Ryleigh was right; men were stupid.
"Sky?" Ryleigh said look down at her legs, "that’s not going to work, the baby is coming.”
“I know, Rye, I felt him,” Sky admitted. “He is ready and so are you."
Jacks stormed back over, "I don’t know who you are, bear girl, but no way, no how, is this happening here. We need Mia and a hospital room with all the bells and whistles. No, not this," Jacks said flinging his arms around like none of them knew they were standing in the middle of nowhere.
"Where the fuck is Cash? Tell him to get his grump ass out here so we head home. The least he can do after putting us through all this by crashing the damn plane is fly us back. Ethan sucks at it, and I don’t want to do that again. My mate and baby deserve the best, and if she can’t fly, that means Cash is doing it," Jacks continued with his fuming.
Sky looked at Ryleigh and saw tears in her eyes. She felt Ryleigh’s worry and fear too. Bas hadn’t come back with Cash that didn’t bode well.
"Shit Jacks, Cash he didn’t make it,” Bas choked back. “The plane crashed, his chute sabotaged, and I found it in the lake. There was blood on it and the windshield of the plane. I don’t know what happened, but he wasn’t anywhere. I looked for as long as I could before needed to get back to the girls. Those guys said they shot him. If they did that with one of those darts, no way could he have survived not drowning in those waters. I was only in that for a short time, and it slowed my bear. We need to set up a search party to try and find him.”
Sky and Ryleigh had been listening to the men, but that had also been doing other things. Sky helped Ryleigh out of her pants and placed the parachute fabric that had untangled from her under her body. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. Ryleigh started pushing, and Sky started panicking. She would jump out of a plane ten times more if she didn’t have to watch what was happening to Ryleigh’s furry biscuit.
"Ah, guys,” Sky said trying to get their attention. When that didn’t work and they kept on ignoring her, she yelled. “Listen, I don’t know what I am doing here! I build motorcycles for a living and these pipes are not the same. Someone with some freakin knowledge needs to get over here because I can see the baby’s head!"
Jacks ran over and pushed her out of the way. If it weren't for Bas’ quick thinking, she would have been laid out by the move.
"Okay, Rye, I see the head. You need to push," Jacks instructed.
Ryleigh looked at him like he was the dumbest man on the planet. Sky agreed, hadn’t she just said that she saw the head? The other guys were watching but taking off their backpacks and pulling stuff out. A big, somber looking man took out a first aid kit and laid it at Ryleigh side. Another one, with kind of a geeky cuteness, laid one of those space blankets over Ryleigh’s bent legs. Sky was just watched while sitting in Bas’ arms. First, the head came completely out, and then Jacks pulled gently from side to side. Once the baby’s shoulders were delivered, the rest just slid out with a little plop. It was beautiful, awe inspiring, and gross all at the same time.
He placed the baby on Ryleigh's stomach and said, "Look, babe, we made that."
Ryleigh smiled back and said lovingly, "We sure did."
Ryleigh placed her hand on the baby’s head and looked down at him rubbing his little head. Cute but still gross. There was all this white stuff and blood on it. Yuck. Sky got up and stepped away. She didn’t want to be witness to anything else that came out of Ryleigh’s body. She figured they could be good friends one day, but this was beyond friendship territory. She also decided another thing. No way were her and Bas having kids for a very long time.
Ryleigh was smiling down at her baby and Sky couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face as well. This was a good moment; a new life and extraordinary life had come into the world. That baby's existence would benefit Shifters for years to come. She knew it; felt it.
"Ah, Jacks, come up here. You need to see this," Ryleigh said almost panicked. When Jacks did as she asked and only sat there staring, not saying a word, the rest of the group gathered around Rye’s head to see what was going on.
Staring back at them was one of the cutest little babies Sky had ever seen. He had chubby cheeks and a little button nose, but what was really remarkable were his eyes. They were a bright purple that seemed to sparkle and in the center of each was an elongated pupil.
"Guess we don’t have to wonder if he is going to be a Shifter anymore, do we?" Ryleigh said.
