New Blood

Chapter 1

“Where is she?” Logan panted as he burst into the hospital.

His sudden arrival and outburst startled everyone and resulted in a nurse giving a shriek as she jumped and tossed the contents of the tray she was carrying into the air.

“Sorry,” Logan said. “Do you know where Gabby Emery is?”

“She’s in the maternity ward, you goober,” Ben chuckled as he collected his cousin and began to escort him to the ward. “She is in the room right beside Darla’s.”

“Why do they all go into labor at the same time and now of all times. I’m trying to figure out what to do about a business proposition, and I'm completely lost on it. Not to mention the rapidly approaching transition of power from Dad to Everly and me,” Logan complained as Ben led him to where their mates would soon be giving birth.

Ben laughed, “The last time I checked, Gabby wasn’t able to make this baby by herself. Remember that. If you go into her room and start complaining about how her giving birth to your child is an inconvenience to you, she has permission to hit you with fireballs like she did the first time you met.”

“I get it, and I won’t. I’m just nervous and scared. It happened the last time, too,” Logan sighed as they reached the ward. “I thought it would be better this time since we already have the twins.”

“Is it?”

Loagan sighed, “No. It’s even worse this time.”

Mica, the charge nurse, called to Ben and Logan as they neared the nurses’ station. “Officially, Gabby is in room one and Darla is in room two, but right now, they are both in room one. They are both doing well and waiting for their respective mates to arrive.”

“That reminds me, why was the waiting room so empty? It’s always packed when a new baby is about to come into the world,” Logan questioned.

“They are all on their way. I brought Darla on the first twinge of labor because I know sometimes babies get in a hurry. Gabby is still in the early stages, too, so it might be a while before we meet the babies,” Ben said as he pointed to door one. “Let’s see our mates.”

Logan nodded as Ben knocked on the door before pushing it open for Logan to enter first. They found Gabby and Darla sitting together on the sofa. The women were heavily pregnant and unconsciously rubbing their swollen bellies. With this being Gabby’s second pregnancy and third child, she was calm and knew what to expect. This was Darla’s first baby, and she and Ben were over the moon. Being in the room with Gabby helped her to remain calm and let things progress at their own speed.

“How are my girls doing?” Ben asked as he kissed Darla chastely before he sat on the arm of the sofa.

“We are perfect,” Darla said, returning his kiss. “Our little one is taking her time. I think she is shy about meeting everyone.”

“Maybe she knows what our family is like and that Kevin and Glammy Elise will be pupnapping her every chance they get for wolf pup snuggles,” Logan teased.

“You joke, but you might not be far off,” Ben said as he placed his hand on Darla’s belly and let his fairy magic explore.

Darla wrinkled her nose as the baby kicked, and she was hit with a mild contraction. “I don’t think she likes you spying on her like that.”

“I’m not spying. My fairy magic lets me see what is wrong with someone and heal them. I was just confirming that nothing is wrong and that you and our baby are fine,” Ben assured her.

“If anything were wrong, Frost would know and tell me. Right now she is rolling around in my head, nearly purring with contentment as we wait to meet our daughter,” Darla said as she took Ben’s hand. “We are all doing well and waiting patiently.” Darla glanced at Logan and added, “Nearly all of us. Logan’s not doing so well.”

Logan sat on the other sofa arm, put his arms around Gabby, and admitted, “You’re patient, but I’m not, and neither is my wolf. Amos is in my head, whining and asking when he gets to meet our new baby. I can’t believe we said we didn’t want to know if we are having a boy or a girl. I know we picked three names for each to be safe, but I'm climbing the walls not knowing.”

“Logan, maybe you should ask my Grammy for something to help you calm down a little,” Darla suggested. “Or maybe something from Freya or Junie.”

“Oh no! That is not going to happen. I might ask Junie, but after what happened to me when Freya and Aggie gave me their special calming tea, I refuse to touch anything from them to calm my nerves,” Logan said, shaking his head furiously, with wide eyes.

“Then ask Aunt Junie,” Gabby said as she patted Logan’s chest. “She might appreciate what happened with Freya and Aggie, but she wouldn’t do anything to you. Why don’t you let Ben text her and ask for a potion to help you calm down?”

Logan nodded and said, “Yeah, OK. If nothing else, it might help Amos calm down so he will stop whining and I can get rid of this headache.”

