When the Winter Winds Blow

by E J Darling

  Strong hands gripped her thighs and Lexie was brought back into reality as a contraction tore through her. She closed her eyes and screamed as a hand gripped hers. This had to be a dream. Had she died? She didn’t want to open her eyes for fear that the voice she had heard would be gone and she’d be alone again. She’d know that she’d failed then and that her child didn’t make it.

  “Lexie, you can do this! Stay with me. Tell me what to do, I don’t know what’s going on.”

  She opened her eyes and took a staggered breath. It was him. Declan was right here, looking like he hadn’t missed a day. He was so handsome, just like she remembered, and had a soft scared look on his face that said something was wrong.

  “Breached.” She whispered. Lexie lifted her hand to Declan’s face, and he cupped it with his own, nuzzling it and kissing the palm. “I can’t believe it.”

  “I won.” His voice harsh and pained. “I finally won. I couldn’t stand hearing your screams, Lex. I couldn’t take another second of you in pain. It was too much. Now, tell me how to help you. You’re so pale.”

  “I’m so proud of you.” She cried. “Listen. You need to grab the baby’s leg and push it back inside.”

  “What? Lex that’s insane!”

  “You’ll need to dislodge his other leg so he can come down safely.” She winced in pain, “Now. Do it now.”

  Declan didn’t hesitate. He grabbed their son’s leg and delicately pushed it back inside. In a heartbeat, he’d dislodged the other leg and brought both of them down together. Lexie breathed through the pain as a contraction came again. She pushed hard, sweat dripping, and body weakened.

  “You’re doing so well.” Declan urged her on, one hand braced on her thigh, the other on the baby. “Come on, Lex! I’m so proud of you.”

  Lexie’s heart was soaring. It didn’t matter how weak she was or how alone she’d felt the last nine months. He was here. He was himself again and just being able to see his handsome face after believing she never would again was a miracle. Their love created miracles.

  She took a deep breath as another contraction built. Declan locked eyes with her and gave a big smile. It reminded her of the day he brought home that hideous Christmas tree and woke her with that same huge smile. “One more. One more big push and he’s out.”

  Lexie took a deep breath and pushed with every last bit of energy she had. Declan’s smile never faltered as he focused on the baby. “That’s it. Keep going, almost there.”

  Another second and Lexie felt the instant relief as the baby gave way and gasping cries filled the cabin. Lexie sobbed at the incredible sound. “He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life, Lex.” Declan whispered as his voice cracked.

  He handed him over and placed him on her chest. He was crying and sounded healthy. He had a mess of auburn hair and two deep green eyes, the spitting image of his father. She checked his fingers and toes, everything about him was perfect and Lexie couldn’t contain herself. She’d never been so happy, so relived, in all her life.

  Declan laid down beside her and propped himself up on his elbow. He kissed Lexie’s head and held it there for a minute, inhaling her scent and she savored it. “You did so well, Lex. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  “I wouldn’t have been able to fight my way out of darkness without you and him.” Declan laid his hand over his son and kissed the top of his head. “The best part of me made him, but I still have a lot of good times to come. I will make sure he knows how to be a strong bear and a good man, Lex. And I’ll die before I turn into my own father. You have my word, Alexis Porter. I’ll be the father and man that you both deserve, until my last dying breath.”

  Lexie believed every single word he said. He was a miracle just being here with her. She’d never loved him more than in this moment. She closed her eyes and listened to the sweet noises of a fresh baby and the low rumble in Declan’s chest that meant he was at peace, happy.

  “What’s his name?” Declan asked, a small smile on his lips as he stared at the tiny little clone of himself. “Something strong and powerful. What do you think?”

  Lexie smiled, “His name is Declan. Declan Samuel Thomas.”

  Declan was quiet for a long minute. She didn’t know if would have approved or not, but that was the name she’d given him months ago and nothing changed on that front. If her son was going to grow up with a brawling bear inside him, then he needed a name that fit. Declan was the only perfect name she could think of.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” He cleared his throat and wiped at a tear in his eye, the softy. “Yeah I’m great. I’m a father.” Declan kissed her again and Lexie leaned into him. The exhaustion was starting to set in, and she needed to rest.

  “I love you, Declan.”

  “I love you, too, sweet thing.”

  EPILOGUE

  Declan held the tiny swaddled bundle in one arm as he tossed wads of tinsel, one handed, onto the highest part of the tree. Just like Lexie had told him not to do. He couldn’t understand her reasoning for uniformity and having every ornament in the exact right spot, but she’d let him have control of the tinsel and he was going to do it his way. It wasn’t like he could make the monstrosity any worse. The tree was just as big as it had been last year and just as ugly. The only difference was that this year, he’d made sure he bought some girly shit to decorate it with so Lexie would get off his ass and he could see her smile again.

  It had been nearly eight weeks since he’d finally been freed from his fur, and it had taken a long time to fully adjust. They had a baby, a beautiful healthy boy that got chubbier every single day, and Lexie was dealing with being with him again and being a new mom at the same time. Not to mention the pissed off bear he’d put inside her that made its own threats every once in a while. But Declan was managing well.

  Just thinking back to himself stuck in fur for months, unable to talk to Lexie, unable to comfort her. There was so much shame that he hadn’t been able to deal with and beyond all of that, he was too weak to fight off the mind of the bear. But he was strong now, stronger than he’d ever been in the past and he had his strong mate and adorable son to thank for that. Sam, as Declan had nicknamed him, was the spitting image of himself. From the deep auburn hair to the very tips of his tiny toes, he was perfection.

  “Please tell me there is a highly logical reason for you to wad up all the tinsel and throw it too high for me to fix it.” Lexie put up her last perfectly place ornament- within her reach- and crossed her arms over her chest, “Because if it’s only to get me worked up then it’s working.”

  Declan ignored Lexie’s nagging about the tinsel and instead, pressed his lips to her head and held it there. He wanted to remember this moment forever. The classic music playing low in the background, the fireplace lighting the entire living room in an orange glow, the cold winter wind blowing against the house as snow fell in a flurry all around. This was what he’d been missing his entire life, but his family was right here, and he was right here with them.

  He’d never cared about Christmas before Lexie and Sam, but they had his heart changing. Sam became fussy and Declan stopped daydreaming to bounce the tiny bundle back to sleep. Despite Lexie’s protests, he could hold Sam all day, every day. She said it was going to spoil him, but she was wrong, it would show him that he was loved and that it was okay to show that love to those important to you. Declan was going to make damn sure Sam knew that he was important. He was going to know how to be a man and how to be a strong bear, not a broken one like his father had made him into.

  “What’s got you so worked up?”

  “Just thinking about all I have this year, and how different my life could have turned out if you hadn’t fallen into my arms a year ago.” Declan handed Lexie the baby and stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and wedging his bearded face into her neck until she squealed with laughter, “You are the best thing that e
ver happened to me, Lex. You changed the course of my life. You bore me a beautiful son, and you brought me back from the darkness.” He kissed her head as they both looked at Sam, ignoring the ugly tree they’d spent half the day decorating, “Merry Christmas, Lex.”

  “Merry Christmas, Declan.”

  The End

  If you enjoyed this book by E.J. Darling, check out my series Bestian Creek Pack.

  Claimed by Honor

  Engulfed in Fire

  Bitten by Nick

  Cherished by Derek

  Or find me on Facebook! I would love to connect with you!

  Facebook.com/ejdarlingauthor