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He beamed, happier than I had ever seen him. Like, fly away on his own cloud kind of happy. That left me with mixed emotions. Would I be in the way? Should I step aside to let them enjoy their new baby in peace?
Perdita had a room of her own. Nathan brought me in while the others waited outside. I glanced over my shoulder, gesturing to the door, but Nathan pushed me towards the bed.
Perdita looked exhausted, but on that same blissful trip as Nathan. They both seemed so young all of a sudden. The bundle in her arms was hidden from me. All I saw was a blanket, and I froze.
“What are you standing all the way over there for?” Perdita asked. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“I… I haven’t even brushed my hair,” I said dumbly.
Nathan burst out laughing. “Go meet your little sister, you overgrown weirdo.”
I had to turn away to wipe my eyes with my sleeve. I couldn’t keep it together. What kind of first impression was that?
“Nathan,” Perdita said in a shaky voice. “Do something.”
Laughing again, Nathan hugged me. “Come on. Sit in the chair, and I’ll hand her to you.”
Panicked, I backed up until I gathered myself together. Wasn’t happening. “Ican’t. What if I break her? What if she doesn’t like me?”
He laid his hands on my cheeks and smooshed my face. “We’re all ready for you to meet her.” He cleared his throat. “Now sit in the damn chair.”
He usedthevoice, so I calmed down and let him guide me into the chair. Carefully, as though she were made of glass, he lifted the baby out of Perdita’s arms and set her in mine.
A shiver ran down my spine as I cast eyes on the baby, a rush of emotion flooding my body. She was so small, so unfamiliar, and yet she somehow smelled like home. Her eyes were closed, her tiny fingers gripping the blanket that wrapped around her. She had the smallest fingernails I had ever seen. I couldn’t get enough of looking at them. She didn’t seem real. She felt like nothing to hold, yet she had the chubbiest cheeks of all time. Her hair, the little she had, stood up in a wavy black cloud.
“I should have dressed up,” I whispered.
Perdita giggled, but I was mostly serious. The baby opened her eyes, dark blue, almost black, and stared right at me as if she could see inside my soul. Even my wolf stirred at the sight, and I knew in that instant that I could never let any harm come to her. In my arms lay my family.
“I want to keep her safe.” My voice broke, but I didn’t care. “She’s so little. We have to protect her.”
“You’re her big brother now,” Nathan said, his voice wavering as much as mine. “Her family. You have to look out for each other, right?”
I met his gaze, and a look passed between us that said we both understood the purpose of pack. This was it.
“Please take her away.” I laughed shakily. “She broke me with a look. She’s going to be so spoiled, I swear.”
The baby whimpered, stretching against the blanket. Nathan dutifully took her and held her, love so clear in his gaze.
I moved closer to Perdita. “Are you okay?”
“Better than expected,” she said. “It’s terrifying to think that the baby was struggling without me even knowing. If it wasn’t for Margo, we could have lost everything.” She shivered at the thought. “Is she doing okay now?”
“Of course,” I managed to say without any trace of a lie. “Everybody’s excited to see the baby.”
“I can’t believe she’s here.” She looked to Nathan and her daughter. “This morning I had no idea I’d be here right now. It doesn’t feel real.”
“She’s so perfect,” Nathan said dreamily.
“Well, make the most of her because I am never doing this again.”
Nathan looked at her and smiled. “You did great. You should be proud of yourself.”
“I am proud and determined never to repeat the experience.”
“Our family is already perfect.” He handed her the baby then kissed her forehead. “I love you either way. As much as I want this peace to last, I should probably open the door and let the others in before they break in themselves.”
Perdita sighed. “Let’s get it over and done with.”
