Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“The pains come quick,” Raven said.
“Which means the bairn may arrive sooner than thought,” Wren said as Wolf walked past her to the bedchamber.
“Do you remember that day?” Raven asked, staring at his face, trying to recall the lad in him that had fascinated her all those years ago. “I do remember thinking how brilliant you were and how much you could teach me. But my da refused to ever take me back to Learmonth again since I had behaved so badly.”
“I do remember, though your name had slipped from my memory. I thought you so brave for one so young and how quickly you learned what I explained to you. I thought you quite amazing for a little lass and I do recall telling my grandfather about you and what he said to me.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me such a fearless, young lass would make a man a good wife. I believe he would be proud that that fearless lass was now my wife.” He kissed her just as another pain hit her.
Raven cringed, trying not to cry out as she buried her face in the crook of her husband’s neck.
“I hate seeing you in such pain,” he said, his insides twisting with worry.
She labored to speak as the pain rolled off. “If you don’t wish to see me in pain it would mean that we can no longer—” She laughed. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Thank the heavens,” Wolf said, laughing himself and placed her on the bed.
“I believe this bairn is going to come faster than we thought,” Wren said.
“I’m all for that,” Raven called out.
“I can stay with you,” Wolf said, sitting on the bed beside her and holding her hand.
“I appreciate that, but I assure you that I can do this.”
“I have no doubt you can, wife, and I will await the birth of our son or daughter with great anticipation.” He kissed her cheek and reluctantly left the room.
It wasn’t more than an hour later that Oria came running into the common room, her face flushed and her eyes wide with excitement.
“You have a son, Wolf. Give us a few moments and—”
“Wait! Wait!” a shout came from the bedchamber.
Worry robbed Oria’s excitement.
“What’s wrong?” Wolf demanded.
“Let me find out. I’ll be right back,” Oria said and rushed off.
Wolf paced, staring down the passageway to the bedchamber door, fighting to remain where he was. It did no good. He had to find out if Raven and his son were all right. He halted abruptly when Oria rushed out of the room toward him.
Her face was aglow with excitement. “Another bairn. Raven is birthing another bairn.”
“Twins?” Detta shouted.
“Aye, twins,” Oria confirmed and rushed off again.
“You look like you’re about to drop,” Arran said with a grin. “You should sit and pray it’s another son, since I don’t even think God can help you if you have a daughter like Raven. Or maybe you can teach her to climb like you did Raven.”
Wolf cringed at the thought and dropped down on the end of the bench.
“You do know we enjoy seeing you suffer, don’t you?” Royden asked with a laugh.
“At least we got some kind of revenge on you,” Arran said, his grin turning into a laugh.
Royden boomed with laughter. “A life lasting revenge with no chance of escape.”
“A daughter! You have a daughter!” Oria shouted as she rushed into the room and Royden and Arran laughed harder.
Wolf shook his head. “You should be in bed. You birthed two bairns only a few hours ago.”
“It was much easier than I thought once I got hold of the pain and battled it my way and pushed the two of them out as fast as I could,” she said and grinned, it turning soft when she looked down at the twin bairns sleeping in separate cradles. “They are beautiful.”
Wolf’s arm went around his wife to ease her back against him and looked with pride on his son and daughter. “That they are. You did a good job, Raven, though your brothers will attend no more births of ours.”
“They tormented you, didn’t they?” She didn’t wait for a response. “Now you know what I dealt with when young. Arran was the worse.” She grinned. “But you will be happy to know that Purity has some news for him. She is already with child again.”
Wolf laughed. “I hope it’s another daughter. He already intends to keep Margaret locked away from all men.”
“That’s because he thinks of his endless escapades with women, but I think Margaret already fancies a lad. Do you see the way her eyes light up and how she smiles and chuckles when Tait is around? If she’s anything like her aunt or her namesake, she knows full well the man she wants when she first meets him.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever stop shaking my head,” Wolf said. “Arran’s daughter and Brynjar’s son. He’ll never allow it.”