Fraser rushed to Holly and gave her a long, lingering kiss, no doubt reveling in the fact he still had his mate despite her giving birth to twins not long ago.
Only once he pulled away could Chase ask Holly, "Can we see them yet?"
She nodded. "For a wee while." Holly looked to her mate. "But no upsetting Faye, Fraser. For once, be nice to her."
"I'm always nice to her," Fraser muttered. However, Holly raised her brows and he sighed. "Okay, I'll hold off until she's well. But if she expects me not to tease her ever again, then she's deluded."
Lorna clicked her tongue. "Enough, Fraser. Let's go. I need another grandchild to spoil."
Chase resisted snorting. After all, Lorna already had three.
Lorna, who had always been somewhat unsure of how to act around his mum, put out a hand. "Come on, Gillian. As the grannies, we should meet the wee lassie first."
Her mother took Lorna's hand and stood. "Aye, I think so, too. It's the first female born in my family for some time. I plan to spoil her now and then."
Lorna snorted. "Only now and then? Since this is your first grandchild, I'll let you in on a secret—it's our duty to spoil them as much as possible. Then we can simply give them back to our children and they have to deal with them afterward." She lowered her voice to a loud whisper. "I look forward to the day I can fill them up on biscuits and sweets, return them, and see how they deal with the ensuing sugar high. My own family always did that, and I think it's time to pass on the tradition."
Both of Lorna's sons sighed, which only made her laugh. "That's right, lads. I suspect it'll only get worse the more you have. Keep that in mind."
The two mothers left the room first, followed by Fraser and Holly. Fergus, the other twin, stopped and clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll be next, Chase. Just wait."
Since Chase knew Fergus MacKenzie the least of his in-laws—the male could be more serious than even Chase's older brother—he merely nodded.
Fergus motioned for him to precede him. "You go on ahead. I need to fetch my mate and make sure her sister and my stepfather are okay watching both Fraser's lassies and my son by themselves for a bit."
Chase headed toward the room Holly had mentioned when she'd given her first update earlier. He wanted to meet his niece, aye. But he burned to know Layla was okay, too.
The thought of her being alone for so many years, never having someone to hold her after a difficult procedure or day, only made him pick up his pace more. From today, he was starting a new tradition. As soon as she finished, he'd find somewhere private to hold her tightly and tell her how proud he was and how much he loved her.
It couldn't wipe away all the exhaustion or bad days, but it should help.
However, when he arrived at Faye's room, Layla was nowhere to be seen. He made his way to the nurse who was standing next to Faye and asked, "Where did Layla go?"
The nurse replied while jotting something on a clipboard. "Her sister went into labor, so she should be in Yasmin's room."
He blinked. "What?"
He tried to dash out the door, but his mum grabbed his bicep. "You can't do anything to help her right now, lad. You know that. So say hello to your niece, Isla. It's better than fretting somewhere by yourself and getting yourself worked up."
His dragon grunted. She's right. And this is how it'll always be, too. So you'd better learn how to deal with it.
I'm trying, dragon. But I hate being so useless.
You're not. After saying hello to our niece, then we can get everything ready at Layla's cottage. We'll take care of her once the day is over. His dragon paused a second and then added, And think of it this way—with both the bairns delivered, it won't be long before we can have a frenzy of our own.
Chase glanced over at an exhausted Faye holding her daughter, with Grant at her side. Some would say he was too young, impulsive, or a thousand other excuses. But as Chase watched his brother with his new family, Chase knew he wanted that, too.
Even if it meant him taking more responsibility at home some days while Layla worked, he wouldn't mind.
His dragon bobbed his head. Then be the doting uncle and start putting things into motion for it to happen.
I won't rush Layla into it.
Aye, I know. But if she's as anxious to have the frenzy as we are, then find a way to make it happen. Layla isn't the best person at asking for help, after all.
He'd rather not start speaking for Layla, if he could help it.
