We all paled slightly, I think, considering the possibility that Cora's pregnancy was accidental—or perhaps not.

"I'm sure that's not true," I said, shaking my head, though the idea unsettled me. The baby's conception during a storm that stranded Roger and Cora in a room with little but a bed seemedconveniently coincidental, didn't it?

"This is your baby, Cora," I said confidently.

"She's right," Roger said, nodding at Cora with unwavering certainty. "You're this baby's mother, and I'm its father. End of story. All right?"

Cora nodded, but her hesitation was evident.

"We'll get answers, Cora," Sinclair said quietly. "I agree with Ella and Roger—but if you'd like, we can consult the elders, as we did when Ella's pregnancy was discovered."

"Oh," she said, her eyebrows rising. "Yes, can we? That would be great."

Sinclair nodded, offering a small smile, assuring her he would arrange it as soon as possible. I gasped, bouncing excitedly on the bed. A realization dawned.

"Maybe you're a wolf, Cora!" I exclaimed. "Like me! Maybe you just didn't realize it! Maybe the same thing happened!"

Cora laughed, amused by my enthusiasm. "No, Ella," she said. "Our mother made it very clear on the temple steps that day—two daughters, one wolf, one human. I'm the human."

"Oh," I said, disappointed. But I took a deep breath, dismissed the thought, and wrapped my arms around my sister, pressing my cheek to hers. "Well, whatever!" I said cheerfully. "Whatever this baby's genetic makeup, I'm excited. And we'll love little 'it' so much."

"I'm inclined to think the baby is a hybrid," Sinclair said, carefully lying down on the bed, resting his head in my lap and the baby beside him, giving Rafe some tummy time. "The first of its kind. Which isvery cool."

Roger looked at him curiously. "Why do you think the baby's a hybrid?"

"The bond," Sinclair replied, meeting his gaze. "If the baby were half-human, it might explain the weaker connection you have compared to a fully wolf baby."

Roger cocked his head, considering. "I wouldn't mind that," he murmured, then smirked at Cora. "I have a weak spot for humans. Cute ones, at least."

She wrinkled her nose at him, and I sighed, relieved the conversation had taken a happier turn. "I think it's cool that we don't know the gender," I said, looking at my little boy struggling to hold his head up.

"You were happy enough to know Rafe's," Sinclair reminded me. "I seem to remember you tackling me in excitement when I told you he was a boy."

"Yes," I said fondly. "But there's something good about the mystery, too. The wait."

Cora laughed, drawing my attention back to her. She looked at Roger, grinning at his clear disappointment. "You wish you knew," she guessed with a grin.

"Well, yeah," he said, sighing. "It's unusual for wolves; we always know. It's like someone telling you it's Christmas, but making you wait six months for the gift."

My sister laughed and playfully shoved him. "You just want to be assured it's a boy," she accused, her grin widening. "You won't rest until you know."

Roger smirked ruefully, offering no denial.

"You don't want a girl!?" I gasped, clutching my heart. "A lovely little girl!?"

"You wanted a boy," Sinclair reminded me, laughing.

"Yes," I agreed, giving him a tiny glare before turning back to Roger. "But I also wanted a girl."

"How can you want both?" he asked, confused but laughing.

"Because!" I declared. "You just can!" Everyone laughed, and I nudged Cora. "Back me up here!"

"Sorry, sis," she said, smiling. "I'm team girl. If it's a boy, I'm handing him off to Roger immediately," she declared, though we all knew she didn't mean it, pretending to dust her hands off.

"Why are you leaning towards a girl?" Sinclair asked, amused.

"Because," she said with a smile. "Girls get all the good stuff: dress-up, books, imagination, mermaids," she shrugged. "Boys just get football and turtles." She stuck out her tongue.

We all laughed, and I rested my head on my sister's shoulder, kissing it. I was so excited for her.

"If the child is a hybrid," I pondered aloud, "do you think you'll be pregnant for six months? Nine? Or something in between?"

"I don't know," she murmured, stroking her stomach, then moving her hand to Roger's hair as he bent to press his ear to her stomach, listening for the baby, though it was likely just an embryo.

"Well, you're probably among the few people on earth with the best guess," I murmured, looking at Roger, excited for him to become a dad alongside my sister. "As one of the very few OB/GYNs in the world who work with both wolf and human populations"

"Sure," she sighed, "but I'm not a geneticist. We have a lot to learn."

"That's okay," I said, looking at my mate and baby. "But if I've learned anything from my own surprise wolf pregnancyit goes faster than you think. Try to remember everything"

My mate smiled, and I smiled back. I closed my eyes, my head still resting on my sister's shoulder.

As I relaxed, the morning's events nagged at me, reminding me that someone—powerful, determined, and clever—was coming for my child.

But in this moment, I chose to dismiss those fears and embrace the love. My life had been incredibly lucky, and I chose to believe in the strength of my family and hope for better times. Because they would come. We would make them come, the four of us, for Rafe and little "it." We would build the best world for them, no matter what it took.