Page 126 of Vegas Baby!

“A girl?” Her sobs cranked up in volume and we all did our best to comfort her while Micah got us to the hospital.

Janessa and her team collected Ava and our daughter out of the vehicle, transferring her to a gurney to head straight into labor and delivery. Within an hour Ava was resting, tucked into the hospital bed and leaning against Bryce. The placenta had been delivered, the cord cut, both mom and baby cleaned up and checked over, and a first feeding attempted.

“How badly did they spook you?” Janessa asked when she sidled up to me while I watched Ava sleep, holding our daughter in my arms.

“I think a few hairs went gray,” I whispered, afraid to wake either of them.

“She’s gorgeous. Looks just like her mama.” Janessa peered down at the baby, who was sleeping peacefully. “Any names picked out?”

“Not a one. Ava will pick something when she wakes up.”

My omega stirred, blinking at me with a soft smile. “Baby on the outside?”

“Mhmm. You did amazing.”

Ava held out her arms and I settled our daughter into them.

“Want to try feeding again?” Janessa asked.

My omega nodded and put the baby to her breast, cooing down at her. “How the heck did all of you fit in my tummy? You’re so little and so giant at the same time.”

Bryce kissed the top of her head, keeping steady arms around her. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired. Hungry. Where are Luke and Micah?”

“They’re doing a quick check of the pack house and putting away the grocery order. They’ll be back soon. Any treat requests?” Jesse asked.

“Chocolate milkshake?”

“I’ll make sure they grab one on the way over. Anything else you need right now?”

Ava shook her head. “Nope. Just you.”

Just me. If someone told me I wasn’t the luckiest alpha alive right now, I’d have to call them a liar.

“She’s here if you’re ready to meet her,” Jesse told me.

“I don’t think I caneverbe ready to meet Charlotte, but I can’t delay it forever.”

“I assume you want to talk to her without her children first?”

I needed to let her handle how much she wanted the kids to know. “Yeah, I think so. Assuming she’s comfortable letting you guys watch them.”

“I’ll go talk to her. Also, try to keep your face neutral when you see what she looks like.”

Well, that wasn’t ominous at all.

I picked nervously at the blankets while Jesse stepped outside to get everyone organized. I’d been hoping that we’d have had some quiet time before the baby arrived so I could explain the situation to her. It felt so much worse for her to be here at the hospital thinking that she was going to leave with my baby.

The door opened again and I stared at whom I could only assume was Charlotte, but she looked so much like me I was getting uncanny valley vibes. We stared at each other for a moment and I’d have given anything to be inside her head right now. Holy shit. Practically the only difference I could see between us was that she had a light sprinkling of gray strands among her blonde, and some crow’s feet around her eyes.

What the fuck? Had Andrew just picked me because I looked like a young version of his wife?

“Hello, Ava. I’m so glad to finally meet you in person.” Charlotte broke the silence, looking just as nervous as I felt, her fingers laced together, thumbs sweeping anxiously like she was trying to self-soothe. “I wasn’t expecting us to look so much alike. Is it selfish of me to be glad that the baby will probably have some of my features?”

“Charlotte, we need to talk.”

Her face fell. “Are you keeping the baby? You changed your mind?”

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