Bearing It All

by Tl Reeve

  Nico howled, followed by Hayden, and the rest of the pack before he wrapped his arms around her and planted a heated kiss on her lips. The cat calls and whistles made even Emma flush.

  “All right, you two,” Kalkin grumbled, “save some of that for later.”

  Hayden giggled. “Much, much later.” She kept her arms wrapped around Nico’s neck.

  “Emma, Bodhi?” Kalkin held his hand out to them.

  Emma tentatively placed hers within his palm while Bodhi did the same. Kalkin repeated the words as he wrapped the ribbon around them. A rush of magic–she supposed would be the best way to describe it–shot through her. For a brief, wonderful second, she could feel every person surrounding them. Their love became hers. Their happiness the same.

  She gasped. Did Kalkin feel the same all the time? She had so many questions, but they fled in an instant when Bodhi howled out his acceptance, then gathered her in his arms and kissed her. The heat and pleasure of it, shocked her. As much as they’d been together through the full moon, it was as though they’d never experienced it. Stupid, she realized this, however a newness settled over her along with feeling right and accepted.

  “I think we should move this along,” Blake stated, worry etched his voice.

  Yes, Loraine and the babies.

  “Last one to the hospital has to catch them,” Kalkin stated.

  Emma laughed. “I ain’t birthing no babies.”

  “I don’t want Kal anywhere near my mate’s vagina,” Jace growled.

  Keeley laughed, as she helped Loraine up. “He’s an excellent catcher. Are you sure you want to go to the hospital?”

  Loraine nodded. “Human here, need drugs.”

  Keeley rolled her eyes. “Human too, but I did it at home all natural.”

  “Can we compare dicks later,” Blake snapped. “She’s in labor.”

  Loraine and Keeley laughed. “Men.”

  Emma sat in the waiting room of the hospital. Nearly every member of the pack followed them and stayed. Those who didn’t, remained in town to care for the younger children of the pack. Cassidy, Nic, and Aiden sat across from her talking. The sheer joy she saw on her sister’s face warmed her. For the first time in at least two years, they were finally at peace. They had their family and their friends. They had a place they could call home.

  Bodhi stepped into the space and handed her a can of soda then sat beside her. “Looks like we might be here for the long run,” he murmured.

  “What’s going on?”

  “One of the baby’s is breech. The doctor is talking about taking her back for a C-section.”

  Emma’s stomach knotted. “Oh.”

  Bodhi took her hand. “It will be okay. She’s strong. The doctors say other than one Raferty being a pain in the ass, they’re both strong, healthy pups. Nothing will happen to her.” He kissed the crown of her head.

  She glanced at Cassidy. Things happened. People made mistakes. Loraine isn’t your mom. Whatever happened so many years ago, leaving her alone with her baby sister wouldn’t happen again. Her fears were grounded in a horrible situation. This family had so much more life in it.

  “When will you know?” She took a sip of her soda, needing something to calm the riotous emotions coursing through her.

  “Soon,” Bodhi answered. “Dad and Blake wanted a moment with Loraine to discuss it. They won’t put her in any danger. I think she’s scared out of her wits.”

  “Could ... could I go talk to her?”

  He tilted his head then smiled. “You know, I think you’re just the person she needs to see right now.”

  “You think so?”

  Bodhi grinned. “I know so.” He took her hand. “Come on.”

  They entered Loraine's room after getting the go-ahead from the nurse on duty. Loraine's patented smile greeted Emma as they walked into the room. When the woman held her hand out to her, she readily took it, taking a seat in the chair beside the bed. Several monitors beeped and whirled, spitting information out onto small strips of paper. Loraine wore two belts, one green and one blue on her belly as well. When she gripped Emma's hand tight and grimaced, Emma watched as a hill formed on the screen. It continued to climb while Loraine breathed, then reached the peak, before descending once more.

  “Whoa,” Emma whispered.

  “They’re getting closer together,” Loraine answered. “Bodhi told you what’s going on?”

  She nodded. “I’m worried.”

  “Me too,” her new mother answered. “I trust all of the doctors, but what if?”

