Ten

This was Blister’s fourteenth night of sleeping in front of the damn Christmas tree. The thing was beautiful, he’d give it that. And it smelled nice.

Annie had picked out sparkly red balls and humongo jingle bells. All sorts of glittery things hung from the branches of the evergreen. Tiny race car ornaments added a personal touch, and the bow at the top was made of checkered flag ribbon. It twinkled to the tune of White Christmas, and if he was really fucking honest, it did make their home more Holly Jolly.

But he’d still rather be in his bed, holding his mate, instead of on tree-sitting duty.

A knock on the front door pulled him out of his pouting, and he rose from the couch to see who it was.

Pulling open the door, a gust of frigid wind whipped inside. It felt like a storm was coming. Perhaps an early ice storm. They happened sometimes in December, but most often after the new year.

Aaron stood on the porch, hunched into his coat to ward off the wind.

“Hey,” Blister said, not sure if he wanted to let him inside.

Annie’s brother had stuck around all month, dropping in from time to time, and seeming to make an effort getting to know the dogs. Blister had even caught him playing with Gracie when he thought no one was looking.

The man was making strides, but somehow, he still felt dangerous.

“Hey.” He breathed into his hands. “My sister around? I need to talk to her.”

Blister stepped aside, letting him in. “She’s asleep. Can I get you something? A drink?” A kick in the ass out the door?

Aaron’s gaze landed on the pillow and blanket setup on the couch and he smirked. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Not even remotely.”

“Riiiight.”

Blister crossed his arms over his chest and propped his butt up on the arm of the sofa.

“Things aren’t always as they seem you know.” He let his tone go soft. He didn’t want to wake his mate. She needed all the rest she could get since their young would be here in a matter of days. “You could stand to learn a lesson in that.”

Aaron tipped his head to the side. “Alright then. Teach me. What’s going on here?” He gestured to Blister’s temporary bed.

Blister eyed the man. He didn’t like telling people his business. Never had. Opening up to people was like peeling back layers of an onion and shoving it in their face and saying, “Here, take a whiff of my stank.”

“I’m tree-sitting,” he muttered.

“Tree-sitting?”

“Yeah. Making sure the damn thing doesn’t catch on fire.”

Aaron frowned. “I don’t follow.”

Blister sighed. Explanations. He was the worst at ‘em. Couldn’t people just use their brains to put the pieces he gave them together on their own? Why this incessant need for details?

“As a young, my entire family died in a fire while they slept in the night. I was the only one who made it out. I want to make sure nothing like that happens to my Annie and our baby.”

Aaron was silent for a long time while Blister focused on the panels of hardwood beneath their feet.

“So… you’re sleeping on the couch so you’re around in case something happens,” he said finally.

“Got it.” Blister looked up to see the man eyeing the small fire extinguisher near the couch.

“Annie know?”

“She caught on last night. I wasn’t sneaky enough leaving our bed after she fell asleep.”

Aaron’s blond eyebrow quirked. “What’d she say?”

Blister’s mouth curved in a half-smile. “Wanted to take the whole tree down so I’d come back to bed.”

“Sounds like my sister.” He sighed, sinking down on the sofa like the weight of an eternity was on his shoulders.

“It’s true, isn’t it? That your pack is good? That you care about people. Love your community and family. That you aren’t trying to tear down, but build up.”

Blister moved to the chair by the fireplace. “Yeah. That’s us I guess. We don’t want to hurt anyone. But we’ll protect our own fiercely. That’s for damn sure.”

“Your own. That seems to include the people of Cedar Valley. And damn near anyone you come in contact with.” He paused, a smile creeping up his cheeks. “Except for strangers who break into your house in the middle of the night thinking it’s still theirs.”

“Naw,” Blister said. “I think we pretty much consider you one of us now too. You just had to stop being an asshole.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to stop completely. I can’t. I have responsibilities—” He ground his jaws together and then seemed to get back on track with what he was saying. “But I don’t have a problem with the Dirt Track Dogs. In fact, I’m really happy my sister found a family.”

Blister nodded, respecting his honesty.

Aaron gave a little laugh. “You guys are like the saints of the shifter world. You know that wild one, Surge? I caught him walking this little old lady across the street the other day. Had his arm tucked in hers, just chatting her ear off, and she was all smiles. Like… who the hell does that anymore? Takes the time to make someone’s day better, make ‘em smile.”

“Lots of people,” Blister argued. “But clearly, not the ones you know.”

Aaron nodded in agreement.

“And don’t tell Surge you saw him. He thinks he’s badass.”

The human chuckled and it was the first time Blister had heard him laugh. Seconds ticked by as he sobered.

“I had a woman of my own once.” He rubbed his palms together, staring at them to avoid Blister’s gaze. “I looked at her the same way you look at my sister. It’s how I know you love her.”

Blister let the information sink in. If Aaron had loved someone the way he loved Annie… the broken glimpse of him that first night made sense now.

“What happened?”

Slowly, he shook his head. “Changers.”

Blister scowled, not understanding. Now he was the one who needed details. But before he could ask, Aaron stood and headed toward the door.

“Another story for another time,” he said, turning the handle. “Tell my sister I dropped by.”

And then he was gone, leaving Blister blinking in his wake.

***

Two days later…

Annie practiced the breathing techniques Destiny taught her, but it was doing nothing for the pain. Her insides felt like a sponge being squeezed in a giant’s ugly fist for thirty seconds straight.