But as his mother guided him to Faye's bed and he saw his tiny, dark-haired niece up close for the first time, Chase smiled as he traced her soft, pink cheek, forgetting everything but the tiny bundle in Faye's arms. "Hello, wee Isla. I'm your Uncle Chase. Just know now that I'll be your fun uncle, meaning I'll probably be your favorite, too."
Fraser grunted. "That would be my role, lad."
The other male had tried to put dominance into his voice, but it wasn't enough to stop Chase from grinning and replying, "Then I guess we have a new competition, aye?"
Grant sighed and muttered something Chase didn't hear. Ignoring his brother, he took Isla's tiny hand and whispered, "Don't worry about your dad. He pretends to be serious all the time, but he has a fun side, too. I'll teach you how to bring it out, as well as how to annoy him as much as possible. It'll be great fun, you'll see, Isla."
She moved her mouth, and even though it was probably nothing to do with his words, Chase took it as a sign that she was on board for his plans.
When he finally stepped aside to allow another family member some time with the bairn, Chase glanced to the door. He only hoped everything was going well with Yasmin's labor and birth. He couldn't bear to think of Layla losing her sister only after just finding her.
No. He wouldn't think those kinds of thoughts right now and ruin the atmosphere in the room. So he fawned over his niece for a bit longer before leaving to get things set up inside Layla's cottage. He'd have to be prepared for one of two outcomes—one happy and one devasting—but he'd be ready for either one.
Chapter Sixteen
Layla was no stranger to long work hours. However, she'd nearly lost Faye MacKenzie earlier in the day, and now her sister was in the tenth hour of labor, too.
Dr. Sid had helped with Faye, but the female doctor now had to take care of an emergency with one of the children. Even the junior doctor was busy, trying to help Aimee King at Cat MacAllister's place.
Which meant Layla would have to draw on every bit of strength she had left to treat her sister's delivery as routine.
Logan had volunteered to help with the delivery and had given her little chance to say no.
So he currently finished setting up the new arrival station, where he'd check out the bairn and ensure he or she was braw and healthy.
Yasmin collapsed at the end of a contraction, and Layla checked to see how dilated Yasmin was. Once done, she stood. "Right, this next time, you're going to push."
"I can't," Yasmin whispered. "I'm so tired."
Considering her sister hadn't been in labor for an overly long period of time—sometimes it could take more than a day for the first bairn to come—it wasn't a good sign and meant Yasmin was still weak from living on the run for so long.
Not allowing fear to creep in, Layla moved up to near her sister's head and stated, "You can do this, Yas. Your wee one is anxious to come out and meet you. All you need is to be strong for a little while longer, and then you can let everyone else spoil you and the bairn for weeks, months even."
Yasmin smiled weakly. "By you?"
Layla snorted. "A wee bit. But through a complicated tangle of matings—including my own, once I get to it—the MacKenzies will claim you, too. And seeing as Faye MacKenzie's daughter was born the same day, I'm sure they'll take it as a sign to be extra special to your son or daughter."
Phillip wiped Yasmin's brow and then kissed it. "You can do it, love. You're one of the strongest people I know. Who else could've survived roughing it for five years and never being
caught? Only the cleverest, that's who."
Yasmin frowned. "You're making me out to be more than I am, Phillip. You know full well how much I complained."
"Aye, you did. And yet, you carried on." He continued to stroke Yasmin's brow. "I'm the luckiest male alive, and I'll never forget it, Yasmin. So let's start the next chapter of our lives right here, back on Lochguard. We're home."
"Home," Yasmin murmured right before she sucked in a breath and added, "Another one's coming."
Layla moved back between her sister's legs. "Push, Yas, with everything you have."
She watched her sister's face, in case she had to encourage her more. But Yasmin grunted and tried pushing. As the head became visible, her sister cried out. Since everything looked normal, Layla focused on the bairn. At the sight of the tiny head of her niece or nephew, a crack appeared through the wall between doctor and regular female.
She was about to be an aunt. Well, for the second time in a day.
Her dragon lifted her head from where she'd been snoozing. Get it together. You can be the auntie later.
