The pack house was built with alarming speed. Two and a half months and it was complete. The other houses were in construction. At least the hospital was up and running.
Both packs accepted the union. Rex and I were welcomed as equal Alpha positions for our pack.
We would be bringing both packs to the new house and officially having our first night there. We haven't claimed each other yet. We planned to today after our welcome ceremony. Once we claim each other we can hear each other's wolves. Also, the tradition of combining packs and names was going to take place tonight.
Come to think of it, we are now tied with the second biggest clan in both land size and pack members. We would have to host them soon. I am really not looking forward to that.
*Gin! Hospital now!*
*No! It can be! She's got like a week or so left!*
*HURRY!*
Ignis was panicked. I rushed to the hospital, leaving Rex to chase after me. I burst through the doors frantically searching for Stella.
"Surprise!" A small group of our Betas, Gammas, and siblings were assembled.
"What's going on here?"
The hospital was decorated. Portraits of members from both packs were on the walls. Two had curtains over them.
"What's all this?" I asked again.
Stella, about to pop, grabs my hand and leads me to the first one. "Pull the cord."
I did and when the curtain fell, my parents stared back at me. Tears filled my eyes. It was the most realistic painting of them I'd ever seen.
"How beautiful." I hiccup to disguise a sob. Stella puts her arm around me and rubs my arm. I turn to Rex. "Did you know about this?"
He shakes his head no, but he's clearly lost in thought starting at my parents.
"Rex, you pull the cord now." When his curtain fell, his parents stared back at him.
His face broke out into a huge grin. "Hi parental units."
I laughed and he pulled me from Stella into an embrace.
"Thank you all." Rex says, holding me tight. "What a thoughtful gift."
"Hold on Alphas, there's one more."
Rounding the corner to the children's wing there is one more item covered by an even larger curtain.
"Is this a statue?" I ask.
"Why don't you open it together and see." So we did.
In marble, cut from a single slab, was a boy and a girl. The boy sat with his back turned to the girl. His arms were crossed over his chest. The boy's face and nose were upturned in disapproval. He was looking at her from the corner of his eye. The girl was squatting down and holding something in her hand. A small frog that fit perfectly in her palm was staring at her too. Her face had a wide smile. She looked triumphant.
"That's you." Rex says slowly. He holds my hand and gently pulls me to face the boy. "That's me."
My mouth drops slightly but I recover, "No..."
"Yes." He smiles. "I remember this day so clearly. It was the first time our clans met. You were like 4 and I was 11."
I could see it now, the girl was tiny with her little ringlet pigtails. Clearly much younger than the boy. He was tall even seated on the bench. If he was 11 then Rex would've had Nocte already.
"Nocte made me keep an eye on you even though I would rather have been doing anything else." He shakes his head. "I wish I could tell him about our future together."
"Your face says it all." I muse looking at the complex range of emotions depicted by the artist. Indifference yet curiosity.
*Unamused by babysitting.* Praesul snickered.
"There's a photo of this." Stella interrupts. "Rex's Gamma, Caeli, found it when she was packing up the photo albums. Isn't it adorable!"
"It's something." Rex and I say at the same time. We eye each other and start laughing.
I look over my shoulder, Ignis had left before the unveiling of the statue. While I wasn't surprised, I was disappointed. Why would the Moon Goddess be so cruel as to tell him we were destined eventually? It felt harsh and it didn't make any sense to me.
"Thank you all." I say to echo Rex's sentiments. "All lovely additions to our hospital."
We head back to the pack house to prepare for the ceremony.
Rex pushes me up against the wall outside the house. His body pressed against mine. I could feel his erection on my abdomen.
"I'll see you soon." He says before shoving his tongue down my throat. "You are everything I've ever hoped for in a mate."
"Rex I -"
"Save it love birds," Stella grabs me away from Rex and pulls hard, "we've got a lot of work to do."
Rex laughs and salutes her mockingly.
*Damn pregnancy strength.* Praesul mutters, clearly upset.
*Don't stress. Tonight, we claim him as our own!* I blush at the thought.
"Whatever you're thinking about, stop. Focus on getting ready." Stella snaps at me.
"Why are you being so crazy?" I ask her.
"I'm living vicariously through you. My fat ass can't fit into a gorgeous gown or wear heels." She says laying my gown on the bed.
"Yeah but your amazing body is growing, not one but two, little humans!" I smile at her.
"Whatever. Shower quickly. Wash your hair and exfoliate!"
"I'm not shaving..." I whisper, knowing full well she can hear me.
"Good, then I am going to wax you."
"Never mind, I'm definitely shaving!" I hop in the shower before she can protest.