“You tell me,” Austin said with a laugh, giving the baby his bottle back.
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Good. I wasn’t sure how Lexi felt about breast-feeding, but we obviously can’t do it while she’s in wolf form. Hell’s bells, eight nipples might traumatize the little guy.”
Denver snorted. “Or set up every woman in his life for failure.” He slurped up a noodle from his can of soup and dipped the spoon back in.
“That’s gross,” Jericho muttered.
Denver shoved a spoonful into his mouth. “You think adding water makes it gourmet?”
Austin had his legs bent and knees together, the baby placed between them so they were staring at each other.
“What are you going to name him?” Denver asked.
Jericho tossed a peanut at Denver’s head. “Leave the man alone. He’s got enough to worry about.”
“Shut it, dickhead,” Denver retorted. “You’re still mad about not getting first choice with Melody.”
Jericho’s eyebrow arched. “Isabelle didn’t come up with that name.”
Izzy struck him in the face with her pillow. “Quit telling lies.”
Denver laughed and stretched out across his sleeping bag at Austin’s feet. To the right, near the bathroom, Wheeler and Naya were lying on a fur blanket with her head in his lap. She was fast asleep, still recovering from both the injuries she’d sustained and the repeated shifting. Wheeler stroked her dark tresses, his head against the wall and his eyes shut.
The baby spit the bottle out, and Austin set it down, cradling the little guy in his arms. Damn, he felt so tiny, and it made Austin paranoid he might accidentally hurt him, so he handled him like he would an egg.
When the voices died down, he looked over his right shoulder at William. “Where’s Ben?”
Wheeler’s eyes popped open and remained fixed on the ceiling.
William lowered his voice. “His wolf fled after we shifted back.”
“You mean after Wheeler shifted back.”
While their wolves had reunited, the two brothers hadn’t made peace. Austin had always kept his doors open to Ben, but through the years, Ben wasn’t comfortable around the family since he couldn’t mend what was broken with his twin. They were both equally stubborn men, and neither had made an effort to resolve that conflict.
Trevor snored lightly against William’s right side, head resting on his shoulder.
“Think you can get used to that?” Austin asked. “You might have the right idea, staying in separate rooms.”
William quirked a brow. “I’ve been told I sing in my sleep, so I don’t know who’ll have it worse.”
Reno crouched down in front of Austin. “Mind if I hold him for a little while? You look like you could use a few winks yourself.”
Austin swaddled his son and placed him in Reno’s arms.
Reno stood up and pressed the baby to his chest. “Come see Uncle Reno,” he said, his voice gravelly. “I’ll tell you a story.”
Denver chortled. “I’m sure he’s dying to hear your stories about storming the beaches of Normandy.”
“Nah,” Reno said softly, cooing to the baby. “I’m just going to tell him all the cautionary tales of Denver the Dunderhead.”
He took a seat against the far wall beside April, who eagerly leaned against him to get a look.
Austin rubbed his face, uncertain of the time. To keep the baby immersed in darkness, they’d switched off the hall light and put night-lights in a few available sockets. It was nice. Cozy. He fed off that positive energy and allowed his packmates to support him for once. He’d spent years making sacrifices and tough decisions for his pack. That’s what a Packmaster did, and it was a selfless, thankless job.
His parents had gone in earlier to be with Lexi. After settling down in the hall, it didn’t take long before they’d fallen asleep on the other side of the game room entrance.
The bedroom door opened, and everyone looked up.
Maizy stepped out, her eyes puffy, and took a few steps to her right.
Denver stood up and pulled her in a tight embrace. “It’ll be all right, Peanut,” he said quietly. “Come lie down.”
William leaned forward. “Did she wake up?”
Maizy did a zombie walk to Denver’s blanket and sat down. “Her wolf let out a whimper when he last examined her, but she’s not awake.”
William patted Austin’s leg consolingly. “These are the moments that define who we are. Mustn’t worry about the things you can’t control, but the things you can.”
Edward peered through the open door and waved Austin in.
Austin rose up, his joints stiff, and stepped over a few blankets. Once inside, Edward closed the door and folded his arms.
“I’ve done everything I can do.”