Page 41 of Wolf's Midlife Baby

Pierce pulled some fresh vegetables from the fridge and began washing them. “Sounds like you’re going to have to go make one of these lovely ladies a grandma, Dad.”

Rick shook his head, waving off their comments, but he was smiling. “For your information, the only girl who has my heart is this little one right here. Isn’t that right, Ruby? Grandpa just wants to be here with his family. I want to spend my free time with you guys.”

Ruby gurgled happily at him.

“Exactly,” Rick agreed. “And as for the job, working as a regular firefighter instead of the chief is actually kind of like a partial retirement. I get to do all the fun stuff instead of sitting in the office, filling out paperwork and making schedules. There are times when I wonder if I did Hayden a disservice by leaving that burden to him.”

“No,” Pierce said as he brought the chopped veggies to the table. “I was just on the phone with him yesterday, and I almost couldn’t get him to talk about anything else. He’s always enjoyed being on the department, but this just might be the role he was destined for the whole time.”

Holly scooped the meat onto a platter and brought it to the table, smiling. Fate had brought her and Pierce together. Once they’d found a way to make their relationship work, everything else seemed to fall into place—not just for the two of them but for everyone else. Rick was invigorated by the salty air, the abundance of ways to spend his time, and the chance to care for Ruby. Hayden was no longer surrounded by his immediate family, but he’d stepped into his own as fire chief for the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department. The photo Holly had dug from the ashes of the Westbrook house now lived in a new frame on their mantel, a reminder of the past.

Even Dylan seemed to enjoy the new friendships he’d formed with Pierce and Rick, and she loved having him over more often. At least she knew he wasn’t dining alone while he waited for the chance to meet his mate. “Are you joining us, Dylan?”

“The way that smells, I don’t think I can say no.” He washed his hands and took a seat at the table.

As they all got settled, Ruby let out a loud squeal. The baby shook as dark fur burst out all over her skin. Her tiny baby fingers turned into long claws and she shook her head as her muzzle formed. She let out a shriek again, although it sounded much different now, coming from her bear form.

Rick laughed as he moved her around in his arms to help accommodate the baby’s new physique, and Ruby smacked her paws on the edge of the table. “I guess I’m not the only one you can’t take to the grocery store. She’s been doing that more and more often!”

“A perfect little cub,” Dylan said with admiration. “I’m impressed that she can do that so early and with so much ease. You won’t have to teach her how to shift at all.”

“Just that she can’t do it in public,” Pierce noted. “She’s got some very strong shifting genes in her.”

“She does.” Holly had been making a sandwich for Rick since his hands were full, but she stopped to admire her baby girl. Life had changed so much for her over the past year, and it was better than she ever could’ve imagined. Pierce’s job meant that he was often gone at odd hours, and her own job occasionally took her away from home to research an assignment. They couldn’t always be together as much as she would like, but they were truly making it work. When she’d visited Eugene, she knew there was a home she wanted desperately to come back to. Holly had even felt a bit selfish in telling Pierce she wouldn’t stay in Oregon with him, but now she knew it was all for a good reason. This home—the one they’d created there together—was exactly what she’d craved in life. She not only had family surrounding her and a wonderful mate at her side, but an adorable baby girl.

Ruby let out her funny little squeal again. It was usually a sign that she was going to shift back into being a human baby, but not this time. Her body changed, but not into pink cheeks and chubby little toes. Her ears went from round to pointed. The deep brown on her muzzle changed to gray, and her body grew more lean and lanky. Her claws shrank, and her next squeal came out as a yip.

“Whoa! That’s quite a tail there!” Rick exclaimed as he held onto the wolf pup.

Dylan dropped his fork. “I didn’t know she could do that!”

“Neither did we,” Holly admitted.

Pierce caught her eye from across the table. “I guess she’s just like her mother.”

She smiled at him and returned to her dinner, still in awe that such a young child would be capable of something like that. Pierce was right, though. Ruby was just like her. It was strange and magical to be both a wolf and a bear now that Pierce had marked her. She was still getting used to having two beasts inside her, but it was work she was willing to do.

When they’d finished dinner and cleared their plates, Dylan thanked them and headed back home. Holly saw him to the door, and when she turned back around, Pierce was watching her. “What?” she asked with a laugh.

“Well, the way Dad’s been talking about it, I thought maybe you and I should take a run on the beach.

“I’ll stay with Ruby,” Rick offered. The infant was already asleep in his arms as he rocked her in front of the television. “I can handle her no matter what kind of animal she wants to be.”

“Are you sure?” Holly asked.

“Go on,” he urged, shooing them toward the door. “Get out of here.”

Pierce took her hand as they stepped out the back door and ran down the sandy pathway to the beach. The Brigham clan owned most of the houses along this stretch of the Cape in Truro, meaning they didn’t have to worry about being seen.

As they reached the flat of the beach, Holly let out her wolf. She stumbled a bit on her long, gangly legs and balanced herself with her tail. She felt strong and mighty as a bear, but her wolf felt light and free.

That was much better, Pierce commended her as they trotted along, just on the edge of the surf. You’re getting good.

I’ll have to catch up with Ruby, she cracked, still amazed by what their little girl could do. She’s going to grow up to be something special.

She already is. Pierce slowed as they reached the dock. He turned onto it, walking out to the edge and sitting down. Just like you.

Holly joined him, inhaling the salty air and soaking in the very last rays of the sun just before it slipped past the horizon. She leaned against Pierce, enjoying the feeling of his fur against hers. Looking out over the ocean with her mate at her side, she never would’ve imagined experiencing all this when she’d gone to Eugene. It was an adventure she’d written about several times, but only in her private files.

It was the story of the century, but she wouldn’t share it with anyone.

THE END

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