Bash parked in front of a bricked-in fire pit, and as a crew, they walked past the other trailers and into the woods where Beaston’s house was. His woods were flooded with shifters and humans alike, paying their respect to the newest inhabitant of Damon’s mountains.
The dragon himself stood by his mate, Clara, holding his young son and talking quietly with Tagan James, alpha of the Ashe Crew. The crowd parted as Harrison led them up to the trailer, up the porch stairs, and inside.
Beaston and Aviana’s house reminded Emerson of the inside of a tree with bark walls and colored cloths over the lamp, muting the light, but their bedroom seemed like a different world. It was simple and clean. Aviana looked beautiful, tired but smiling as she lay under the thick comforter beside her mate. Beaston sat on the edge of the bed, staring at a tiny bundle in his arms.
When he looked up, his glowing green eyes were raw. “He’s a raven, just like I dreamed. He’s a raven like my Ana.”
Harrison cupped the back of his head and pressed his forehead to his, then eased back and squeezed Aviana’s hand. “He’s a cunning boy.”
“I tried to let people hold him. I tried,” Beaston said, shaking his head. “I can’t. Not yet.”
Aviana rubbed his back and looked happy. She was glowing as she watched her boys.
“That’s okay,” Bash said, stepping closer. “I wouldn’t want to let anyone hold my baby either. He has your face. Bright eyes, but he’s fine-boned like Aviana. Look at his little fingers. He’ll be a good flyer someday. He’s perfect, Beaston.”
Beaston cast Bash a grateful look and then stood and held him out for everyone to see. “His name is Weston Novak.”
Weston to match his father’s given name, Easton. Emerson smiled as the baby gripped Beaston’s little finger.
Bash had a hard time leaving when Harrison was ready to give Beaston and Aviana some space. She could tell he wanted to look at Weston longer. He would make a good daddy like Beaston.
Outside, the Boarlanders mingled with the other crews who stood around talking, but Emerson took Bash’s hand and led him back through the woods to the quiet trailer park.
“I have a present for you,” she murmured, resting her hips back against his truck.
He’d gone quiet since they’d left Beaston’s house, and now his lost-in-thought look morphed to one of concern. “I didn’t know we were supposed to get each other presents today.”
“We aren’t.” She pulled the stuffed teddy bear he’d given her from her purse and handed it to him.
Bash’s frown deepened. “I don’t understand. Are you giving it back to me?”
“No, Bash,” she said with a significant look. “It’s for our baby.”
He looked from the floppy stuffed bear to her and shook his head in confusion.
With a smile, Emerson pulled his palm to her stomach and held it there, her wedding ring glinting in the sunlight. “I was wrong last week. I think it was too early to test.”
Bash’s face went slack, but then his eyes pooled with emotion. He straightened his spine, shaking his head in denial. “Don’t tease me.”
“I’m not. I saved the test at home to show you. Two lines, bold as anything. We’re going to have a baby, Bash. You’re going to be a daddy.”
Bash dragged her to him and hugged her shoulders tight but didn’t take his hand away from her stomach. He rocked her back and forth for a long time, just shaking his head and breathing deep. She’d thought he would want to shout it to the crews, but he just stood there, wordless, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head as his body trembled.
In a broken voice, he recited her words from their wedding day. “I was really lonely before you, and now look what you’ve given me.”
When she opened her eyes, the Boarlanders were standing at the edge of the trees, watching them with knowing smiles.
Bash was happy.
Her crew was happy.
And now she was growing a child with the man she loved, just like she’d always dreamed.
She’d thought she would wander through life lonely, but a chance meeting with a man in a diner had set her destiny on a completely different path. Now, no matter what happened from here on, she wouldn’t face this world alone.
Happiness—true, consuming happiness—had existed all this time up here in Damon’s mountains. She’d just had to believe in a little magic to find it.