Page 75 of The Lycans: Vol Four

My little family.

Odhran came over and sank to the floor beside the bed, lifting a hand to stroke the back of my head, his gaze trained on our baby.

Our daughter.

She slept soundly in my arms, unaware of the chaos of the world, of danger and heartache and pain. And I always wanted to keep it that way. I never wanted her to know how bad life could be.

“Brisa,” Odhran murmured and leaned down to kiss the top of her tiny head. She had a shock of dark blond hair just like Odhran, but aside from that, she was all me. We couldn’t tell if her nymph or Lycan side would be dominant, or if she’d be like other hybrids where neither side fully came forth and took over.

“Are you sure you’re okay with the name?”

He glanced up at me and smiled.

“More than okay. It’s beautiful, just like her, just like you, and I’m sure just like the female of her namesake.” He kissed me softly on the lips and was gazing down at our baby again.

I held my arms out, and he took Brisa from me before settling on the leather chair by the bed. I relaxed against the pillow and smiled sleepily at my mate. Brisa was so tiny in his massive arms, and I could see a little bit of strain in his composure.

“I feel like I’m going tae drop her,” he whispered.

I couldn’t help but smile. “You won’t. You’re the most gentle male I’ve ever met.” He leaned down and ran the tip of his nose alongher little head, inhaling softly.

“She smells incredible, like light and warmth and sunlight.”

I knew exactly what he meant.

“Is it too soon tae tell ye I want a handful more just like her?”

I snorted but couldn’t help but feel pleasure at his words. “Me too.” He glanced at me and we held each other’s gazes for long seconds. “I love you.”

“My lass. I love ye so much it pains me in the best possible way.” He looked at Brisa again. “My girls. I’ll protect ye both with my life, with every ounce of my strength.”

I wiped away the stray tear that slipped down my cheek and nodded even though he wasn’t looking at me.

I lay there and just watched Odhran, listened to him start to hum that Gaelic song he’d sung to me when he was tending to me and letting me heal.

“I have something for you,” I said softly and Odhran looked up, a flicker of surprise on his face. I shifted slightly on the bed and held in my wince as my sore body protested. I tried to hide the reaction from Odhran as I knew he hated when I was hurt, even if right now it was unavoidable.

I reached into the drawer on the bedside table and pulled out the small white box before adjusting myself so my back was braced against the headboard. He slowly rose and made his way toward me, but not before he made sure Brisa was still snuggly swaddled. My heart softened at that sight.

When he was sitting on the edge of the bed beside me, I opened the box since his hands were full. The confusion on his face was instant before his gaze darted back up to meet mine.

“Yer necklace, darlin’?”

I stared at his thickly corded neck for a second before nodding and pulling the chain and anchor out and setting the box aside. “My sessions with Bronwyn are going really well, and we’ve been talking about so many things. I’ve felt so many things.” My heart started racing. “And after opening up to her, and to you, I knew what I wanted to do.”

He had this questioning look in his eyes before he glanced down at the necklace and realization filtered across his masculine features.

“It took me some time to really figure out the Internet so that I could buy a new chain, one that would fit your neck since we’d changed mine after you’d given it back to me. And then it took longer than I anticipated to actually get it here, but…” I licked my lips and glanced at my mate. “For so long I wore this necklace. It was the most special thing to me because it reminded me of my sister. But so much changed after everything. And then you held onto it like your own lifeline, your own anchor.”

His throat worked as he swallowed and I could see this almost discomfort settle around him. He always got this way when the past was brought up. But this was our life, who we were and how we’d gotten here.

And to be honest, I wouldn’t change any of it. Because we got that happily ever after, we got the love and the family and all the happiness we deserved because of what we went through.

“I want you to have this necklace, Odhran. I want you to wear it and keep me close to your heart like you did for all those decades.” He didn’t say anything but he didn’t have to. I could see so much emotion reflected in the depths of his blue eyes.

“Lass,” he said in a deep, strained voice.

I leaned forward and he came toward me so I could secure the necklace around his throat. I let my fingers rest on the anchor that hung over the center of his chest. “I’m always with you?—”

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