Chapter 226
Jane
Four Months Later
Ethan ushers the pups into my hospital room with a finger pressed to his lips. “Quietly now, Mommy’s
very tired.”
I’d gone intobor in the early hours of the morning, and the experience couldn’t have been more
different than it had been with the quadruplets. Instead of suffering through the first contractions alone
and afraid, I’d had my mate by my side, rubbing my back and crooning sympathetically as I gritted my
teeth against the pain. After a few hours of pacing and fruitlessly trying to find afortable position,
my water broke and we left for the hospital, leaving the pups with a sitter.
I made it through fifteen hours ofbor before caving and asking for an epidural, taking Ethan’s
encouragement to save my strength for pushing when the time came. He never left my side the entire
time, only stepping out of the room a couple of times to check in on the pups at my request. I couldn’t
have asked for a better birthing partner -hevished me with praise and marveled at my strength, not
batting an eye when I turned the me on him for doing this to me. Instead he nodded and agreed that
he was a scoundrel for finding me so irresistible and breeding me this way. When I was past the point
of words there were only kisses and purrs, and when I wanted to give up, certain I couldn’t continue
any longer, he believed in me for the both of us and got me through the worst of it.
After 27 hours ofbor I finally brought our precious pup into the world. Ethan cut the cord and cried
tears of joy as he handed me our son. I wept my hellos to my newest angel,ying him on my chest
and feeling the pure love, exhaustion and reverence for the miracle of life wash over me. For a while
Ethan and I simply cooed over our crying newborn, counting his fingers and toes and telling him how
happy we were that he was finally with us. We decided to call him Paxton, and I sniffled when the
nurses took him to get cleaned up, already missing him.
After moving into our VIP suite, Paxton quicklytched to my breast and began feeding, and I passed
out from pure exhaustion, trusting Ethan to watch over our son while I slept. I woke a little whileter to
find Paxton dozing in his little “rolling cot and Ethan lying next to me in bed, watching me even though
he’d been awake for as long as had.
“What are you doing?” I yawned, trying not to feel the pain radiating through my wrecked body.
He grinned and brushed the hair back from my face. “Just admiring my mate.” He answered tenderly.
“You were so incredible Janey.. I didn’t know what it was like.” He confessed, sounding as though he
feels guilty for missing the birth of first pups even though he hadn’t known they existed. “I mean, you
hear about birth and see it in the movies and stuff, but it’s so much more traumatic than I realized. I’m
just in awe of you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Ethan.” I expressed, feeling the truth of this in my bones. I had a c-
section with the quads because of Paisley’s heart, so this birth was a first for me too.
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“Of course you could.” Ethan corrected me. “
Because you did. I didn’t do anything and I’ve never felt more helpless in my life.” He admitted, pausing
to kiss me, to nuzzle his nose against my own as he stared deeply into my eyes. “But you – you’re a
warrior.”
“I love you so much.” I professed, returning his kisses with a few of my own. “And trust me when I tell
you what a difference it made to have you here”
“I love you too.” Ethan replied, turning his head towards the crib. “Our son is very lucky to have you for
a mother.”
“And you as a father.” I reminded him, resisting the urge to ask him to bring me the baby. I wanted him
in my arms so badly, but I knew better than to wake him when he was sleeping so peacefully. I’d made
that mistake more than once in my early days with the quads. “Have you told the pups they have a
brother?”
“I called them a little while ago.” He confirmed, beaming as he continued. “They cheered so loud I
thought they were going to wake you. The sitter is going to bring them down in a little while for a visit.”
I returned his grin and nodded my approval, cuddling closer to the big Alpha. He purred and caressed
my hair as I fell back asleep, and when I woke again to the sound of Paxton’s hungry cries, he shared
that the pups had arrived and were waiting to see me. While I retrieved the baby to nurse Ethan went to
gather our quads, and I welled with happy tears, unsure about whether I was more excited about
simply holding my new son”again, or to introduce him to his brothers and sisters.
