Filed to story: Cara Nelson The Guardian: Werewolf Book PDF Free
Cooper Author it was hard writing about Luna Estella’s death, but more so the aftermath for Liam Updates occur daily.
A week after we laid Luna Estella to rest, Calista gave birth to their son, Rik. Anders and Calista allowed Lily and I to be there immediately after the birth. Lily went straight to Calista, hugging her while she laid on the bed, holding her child. I gave Anders a slap in the shoulder and hugged my dearest friend. I know this is one of the proudest days of his life. It’s made even more precious knowing what happened in Shadow Falls a week ago,
I was worried that Lily would suffer after hearing the news that her friend had passed. She took it hard, but thankfully she’s early enough in her pregnancy that it didn’t affect our little girl.
Yep, that’s right. We’re having a girl. Lily and I are already thinking of names. I think Lily was worried at first, that I wanted a boy, but honestly, I’m thrilled. I know she’ll be daddy’s little girl in no time. Donovan is just as taken with our little girl as I am. All he talks about is how he’s going to take her for runs in the forest and show her the pack lands.
Patrick and Olivia join us in the delivery room, and everyone takes turns holding our next Alpha, Lily and Olivia cooing over him. As Lily is holding him, she looks at Calista. “He’s already got his father’s dark head of hair.” I see Anders smirking at this.
“He does but wait until he looks at you. He’s got my eyes.” Calista says, smiling at her mate. Anders leans in and kisses her softly.
A week later, Lily and I are back on protection duty as Anders brings in our neighboring Alphas to celebrate Rik’s birth. I’m not thrilled to have Lily on protection duty. Her stomach has been growing and our little girl is an active baby. Andra and Donovan say we’re still okay, but it won’t be long before any significant activity will become a risk for the baby.
Alpha Eric and Zoey come, bringing their three children. Surprisingly, Alpha Christopher comes and brings his daughter, Anastasia. His eyes still look haunted, but I can tell he is trying for his daughter. Leander didn’t come, but his Beta brought Liam. Anders explained to the young Alpha that he and Rik will grow up as friends and remain allies in the future so our packs can continue to thrive together.
As Anders and Calista stand on the stage, introducing Rik to our pack members and the neighboring Alphas, Lily and I take our positions on either side of them.
While there is a lingering sadness among the Alphas, overall, the weekend was relaxed and enjoyable. There were a lot of children running around and Lily seemed to have fun talking about babies and the joys and difficulties of parenthood.
Since I was watching over Lily, I heard Luna Zoey telling the story of Alpha Eric who apparently can’t change a diaper without gagging. Zoey has all the girls doubled over laughing at her reenactment of Eric’s gag reflex when he’s changing a diaper. “I mean seriously! Tell the man to go into a battle and he can slay an army, come home covered in gore and not blink an eye. Ask him to change a diaper and the minute he sees a bit of poop he’s practically hanging over a toilet.
I notice that Lily makes time to speak with Liam, and it’s the only time all weekend that I see him almost smile. After that. I realize that Lily has developed a bond with Liam. She’s not necessarily a surrogate mother to him, but she gives him someone to talk to when he feels like he doesn’t have anyone else.
The next couple of months before our little girl is born, I let Donovan come forward every night. He’s as excited as I am to meet our pup, and since he can’t spend time with Andra, this helps him to feel better. I’ve noticed that our daughter responds to our touch and Donovan’s purring. So, every night, Donovan comes forward, purring to our daughter and then when she settles, I talk to her. I tell her about my day. about how wonderful her mother is and about how great her future is going to be.
My mate becomes increasingly grumpy. She can’t spar, but Anders has her lead training morning and afternoon to keep her busy. However, as the days go by, even that is too much for her. In a bizarre twist, my mate who only loves apple pie, which she says is what I smell like, suddenly only wants brownies. I’m not sure if I should be concerned that the scent that my mate used to love has suddenly changed.! ask her if there is another person in the pack that smells like brownies, but she assures me she still loves my scent. She just has a pregnancy craving for brownies.
