Page 42 of Broken Wolf

“Mama!” he squealed, saying it crystal clear, not just baby blubber.

I dropped the box in my hands as my mind short-circuited at him saying his first word.

“We were working on it, but I made sure he waited for you,” Eva said proudly.

But Topher must have been concerned that something was wrong since I’d dropped the box because he pulled away from Eva. He’d been holding onto her as she was squatting down, but he’d been able to stand like that for a while now even if normally leaning on someone or holding onto something.

“Mama?” he repeated, his voice worried… As he toddled towards me.

“Holy shit,” someone whispered.

I had another reaction, whipping out my phone lightning fast and recording the second I had my passcode in. “Yeah, baby boy, it’s Mama,” I rasped. “You got this. I missed you too. I missed you so much.” I tried my best to blink back tears but failed miserably, shocked beyond words.

And a bit scared. He was way early to be walking. Even I knew that. He hadn’t even done any cruising yet, which was walking while holding onto a table or a wall.

Apparently, he was just skipping right to flying solo.

He made it another five steps before he went a little too fast and was about to go down. I easily caught him which made him squeal since he loved when we moved quick around him.

“Mama!” he said as he hugged me tightly.

“Yeah, Mama’s here, Tophie,” I rasped, giving Eva a look and mouthing, “Thank you.” I saw Maya recording from the corner of my kitchen, so clearly she’d known Eva had been pushing for Topher to talk. I glanced at her. “Did you get it all?”

“I did,” she whispered. “I swear he’s only babbled a bit with the syllables, understanding if he did more he should wait until you were here. But he has not even—no steps yet.”

“He was worried about his mother,” Eva praised. “That makes a good boy need to walk early.”

“Very early,” I whispered.

She shrugged easily. “Babies and children move at their own pace. There are other areas that he is slower in as you were. He has a lot of help and constant attention. He should be advanced.”

That was true and helped a lot.

I beamed at Topher. “Can you do it again? We should show your dads!” I sent him images of the walking and he nodded.

Unfortunately, only Dain and Hagan were around, Reagan and Brian at work, but we sent them the video. I felt bad that they missed his first time but… That was life.

I thanked Topher again and again, telling him it was the best welcome-home present ever. It soothed my soul somehow and was just perfect.

He wanted to do it again and again to make me happy, but I sent him images of pushing too hard and hurting himself.

“Slow and steady wins the race, buddy,” I reminded him. Then I sent him images on how to cruise and tried to convey when to stop. I didn’t know how to show him pain or soreness with images.

“He’s so your son giving all of himself to make everyone happy,” Dain muttered, shaking his head before plucking Topher off the floor. “Tomorrow, my son. You can do more tomorrow.” He kissed his forehead and seemed to get through to Topher with his magic somehow since he could show him things too. “Not everything has to be today.”

“He has my patience as well,” I drawled.

Meaning he had none.

We warned Reagan and Brian not to push and they could see after dinner since Topher wanted to do it all right away for everyone, and they seemed to accept that. Eva and I went to the pack lands after lunch when he napped and got our run in. It was too fucking hot but also pushed us. We took breaks and got water, worked on our wolves—it was exactly what I needed.

I was dead on my feet when we were done though. I was ready to crash early after a long cold shower.

But then I remembered she said something was planned with Carter and I had no idea what that was.

Fuck a duck.

12

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