Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Finding out he was going to be a father was the best and most terrifying experience of his life. He wanted to be a great dad, but didn’t know if he’d be able.
Kelly had been in the town square about three months ago, when he was close to having a panic attack. She had told him she felt he was going to be an amazing dad, because even in the short time of him being back, his presence had become well-known, and for all the right reasons.
There had been multiple new transitions, and he’d asked his dad if he could go and visit every newly transitioned wolf and talk to them.
And he realized that even though his father was a great alpha, which he was, Joe knew this was just as important. He took care of the new transitions so they knew and understood that every wolf went through the pain and the fear, and it was nothing to worry about.
He’d also enlisted Andrew’s help as well.
Joe also talked to his dad about his worries, and William had told him that the best way to be a good dad was to simply show up, to listen, to care. That was all he needed to do. Everything after that would fall into place.
And so, in nine months, he’d become part of the pack, found his mate, moved in with her, and was about to become a dad.
He’d wanted to be with Darcy, but she had told him to get out. She couldn’t give birth to their child if he was threatening everyone that moved or breathed, because he couldn’t stand to see her in pain. He had no choice but to give them all space, which was the last thing he wanted to do.
“Are you okay?” Wade asked.
His friends were there, as were Andrew and William. His mother and Kelly were inside the room with Darcy. As Joe saw her in pain, his father had to physically take him out of the room for them to care for his wife.
Yes, Darcy had also agreed to marry him as well, which was just insane to him. Not only was he a married man, he was mated and about to be a father.
“No, I’m not okay. I should be in there.”
“I know, son, but you couldn’t handle it.”
“How can anyone handle seeing their mate in that much pain?” he growled, and still he paced.
Ryan stayed silent.
Both of his best friends had also found their mates—visiting wolves, who had been passing through. The moment they had all seen each other, it had been bliss. At least, that was what his friends told him. Once they had mated, both Ryan and Wade had apologized to both him and Darcy for what they had said. They understood what it meant to protect their mates.
There was a scream from inside and Joe tensed up, ready to go and hurt whoever was causing his mate pain.
Then … he heard it—the wail of a newborn baby. His baby.
This time, no one tried to stop him as he charged inside his parents’ house and started to make his way upstairs. He felt like a man possessed. He only had one goal and that was to get to his woman. He needed to see her.
Bursting through the door, he didn’t know what to expect, but seeing his wife, his love, the woman that belonged to him, holding their newborn baby, looking exhausted and smiling at the same time, was a beautiful sight.
“We have a son,” Darcy said.
He went straight to her, and before he even looked at his child, he cupped her face and kissed her passionately.
“I don’t want to go through that again,” he said.
“We’ll see.” She had that know-it-all smile that charmed him. “Look at our son, Joe.”
He wanted to kiss his wife again, but he knew his mother and Kelly were watching, so he turned to look at his son. His beautiful boy.
One look, and Joe knew he would do everything in his power to protect and guide this young man.
“Darcy, look what you did,” Joe said.
“Look what we did,” she said. “He’s so beautiful. Do you want to hold him?”
“He’s so tiny. What if I hurt him?”
“You won’t hurt him.”
Darcy held their son toward him, supporting his head, which she advised he do.
Joe held his son within his palms, and he wasn’t much bigger than his two hands. His son wriggled, shoving his fist against his mouth, and looking absolutely perfect.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
He looked toward Darcy, and he moved beside her on the bed.
“Your father would like to come and see,” his mother said.
“Would it be okay if my dad, Wade, and Ryan came in?” he asked, looking at his wife.
“Yes, of course.”
Joe pulled his son close to his chest and then cupped her cheek. “You’re amazing.”