by Layla Silver
“We’ll need to make him a list,” he said. “Of priorities we want in a house.”
Spying a notepad nearby, I pulled it and it’s pen over. “A nursery, obviously,” I said, writing that at the top.
“An office for you,” he said, his thoughtfulness making my heart melt a little. “And some kind of study or something for me. I don’t know where I’ll end up employment-wise, but I’m sure I’ll have some kind of notes or files or something I need to keep locked up for confidentiality purposes.”
“We’re going to need a good kitchen if you’re going to keep cooking for me,” I teased.
“And if we’re going to teach our kid to cook,” he agreed, shutting off the stove and turning around with two plates heaped with some kind of hash. It looked questionable but smelled divine. I realized I was starving.
Nudging the paper out of the way, Caleb slid a plate in front of me and set his own at the spot beside me. Producing silverware and napkins, he sat down.
“We can look for a house with guest rooms if you want,” he said, poking at his food as I took a big bite. The food tasted just as good as it smelled. It was heavenly. “So your mom and sisters can stay with us. To visit, or if they need somewhere to stay.” He frowned. “I’m not sure they’ll want to stay at the compound now that they’re free.”
Chewing and swallowing, I put my fork down and leaned into him. “You are the sweetest man alive,” I informed him, pressing my forehead to his and nuzzling him affectionately.
“Yeah?” His eyes sparkled. “I don’t know about that. But I’m pretty sure I can take good care of you and our cub.” His hand slid up the back of my neck, and he kissed me again.
There was a firm knock at the door, and I jumped.
“That’ll be family,” Caleb said, pecking a kiss to my temple and hopping off his bar stool.
He disappeared toward the front door, and a moment later, I heard voices and feet. Then the small kitchen was half-full of Hawthorne brothers, all cleaned up and brimming with energy.
“Guys, this is Gemma,” Caleb said as I turned on my stool to face everyone, very aware of how unimpressive I must look with my unbrushed hair and wearing borrowed clothes. Caleb moved to stand at my back, one arm crossing my chest in a half-hug that had me abruptly relaxing. He loved me, and I could hear the pride in his voice, despite my disheveled state. “Sweetheart, these are my brothers Corbin, Cody, and Chas.”
He pointed to each as he named them, and I nodded with a small smile. “Hello.”
“Welcome to the family,” Corbin said, gamely, grinning at me. “I’m obligated to inform you that my wife would very much like to meet you, and if you don’t agree to come to dinner tomorrow, I’m going to be in a lot of trouble.”
“I’m the oldest.” Cody smacked Corbin with the back of his hand. “I’m supposed to host new mates first.”
“My wife is a professional chef,” Corbin shot back, cheekily. “Clearly, she gets first dibs on meal invitations.”
“Don’t either of you let Maggie hear you,” Caleb interrupted them, laughing. I craned my head to look at him curiously. “Clay was the first of us to find his mate,” he explained. “Maggie was the first wife in our generation, and she takes her position seriously.
“I’m staying right out of that debate,” Chas shook his head, but he was chuckling, too. “The wives can sort that out—they always do it better than we would, anyway.” He looked at me. “You are staying, right? This idiot,” he gestured at Caleb, “asked you to marry him, I assume?”
“Chas.” Caleb sounded exasperated, but I laughed.
“I am staying,” I agreed. “We haven’t quite gotten down to the details, yet.”
“Good,” he said emphatically. “Because I’d rather you didn’t go back to the compound, even though you can now.”
I felt my eyes widen and tried to figure out which of the questions that bubbled up to ask first. “It’s safe?”
“Yeah,” Cody answered, nodding sharply. “We went over right after the fight. Spread the word that the Elders are out of power. Their families started packing up right away, hightailing it out. Turns out there’s been a sort of shadow Elders’ council going on, made up of people trying to get out or work on changes from the inside. Looks like they’re going to take temporary leadership and get started on a new chapter for the commune. Clean things up.”
“In the meantime,” Corbin picked up confidently, “everyone’s free to come and go as they please. No restrictions. We took the liberty of checking on your family. They’re safe.”
“Thank you.” Tears welled up in my eyes. “For everything. I didn’t imagine—”
Caleb’s arm tightened around me, and Chas shook his head. “Nobody imagined it. That’s how it got as bad as it did. All that matters is that it’s over now.”
Epilogue – Caleb
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened on the fifth floor. I’d called ahead, and Judy was waiting. She bustled forward and looped an arm around my panting fiancée’s other side.
