Page 3 of Ascendant Moon
For stick-built houses, framing inspections didn’t usually take very long, and the inspector was a guy about Micah’s age who was known to be both fair and fast. He followed the man through the structure as he made various notes and praised the quality of their work. Silently, Micah urged him to move faster so he could move on the next worksite—this one forty minutes closer to home. Somewhere around the halfway mark, Micah’s phone rang, and he stepped aside to answer it. The call was from Donna, and he skipped the pleasantries.
“What’s going on? Is Erin all right?”
Donna growled at the other end of the line.
“Labor started a few minutes ago and it’s moving faster than usual. I estimate you have about seventy minutes, tops, before the pup arrives. We’re on packlands at the infirmary.”
“Got it! On my way!”
Micah called for his assistant supervisor, a human fellow named Arty, and explained why he had to leave. The inspector agreed to finish without him, and Micah rushed to his pickup, jumped on Highway 2, and raced for home.
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Shortly after, at the Cooks packlands
Deputy Sheriff, Lou Harmon, pulled his cruiser off at the Cooks Exit and parked outside their newest enterprise. The pack had expanded their operations once again by adding theSnackStop—a place for motorists to stretch their legs, grab a snack or drink, and use the restroom before continuing their journey. It was a shrewd business move having the Roadside Market and Wood Creations just a few steps away, tempting visitors to make additional purchases while taking a travel break.
This was his first visit since it opened, and he liked the thought of supporting a shifter business while enjoying a leisurely lunch at one of the shaded picnic tables. Besides, he should be able to give Ben a report on how Rudy Stark was settling in with his new mate. The young shifter had recently stayed at Gladstone while applying for a job at the Dewdrop, but ended up meeting his mate when the Cooks pack arrived for movie night. Following their mating week, Rudy moved to Cooks and began working at theSnackStop.
Stepping out of the patrol car, Lou was the epitome of a law enforcement officer, not to mention an outstanding candidate for sheriff. Human customers in the parking lot, especially the ladies, did double-takes, watching as he made his way to the building. The door pinged when he opened it, and the delicious aroma almost made him growl. He slipped off his sunglasses and approached the counter, where Rudy was finishing up with a human customer.
“Welcome! What can I get for you today? Wait… don’t I know you from Gladstone?”
Lou nodded.
“Lou Harmon. It’s good to see you again, Rudy. How is life at Cooks?”
Rudy’s eyes opened wide.
“Deputy Harmon. Right! I love it here, and you can tell Ben that Cliff and I are doing great. May I get something for you?”
Lou ordered a couple of roast beef sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a tall cup of iced tea to go. While he waited, his phone chimed with a text from Donna.
>Erin in active labor. Micah on his way. Come if you can.
Damn! He’d so wanted to be there, not only for Erin, but to get an idea what it would be like for him when Donna delivered in September. Lou paid for his food and promised to deliver Rudy’s message to Ben. He’d nearly reached his vehicle when a mud-spattered pickup truck roared past theSnackStop, traveling well over the limit. He jumped in the patrol car, flipped on the lights, and went after the asshat with the siren wailing.
It didn’t take long to catch up to the familiar-looking vehicle and the scent coming from the driver. It was Micah! Lou swerved into the other lane and pulled alongside to get his attention. Once Micah saw who it was, Lou used hand signals to indicate that he should follow the cruiser to Gladstone. Lou took his place ahead of the pickup and got them to packlands in record time—illegally of course, but no one would bother questioning a deputy sheriff doing his duty.
The main gate and narrow entry lane slowed them down, but they arrived at the parking lot in a cloud of gravel dust. Startled packmates directed the men towards the infirmary as soon as the duo exited their vehicles. Micah took off running and Lou followed while placing a call to request a longer lunch hour. It was granted, and he found the couple in room three with Donna attending and both pack Omegas there to keep everyone calm. As this was Evie’s first labor and delivery, Jonah held her on hislap, quietly answering questions as they waited for the baby to arrive.
Between contractions, Lou approached to kiss his mate and ask Erin if she wanted him to wait outside. She smiled and shook her head.
“No. Please stay. I want the baby to know your scent right from the start—Grandpa.”
Everyone chuckled at the family joke, since they all knew that Lou and Donna would almost be another set of parents for Erin and Micah’s pups, and vice versa for their children. Lou nodded and went to stand behind Jonah and Evie; out of the way, but able to share in the mysterious process of childbirth—a subject he knew nothing about.
With a strong Omega scent in the air, Micah calmly focused on his mate through the uncomfortable contractions. He’d been told that in human form, shifter females delivered faster, easier, and with much less pain. Though they’d cut it close, he and Lou had arrived just in time to witness the final minutes of labor and delivery. Donna checked her draped patient and made the announcement they’d been waiting for.
“Erin, I need you to push for me during the next few contractions. The baby’s almost here, and then this will all be over.”
On the third strong contraction, Donna encouraged her to push hard. That’s all it took, and their little girl made her grand entrance into the world with a startled squall. Donna performed a cursory examination and cleaning before laying the child on Erin’s warm belly. With a low, rumbling growl, Micah kissed Erin’s forehead and then leaned over to scent his daughter.
Enraptured, Evie simply couldn’t wait another moment to ask the all-important question.
“What’s her name?”
Erin grinned at the sweet Omega.