"Nope, I guess not,” Jacks said. Looking at the baby and then up at the group he said, "Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Quinn Caius Thorp. The first dragon baby of our generation."
Chapter 28
Everyone congratulated the new parents. Sky was even shed a few tears because of the happy moment. The couple, Ryleigh and Jacks, seemed so in enamored with each other. The love that they both shared for the tiny baby they created and brought into this world together showed on their faces, actions, and words. Sky knew that this phenomenal little boy would always be well cared for and loved. She also knew that she would give her life for his without thought or question.
After Jacks’ introduction, the men of Alpha that were present hooted and hollered. But what surprised and brought even more tears to Sky’s eyes was when they all went to one knee, placed their right hand over their hearts, and pleaded their loyalty, fidelity, and protection to the newest member of The Alpha Team. They also reaffirmed the same to Jacks and Ryleigh. It was a special moment between this makeshift family that although awe inspiring, also felt private. She felt like an outsider and almost turned away.
Instead, she searched her newly strengthened bond with Bas and noticed something spectacular. The once straight line had sprouted branches and they were reaching out to the people around her. They were all different sizes and colors. Her bond with Bas was a bright, white, and thick. The tendril leading in the direction of the baby was purple and about half the size. Smaller branches were reaching toward Ryleigh and the men. There were even a couple that seemed to be reaching further away. Sky wondered about those because a thicker branch of pink headed in that direction.
She concentrated on the branch and tried to follow it, reached out to it, and received a burst of what could only be described as the warm fuzzies. Whoever this branched linked to was happy, healthy and well loved. What she was seeing in her mind and feeling in her heart were truly amazing things. She felt Bas’ warmth engulfed her physically, and she smiled. Then he had to open his mouth, “Babe, that could be us one day.”
"Oh, no way, Sebastian Frost. They better make industrial strength birth control or something because no way I am doing that anytime soon. My furry biscuit is just fine the way it is. I know it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful things to witness, the birth of new life. But hell to the no."
Sky looked over at Ryleigh and felt guilty for what she had just said. It wasn’t right, but damn, that was gross. She tried to make it better by saying, “Rye, your baby is beautiful, and the love you and Jacks share is an incredible sight to see. But honey, witnessing the things your lady parts just did were right out of a sci-fi movie, and if I never see said parts again. I will be one happy woman. Nice mating mark though,” she remarked.
"I mean, really, I have this weird urge just to look one more time to see if it was even able to go back to normal. Is it a Shifter thing? I can’t imagine an average woman going through that more than once in a lifetime. If others saw it like I just did, there would be a heck of a lot fewer kids being born, just saying. But don’t worry, I heard they have this thing called vaginal rejuvenation now. So, if it doesn’t go back, I’m sure a doctor or someone can fix it for you. I mean, damn girl, you opened up bigger than a cantaloupe and the stuff that was coming out before and after the baby, Ew!" Sky got a full body shiver from just of the things she was remembering.
Ryleigh laughed and said," Oh, I don’t know, having this little guy seems to make it all worth it in the end. But I get what you are saying. The
first time I witness a birth it freaked me out too. Would you like to meet him?” Ryleigh asked holding up the baby.
Sky walked over and knelt beside Ryleigh and the baby. She had never once held a baby in her arms, and for about a second she didn’t know what to do. But when Ryleigh placed him in her arms, it felt natural and amazing.
The little dragon baby just stared at her with intelligent eyes that seemed to take everything in around him. Sky ran her finger over his chubby little cheek, just enjoying the moment. When he grabbed her finger and placed it in his mouth, Sky laughed and so did Ryleigh. Not even a second later she got a jolt that ran through her body. She could feel the little boy. He was happy, but far from content because he was both hungry and cold. He also felt his mother’s discomfort and wanted that to change immediately. This little one would be an Alpha one day.
"Ah, Rye, I think we should maybe think about getting out of here so that you can get taken care of and warm. Little man here also seems to be a bit hungry." Before she could say anything else the baby started to cry and not a little whimper either, no, Quinn was full on screeching.
