Page 80 of The Dire Legacy

THE END

Epilogue

Michael

“Come on, baby. Push for me.” I’m so fucking proud of her as her face reddens with the strain.

I can’t stop kissing her sweaty forehead and brushing the long strands of dark hair from her face.

“Mikey. Just cut off my arm, please?” She grunts through another contraction, her belly rippling with movement as she grips her knees higher to her chest.

“Connor? Get your momma another damp rag, please?” I don’t want to leave her when she’s so close. “Baby, you know that me chopping your limbs off is only for special occasions?”

Her teeth grit as she bears down. “It would feel better than this!”

I can feel my ears flip at the approaching footsteps.

“Here, Dad. What else can I do?” His dark hair flops over his worried looking brows as he looks back and forth between Hope and I.

It won’t be long before he’s as tall as me.

“Nothing, son. Keep an eye on your siblings for me. You know how Cole likes to run off with the puppies when no one’s watching.” No one told me how hard it is to wrangle five kids. Soon to be six. The first one was the best surprise we could ever have. We thought our lives were complete once Connor came along, both of us loving him fiercely. Having fought and killed for him, he’s a part of us that no one will ever take away.

Learning we could have our own brought a level of joy that I never knew existed. But, being who we are has brought its own worries.

Especially when they’re raised in the woods with a pack of wolves.

“I guess you don’t want to hear how Sophie just took off on the back of one of Lucky’s pups.” His toe drags across the floor of the small cabin we’re staying in.

The forests have become our home, but a firm roof for times like these are nice.

Hope grunts through another hard contraction and a head appears between her legs.

“That’s my good girl. Just one more hard push.” I feel like we’re getting practiced at this.

In what seems like another life, I remember teasing Angie about Sam and Dani having so many children. Now, I can fully understand why they do.

A purple faced baby boy bursts into the world, his cries filling the bedroom.

Connor’s face breaks into a big grin. “Yay! We’re even again!Three boys, three girls!” He dashes out the door, I’m sure to tell the rest of the kids.

Pulling the squalling infant up to Hope’s swollen breast, I spoon my body around her and our newest addition.

He settles quickly as she pushes one of her leaking nipples into his searching mouth.

My thumb traces his soft cheek. I’m glad to see no reaction. All of our children are immune to the toxins in my body. Three of them even have some spice of their own.

“Does he sting?” My hand makes slow circles on her quivering belly, massaging her until her body heals.

“A little. He’s beautiful. Looks just like you, complete with pointy ears.” Her emerald eyes look up to me, full of love and tears. “I want more.”

“Anything for you, baby.”

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