As Ben pulled his phone from his pocket, a knock sounded at the door. Before anyone could respond, Darla’s mother, Emma, came into the room. She looked hurried and frazzled as she stood before them, out of breath.

“Mom, what on Earth is wrong?” Darla asked, alarmed at her mother’s appearance.

“Your Dad and I just brought Damian and Veronica to the hospital. Roni’s in labor, and so is Murial. While we were at the pack house picking them up, Murial doubled over and her water broke. Your dad is helping to get them checked in since Damian is more than a little excited and Jason can barely form words,” Emma explained with a giggle.

“I get that the fairy magic likes to play games, but this is ridiculous. Roni doesn’t have any fairy magic, not even shared with her from her mate, neither does Murial,” Logan sighed. “The little witch magic Roni carries wouldn’t do this, would it?”

“It is due to them always being near people with fairy magic,” Ben said, shaking his head as he typed on his phone. “Kieran gave Gwen fairy magic. Keiran had breakfast with his family in the pack house dining room. Gwen and the kids have most of their other meals there too, and Gwen always sits close to Roni, Murial, and Angelica. Plus, those four hang out together. At this point, I would have been more surprised if Murial had not gone into labor today. My guess is that Angelica will be having her baby today, even though she isn’t due for another two weeks. That is why I am asking Aunt Junie to bring several doses of whatever potion she has to help calm the frayed nerves of the new fathers.”

“Oh goodness,” Emma said as she rubbed her forehead. “This round is going to be like the last one. I will call Lucy, Donna, and Arianna and see what they can come up with. There will be an army camped out in the waiting room, especially if it will be a while before the two of you deliver.”

“Sorry, Mom. It will be a while for the two of us,” Darla smiled as she rubbed her belly. “Your granddaughter is in no hurry.”

“Neither is our baby,” Gabby shrugged. “Dr. Clark examined us and said we are doing fine, but progressing slowly, which he appreciates. Since we came in, Dr. Clark is calling in the cavalry, which seems like a good idea after hearing that others are going into labor too.”

Emma’s face fell, and her eyes widened as she remembered, “Oh, I need to tell my mother.”

A bright flash of light filled the room, and Aggie said, “No, you don’t.” The group blinked to clear their vision and see Aggie standing in the center of the room. “I already know.” Aggie grinned as she hugged Darla and Ben. “I could feel it in my bones. Today is the day I get to meet my great-grandchildren.”

“Then you know that Damian is here with Veronica?” Emma asked with a smile.

“Yes, and I know how upset Damian and Logan are,” Aggie tisked as she shook her head at Logan. “Why don’t I pop home and mix up a potion for you and Damian? I’m sure your mates would appreciate it if you were a tad bit calmer.”

“Thanks, Aggie, but I will pass. Every time I hear you mention a position to calm down, I relive the first and last time I drank something you gave me,” Logan said with a shudder.

Aggie laughed, “That only happened because you didn’t listen to us. We told you to sip the tea. You gulped it down, and it knocked you for a loop.”

“I was completely unconscious for several hours and hungover when I woke up. That is more than being knocked for a loop,” Logan grinned.

Ben chuckled, “Don’t worry, Aggie. I messaged Aunt Junie and asked her to bring something to help out the expectant fathers. She and Robert will be here any second to help with the sudden influx of maternity patients.”

“Bless her soul,” Aggie laughed. “Since things are under control here, I’ll go check on Damian and Roni. Drake should be along soon. If he bothers you, send him to the waiting room to wait with the rest of the family. I offered to teleport him, but he wanted to walk and reminisce about the family before meeting the newest members.”

“Thanks, Mom. We’ll send Dad to the waiting room if he gets nervous,” Emma assured her.

Aggie gave everyone another hug before she scurried out of the room, her bare feet silent on the tile floor. Years ago, when Drake and Aggie discovered they were mates while Drake was on a business trip, the residents had questioned their union. While there were a few human mates to dragons in Obsidian, there were no witches. That made everyone weary of what Aggie might be like. It had not taken the community long to fall in love with Aggie. Her eccentric ways and her many potions and spells had helped countless citizens, and they were all thankful that she had joined them.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but your grandma is weird,” Logan said to Darla. “I love her to death, but she’s weird.”

