Chapter 54: Chapter 26

DAMON

After eating, Natalie leads us to a nearby river that has a small platform, rope swing, rock slide, and inner tubes tied together to just lounge in. Finn dives right in then helps Bianca get settled into the first tube. Natalie, Kenna, Alana, and Kya all fill into the next tubes in the line.

Dec jumps off the rope swing with a back flip, Chase right behind him. It’s my turn and I’m not about to embarrass myself in front of my mate, so I just swing toward the water. I hold my breath then pop up between Natalie’s feet.

She laughs then reaches up to touch my beard. I hold her hand to my face, finally free to touch her. A low grumble escapes my chest and she laughs again. I kiss her palm then water covers my back and she cowers away with water down the front of her. I chase Finn through the water to get him back for splashing us.

I need to do something like this on the lake, families and teens are always hanging out there during the summer. I’ve already upgraded the hospital and pack house.

~“Natalie. I know it’s early, but do you want to come back with me or wait until you’re eighteen?”~

Her turquoise eyes catch mine. ~“I can’t wait that long. I’ll have to see what my parents say, but I’m ready to go ASAP. Watch out, Jason and Virgil are about to team up on you.”~

I turn around just in time to catch them trying to wrestle me under the water. They’re both pretty strong but Dec, Chase, and Finn join in. The sun begins to go down and I hold her waist as we all head back to the Mason’s house.

The doc and his wife pull me aside while everyone sits around the firepit. “Natalie is very important to us, but we understand the mate bond is sacred. She has already made her mind up. We ask that you wait until she’s ready before mating her. She wants to return with you and we are not going to stop her.”

I let out a breath of relief. “Thank you, Doc, Mrs. Mason. I have a bedroom set up just for her. I promise to take care of her.” They thank me and I sit beside my perfect mate and hold her hand in mine.

Bianca goes into labor just after sunset, after eating eight jalapeno poppers. The doc takes her and Finn to the hospital with Kya, Natalie, and Realta right behind them. Bianca said she wanted Kya to deliver her baby, looks like her wish is being granted. Since Natalie is gone, her friends take Kenna back to the pack house to hang out. Dec and Chase are beside me still at the fire pit.

“You neglected to tell me that Natalie is the daughter of a Starlight Sister.”

I shake my head. “It wasn’t my place to say. As her alpha, I was just looking out for her.” I smirk, throwing Dec’s words back in his face. He gives me a playful growl.

“She didn’t say anything either?”

He shakes his head no.

“Why didn’t you bring her back into your pack?”

“That was her doing. She said it didn’t feel right. You told me she’s your mate, so I didn’t press the issue.”

“Thanks, man. I would’ve lost it if it weren’t for her link.” I cross my ankle over my knee and actually relax for the first time since she left my territory. “Does Kya’s link feel different than the others in your pack?”

He nods. “Yeah. She’s like a beam of sunlight. You’ll see after you mate. It’s intense.” I lick my lip and wonder why her link is already so bright to me. Will it get even brighter once we do mate?

“So, what’s going to happen with my sister?” Chase asks before he pulls a drink from his beer.

I look to Dec then back to him. “She’s coming back to my pack. I have a room ready for her.”

They both nod then Dec speaks up. “So the Goddess blessed three of our pups.”

“Including my daughter Lacy,” Chase informs me.

I knit my brows. She told me she was going to bring the gifts back, but three in one pack, wow. “How did she bless them?”

“Nat said something about wind when she blessed my daughter, then fire when she blessed my nephew Ian,” Chase tells me.

“Who was the third?”

“One of the strays. Little Davey was blessed, but I don’t know with what,” Dec comments then finishes his beer.

“What color was it, the glow in her palm?”

“Green.”

“Green is Earth. Realta and Natalie have a link, you can bring the blessed ones over to learn to control their gifts. In the meantime, I brought back that tome. You’re going to want to study it. It’s in my jeep, I’ll go get it.”

Dec nods so I rush to my jeep. I’m back in no time and hand it over. He absently flips through the pages then closes it up again.

“Being the daughter of a Starlight Sister, I’m surprised that healing is all she picked up,” Dec voices. I don’t say anything and reach for my coke.

~“Hey, my mate. How is my sister doing?”~ I ask, grateful our link is still intact.

~“Perfectly fine. My mother wanted to make the baby come out immediately, but we informed her that it’s okay to labor. We did allow her to ease her pain though. Kya says she’s at a five which is pretty good for a first-time mom, but you might want to find a place to crash.”~

“Any news? Kya told me to let her concentrate,” Dec asks.

“She’s at a five. Natalie says it’s going to be a while.”

“Alana’s first labor was seventeen hours.”

“First?” Dec asks, my head snaps to Chase. His grin spreads across his face and we congratulate him.

“I’m going to take my pregnant mate and my daughter home, it’s getting late.” He reaches out to shake hands, then Dec stands.

“Come on. You can stay at my place.” We say our goodbyes to the remaining members of the party. Mrs. Mason gives me a big hug, then we leave. Dec puts me in the same room as usual. I check my link to my mate then say goodnight to her. I dream of my mate and sleep peacefully.

~“Damon. Your niece is here.”~ Natalie’s voice cuts through my dreams.

~“Damon. Get your ass up. Get my sister then come see my daughter.”~ Finn yells at me with so much excitement in his link, I can’t help but be excited also. I follow the link to Kenna. After a quick shower, I pick her up from the pack house then we head over to the hospital.

Natalie is in the process of removing her braid, combing her fingers through her hair when Kenna and I walk toward her. My mate’s turquoise eyes are so bright and beautiful. I run my fingers through her hair since I’ve been dying to since I first met her and it’s no longer creepy. She smiles up at me so I lean in to give her a gentle kiss.

~“Quit flirting and get in here to meet my daughter,”~ Finn tells me with a mental eye roll.

I chuckle then kiss Natalie’s forehead. “Where’s the baby?” I’m joined by Dec and Kenna as Natalie leads us to the room. Bianca is glowing. She looks so beautiful, even with her black wavy hair sticking to her forehead. She smiles up at me with a pink bundle in her arms. Kya is on the other side of the bed but greets Dec. Dr. Mason and Realta are already gone.

Finn is grinning from ear to ear as he places a kiss to Bianca’s head. He picks up the sleeping baby and places her in my arms. “Say hello to Aliyah Savannah Archer.”

I brush my finger against her soft little cheek. “I called our parents this morning. Mom and Pop are bringing your bags and car seat.” I enjoy my niece a little longer then pass her off to her aunt Kenna. “I have to get back to the pack.” I turn back to Natalie. “When can you come home?”

She bites her lip then looks to Kya. “I can catch a ride with Kenna and her parents, that way I have time to pack and say goodbyes. I already asked Finn about it.”

My heart sings with excitement that my mate is coming home. I give her, baby Aliyah, and B kisses. Ky gets a one-armed hug, Finn and Dec get handshakes. I pull Natalie back for one more kiss. “I’ll make sure your room is ready. Try not to stay away too long,” I tell her with her hands in mine and my forehead against hers. She nods then presses her lips to mine.