Page 32 of Sassy Embrace

“Stop thinking that way, Leigh,” she said, shaking her head. “Tristan and I have committed to peace and unity in this town. If there is more movement forward with wolves and vampiresbeing mated, then all the better. It’s an adjustment, but I have faith that our people will learn to understand. They will have to. Progress is going to happen whether they are on board or not."

The casual look on Barbara’s face gave Leigh some relief, her chest deflating slightly like a balloon. She was still uncertain about what would happen next, especially since Claude had altogether disappeared out of her life. But before she could mention the update to Barbara, her phone began to buzz.

“Sorry, honey, one second.”

Barbara answered the phone, listened, then her expression turned solemn. Leigh was instantly on high alert.

“Okay. I’m on my way now. I’ll call Tristan. Don’t wait.” She shoved her phone into her purse and stood. Leigh rose with her.

“That was Mason. Apparently Emma has gone into labor."

“Really?” Leigh said, glancing at the calendar that hung next to her desk. “Isn’t it early?"

Barbara nodded apprehensively.

“Quite early. I’m going to head over there now. I’ll have to call Tristan, too, he's out of town. Sorry to have to leave so quickly.”

Leigh felt renewed and picked up the coffee cups and pastries from the table.

“Do you want some company?” she asked, smiling.

Leigh quickly changed and dabbed on some deodorant before heading out to Barbara’s car. They drove as fast as they could out to the Central Pack hospital where Emma was having her baby.

The gray skies had finally parted to reveal a glistening sun, and it felt warm and reassuring on Leigh’s skin. She wasn’t thinking in the past or future anymore. She was genuinely excited to meet the next generation of Wolfes. There was an ounce of concern in Barbara’s voice for both Emma and thebaby’s well-being, but they were reassured by their robust genetics.

Claude was never far from Leigh’s mind. She found that, ever since she met him, he haunted her. His scent, housed in some distant, hidden room of her mind, his touch, his animalistic growls…

“Let’s wait here and not crowd her too much.”

Emma was still in labor when they arrived at the hospital, and they decided to give Mason and the new momma their space. They were rounding the corner to the waiting room when a scent smacked Leigh as hard as a slap.

It was that intriguing blend of marble and dusty roses.

Leigh nearly crashed directly into the man of whom her thoughts could not stop dancing back to. Claude.

“Oh,” she said.

Claude stood there, wide-eyed, as Barbara grinned ear to ear.

“Well, it's nice to meet you, Claude."

SIXTEEN

CLAUDE

Claude’s heart began to gallop just before he ran into Leigh. That wildflower, flirting fragrance tickled his skin, and the sight of her astoundingly radiant hair, maroon lips, and gold-flecked hazel eyes, stopped him until he turned into a statue.

“Oh."

He barely heard the woman standing next to Leigh introduce herself. Leigh was grinning, her eyes sparkling.

“Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat. “I must have been moving too quickly around the corner. My sincerest apologies."

He bowed his head, and the woman, who was humming with an invisible kind of wisdom that only supernaturals could detect, presented her outstretched hand to him. He took it and was surprised by her grip.

“My name is Barbara Wolfe. My husband is Tristan Wolfe of the Wolfe family. I hear that you and Leigh have been working together to open up Embraced?”

Claude felt the kindness in her eyes as he shook her hand, as well as a deep knowing. Knowing of something between him and Leigh.

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