Darla laughed, “How could I take that wrong when every word is true. Grammy is weird, but would you want her any other way?”

“Nope,” Logan replied as he kissed Gabby’s head. “Besides, it might be nice to have someone in the clan who can turn someone into a frog.”

“She turns them into toads, not frogs. She’s only done that a few times, including Damian at least once,” Darla explained. “Besides, that spell wears off in a few minutes, so it isn’t like they are toads forever.”

“Bummer. If Aggie figures out a way to turn someone into a frog and make it stick, it might be a good punishment, and it would take up a lot less room than a prison. We could just build a pond and throw all the bad guys in it as frogs,” Logan said as he stared off, thinking about his idea.

Ben sighed, “Logan, you are my cousin, and I love you. But there are times when I wonder if Uncle Tyson putting you in charge of the Obsidian Clan is a good idea.”

“When you think about it, the idea does have some merits,” Gabby defended Logan. “I mean, the severity of the crime would determine how long they are sentenced to be frogs. If it is minor, maybe a day or two, and if it is serious, they could be sentenced to life as a frog.”

Emma laughed, “Oh, you two are a perfect match. Since everything is going well in here, I will check the other rooms and see how everyone is. Darla, if I’m not back when it’s time, let me know when you’re close. I won’t be in the room, but I will be right outside.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Darla said as Emma hugged her. “We will let you know, but it will be a while. I have only had a few light contractions since I arrived. It might be tonight before we get to meet her.”

“I will wait as long as she wants to make us wait,” Emma said as she laid a hand on her daughter’s round belly. “She is going to be special. I can already feel it.”

“So can I,” Rebecca said as she pushed the door open and held it for Emma to leave. Rebecca entered wearing navy blue hospital scrubs, the color used to identify the emergency room staff. “I would have been here sooner, but this morning’s rugby game got a little rough. We were setting bones left and right in the emergency room all day. Thankfully, all of them were dragons or werewolves, so they will be healed within twenty-four hours or less.” She smiled at Darla and Gabby and asked, “How are you doing, ladies? Dr. Clark said you are both progressing slowly.”

“We are doing perfectly,” Gabby replied as she shifted a little. “Some minor contractions, but nothing too serious yet.”

“Well, the family has already started gathering in the waiting room. Lucy and Callum brought the first batch of food over and set up the tables. Donna has the packhouse kitchen working overtime to make enough to fill the packhouse buffets and bring some here. Arianna has fired up Julian and Jonah’s kitchen and is cooking up a storm. Don’t worry about how long it takes to have these babies. What matters is that they are healthy and coming into a family who already adores them,” Rebecca grinned. Her eyes glazed briefly as she mind linked with someone. When they cleared, she smiled and said, “Dr. Clark has asked me to check your progress. He and Robert are busy with Murial and Roni.”

Darla grinned, “Ben, why don’t you take Logan out to the waiting room to check in with his mom and dad?”

“Good idea,” Ben agreed. “Would you like a plate to snack on while we wait for our little girl?”

“Please,” Darla smiled as she batted her eyelashes at him.

“I love you. We’ll be back in a few minutes,” Ben said as he kissed her head. Ben grabbed Logan’s arm and pulled. “Come on, Cuz. You need to eat, and you need to bring something back for Gabby to eat while she waits. She needs to keep up her strength.”

“Yeah, OK,” Logan said, kissing Gabby’s head as he stood. “I’ll be back.”

“I’m counting on it,” Gabby giggled as Ben drug Logan from the room.

Rebecca waited for the door to close and for the sound of their voices to move down the hallway before she spoke.

“Deep breath, girls. Tell me the truth, your contractions are stronger than what you are letting on, aren’t they?”

Darla let out an explosive breath and said, “Yeah.”

“Same,” Gabby nodded as she shifted her position. “And they are closer together. With the way Logan is, I didn’t want to say anything. He is worried sick.”

“Gabby, you’re up first,” Rebecca said as she patted the bed. “Then we will see how far along Darla is and if she needs to go back to her room.”

Gabby followed Rebecca’s instructions. She hoisted herself onto the bed and lay back so Rebecca could examine her. When her exam was finished, Gabby traded places with Darla. Rebecca quickly checked her progress and smiled.

“Sorry, ladies, but you each need to be in your own rooms. I would say the increase of fairy magic in the hospital has sped things up for you,” Rebecca smiled.