Jacks jumped up from Ryleigh’s other side, storming to Sky and the baby. Snatching Quinn out of Sky’s arms, “What have you done? He was fine before you touched him, did you hurt him, why is crying? Jacks was moving Quinn this way and that trying to see what could possibly be bothering him, but the jostling was only making his cries louder.
Ryleigh sought to calm him," Jacks, you can’t hold him like that. Put him to your chest. He needs to feel secure."
When Jacks finally listened but the baby didn’t quiet he said, “Oh hell no, little man, I am your Daddy, and you will not be making that sound. We are Thorp men, mighty Shifters, we take the stuff that comes like men and prevail all the way to the end.”
The words coming out of his mouth were a contradiction to his actions. Jacks was cradling the little boy moving side to side and cooing. He might sound like an ass, but he was trying, it just wasn’t working. Sky could feel what Quinn wanted, and that was Ryleigh, but didn’t she say anything. It wasn’t her place. When Jacks continued to hold the baby, and he continued to cry, he looked to Ryleigh but didn’t give her the baby.
Quinn’s cries were like nails on a chalkboard. the sound went right through your body and made a person cringe. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Sky even covered her ears. She couldn’t hear anything over the baby’s cries, and it was getting to her. Jacks was saying something, and then out of nowhere a puff of fire erupted from the baby’s mouth, sighing Jacks’ eyebrows. Everyone just stood there looking from Jacks to the baby.
The baby stopped crying but looked like he was about to start again, and Jacks said, "Okay, looks like you want your mommy. She gave you that dragon, she can deal with it." Jacks handed the baby to Ryleigh, and she cuddled the baby close once in his mother arms, he didn't make another sound.
Jacks started barking orders, like what just happened was no big deal and the guys jumped into action. Ethan and the cute geeky guy who she learned was Wyatt, ran off to get the vehicles. Bas and the other guy, Dalton, started to pack up all the gear. Jacks picked up Ryleigh and the baby and started walking away.
Sky sat there literally not knowing what to do. Bas answered for her by taking her hand and pulling her up. “Babe, you have two choices here. Either I carry you, or you turn furry. It’s too cold out to be running around in just a t-shirt. Our Shifter genes help, but only so much. You could lose a toe or something.”
Damn, Sky hadn’t even noticed the cold with everything that was going on, but now that Bas had said something, she was freezing. Her feet hurt so bad when she started moving them, only putting pressure on one of them at a time. Then it dawned on her exactly what Bas had said. She could either let him carry her or she could go furry. Damn, her brain still hadn’t processed that she was a Shifter.
It turns out she didn’t need to make a choice, after all. Bas picked her up and started walking in the same directions of the others. "I gotta tell you, babe, I know we have a lot of stuff to talk about and work through. But never once did I believe you would Shift. Your bear, she is beautiful and fierce just like you."
Sky looked up at him feeling safe in his arms and asked," But Bas, you said that there weren’t any female Shifters, that you couldn’t change me into one. How did this happen?"
"I can’t answer that, babe, but I’m sure we can find someone that will be able to. Right now, I’m going to get you on the chopper with Ryleigh and the baby so you can head back to Alpha where you will be safe. We are going to stick around and look for Cash, but when this is over, we will be talking."
Sky saw the chopper up ahead and asked the only question left on her mind, “Bas, are you going to push me away and try to run again now that you know I’m different?”
"Babe, no way in hell. But that is one of the things we need to talk about. I treated you badly, and I will never be able to forgive myself for the things I said to you. Even when I was saying them, I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t let myself hope that this thing between us was real. When those men shot me with that dart and my world went blank, I had so many regrets, but the main one was trying to push you away. The love you sent me, the same love that saved me, I just want you to know I feel the same way. I will never fight my instincts again if you will have me. I promise never to run, to always be there for you, and to love you better than anyone else ever could."
Bas didn’t give Sky a chance to respond, running under the moving helicopter blades he placed her into the seat and kissed her softly saying, “See you soon.” He then shut the door hit it a couple of times and ran to stand with the rest of the men.