Right. Layla coaxed Yasmin through the next contraction. After a fair bit of grunting, screaming, and pushing, Yasmin managed to get her wee lad out. Layla grinned, stood, and held him up. "You have a son."
Yasmin promptly started crying.
Phillip shot her an encouraging look. "She always said it'd be a boy. She's happy, I promise."
More than aware of how emotional a birth could be, Layla nodded and focused on her nephew. Once the umbilical cord was cut, she wrapped him in a blanket and cuddled him in her arms. "Hello, lad. I'm your auntie," she whispered before settling him in Yasmin's arms.
"He's so beautiful," Yasmin murmured before kissing the bairn's forehead.
"Not a he, love. Jacob."
"Jacob," Yasmin echoed before kissing the lad's forehead again.
Layla had always wondered if she was truly mother material or not. Even knowing she'd have a frenzy with Chase that resulted in a pregnancy, she'd had secret doubts.
However, as she watched her sister and her brother-in-law stare down in awe at their child, Layla yearned to have that, too. A family of her own, one that she'd fight to keep from splitting apart or growing distant, like hers had done.
She only needed to get as much sorted as she could before she could begin that journey.
Her dragon huffed. Finally. Then you won't put off the frenzy forever?
No. I may not get everything lined up today, but as soon as I can.
Her dragon snorted. You have to be the only dragon-shifter in history to plan out their frenzy and schedule it.
I doubt that's true.
Logan arrived to take the bairn so he could check him over, and Layla focused back on her sister to deliver the afterbirth.
As soon as it was done and she'd cleaned up, she sent Logan to fetch Chase. After all, Jacob would be his nephew soon, too.
Layla finally had the chance to stand next to Yasmin's bed and take a good look at wee Jacob. He looked like most bairns—wrinkly—with a few wisps of dark hair on his head.
Yasmin lifted him up. "Hold him, Layla. For a while, I didn't think he'd ever get to know his auntie. But now that he will, he should know you from the very first hour."
As she took him, she smiled. "I delivered him, remember?"
"Aye, but that's a wee bit traumatic and was only your doctor's side. He needs to know just Layla, my lovely older sister."
Maybe it was the emotions of the day, but Layla had to blink back tears at her sister's words.
Layla rearranged the blanket around Jacob, and he moved a second before settling back down. "Hello, wee Jacob. Your mum thinks we need another first meeting, so here I am."
The baby didn't wake up and just laid there.
Her dragon chuckled. He's tired. One day, I'm sure everyone will wish for him to calm down a little.
She hummed a tune and just handed back her nephew when Logan returned. However, Chase wasn't right behind him. "Where's Chase?" she asked.
Logan shook his head. "He can't come right now. You're both needed in Finn's office, and he's waiting for you there."
What could Finn want from them?
Maybe if she weren't so tired—it was becoming harder and harder to merely focus her eyes—she'd be more curious. But for the moment, she just wanted to get it over with so she could go home and curl up in bed with her male.
Layla gave one last look at her sister. "Will you be okay for a bit without me?"
Yasmin smiled. "Go, Layla. After delivering two bairns back-to-back, you need a wee bit of rest. Besides, we'll be fine here with all the nurses and the other doctors."
Since both mother and bairn were in good health for the moment, Layla gave one last glance at her nephew and left the room, heading for Finn's cottage.
Chase stood inside Finn's office, hoping he'd made the right choice about all of this.
But after the events of the day and how close Faye had been to dying—reminding him of how short life could be—he didn't want to wait any longer. He needed to claim Layla as his own. Even if it was only in front of Finn and Arabella, without the clan watching on, he was fine with that.
But he couldn't wait another day to make Layla MacFie his mate.
Finn hung up his call with Stonefire's clan leader and turned to study him. After a beat, Finn stood. "Last chance, lad. Are you sure you can handle being mated to a doctor?"