  Emma understood. “You’ll be fine. The Rafertys would kick your ass if you weren’t.”

  Loraine laughed, then groaned, gripping her hand one more time. The contractions were coming faster. Which meant Emma only had a few minutes before Loraine would be wheeled back. “You're the strongest woman I know. I can't wait to see the babies. I know you can’t, either. So, we have to focus on the positive. You have a great doctor like you said, and the staff here is going to be amazing. In a few hours, you're going to be holding your twins. All of this will be worth it.” She squeezed Loraine’s hand. “I'm right here. Always. We're pack now.”

  Loraine swiped away a tear. “I feel like my family is complete now. I have two beautiful, grown daughters and a son. Now, I will have two more babies. I’ve been blessed more times than I can count since Jace and Blake came into my life.”

  Emma, too. “I’m going to call you ‘mom’ now, I hope you’re okay with it.”

  “Are you kidding?” Loraine gave her a watery smile. “I’ve been waiting since the day I met you.”

  Emma hugged the woman as tight as she could without hurting her. “Thank you.”

  The door opened behind them. “Uh oh, I think we’ve been caught,” Loraine whispered.

  “I believe you’re right. Should we make a run for it? Bust these babies out of here?” Emma cocked a brow.

  “We hear you,” Bodhi announced.

  “Wasn’t trying to hide,” she said facing him.

  The doctor chuckled beside Jace and Blake. “We’re ready for you, Mrs. Raferty.”

  Emma joined Bodhi as the nurses entered the room and began explaining what would happen next. Since they had already placed the blocker, everything would happen pretty quickly. Her heart pounded as they wheeled Loraine out of the room, Jace and Blake trailing them.

  “She’s going to be fine,” Bodhi reassured her.

  “Yeah, she is,” Emma agreed. “So, what do you think she’s having?”

  “Boys,” he grunted. “There is already one girl for Jace.”

  “Looks like it. But, you never know,” she teased. “Could be two girls.”

  “Hayden said the same thing.”

  She laughed. “You don’t have to sound so disappointed. If the trend continues, one day, you and I will have a daughter.”

  Bodhi growled, pulling her tight to his side. “Mate, don’t even give me any ideas.”

  She batted her eyes. “Me?” She laughed. “Never.”

  Five Days later…

  Emma placed Natalie in her bassinet after helping Loraine change her diaper. Once the doctor brought her back for delivery, everything had gone quickly. Within the hour, the twins were born. Natalie had been the stubborn one, making her debut butt first, wailing for her mother, then Gabriel. Danielle said he reminded her of Nic. Very quiet, but strong. Both weighed in at six and a half pounds. Where Gabriel had the darkest-black hair, Natalie's had been the starkest-white locks Emma had ever seen on a baby.

  Bodhi had joked with Hayden after they’d had a chance to visit with them. “I guess that answers your question.”

  Hayden had playfully shoved him.

  Emma supposed she thought the same a couple of times. It made sense to her, they’d both become fathers. Not like they weren’t, or anything, but a piece of each of them belonged to each baby now. To Emma, it was special. Different, and amazing how life could be so ... astonishing.

  “We’re coming home t
his summer,” Emma whispered, as Loraine placed a sleeping Gabriel beside his sister.

  “Perfect,” Loraine murmured. “I have a feeling I’m going to have my hands full.”

  After surgery, Danielle sat several times with her mom. It was fascinating to see. Dani helped heal the incision from the C-section, while also healing Loraine on the inside too. In five days, she shouldn't even be up moving, however, whatever Dani did, it helped her new mom bounce back.

  “I think we're going house hunting while we're here.” She ran her knuckle along her new siblings' cheeks. “We'll need it, so we're not underfoot.”

  Loraine wrapped her arm around Emma's shoulder. “You will because you can't be with family, especially when you have your own family.”

  “True.”

  Excited chatter filtered upstairs. They were leaving within the hour. School started back up on Monday, and like everyone else, Emma wanted a couple of days to relax before getting back into the groove of school.

  “Call us when you get back.”

