Maple
Maple grabbed the mail and waddled into the house with Cora at her side. She flipped through the two adds and the bill and found an official envelope at the end of the stack.
“Can you hold these?” Maple handed Cora the adds who took them without fuss.
“What’s that?” Cora asked and pointed toward the larger envelope.
“I think it might be more requests for paperwork from the state.” Maple shook her head. Once the state of Colorado received enough documentation to fill a truck on their financial matters, they asked the pack for character references and their marriage certificate which they had to go do at city hall. By pack law they were mates, but the state wanted it to be legal on all standings.
“More?” Cora’s shoulders fell.
“We will find out in a minute.” Over the last eight months, Maple had learned new things about Cora and what kinds of mother she was. It didn’t surprise her to find Raymand would be the hard-ass parent while Maple stood on the nurturing side. What did surprise her were the levels of emotions which come out when caring for another being. It didn’t help one bit to have more hormones flooding her body with the pregnancy.
“Cora, do you have homework?” Raymand asked when they walked through the door. Cora started third grade two weeks ago and she already hated the homework her teacher assigned almost every day.
“I finished it at the store.” Cora bounced on her toes, her usual tell about her not being completely truthful.
“Don’t lie to me, princess.” Raymand raised an eyebrow which made Cora sigh.
“Fine. I finished half of it.” Cora shuffled over to the table and tossed the add into the center. Maple opened the state envelope and pulled out the stack of papers. When she unfolded the stack, she gasped and dropped the bill.
“What?” Cora and Raymand asked together.
“It’s finalized.” Maple wanted to jump up for joy but stopped when the baby started moving around in her belly. Plus, she felt too huge to be jumping around.
“What’s finalized?” Cora asked while Raymand bolted to Maple’s side and read over her shoulder.
“You, my princess, are officially our little girl by state law.” Raymand grinned. A Braxton Hix contraction tightened Maple’s belly making the words go out of focus. “Are you okay?” Raymand wrapped his hand around her waist.
“Yes, it’s one of the damn practice-” Maple doubled over as another contraction tightened her belly and pain zipped up her spine.
“Mommy are you okay?” Cora jumped off the table and sped toward Maple. She took in a few deep breaths and met Cora’s gaze.
“Yes, sweetheart it’s only a little pain. Miss Denise might be a little too excited to meet you.” Maple snatched up the book her aunt had left near the register months ago. She had ten pages left and she planned on finishing it before dinner.
“Still can’t believe I’m going to be stuck in a house full of girls.” Raymand shook his head. When they had found out he had the lady triple check to be sure.
“Next time could be a boy, Mr. Alpha.” Maple snapped back at him, but he ignored her comment. He lifted her up and placed her on the couch with Cora following close behind. She opened the book and found the spot she stopped at last time.
“If another comes while your resting then it’s not a drill.” Raymand had read ninety percent of the how-to-be-a-dad books and everything about labor he could get his hands on from the bookstore. Maple had even special ordered some for him. She flipped the page and kept reading, ignoring her mate. The love story about werewolves in New York caught her attention with ease.
Another contraction wracked through her body making her wince. “That one hurt a bit more.” Maple let out a shaky breath. One freaking more page left, come on Denise.
“Is Denise okay?” Cora asked and rubbed Maple’s belly.
“Yes, sweetheart, she is coming a little early is all.” Maple kept her voice calm even with hints of pain still lingering in her muscles. It reminded her of the burn she had after a good run. She lowered her gaze to finish but Cora’s hand blocked her view.
“I thought she’s not supposed to come till next week.” Cora kept rubbing Maple’s belly as she spoke.
“Well, she decided it’s time I guess.” Maple rubbed Cora’s back. “Are you ready big sister?”
The little pup’s face turned serious and she rubbed her hands together. “I’m ready. What do I do?” Her focused look made Maple laugh which turned into a gasp of pain when another contraction hit.
“Cora grab a bowl of hot water and a bunch of towels,” Raymand barked out the order and Cora hustled out of the room.
“I don’t know if it’s too late to shift.” Maple didn’t want to deliver her baby girl in her human form.
“I’ll check and see. It’s okay, just breathe.” His alpha side came out stronger which helped to calm Maple down. She took in a shaky breath as another contraction hit. He yanked off her panties under her long dress then checked her out. “Don’t shift. Denise is coming fast.”
More pain laced through her body and a small scream left her lips. Maple tried to keep it to herself, she didn’t want Cora to start panicking. The pup walked in and placed the water and towels next to Raymand.
“Stand next to Maple and make sure she keeps breathing okay.” Raymand pointed Cora toward Maple’s top half. Cora nodded and grabbed Maple’s hand.
“Ouch.” Maple gasped and winced again. Her free hand grabbed onto the couch tightly.
“Breathe and push Maple. You have this.” Raymand rubbed her legs. Maple squeezed her eyes shut and pushed with everything she had. Her legs shook from the strain. More searing pain zipped up her body and her wolf whimpered in her mind.
Another push and the pressure gave way to a little cry. Tears rolled down her face as Maple took in Denise in Raymand’s arms. Cora grabbed a towel and handed it to Raymand.
“What’s on her?” Cora’s nose scrunched up.
“Something that will wash off,” Raymand said as he placed Denise on Maple’s chest. Love filled her heart as she counted ten toes and ten little fingers. Denise sneezed then shifted into her wolf form, the goo clung to the fur.
“Wow,” Cora whispered and rubbed Denise’s chocolate-brown fur.
“Denise, shift back.” The alpha voice came back again, and the pup shifted and started to cry.
“It’s okay, you’ll get used to him.” Cora patted Denise’s back.
“You’re going to be a great sister.” Maple leaned up and kissed Cora then Denise’s head.
“Good job, mate.” Raymand cleaned up the couch and someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Cora yelled. Denise’s brown eyes stared at Maple, warming her heart once more.
“It’s us! We’re here for the game night.” Anne yelled through the door.
“Maple had her baby!” Cora yelled again and Denise cried. “Sorry.” She lowered her voice and skipped to the door. Raymand barely covered Maple up before the door swung wide open.
“Well, congratulations are in order.” Anne shuffled in with her little kids following right behind.
“Thank you.” Maple smiled.
“She is beautiful.” Anne grinned. Maple glanced around the room with a big smile on her face. Her family had grown, and she was so excited to start this chapter with Raymand.
Up next is a snip-it of Red Eclipse from the Legend Series!