While he usually got along with Finn, Chase didn't hold back a growl. "Why does everyone keep bloody asking me that? Do I need to wear a T-shirt that says, 'Aye, I can be a doctor's mate' so that people will leave me alone?"
Finn shrugged. "It might help." Chase opened his mouth, but Finn raised a hand and added, "Settle down, lad. I judge more on actions than merely age, but you and Layla have been together less than two weeks. And with what's happening with her parents, I don't want her to jump in without thinking and possibly regret it later."
Fucking fantastic. Finn thought Chase would be a mistake.
He was about to say what he thought of that, but Layla's voice filled the air. "I'd like to think I can make decisions for myself. I'm not exactly what you'd call impulsive," she drawled.
Chase turned around. Just the sight of Layla alive and teasing made his heart swell. He raised a hand, palm up. "Come here, love."
She didn't hesitate to place her hand in his and then raised an eyebrow. "What's this all about anyway?"
Finn chuckled, but Chase ignored him. He took Layla's other hand and pulled her close, until her front pressed against his. "Mate me, Layla, right here, right now, in front of Finn. I love you, and I don't want to wait."
"Chase," she breathed.
Moving a hand to her waist and the other to her cheek, he continued, "We can put off the frenzy as long as you like. But become my mate, Layla. Because life is too short to wait."
Layla smiled slowly, and both man and beast took notice. Even though her actions already told him her answer, she said, "Aye, I'll mate you right now, Chase."
His gaze dropped to her lips. Damn, it was becoming harder and harder not to kiss his female. He murmured, "When it comes time for the frenzy, I'm going to make sure my dragon behaves long enough to let me kiss my fill of your sweet lips, love."
She blushed, and blood rushed south. He was going to spend the rest of his life making her blush as many times as possible.
Finn cleared his throat. "I hate to rush this, but I need to meet with the Iranian dragons tonight for a dinner meeting of sorts. If you're ready, I'll call Ara in to be another witness."
Never severing eye contact with one another, they nodded in unison.
Chase barely noticed Finn getting Arabella. He was too busy tracing Layla's jaw, her cheek, even the bridge of her nose. He could tell she was tired from the smudges under her eyes, but it didn't make her any less beautiful to him.
Finn finally spoke again, meaning he'd returned. "Then let's begin. In lieu of arm cuffs, you'll have
to draw each other's names in the old language for now."
Taking his cue, Chase spoke first as the male, per tradition. "Layla MacFie, I've had the chance to watch you from a distance for two years, observing how much you care for others, give your everything to make them healthy, and have also noticed your daily sacrifices to make it all happen. However, in the last two weeks, I've come to know the lass underneath, the one with her own demons and trials, the one with a hidden sense of humor, and also an oddly innocent female who blushes more than anyone I know. I love everything about you and look forward to teasing you more, forcing you to relax, and simply being the person you can depend on above all others. I love you, Layla MacFie. Will you accept my claim?"
"I do," she murmured.
Taking a marker from Finn, he slowly wrote his name in the old dragon language on her upper arm, the one without the tattoo. Even though man and beast liked the sight, both couldn't wait until she wore the silver arm cuff engraved with their name while naked and screaming in their bed.
Once he finished, Layla spoke. "Chase McFarland, I tried everything to avoid you and put you off. But despite it all, you kept trying, to the point I couldn't help but notice you. When I needed help, you didn't blink an eye to offer. And as you took care of me one time after the other, I finally allowed myself to rely on someone besides myself. Not only that, for the first time in a long time, I want to simply fly somewhere pretty with you, to listen to the melody of the wind whispering through the heather and peaks. I want to live life, with you. You bring out the bits and pieces of myself I rarely show others. And for it, I love you, Chase McFarland. Will you accept my claim?"
He nodded, and she took the marker. However, as she began to write the first letter, she paused and closed her eyes. Chase asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
His instinct warned otherwise. He watched her closely, for the slightest change as she finished writing her name on his arm. Was she paler than normal, or was it merely his imagination? For the first time, he wished he had a smidgen of medical training so he could be a better judge.
The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 7) Page 16