  She nodded. “Bodhi is going to move his stuff into my apartment after we get back. I’d stay with everyone, but with Cass, the school won’t allow it.”

  “Don’t fret. Baby steps, remember?”

  “I remember.” Since their moment in the hospital room, Loraine and Emma had spent hours upon hours talking about everything. From school to life and everything in between, including her sister, Cassidy.

  “Don’t forget to take a little time for yourself, and don’t let those nasty girls get under your skin.”

  Emma wouldn’t. “They’re not even worth my time.”

  “That’s my girl.” Loraine hugged her tight. “Let’s go see how everyone is doing.”

  The screen door opened and Bodhi stepped inside, stopping in front of the stairs. “The truck is packed. We’re ready to go. Everyone is saying their goodbyes as we speak.” His eyes twinkled with a mix of excitement and mischief.

  “Well, I guess this is goodbye, then,” Emma whispered.

  “No,” Jace said entering the house. “See you soon, more like it.”

  “Right,” Emma answered. “I’ll see all of you soon.”

  Jace hugged her. “Be careful and take care of each other.”

  “We will,” Emma said.

  Blake grabbed her up next. “Next time you and I will hang out more, I promise.”

  Emma laughed. “I’m going to hold you to it.”

  Bodhi took her hand in his then led her out the door to where everyone had gathered around their vehicles. It seemed like so long ago when they arrived. A part of her wanted to go back to school, while another part wanted to stay right there and never leave again. She gave Bodhi a moment with his family and made her way over to where the other Raferty and Dryer family members mingled.

  “So, you’ve decided to leave, huh?” Kalkin muttered.

  “Jeez, don’t cry. I’ll be back.” She covered her mouth, then laughed when Kalkin’s lips twitched into a smile.

  “Much better.” He pulled her into a hug. “Remember; my pack, your pack, our pack.”

  “I can’t forget it.” She stepped out of his embrace, then went down the line, hugging each member of her new family. By the time she was done, Bodhi had joined her.

  “We’re ready.”

  Emma inclined her chin. “Come on, Cassidy. We’ll be back in a couple of months.”

  Her sister grinned, then hugged both Nic and Aiden. “Call me.” She waved as she hurried to her sister’s side.

  “I blame Jace for this shit,” Caden quipped.

  Kalkin barked out a laugh. “Don’t let him hear you.”

  “Too late,” Jace snarled, flipping off his brother.

  Emma laughed as they made their way over to the truck. Cassidy climbed in beside Victor in Tate’s SUV, and when the door closed behind them, she finally got into Jackson’s truck. She settled herself on the seat then put on her seatbelt.

  Once everyone was ready, Jackson pulled out of the driveway and headed back the way they came the day they had arrived. A peaceful quietness filled the cab of the truck as the town passed by outside her passenger window. When they got back up onto the interstate, Bell turned to her.

  “Anyone got any music we can listen to?” Bell arched a brow.

  “Well, I got this mixtape I made,” Emma answered. “It's full of pretty awesome 80's music if you want to give it a try.”

  Bodhi pulled her into his side. “You’re amazing, mate.”

  “You’re pretty awesome yourself, mate,” she replied.

  Bell took the tape from her. “Next stop, TSU.”

  Epilogue

  Utah Blake stood off to the side as the line of vehicles pulled out of Kalkin’s parking area. Raquel sat in the backseat of the first vehicle to leave. She didn’t even look at Utah. He didn’t understand it. She was his. He thought he’d made the point pretty clear over the last week and a half before things went decidedly south.

  Still, he stood there, staring at the back of her hair, recalling her features. Her cornflower-blue eyes. The twisted braids she loved to keep in her long, black hair. When she curled up in a chair to read, she wore large, black-frame glasses. He loved her. Loved tracing the tattoos over her brow to her temple. Loved the little factoids she imparted on him. Loved seeing her laugh. The way her face lit up seconds before a smile would split her features. He also loved the fact she could talk to him without help and without compunction. She didn’t shy away from his deafness. She embraced it.

  So, none of this made sense. Nothing in the last five days did.

