Ella
Cora comes early the day that the festivities begin – if they can be called that. Because while the atmosphere is supposed to be festive, I know that simmering beneath it is a great deal of political tension that my mate is hoping goes just precisely right.
I throw my arms around my sister the moment I open the door to my bedroom, letting her in. “Thank you thank you thank you!” I cry out, the words all mushing together as one.
“Whoa!” Cora says, catching me and laughing, giving me a hug in return. ” It’s fine, Ella – honestly, where else would I be on a day like this?”
“I don’t know, sleeping?” I say, looking at her with wide eyes. “Its 4 am!”
“True,” she says, giving a little shrug and grinning at me. But then she slips a hand to her belly. “Not like I wasn’t up anyway, though.”
“What?” I gasp, tugging her into the room. Cora is about two full months pregnant now, which isn’t much according to a human pregnancy, but if this is a wolf pregnancy? Then she’s probably just getting into her second trimester.
But…is this her second trimester? With a hybrid baby…
She laughs at me, watching me try to do the math in my head as I stare down at her belly, which is juuuust barely starting to swell.
Which is so, so cute
“Yeah,” she says, giving a little shrug. “The morning sickness is starting to hit hard. I got away with it in my first trimester but,” she sighs. “It mostly hits at night for me too. So, I was already up.”
“Poor sister,” I murmur, looking up into her face and meaning every word of it. I reach for her then, wanting to put a hand on her cheek, but she laughs and pushes it away, which makes me laugh as well. Cora isn’t one for coddling or pity.
“What can I get you?” I ask, the smile returning to my face. “I’ve heard ginger tea does good things?”
firmly. “That will
I’ve got,” I say, grabbing her
steps inside because even though it’s 4 am? It’s already chaos – clothes and supplies
turning and grinning at her as he stands at the mirror, tying his tie for the fourth time. He wants to get it absolutely, perfectly
poufy arm chair next to Rafe’s littleplay pen, smiling down at him and patting his head to say hello. “He is lazy, and wanted more sleep. He says he’ll be here at the more reasonable hour of
and reaching
Cora murmurs, accepting the little cup of tea that I
fine,” I say with a sigh. “Boys are lucky – they have so much less to do on
tea, grinning when she detects that I’ve given her
out, tossing his phone back onto a side table after he finishes texting Roger and turning
both flatter,” I murmur, giving them both a pleased little glare and flapping my hands at them. “But we’ve got appointments, Cora – hair, nails, the works. It’s going
of looking forward to it,” she says, giving me a smile. “I haven’t been pampered like this in a long time. Plus,
the bride,” I say, turning and giving her a grin. “You’re
eyes, “I’m supposed to steal the show. But
say, pointing to the man who is going to be you know crowned
Sinclair says, coming my side and tugging me close, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I smile when I note that his tie is indeed
very cute,” I say, likewise turning my eyes to the baby, who burbles in the playpen, swatting at some toys hanging
looking at him with parents’ eyes. I’m sure people will be
little dresser where we keep Rafe’s things, but before I can pull anything out another knock
Sinclair murmurs, moving away from me to answer
we’ll ever be!” I sigh, turning to give Cora a wink. “Let’s
Vanara as soon as he mounts the four short steps up to the dais on which Sinclair and I stand, greeting
his arms and giving
his voice low and pleased. “It is such a joy to see you we were all so
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