In the end I just cried for the joy of it all. Our lives were finally as they should be. The pack hadn’t taken
kindly to the news that Ethan rejected Nina so soon after announcing her as his fated mate, but they
got over it when we announced that we had another baby on the way. It also hadn’t been easy to repair
our own rtionship, for me to convince Ethan to stop punishing himself while also working through my
own hurt over his deception and rejection, but we got through it. It helped that our family was whole for
the first time everyone together, safe and healthy:
Besides, we both made so many mistakes and we’ve been through so much together. There could
never be anyone else for either of us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If it weren’t for all our
struggles, we would never have ended up where we are now – and this is the only ce I ever want to
be. My heart is full to bursting, and as much as I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to
hang in there and have faith in my mate, I know this journey led me to Paxton, and I wouldn’t trade him
for the world.
Of course when Ethan and the pups walk in to find no sobbing my eyes out, they all panic. “Baby.
“what is it?” Ethan asks, rushing to my side.
“I-1-I’m happy.” I manage to blubber, my visionpletely blurred. Still, I can just make out four tiny
blobs gathering around my bed, and Riley’s beloved voice sighing, “Uh-oh. I think Mommy’s lost it.”
Ethan and I bothugh, and I reach for the blob in question with my free arm, encouraging her to climb
onto the bed with me. The others all follow as Ethan exins, “Mommy hasn’t lost it, she’s just been
through a lot and she’s a little hormonal.”
“What’s hormonal?” Parker inquires, cocking his head to the side as he studies the bundle at my
breast. Paxton doesn’t seem to have any idea that he’s now surrounded by curious pups, his eyes are
closed and his tiny hand kneads my breast as he suckles for milk,pletely upied with the task at
hand.
“It means I have a lot of emotions and I can’t really control them.” I exin, wiping my eyes and trying
to catch my breath.
“Mommy you already were that way.” Paisley informs me with a giggle.
“Growing babies is very hard work.” Ethan shares, cupping her head in his palm affectionately. “And
“giving birth is the hardest part, so the emotions are most powerful right now.”
“Can we stop talking and meet the baby, already?”
Ryder asks, clearly exasperated that we’re taking so long.
“Of course.” I hup augh and sit up a little so they can get a better look at the baby. “Pups, this is
your brother, Paxton.”
The quads ooh and ahh as they scoot closer, eager to study the strange creature in my arms. “He lóoks
funny.” Riley assesses, “I thought babies were s’posed to be cute.”
“Yeah he’s all wrinkly, like a baby raisin,” Parker adds.
“New babies are always that way.”I tell them. “And I think he’s beautiful, just like I thought you were
when you looked this way.”
“He’s so tiny.” Paisley observes in obvious awe, reaching a tentative hand towards him and looking to
me for permission. I nod encouragingly,. and Paisley strokes a single plump finger over his cheek. “Oh
and he’s so soft!”
“Ooh, let me feel, let me feel!” The others mor.
“Gently now, one at a time.” Ethan instructs, Mommy and Paxton are both a little fragile right now.” The
pups take his words to heart, carefully taking their turns and reverently stroking the baby’s cheek.
“He doesn’t seem to care that we’re here.” Ryder remarks uncertainly.
“He’s just hungry, I’m sure he’s thrilled to meet you,” I say, amazed at how thrilling it is to simply watch
my babies admire their new sibling.
“You know what?” Paisley asks, looking at the others. “I think he’s the best baby brother in the whole
world.”
Ethan and I beam as the others agree. “I’ll protect him his whole life long.” Parker vows.
“And Ill teach him about all the best pranks.” Riley decides.
“I’ll make sure he always listens to his heart.” Paisley promises.
“And I’ll make sure he’s clever and loyal.” Ryder adds atst.
I’ve got new tears in my eyes, and Ethan wraps his arm around me, gazing down at our beautiful family
with utter adoration. “And we’ll love each and every one of you with all of our hearts – no matter what.”
“And each other.” I add in a whisper, smiling up at my mate.
“And each other.” Ethan amends, kissing me deeply. “Always.”
The End