CATRINA

Walking through the infirmary, I can't help but shiver as I recall the events that happened when I was here the last time. Taking a deep breath, I calm myself and squeeze Connor's hand as we walk through the halls of the infirmary to adopt our daughter.

"What is it, Solnyshko?" he asks, sensing my anxiety perhaps. I shake my head at him, gazing into his forest green eyes as he assesses me and then as if convinced of something, smiles at me with reassurance.

"I've informed Elder Fridolf," he says while we walk towards his office. I nod unable to keep my excitement from seeping into my expression. I can't wait to adopt that kid. She's just so peaceful to look at. It brings out all my instincts when I see her smiling at me.

The kid doesn't smile much, I have noticed this but I want to change it. It might be due to the trauma, maybe, but I am sure that given enough love and constant attention, she'll bloom into a beautiful flower.

"Ready?" he asks as we reach the elder's office. I nod my head, my excitement contagious as he grins down at me, his own excitement shining in those green orbs.

We both open the door to the elder's office as he looks up from his notes and waves us over.

"Welcome, Alpha Connor. I hope you are well, now," he says and then glances at me with a small smile. "Your mate was very much worried about you," he says and I blush under his teasing gaze.

"I am lucky to have her as mine," replies Connor creating a fluttering in my chest.

The elder laughs and then nods.

"Alpha Fenris will sign your adoption papers. It's a new process we have started so that if you want to enrol your daughter in some human programme, it will cause fewer problems," he explains. Millions of questions run through my mind but I ignore them when the door opens wide and Sierra walks into the room, carrying Selene and my baby in her arms, effortlessly.

I don't know how she manages it.

"Hey, you both lovebirds. I am glad that this thick-headed male has finally asked you to marry him," she greets and my eyes widen in shock. I turn to Connor who just shrugs and bends down to whisper in my ear, "I got your mom's permission first. Maybe she told Sierra."

Butterflies fly in my belly when he says that. I nod and then smile at him slightly before shifting my gaze to Sierra who walks over and hands the baby to me.

"You need to name her first," she whispers. Fenris walks in at that time with a bunch of papers in his hands.

"Congratulations. Finally!" he exclaims and rolls his eyes at Connor when he shrugs as if this is some inside joke and then both of them laugh, confirming my thoughts.

Sierra just shrugs at their antics and then coos at Selene, "aunt Catrina is getting married, kotyonok."

Selene laughs in delight as if she understood what her mother said which causes the baby in my arms to laugh too. I watch the girls, mesmerised at their baby talk in the form of goo-goo and gaa-gaas. Hearing the babies' converse in their language we all join in their laughter.

Settling down in the chair beside Connor, I think of a name for this baby but can't think of any.

"What is it?" asks Connor and I glance at him.

"What to name her?" I ask and now it's his turn to frown.

"Umm. Can I suggest?" interrupts Sierra.

"Sure," I reply, eager to have some options instead of settling for any name for this precious baby.

"You can name her Rieka or Katya," she suggests.

"Which one, Connor?" I ask, liking the first one since I know its meaning.

"I like the sound of Rieka Lupe," he says and his lips widen in a smile as he looks down at the baby in my arms. And then for the first time, he picks her up from my arms and cuddles her close to his chest. The most surprising thing is that the baby goes.

She doesn't cry neither does she scrunch her face. She gurgles in her baby language, lifting her hands in the air as she tentatively reaches for Connor's beard, scrutinising it.

Roaming her fingers over Connor's stubble, I watch mesmerised at the scene in front of me when the baby smiles her toothless smile at Connor. That's the first time I have seen her smile.

She giggles, laughs and cries but all with Selene. Never had she smiled like this with any adult and it's a sight to watch because it's my mate, her father that she's responding to.

"Rieka Lupe it is then," I whisper, startling the pair to look at me. Both my daughter and mate look at me, a perfect picture, and finally the nervous fluttering in my stomach seizes.

"Let's sign the papers and get ready to go home," he whispers resting his cheek on our daughter's beannie covered head, the sight so beautiful that my eyes blur with unshed tears.

I nod and we both shift our attention towards the people in the room whom I had forgotten about, for a moment.

"You will have to first sign on this marriage certificate papers before adopting the pup as husband-wife," explains Fenris and I look at Connor in question.

"It's just a piece of paper to me," he says and shrugs. "Catrina, for me, the claiming ceremony is a lifetime bond and there's no chance of divorce. I won't let you go, not this time," he says threatening my heart to burst in happiness now. This time my decision is final as I smile and nod my consent to sign those papers.

We sign on the documents and I stare in amazement as Connor easily holds Rieka with one hand while sighing the documents. He makes it look like he has been doing this for years.

"Done. Now let's sign the adoption papers," says Fenris.

"Just fill in the blanks. Her name, your name, pack name and signatures," explains elder Fridolf as he takes the papers from Fenris who sits in a spare chair beside Connor.

Finishing all the formalities, Fenris staples the papers and files them as a copy for his office since he was the guardian/ Pack Alpha.

"Thank you."

Fenris raises a brow at Connor's words and then turns at me. "Catrina, tell your mate that he better not be formal. Otherwise, he'll have to receive a heavy gift from me for saving my life," he says sweetly, the sarcasm clear.

I laugh at his words, feeling light and carefree after a long time. This light banter is all we need, I guess.

"Oh, if that's the case then I want to invite you formally, Alpha Fenris Vlček, to our Claiming Ceremony in the Blue Moon Pack on the next full moon."

"What?" Fenris's shocked face shifts from me to Connor then back at me before he turns his head and settles his sparkling blue gaze on his mate who's completely calm at Connor's invite.

