Time seemed to stand still as she absorbed those words. She blinked over and over, her eyes growing so big they bulged.
“What?”
He reached between them, spreading his palm over her stomach, over her scar.
“A baby,” he said. “We have a baby growing right here. Where Doc said one would never be.”
“No.” Mirena dropped her hands to cover his. There was no bulge. It was still flat as it had always been. “A-Are you sure?”
Theo nodded. “I scented it when we brought you here, after you passed out. But I wasn’t sure. I thought… I thought I was imagining it. So I had Doc scent you too, and she confirmed it.”
“Wow. Theo… this is…” Her throat choked up, giddiness and relief flooding her and making her forget the agony she’d endured. All she could manage was a whispered squeal. “We’re going to be parents.”
He grinned softly. “Yes, mate. We are.”
“We’re going to have a baby!”
He pulled her in for a tender kiss, and she could sense his satisfaction through their bond. When he pulled back, his eyes were shiny with unshed tears and his smile wasn’t the kind that would go away anytime soon.
“I’m going to be a dad,” he murmured in wonder. “But you wanna hear the best part?”
“There’s more?” She bounced on the bed, forgetting how weak she felt upon waking. “Yes, tell me, please.”
“It’s mine.”
Mirena frowned. “Of course it is. The mystics gave us a Sorcera to raise. That means it’s ours, Theo.”
“No. Rena, it’s mine. Not a Sorcera. A bear. I scented a bear.”
“Wait, this isn’t an adoption, er, surrogacy… or whatever? Are you telling me this baby is ours? We made it?”
Theo’s smile grew even bigger, if that was possible. “Yes, mate.”
“But… how?”
“Doc did her tests again. The scarring seems to only be on your skin now. It doesn’t go deep like it did before. She had no explanation except…”
“The mystics.” The pain, the fire in her middle. It wasn’t a punishment. It was a deliverance. “They burned it away. They healed me.”
Mirena squealed with delight, crushing Theo against her chest. Her heart was so full. It had been a roller coaster of heartbreaks and triumphs but now they were here. And they had this. And every bit of pain and struggle had been worth it.
He rolled with her onto the bed, landing on his back with her on top. She bent to kiss him hard on the lips, pushing her tongue in to roll with his. And still neither of them lost their smile.
His hands roamed upward, kneading the curves of her body until she let out a guttural groan.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Wonderful. Amazing. Like celebrating.”
He nipped her jaw with his teeth as he squeezed one breast hard. “I agree. Should we celebrate by seeing how the rest of you feels? I’m especially concerned about how you feel between these legs.”
Mirena let out a chirp of surprise as his wandering hand cupped her sex.
As her bear snarled against her skin, the smile stayed in place.
Mirena the Bravest had wanted a happily ever after.
This was it. And it had definitely been worth the risk.
Epilogue
Years later…
Theo watched his mate as she moved around their kitchen. She was still the most gorgeous female he’d ever laid eyes on. Her smile still had the power to fucking level him. And best of all, she had never stopped looking at him like he was hers.
He leaned against the counter, fighting a grin as their four young crowded around Mirena to see the magic she was about to use.
Lucky danced on the balls of his toes trying to see into the pink mixing bowl she cradled in one arm.
Haven put her finger to her lips, trying to shush the others since Mirena decided she wasn’t going to do magic until they settled down.
Branson glowered at his sister before sticking his tongue as far out as it could go. It was the most offensive thing he could muster at his age.
And baby Celeste toddled around the others, desperately trying to see what they were so excited about.
Theo had pity on her, reaching down to pick her up so she could have a better view. She goo-gooed her thanks and his heart did that melty schmelty thing it did when any of his kids went to loving on him.
For a split second he thought of his childhood. The dumpster, the Deadclaw clan. The affection he missed out on.
But then he tucked it back beneath all the happiness that flooded his life now. Thinking of the past never seemed all that bad when he remembered all of it had only existed to lead him here.
To this.
With his mate.
With his family.