Sky was stunned and speechless. She brought her fingers up to her lips just to see if the tingles would disappear. Sebastian Frost had finally accepted her, but she still held fears and doubts in her mind. The bond pulsed bright and pure, and she knew his feelings were the same. How would she deal with this now?
After a couple of minutes, Ryleigh nudged her and pointed to the headphones by her side. Sky plucked them from their hook and placed them on her head. The helicopter was noisy but once they were on, it was quiet. Ryleigh’s soft voice came over within in them, “So that was all pretty intense. Do you think you two will be able to work things out?” Ryleigh questioned.
"I don’t know, Rye, I feel like my answer should be yes, but so much has happened in just a few days. Maybe I need just to give it some time before I make life long decisions. When I was on the road with him, I was ready to jump in with both feet, but he fought me at every turn. I’m not this person, and I don’t know how to reconcile everything that has happened in my mind. I transformed into a bear, Ryleigh, a freaking bear. "
"Yep, you sure did, and I have to tell you, it was a sight to see. You put yourself in front of those two men trying to cause Quinn harm and me. She was beautiful, and over time, I’m sure you will adjust to the changes. We all do."
"But you said there weren’t any female Shifters, not for over a century," Sky said.
"Yeah, I did, and there aren’t to our knowledge. But that wasn’t really what I was talking about. You will adjust to Bas and all these feeling you are having. You will adapt to the bond and the connection and the annoying, stubborn man. It’s what we do. We are the mates of The Alpha Team. It’s never easy, but I can assure you, it is worth every second."
Chapter 29
It had been a week since that day in the forest and the day that Sky’s life had changed so much. She got to meet the remaining ladies of Alpha Team; Emma, and Peyton. She also got to meet McKenna, the cherub-faced little girl that would some day change the world. Sky didn’t know how she knew that, but she believed it. Kenna was also the person the pink branch was searching out for. What surprised her was that she could feel what both children were feeling. At first, it freaked her out. Over the past week, it became a comforting knowing in her mind.
When Emma and Ryleigh struggled with the infants, Sky would help ca
lm babies, and it gave her a purpose. With Bas gone and her life in such limbo, she needed something. There were still too many loose ends and questions. She and Bas talked daily, several times when he was taking a break from trying to find Cash or some clue as to where his body had gone. He was saying all the right words and Sky wanted to hope for the best.
She didn’t feel the same way as she had a week ago. She still had doubts, but they weren’t as intense. The bond continued to grow between them, and it worked kind of like a lie detector. If Bas was feeling something, then Sky too felt it. She knew he had deep feelings of love and caring towards her. She also knew that he had regrets and fears just like she did. They were building something, and that made her happy.
Mia, Ryleigh’s friend, appeared at the Alpha Teams base within hours of their arrival. She checked out Ryleigh and the baby and declared them fit and healthy. Ryleigh’s feet had a little damage due to their little adventure, but she was getting around better now. Mia took some of Sky’s blood for DNA testing and promised to let her know the results when they came in, even though everyone was pretty confident they already knew. Sky was the unicorn, the one, and possibly only natural born Shifter female alive.
She was still processing that and the fact that she could turn into a bear. With the guys gone, she didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. She asked Bas some questions during their talks, but what she needed to do was try and Shift again. Everyone told her to wait for Jacks, and she couldn’t figure that out. Jacks was okay, but she didn’t feel a strong connection towards him. Anyways, she had Shifted and then Shifted back on her own once already. But she was new to all this, so she was waiting.
Bas had said that his bear was constantly on edge while away from her, but calm when she was around. Sky could feel her bear, and she seemed to be perfectly content hanging out in the background. There were a few times that Kenna would make a sound, and the Sky’s bear would respond in kind which was weird, but overall the Shifter thing wasn’t that bad, and she hoped it stayed that way. One thing that did surprise her was that she hadn’t picked up a piece of paper or a pencil in a long time. The last time was at the RBMC clubhouse, and she left that drawing behind. Maybe it was just her mind needing a break, but it did concern her. Designing and building motorcycles were important to her. She didn’t want to let go of everything she had built just because her circumstances had changed.
Sebastian: NAC & The Holly Group (Alpha Team Book 4) Page 23