Darla giggled, “And here I was, thinking I would have a nice, relaxing delivery. I should have known better.”

“It will still be nice and relaxing if I can make it happen for you. I remember what it was like when I was expecting Ben. I was worried sick the entire time. The Dark Moon Pack did not have the best hospitals back then, through no fault of your father or grandfather. Here, you have the best of care and several experienced healers along with the doctors who will ensure everything goes smoothly today for all of you,” Rebecca assured her.

“Would you walk me to my room and then walk to the waiting room and tell Ben?” Darla asked her mother-in-law. “That should give him time to eat and hopefully for Aunt Junie to have given Logan something to calm his nerves.”

“You got it, dear,” Rebecca grinned. “Gabby? Are you alright alone for a few minutes?”

“Are you kidding? I live with Logan and our five-year-old twins. I would love a little time alone, where it’s quiet, and no one is yelling my name because they can’t see what’s right in front of them,” Gabby laughed.

Rebecca giggled, “Oh, I have been there before. It will get better with time. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Rebecca helped Darla to her room next door. After getting her tucked in bed and doing another check on her progress, she hurried out of the room. Rebecca had promised to walk to the waiting room to pass on the information that Gabby and Darla were getting close.

Laughter greeted Rebecca when she stepped into the waiting room. That was followed by an excited Logan, who began firing questions at her.

“How’s Gabby? Is she alright? Oh, gods. Don’t tell me something happened. What is it? Tell me,” Logan asked in rapid fire, not allowing Rebecca to reply.

“Gabby is fine and so is Darla,” Rebecca said, looking peeved at her nephew. “I thought Aunt Junie was going to give you something to help you calm down.”

Ben sighed and replied to his mother, “Sadly, she did. This is calmer.”

“What about the other ladies?” Olivia said as she sat quietly with Tyson in the corner.

“Everyone is fine and things are speeding up. It's just like the last time, when everyone had babies at the same time. I love that you all have fairy magic, but I could do without that part of it,” Rebecca sighed. “Logan, make Gabby’s plate, and I will walk you and Ben back to be with your mates. It won’t be long now.”

“Yeah, OK,” Logn said as he hurried to pick some of Gabby’s favorite foods from the table.

Rebecca mind linked Ben and said, “Have you told Junie that her potion did not work on Logan?”

“I did, and she will be coming by with another any second. If it doesn’t work, she has a third option, but that might put him to sleep for a week. Right now, I say the third one might be the best option,” Ben replied.

Rebecca gave a snort that was audible to everyone in the room, causing Olivia to smile at her and raise an eyebrow. She could see that Rebecca and Ben were mind linking and had the feeling it was between them.

“Let’s try to keep rendering him unconscious as a last resort,” Rebecca said, breaking the link as Logan approached them.

“I’m ready,” Logan said as Junie walked into the waiting room.

“Are you?” Junie grinned as she studied the young man. “I think it would be best for all of us if you gave that plate to Rebecca and drank this,” Junie said, holding up a small glass vial containing a shimmering liquid. “It will help soothe your nerves, which Gabby and the baby will both appreciate.”

Logan passed the plate of food to Rebecca and took a deep breath. Aunt Junie gave him the vial and waited. As Logan watched it swirl, she raised her eyebrow and stared at him. Logan gulped down the potion and handed the bottle back to Junie.

“Yiiccck! That stuff was worse than the last one,” Logan said. He got a strange look on his face and began blinking as if trying to clear his vision. His speech was beginning to slur as he said, “I think this one is working.”

Ben helped steady his cousin as the liquid continued to take effect. Julian hurried over to help. Julian looped Logan’s arm across his shoulders and was nearly carrying him as Rebecca led the way back to Gabby and Darla’s rooms.

“Ty, are there ever times when you look at Logan and question the sanity of him taking over the Obsidian Clan?” Kevin asked as he ate.

“No. Not one when it comes to that. I only worry that he will be happy after he takes over,” Tyson smiled at his cousin. “Logan loves his mate and children. This shows it. I would be more worried if he weren’t here or if he were perfectly calm. Logan can focus on work when work is the priority. His family should always be the most important thing in his life.”