  He smelled his father before he put his hand on Utah’s shoulder. The man had been everything to him. Tried to help him figure out this life of his. How to navigate. How to live life as a human and tiger without sound.

  What happened?

  Hadn’t Utah answered that question several times already? He didn’t know. One minute they were happy. The next she told him things would be better if they didn’t hang out anymore. It didn’t make sense, and he didn’t push the issue, either. He smelled her anxiety and heartache. The indecision. He saw it in her eyes. The way she stumbled through the signs, almost hesitating through a rehearsed speech. It confused Utah. Hurt him.

  Then, she left his home. The scent of lavender and discord trailing behind her. She left him. When he saw her again, she was at the wedding. He thought they would at least get to talk about what happened. Unfortunately, Loraine went into labor, and he lost his chance.

  Don’t know, Utah signed. Makes no sense.

  Osirus scrubbed his chin. Fight?

  Utah shook his head.

  False mate?

  Utah curled his lip. No. Nothing. Strange conversation. Smell off. Fear. Rage. Sadness.

  Osirus narrowed his eyes. Gwen?

  He’d have laughed if he felt like doing so. The ridiculousness of his father’s assumption. No, he stayed away from her. Always had. She had a stick up her butt. She saw him as a lesser shifter due to his abnormality. He held no worth to her. He, if Kalkin or Rapier went by pack hierarchy, would be lower than an omega. He served no purpose within a pride or a pack. He was useless. His impairment slowed him down.

  No.

  His father frowned. I’m sorry, son.

  Yeah, so was he. It’s okay.

  Did you ask her friends?

  He shook his head. No. No time. Too much. Ceremony. Babies. Chaos.

  Osirus’ hand tightened on his shoulder. Maybe you should, later. Don’t let the one get away.

  He’d think about it. For now, he wanted to be left alone to lick his wounds and heal from this whole experience. He stepped away from the group of people milling around Jace’s home and headed for the orphanage.

  Utah had been sure Raquel was the one. They shared so many similarities. She, too, had a deaf brother. They were super close with their parents, even though she had a step-father who, coincidentally, was a bison. She loved life. Had this spunk about her, which attracted people’s attention w
hen she didn’t pay any mind. She’d been perfect in every way.

  And, she wasn’t his.

  Check out what’s available now through TSU...

  Chapter One

  Two weeks after the Greek Shifter Games…

  “There’s not enough.” Bell Dryer shifted through the pledges and groaned. After Nico Lopez, Christoph St. John, her first potential mate, and Jackson Dalco, her second potential mate took their spots as champions, she’d thought their worries were over. How could girls not flock to their sorority? Hadn’t they shown they could have a good time, stay poised, and stand up for the fundamental principles of the school? “We’ve worked so hard. What’s the point anymore?”

  “Don’t get discouraged. We’ll get them.” Hayden, her cousin, best friend, and vice president of Sigma Epsilon Xi, pulled one of the applications out and grinned. “How about this girl?” She handed it to her.

  Bell stared down at the picture. The girl’s long black hair had been done in small twist braids weaved with hues of pink and purple. Over her right eye and down to her temple trailed a line of small paw-print tattoos. And the large, round black-frame glasses perched on her nose, gave her a rocker-nerd vibe.

  “She speaks three languages, English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, and she’s human.”

  “Whoa. What’s her GPA?” Hope bloomed inside of her.

  “Four point one.” Hayden scrunched her nose up and handed the application to her. “I didn’t know anyone could get a four point one.”

  “It’s lots of work.” Bell glanced at the paper. “Let’s offer her a tour of the house, see what she thinks.” After placing Raquel’s in the “maybe” pile, she grabbed another application off the stack. “What about her?”

  Hayden flipped through the paperwork. “I like her.”

  Joy had approached her after the Greek Shifter Games had ended. The slight flush to her cheeks and the way she rambled on about everything and nothing gave her an endearing quality. Then, when she said she was a water elemental, well, it pretty much sealed the deal for Bell. She wanted her to become a Sigma Epsilon Xi sister. “She’s cute. Funny. She’ll make an excellent sister.”