aric and Jordan, along with Nate and Karla and their triplets, plus Ellie and Caleb with little baby CJ all stormed in, a barrel of laughs and hugs and kisses arriving on their tails. It was a storm of chaos, but it was all love, colliding and bouncing off one another like comets streaming through the atmosphere.

The men migrated toward the kitchen, then made their way out to the backyard. Leigh sat with the women and watched the kids, marveling at the triplets' growth, and cooing at the quiet beauty of little CJ.

She was beyond happy to see Claude getting along with the men of the family, sorting out the burgers and hot dogs and salad, despite not being interested in food in the slightest. None of the Wolfes were cold toward him—in fact, they were quite the opposite. They asked if he brought any synthetic blood with him, and Tristan even offered to get some from his personal production.

"Trevan sometimes has it, so I like to make sure I'm all stocked up," Tristan said, standing at attention at the BBQ.

Leigh wasn't trying to listen in, but where she was sitting in the kitchen was directly next to the patio where the men were chatting. Jordan, Ellie, Karla, and Barbara were talking about adding another wing to the grand home while Leigh held a napping CJ in her arms.

Aric and Caleb asked Claude about Embraced in a light, conversational manner.

She couldn't see Claude, but she knew in her mind's eye that he was shrugging.

"They seem to be going as well as you'd imagine. The social media response wasn't great."

Tristan jumped in with a scoff.

"You can't please people on the internet. Plus, hate always gets more traction. But I have heard a lot of positive reactions. I think it is going beautifully."

Claude sounded surprised but encouraged by Tristan's assertion about the vampire-werewolf club.

"Oh, well that's nice to hear. You're right, it's easy to get bogged down by the bullshit."

"Very easy," Nate said, likely clapping the vampire on the shoulder. "Don't sweat it, man. I know things are going to work out with that place. You and Leigh have been working really hard. It shows."

Claude's voice was incredibly thankful and that brought on another wave of blushes for Leigh. She was starting to realize how easily Claude fit into their big family. Had she completely overreacted to his nature as a vampire?

It was starting to seem so.

An hour after getting food and decorations in order, Mason, Emma, and Babs arrived at the Wolfe family compound. Much to everyone's surprise and delight, they brought Aria, Trevan, and little baby Mai with them.

Everyone was enchanted by the presence of the two sweet babies. There was another rush of greetings when the new parents entered, becoming completely accosted of their newborns by everyone who wanted to hold the little balls of joy. Emma and Aria were summoned to the couch in the lounge and treated like queens for the entire brunch.

Mai and Babs were passed around multiple times as everyone ate and chatted. Claude and Leigh sat next to each other on a loveseat, watching all the charm spread around the room like the most wonderful fragrance. Leigh could feel Claude's hand on her thigh, rubbing it up and down. Watching Claude watching everyone else have fun gave her that strong sense of home again.

"Okay, it's time for pictures everyone!" Tristan hollered, having taken out a vintage camera from his study.

"Oh, really, Tristan?" Aria remarked playfully. "I am not at my best right now."

"I think you not being at your best is likely many other people's best," Trevan jeered charmingly, kissing his wife on the cheek. "You are stunning . You always are."

Eventually, everyone managed to gather around the new parents and their fresh newborn babies in front of the fireplace for a few family photos. Everyone kept calling Aria and Trevan cousins, rendering Mai an honorary cousin.

Leigh's heart swam with enduring appreciation.

"Okay, Leigh, Claude, get in here," Mason said.

"Yeah, Claude," Leigh said, dipping her hand into the vampire's. "Let's get in there."

She winked at him, the gorgeous, dark, and mysterious man who had captured her heart. When he smiled, her chest lit up, a thousand sparklers all going off at once.

"Anything you want, sweetheart," he murmured back.

Leigh guided him into the group pictures, standing next to Mason and Emma. Emma was cradling Babs, who maintained her feisty personality with a squirmy, disgruntled expression. Tristan set up the old-school camera on a tripod, then set the timer. He jogged over to his wife and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Okay everyone, smile for the camera," he said.

"Cheese!" the triplets said with a giggle.

They took a few photos with a good handful of comical blunders. The triplets began to lose interest while CJ was getting fussy. The new mothers were once again summoned over to rest while their little babies were tended to by the assortment of family members.

The party continued with endless socializing and delicious food. People gathered in different rooms, holding conversations about sports, politics, or nursery school rhymes.

Claude and Leigh lingered in the kitchen and helped Tristan and Barbara clean up from the celebration.

It was very tiring to Leigh, but in a way that felt good. Her heart was overflowing with the most magnificent sentiment – that she and Claude were indeed meant to be and that they were going to do just fine in a blended family situation.

She hoped they were over the argument they'd had at Embraced, and that they could move forward, tackling challenges as they arose with level heads.

Leigh's wolf desperately groaned inside her, wanting it to be true.