"You knew about the ceremony?" he asks her and Sierra shrugs while cuddling her baby close to her chest. I somehow get the feeling that for werewolves, the claiming ceremony is of more importance than the marriage papers.

"Christine told me when she gave Connor his blessings," she replies with an eye roll when Fenris narrows his eyes at her.

"And did he ask me?" he asks, looking back at Connor.

"Was I supposed to?" Connor asks, now a little confused. I am too but I catch Fenris's wink from the corner of my eyes and quickly look at Connor who's staring at me with a pleading expression.

"He's my cousin. Elder to me and the man of the house. So maybe you should," I play along watching Connor's face as it twists into uncertainty.

"Oh. Okay," he mumbles and turns to Fenris.

"So, Fenris-"

"Alpha King Fenris," interrupts Fenris and that's when I can't play along anymore. I laugh loudly, Sierra joining in which causes Fenris to laugh too. The elder laughs too and both of the babies' chortle in glee, at the expense of my poor mate.

"What the..."

"Don't use abusive language," I whisper all the while laughing at him. He shakes his head and then chuckles.

I wipe my eyes after the laughter dies down. Fenris gets up from his chair and Connor does too, placing Rieka in my arms. They both do their man-hug and some other type of hug while Fenris congratulates Connor and then threatens him too.

"If you ever make her cry, I'll fly down to your pack and have you for dinner," threatens Fenris as his eyes turn black. I have realised that it happens only when Fenris is enraged about something.

But before Connor can reply to Fenris's threat, the door to the office opens and my mom enters with my twin following.

"I second that," he says smugly before walking towards me where he kisses my head, his touch only causing a slight discomfort, and then takes Rieka from me saying that he wants to cuddle with his niece.

"I am sure it won't ever come to that. And if it does then I would gladly surrender to you," whispers Connor seriously as he looks at Fenris which causes my cousin to smile and then nod.

Once again tears blur my eyes as I take in the changes in Connor, in me. How far have we come in our journey to love each other! I just hope nothing goes wrong now.

"Have you booked the flight tickets?" asks my mom and I start to shake my head, forgetting about it totally.

"Yes, I have," interrupts Connor at the same time when a blurry figure rushes in the room. I gasp in surprise when Dominic stops just beside Sierra where he dumps himself on the couch.

"I have a jet ready for you all," he says casually as if it is an everyday thing to travel by jets. Private jets! He's Richie Rich!

"No, thank you. I would prefer the public transport means," I whisper politely not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, however extravagant they may be.

Connor looks at me weird but then agrees to my decision saving me from explaining myself.

"Let's pack?" he asks me and I nod, happily, ready and overjoyed to start my new life.

~~~~~

"I have informed Yuri to make immediate arrangements for Rieka's nursery. Do you want to add anything to this list?" he asks, handing me his phone which has all the things typed on it.

"Yuri?" I ask while checking the things listed in the chatbox.

"My Beta. His name is Yuri," he explains and I nod at him before handing him the phone.

"Yes, that's fine. When we go back, we'll be staying at your family home?" I ask and he nods his head.

"Okay. I liked your house," I add, not wanting him to think anything else about my question. He smiles at me while putting all my dresses in my bag. It's a big suitcase and I think we'll need another one to pack all those gifts that Sierra gave. To me and Rieka.

"We need another bag," says Connor as he sits on the first suitcase and locks it up. I laugh at his antics realising how normal this all is. Is this really true? Or am I dreaming?

"Ow!" Connor yells startling me from my daydreaming.

"That motherfucking shit of a bag."

I stare at him in shock while Rieka cackles loudly as if Connor has just cracked a hilarious joke and not a stream of curse words. In front of her. Oh, my God! It is a very good thing my baby is not scared anymore but I would be more pleased if it were not because of the curses.

"Connor," I scold, swatting at his arms.

"Ow," he shouts once again and this time Rieka chortles, saliva dripping from her mouth.

"Don't use abusive language," I snap at him while wiping my baby's mouth with a towel.

"Sorry," he grumbles, rubbing his neck which I know now is a nervous habit.

"Okay. That's done. Sierra has packed all those huge gifts in an extra suitcase which she has already dumped... I mean kept in the trunk," he adds when I raise my brow at his rather crude language.

"Okay. Then I guess now only goodbyes are remaining?" I ask but my voice trembles a bit at the end. Connor sighs and then walks over to me, pulling both me and Rieka in the circle of his huge arms.

Kissing my temple once he chuckles when Rieka simply cuddles into Connor's chest while being held by me.

"She likes you," I whisper to him watching him smirk.

"What's not to like?" he says smugly and my eyes narrow at him. I pull the baby away from him making him frown.

"Hey that's my daughter," he mutters while Rieka and I laugh at his grumbling form.

"Hey SISTER," shouts Cayden making Connor wince.

"Coming," I yell back.

"Damn woman. No need to shout."

"Language!" I snap and walk out of my room leaving Connor to follow me with that heavy bag.

"There are my favourite girls," he yells making me giggle at my brother's overly happy behaviour. But I know that he's going to miss me terribly. Just like how I am going to miss him.

He hugs me close and I sigh when I don't feel the pain because I am wearing a huge coat.

"I am going to miss you, baby sister," he says and I frown at him. He's never called me a baby sister.

"How do you know that you are older?"

"I am. Mom told me. By 13 full minutes. Which gives me rights to hurt your mate when he hurts you," he declares and I shake my head at him, barely resisting to roll my eyes.

"If. Cayden. If he hurts me."

"Whatever. Come on. Let's get you settled in the car," he says and pulls me towards the car.

~~~~~

So how does Rieka Lupe sound??? Do let me know your views. 

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