Olivia grinned at Kevin and said, “Besides, this proves that Logan takes after his father. Tyson is just better at hiding it than Logan. Each time, I delivered one of our children, Tyson was a wreck inside. At one point, I even asked Freya to give him some special tea. Unfortunately, he almost slept through Everly’s birth because of it.”

Kevin laughed, “OK. I’ll give it to you. Logan is perfect to take over. Now we just have to wait to meet the newest members of the clan and pack.”

-

Four hours later, the rush in the maternity ward was over. The waiting room was still packed with family members waiting to see the newest additions to the family, and as usual, it had become a party. In addition to the sandwiches and sides that Lucy and Callum had lovingly prepared, Donna had doubled the normal amounts the packhouse kitchen typically made for lunch, taking half to the hospital for the families. Arianna had thrown together all the fixings for a make-your-own burrito and taco table. That was picked clean well before the babies had been born and were ready to be announced.

Everyone was still chattering and laughing when someone cleared their throat. There was instant silence as everyone turned toward the waiting room door. Rebecca was standing behind Darla’s wheelchair as she cradled her daughter in her arms. Ben was standing protectively beside his mate and child, beaming as he watched them,

Rebecca’s eyes glistened as she announced, “I would like everyone to meet my granddaughter, Emily. The others are behind me, so you get to meet everyone.”

Logan and Gabby came in next, pushed by Mona. Gabby was radiant as she pushed back the blanket to show the pink cap the baby was wearing.

“We have a girl!” Logan proudly proclaimed, making Gabby giggle.

“And her name is Amanda,” Gabby added. “She is just as perfect as her big brother and sister were the day they were born.”

“And this is our daughter, Nichole,” Damian said as he kissed Veronica on the head.

Nick and Emma gasped at the name of their second granddaughter.

Roni grinned and said, “Don’t seem so surprised. We already knew that Ben and Darla were naming Emily to honor you, Emma. We couldn’t let our little girl be left out of that.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Nick quietly said.

“Say that you will come to the house tomorrow so you can take turns holding your granddaughter,” Damian grinned at his father.

“Absolutely,” Nick agreed as he fought tears.

“Hey, what about us?” Angelica laughed as she and Murial were wheeled into the waiting room, holding their babies. “I would like to introduce you to our son, Mason.”

Murial grinned, “And to our daughter, Sidney.”

Amber and Jake were both misty-eyed as they took in the sight of their new grandchildren. Their grandchildren would be the future of the pack and would be in good hands.

“I know this will sound bad, but I’m starving. Who wants to hold the baby while I eat?” Darla said.

“I will,” Emma said as she rushed to take her granddaughter. “And it doesn’t sound bad. All the new mamas need to eat so they can recover faster.”

“Emma is right, which is why I will take Nicole,” Nick offered.

Amber giggled, “Jake and I will take either of our grandchildren. We’re not picky about which one we get to hold.”

Liam and Jason kissed their mates as they took their children. Jake took Mason as Amber held Sidney. The proud grandparents sat down to be swarmed by other family members who wanted to see the newest babies.

Logan smiled as he kissed Gabby’s cheek and took baby Amanda from her. He quickly gave the child to his mother before hurrying to make Gabby a plate. Now that the baby had arrived and she and Gabby were safe and healthy, Logan was again calm.

Olivia mind linked Tyson and said, “Our little family just keeps growing.”

“Yes, it does, my little wolf, and I would not have it any other way,” Tyson replied through the link as he pulled back the blanket to see his new granddaughter better.

“They keep growing up, too,” Olivia sighed through the link. “In a couple of months, Logan and Everly will be formally taking over Obsidian. That doesn’t seem possible.”

“It is possible. Try to stop worrying about them taking over. It is simply a formality,” Tyson assured her. “The only thing you need to worry about is after today, getting to our granddaughter before the grandma squad. If my mother and your mother get to her before you, you have lost her for the day.”

Olivia giggled out loud and replied through the link, “You have a point. That is why I am holding her as much as I can now. But the next few months will be hectic. I can see babysitting all the grandchildren at times. Our kids will have a lot on their plates leading up to taking over.”

“They will and we will be there for them every moment,” Tyson said, looking at Logan and Gabby, smiling as Logan held Gabby while she ate. “We will even be there when they don’t know they need us.”

“Isn’t that part of being a parent?”

Tyson grinned, “That is part of being a parent and being a Dragon Lord. Logan will soon learn that for himself.”