Every. Damn. Minute. Or less. She wasn’t sure anymore. Time had no meaning. Only thing she was sure of was she knew what the Virgin Mary felt like. And she couldn’t imagine doing this in a stable with cows mooing at her.

God, help. I’m a good person, please help.

A downstairs bedroom had been turned into a birthing area. But only the pack mates and Blister were there. Annie had seen a mid-wife throughout the pregnancy, but of course she couldn’t be there for the birth. Couldn’t take a chance that someone would slip and she’d learn what they were. And as an extra measure of safety, Doc Davis from the Ouachita cat clan was on call in case of an emergency.

Another contraction gripped Annie’s body, and she let out a pained groan that sounded like scraping ice off a frozen windshield.

“Shit.” Blister’s voice trembled, concern making his brow crease like one of those wrinkly puppies. “Can’t I just use my bond a little?” he pleaded to Destiny.

Punk answered for her. “No, damn it. It’ll stop the progression. All it will do is prolong the delivery.”

“No,” Annie blurted. “No, no, no. No pro…” She grunted through another squeeze. “…longing it. Please.”

“We’re getting close,” Destiny told Blister, her voice a touch calmer than Punk’s. “She’s strong. Everything is good.”

Annie reached blindly for his hand as the contraction eased away. She might have a few seconds of relief. He gripped it tight and brought a cool washrag to her forehead. She met his worried eyes and tried to look okay, but she knew it was an epic failure.

“So sorry,” he murmured. “So sorry, angel.”

She shook her head, feeling another contraction starting. “No. Our baby’s almost here. Don’t say that to me.”

“Wh-what should I say?”

A scream ripped from her throat. This one was worse than the others. Fuck. Fuck? God, she hoped that hadn’t slipped from her mouth. She’d never live it down.

“Tell her encouraging things,” Destiny coached. “Cheer her on. Now isn’t the time for regrets.”

“Encouraging. Okay. Yeah. Got it.”

The contraction faded, but this time there was no period of relief before the next one started.

“Go baby, go,” Blister blurted. “Get on it. Ride hard. You’ve got this one in the bag. No way you’re not winning this thing. The finish line’s right there, baby.”

The odd words were almost enough to make her laugh through the pain. Punk and Destiny stopped everything they were doing and just stared at him, mouth agape.

“What?” he snapped.

“This isn’t a fucking race,” Punk said, but Annie could see she was about to crack up.

“You said to cheer her on!”

Annie laughed but it came out more like a wail.

“Okay, okay.” Destiny put her hands in the air to stop them. “How about this, just hold her hand and tell her how much you love her. Think you can do that?”

“Yes, of course.”

Another contraction, and it was starting to become so constant it was numbing. Or maybe her body was just adapting to the agony.

“I love you, Annie. So damn much. God, I love you.”

“Love… you…” she breathed. “Need to stand.”

Destiny nodded. “Okay, that’s a good sign. Let’s help her up.”

The three of them propped her up in a squatting position and the pain in her back eased a notch.

“Time to push,” Destiny announced, and that sounded right. Felt right. It felt like a boulder was stuck between her legs.

Get it out, get it out.

On the next wave, Annie pushed and felt the baby squeeze into position.

“I see the head,” Punk squealed. “Blister, do you see the head? It’s your baby! Hold your hand like this, and just support it while she pushes. Wait… are you okay? Can you do this?”

Annie couldn’t see her mate. Or anything but the backs of her eyelids because they were squeezed so tight in concentration.

“Yes,” he said, his voice shredded. “I got this. I can do it.”

The next push was easier and with a rush, she felt the pressure release and exhaustion take over. It was so intense, she could barely feel her limbs to keep upright.

“Ohhhh shit,” Blister breathed. “Oh shit, shit, shit.”

“What is it?” Annie cried.

Punk helped her lie down while Blister kept uttering profanities.

“Tell me!”

Her eyes went everywhere, looking for her young. Where was he?

Finally, she found him, bloody and tiny and cradled in Blister’s giant hands. Destiny hovered over him, wiping and sucking junk from his mouth with a syringe so he could breathe.

And then he screamed. A loud, ear-blistering sound that gave Annie such relief tears flooded her eyes.

Blister stared at her, his eyes peeled so wide they must hurt. “Annie… baby, look.”

“I know,” she whispered, barely able to speak through the emotions strangling her.

“Ours,” he growled, and she nodded emphatically, finally able to get a laugh out. A happy, watery laugh.

“Congratulations.” Destiny grinned wide. “You have a healthy baby girl.”

Ever so carefully, Blister set the baby on Annie’s still puffy stomach and Punk wrapped a blanket around them while Destiny worked with the cord.

Annie stared down at the sweet little bundle, so happy and full, she didn’t know how anything could ever top this.

“Hi there, sweet girl,” she murmured, brushing the tips of her fingers over the mop of blond hair already covering her head.

Blister dropped to his knees next to the bed, inching his shaking hand closer to their young’s head. “My god,” he murmured. “She’s… she’s… perfect.” His voice broke, and Annie looked over to see a tear slide down his scarred cheek.

He kissed Annie’s head. Once, twice. And again.

“Look what we did,” he gasped.

She beamed at him. “Merry Christmas to us.”

“You were right.” His expression was so fierce, if she didn’t know him inside and out she might think he was angry. “This is the best damn Christmas present ever.”