I sat in the hospital room, exhausted from my surgery, but healing quickly, my shifter healing abilities working their magic. I had a son. I had given birth to an oversized, beautiful, healthy baby boy. It was taking a little time to process.

Chase’s parents and Richard and Carla were all there, visiting the sleeping baby. Things between Chase and his dad were slightly better, as far I’d seen. There was still tension there, of course, after years of bitterness, but Chase seemed to hold the sacrifice his dad had tried to make in high regard, and it had gone some way towards healing the rift.

Chase sat beside me on the hospital bed, holding my hand, smoothing a thumb over my knuckles. Chase had told me over and over again how proud he was of me, but I felt it, then, in every little touch, and I could see it in his eyes.

Richard was holding our son, rocking him as he slept, looking every bit the doting grandfather. I was even more sure than ever that I’d made the perfect choice in making Richard our baby’s godfather. Gloria and Carla snapped pictures of them together, which I knew they would be showing off with pride very soon.

David, with a noticeable limp, made his way over to us, settling in a chair next to the bed. He had healed, but not perfectly—the bullets in Michael’s gun had been silver, and definitely would have killed me and my child if we’d been shot. Even after everything Chase had told me about David, I still felt grateful toward my father-in-law for preventing that.

“The deal fell through,” David admitted. “Without anything to sweeten it, Mr. Malone Sr. backed out, and the merger collapsed.”

That had surely happened a few months ago, but David had waited until the baby was born to tell us. I wasn’t sure if it was a sign of respect, or just more strategy. I glanced at Chase and saw his jaw tighten.

“I’m not going to apologize,” he informed his father. I squeezed his hand in support.

David shook his head, waving his hand. “I don’t expect you to. In fact, I’m thinking of retiring. Dissolving what’s left of the business. Seeing how the other half lives.”

Richard, from across the room, rolled his eyes. “You’ve got enough money to last three lifetimes, you dramatic fool.”

That got a hearty laugh out of all of us.

After a little while, as my wounds healed more and more, Richard laid the baby down in his bed, and ushered out the in-laws and even Carla. “We should get some dinner,” he suggested to them, and I gave him a grateful look.

When they were all gone, leaving us alone, Chase pulled my wedding ring out of his pocket and slid it back onto finger. “They had to remove it for the c-section,” he explained.

I smiled, relieved to have it back. “Chase … I love you,” I said.

He smiled and took my hand in both of his, gazing directly into my eyes. “I love you too, Riley, and I’m so happy that we’re a family. I can’t wait to spend our whole lives together. This baby is the beginning of everything. I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love you and our son.”

A little whimper, a short squall, and then the baby woke up howling, screaming for us. I grinned.

“Remember everything you just said when you’re hearing that noise at three in the morning.”

Chase scooped the baby up, cuddling him against his chest, soothing him. I watched in adoration as my big, strong alpha rocked the tiny infant, speaking to him in a soft, tender voice. Our son calmed a little in his arms, and he brought him over to me, the three of us snuggled up happily, one perfect little family, on the bed.

“Have you thought of a name yet?”

“Nothing quite right,” I admitted, gazing down at our precious baby. “It has to be perfect. He’s perfect. Just like you.”

“Oh, no, he definitely got your looks,” Chase told me.

He did have blue eyes, but he had a dark little shock of hair, and he had been huge at birth, a whole ten pounds. I was certain he was going to take after my husband. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful man, a more beautiful soul.

And I couldn’t believe I had all of this, that I got to to call Chase my own, and we had such a perfect baby. I was so happy a tear slipped from my eye, down my cheek.

Chase wiped it away and kissed me, and then kissed the baby. The three of us were wrapped in love, safe, and together. It was everything I had never dreamed of.

“Hey, Chase. What was your mom’s name?” I whispered.

“Jo. Johanna,” he said, kissing my temple. I smiled, suddenly knowing exactly what name I wanted.

“We could name him John,” I suggested. “It’s a classic name.”

Chase looked like he might cry, too, when I said it. “You want to name him after my mother?”

I nodded sincerely, and he smiled down at our gorgeous baby boy.

“Hey, Johnny. Nice to meet you, son.”