Winter

“Get up and let’s go out, you look bored,” Atti says as he walks into his lounge. He’s dressed more casual than usual, in jeans and a tight black shirt. I wouldn’t say I’m bored, I’m just seeing how many of my chocolate biscuits I can balance on Mags head as she sleeps on my lap in her glamour. I get to seven before Atti speaks and she moves her head. The biscuits fall to the ground as Mags looks up at me. She gets off my lap and walks out, pushing her body against Atti’s leg as she goes.

“I’m not bored, exactly,” I say and Atti just smiles as he comes over and pulls me up to his chest. He wraps his arms around me and gently leans down to press a simple kiss to my lips.

We disappear as he pulls away from the kiss and when I open my eyes I see that we are at the pack.

"Thought you might miss a broody fucker that lives here," Atti shrugs and I laugh.

"I hope she does," Jaxson says coming out the front door and walking over to me. Jaxson is just wearing jeans and a grey shirt, but he somehow manages to look every bit the dangerous and sexy wolfman I love. His hair is newly shaved at the sides; the top part is shorter letting me see his bright green eyes. Jaxson doesn't care that I am standing next to Atti, as his hand goes into my hair and his lips meet mine. I moan as the taste of him fills my senses; I underestimated how much I missed him.

"This is strangely turning me on," Atti says and I break away from Jaxson with a small smile.

"I really didn't need to know that, witch," Leigha says as she walks past us all. I can’t help the small laugh that escapes when Atti winks at me.

"Anna’s in labour, I was close to calling for you." Jaxson says and I lean back shocked.

"Me?" I ask nervously. Why the hell would she want me at the birth of her child?

"She wants you here," Jaxson confirms my worries.

"Okay, let’s go," I say, because I can’t say no when I hear a scream come from the house. Jaxson grabs my arm gently as I walk past.

"Esta is up there, she’s a midwife," he says and I nod.

"You’re my mate, we don't have to argue or hate each other anymore. It’s the past." I say. I can’t say I like her but she hasn’t actively tried to go after Jaxson for months. He told me she is mated with another wolf she met when the packs joined. She’s moved on and the past is the past. It’s not like I don’t have enough enemies as it is.

"You’re too nice, love," Atti says and I wink at him. I turn and walk into the house, leaving the guys to catch up. The two wolves at the door lower their heads when they see me and I look back to see my guys watching me as I open the wooden doors. They look so strong standing next to one another, Atti is slightly taller than Jaxson, but Jaxson is a little wider in his shoulders and arms. I close the door behind me and a scream directs my attention upstairs. I follow the noise until I find Anna's room. I knock before coming in and Anna is on her side in her large bed. There’s a wooden cot on one side, and a changing unit filled with things for the baby.

Esta stood at the side; her back going rigid when she senses me. She turns to stare at me, I don’t know why I feel threatened around her but I do. I don’t get it.

"Winter," Anna shouts and I look down to see myself going blue.

"Shit, sorry Anna, I can't control the glowing," I say. I didn’t even notice I was doing it.

"Come here," she says before she screams again. I run over and pull a chair close to her bed. I hold her hand, her other is holding her stomach.

"Here, wipe her face while I see what's going on," Esta holds a cold, wet hand towel to me and I nod as I take it. I do as Esta says and Anna rolls onto her back with Esta’s help. She checks her over.

"So close, I can see your boy’s head," Esta says and I give her a shocked look. She just looks at me like I'm an idiot.

"Push for me when you get the next contraction, Anna," She says and Anna squeezes my hand so tight as she screams. I don't dare move in the next few minutes until we hear a baby cry. I choke back tears as Esta passes a small baby wrapped in a white towel to Anna. 

"A girl," Esta says and I look in shock at the little one. Girls are so rare for wolves and this girl is a child of an alpha to boot. She has little a blonde hair on her head, and she opens her eyes. They’re blue, just like Fergus’s. Anna bursts into tears and I kiss her forehead.

"She looks just like her dad," I say and Anna nods watching her baby.

"Her name is Marie, after my mother. Her middle name is Winter after you. The queen that will give her a future," Anna says, she meets my eyes and I nod. It’s the first time I realise that I’m not just fighting for a future for me; I am fighting for a future for all of the children. If that’s not a reason to fight, then I don’t know what is.

"Thank you," I say and she goes back to staring at her little baby. 

"Why don't you go and tell everyone?" Esta says. It's not rude, but I know she has to clean up Anna.

"Okay. It's that alright?" I ask Anna and she nods. Still staring at her little one.

I walk out and down the stairs. Everyone is sitting in the lounge and Freddy runs up to me. 

"Is the baby okay? We heard a cry," Freddy says. 

"Yes, you have a new cousin. A girl called Marie Winter," I say and everyone starts clapping. Jaxson meets my eyes and his smile is so wide, I can't help but grin back. Wyatt nods at me, his gaze watching Freddy closely. It must be strange to talk of babies when he missed Freddy being that young.

Wyatt looks as hot as always, I notice his hair looks a mess, like he’s been running his fingers through it. I kind of like it, he’s a hot mess. He’s dressed in jeans and white shirt, so casual compared to what I’m used to seeing him in.

"The first girl born in two years for the packs. The first alpha girl in fifty years," Lucinda says coming into the room and she comes over to me. I give her a hug when Freddy moves away and she smiles.

"I’ll go and see if I can help," she says and walks up the stairs. Freddy pulls my hand and leads me to the sofa. 

"Wyatt, how are the vampires?" I ask him. 

"Stupid vampires," Freddy mutters under his breath and I glare at him. 

"Settling in at the castle. Others have been turning up but it's a slow build to get the place suitable for the people. Jaxson’s been helping us," he says and Jaxson nods.

“That’s good. I was wondering what all your last names are, what’s the baby’s?” I ask Jaxson.

“Jaxson Ulrika, but we don’t use last names often. The baby’s last name will be the same,” he tells me.

“I know Atti’s is Lynx, Wyatt?” I ask him.

“It’s simple, Wyatt Reynolds. Like Jaxson said we don’t use last names often.” He says.

“And Dabriel?”

“Dabriel Demetri. The royal name is as close as they can get to Demtra.” Atti says and I nod.

“Mine was Bloom. My real last name that is,” I tell them all. It’s weird because it’s a connection to a father I don’t remember. I don’t feel connected to the name, because I don’t feel connected to my father I guess.

“Winter Bloom. That’s kind of strange, like your full name is a representation of the cold month and the spring month in one. They’re opposites of each other.” Dabriel says.

“It sounds like a randomly generated name you would get on The Sims,” Freddy says and I grin at him,

“That’s true. They come up with some weird names,” I say.