Thankfully, our Luna is the best. She makes brownies every time Lily wants them and I’m equal parts amazed and horrified that my mate can sit down and eat an entire pan of Calista’s brownies. And since she wants them at least twice a week, that’s quite a feat, even for a werewolf.
Lily and I finally decide on a name, Cara. Lily had been researching names in her spare time. She stumbled across the name Cara and found out that it means “beloved’. We both decided that, since we know our little girl is going to be loved beyond belief by both her parents, it is a fitting name.
One night, as we lay in bed, Lily moves around as usual trying to find a comfortable position. She keeps rubbing her stomach and pulling my hand over her to calm Cara, since our little girl is especially responsive to me and Donovan. When that doesn’t help, I move down, letting Donovan come forward. He begins purring to Cara, trying to soothe her.
Lily has been having Braxton-Hicks contractions so we’ve become somewhat accustomed to her stomach contracting as we touch and hold her. Usually, our touch can calm the contractions, but tonight. it’s not helping. Lily keeps shifting around and even Donovan’s purring doesn’t seem to be helping.
All at once, I feel the bed go wet under me. My head pops up and I look at my mate. Her eyes are wide as she looks at me then down at her body.
“Clint.” She says, looking back at me. “I think it’s time.”
I’m out of bed in an instant. I’m rushing around trying to remember what I’m supposed to do.
“Okay. Breathe.” I take several breaths trying to calm myself, when that doesn’t work. I start pacing.”
We’re supposed to stay calm.” I turn to my mate. “Are you calm?”
My mate has gotten up off the bed and is moving to the closet. She looks at me like I’m crazy, her brows furrowing. “Yeah, are you?”
“Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I’m calm. I’m really calm.” I feel like my head is bobbing up and down like one of those things humans put on the dashboard of their car. My brain has completely emptied of everything.
My pup is coming!
“Get your fucking head out of your ass and help our mate!” Donovan yells at me.
I look up and see that Lily has grabbed her bag that has been packed for weeks. “Here, I’ll take that!” I say, thankful that I can do something for her. I throw the bag over my shoulder and look at Lily.
She looks at me for a minute. “We need to get to the car.” She says to me very slowly as if I’m too stupid to understand her.
“Right! Car!”
I take off down the stairs and rush out to get in the car. I put her bag in the car and get in the driver side. I put the car in drive and Donovan starts yelling in my head again.
“You’re leaving our mate you moron!” I throw the car in park and as I open the door, Donovan forces a shift.
‘Donovan, what the fuck?”
“You’re acting like a crazed man. You’re a fucking Guardian and you’re acting like an idiot. I’m taking over.”
He grabs the bag out of the car with his teeth and runs back into the packhouse and up the stairs. Lily is holding on to the walls trying to get down the hall. Donovan gently walks up to her, leaning against her as she has a contraction.
“Hey Donovan. Did you get tired of Clint acting stupid?”
He chuffs at her.
“I’m sorry Lily bud. I freaked out. I’m good now.” I say to her in the mind link.
She turns and looks at Donovan, raising her eyebrow. “Is he?” She asks him.
“Don’t know, don’t care. I’ll get you and our pup to the pack hospital. Get on my back.”
Donovan lays down on the floor and once the contraction passes, Lily climbs onto his back. Anders door opens and he looks out. “Lily? What’s going on? Why is Donovan here?”
“I’m in labor. Clint freaked out and Donovan took over.”
“Do you need help?”
“No, Donovan will take good care of us.”
“I’ll get Calista up and have someone come to watch Rik. We’ll meet you at the pack hospital”
Donovan stands and begins to gently walk down the stairs. Lily holds on tight and once he’s outside, he begins to move as fast as he can without jostling her.
When we get to the hospital, he walks in howling. He needn’t have bothered. Anders obviously let them know we were coming. A nurse comes to help Lily off Donovan’s back and helps her walk to a delivery room. Lily has another contraction as I shift back, rushing up to hold her.