“There you are, Gemma! You come right with me. You,” she looked pointedly at me, “get her signed in.”
“I’ll be right there,” I promised, pressing a kiss to Gemma’s forehead before Judy helped her away. Excruciating as it was to let go of her, I knew she was in good hands. The best. Hurrying to the desk, I found one of the nurses waiting, the clipboard half-filled out already.
Dr. Carlton had been horrified to learn of Portia’s intentional tampering in the lab, though we’d intimated it was motivated by a desire to get back at me for spurning her attentions rather than by her involvement with the cult. With the commune working hard to rebuild and renew itself, we hadn’t wanted to smear its name.
Despite Portia’s ostensibly personal motive and the fact that between us, Gemma and I were more than fine financially, Dr. Carlton had insisted that the agency continue to pay Gemma’s surrogacy stipend and cover all of her medical expenses through our baby’s birth. We had agreed, and there had been comfort for us both in knowing Gemma and the baby were receiving the best possible care.
Of course, by now, the agency staff had been working with her for nine months, and they blessedly had half her paperwork already filled out for me.
“Her water broke?” the nurse asked, excitedly. “We had bets on next week!”
I grinned, unable to hide my own excitement. Our baby was finally arriving! “She is a couple of days early, but she’s more than ready.”
As I signed the forms, I thought affectionately of how impatient Gemma had been for this day. Clarence had found us the perfect house two months ago and, true to my promise, my family had made short work of getting us moved in. Both my family and Gemma’s had pitched in to help us paint and move furniture around. Just last week, we’d put the final touches on the nursery. Everything was ready. Of course, seeing Miriam’s adorable baby boy had only made us both that much more eager to hold our own sweet baby.
When the paperwork was done, I paused for two seconds to check my phone before heading back. I’d texted my boss to let her know Gemma had gone into labor and that I was officially starting my paternity leave, effective immediately. I’d found a new job within days of leaving the agency and was already well settled in. It was a research position, rather than front-line medicine, but it was perfect. I had the rare opportunity to explore why Lion shifter birth rates were dropping and how that trend might be reversed. I was still contributing to the cause I was so passionate about, and the money was more than enough to make sure my family was well cared for.
There was a return text from my boss with her congratulations, and one from Gemma’s sister Meaghan confirming they’d gotten my text as well and were on their way. With the Elders gone, Gemma’s family had blossomed. Her mother’s health had returned, and her sisters were thriving. They came to see us regularly and were nearly as delighted as we were that the day was finally here. Shoving my phone back in my pocket on silent mode, I headed back to my mate.
***
“Oh, Caleb, she’s perfect!” Gemma beamed at me and cuddled our blanket-swathed daughter closer to her breast. Her long hair was damp with sweat and curled free of its braid to stick to her flushed face. My girls were the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.
“She is,” I agreed, cuddling in closer. In Gemma’s arms, Adeline yawned, her little rosebud lips going round with the effort before her face scrunched back into sleepiness. My daughter had her mother’s hair, but she’d gotten my eyes. I could already tell she would grow up to be a heartbreaker.
There was a flurry of motion at the doorway, and then Meaghan popped her head in. Her eyes went round. “You had her already!” She bounced toward the bed, her mother and Penny on her heels. “They said you had, but I didn’t believe it! So fast!”
“She decided she was ready,” Gemma laughed. She looked exhausted but blissfully happy. Kissing her again, I eased off the side of the bed so her family could cluster closer, cooing their joy over our baby.
Soon, Gemma would need to sleep and recover. I would be there while she slept to hold both of my girls. They’d be safe and loved. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
THE END
About the Author
Hi there! I’m Layla Silver, and I’m so happy to see you here :) I’m a mom of three adorable kids and after all these years, still wildly in love with my awesome and hard-working husband. I LOVE to write about hot shifters, whether Wolves, Bears, or Dragons, who are looking for their mates and will do anything to protect them no matter what comes their way. When I’m not writing or spending time with my family (which is pretty rare, but I’m not complaining!), I like to be in the mountains chasing paranormal dreams.
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Books by Layla Silver
“Shifter Surrogate Agency” Series
What's a very hot shifter to do if he hasn't found his mate yet but can't wait to have a baby? Go to the Shifter Surrogate Agency of course, where he might just get more than he bargained for...
Each book in the series is a standalone story with a guaranteed HEA.
The Wolf’s Surrogate
The Bear’s Surrogate
The Alpha’s Surrogate
The Lion’ Surrogate
