"Thank you, Matilda, I knew you were the right choice," Amie told my aunt.

"I will keep my eye on him, dear. You just focus on bringing the pup into the world," my aunt told her, her voice soft.

"My Ron was the same. The healers almost refused to come when Armeria was born because of how he acted when I had Elder," Melissa told us.

"Go downstairs and get Amie some tea, Meadow has it ready," my aunt told me two hours later.

"Then she can bring it up here, I’m not leaving," I said. I was next to Amie, sitting on the bed and holding her hand. She was taking a breather and almost looked like she was sleeping.

"Finlay, you need a break. Hugo says it won’t be long until the real work starts. Take five minutes and stretch your legs so you will be ready when it starts," she told me. I folded and placed a kiss on Amie’s forehead, and she smiled in response. I headed downstairs and was met by a living room full of people. Jake and his entire family were there, as was Sam, Meadow, and Martina. Elder was talking with Ramses while Shelly and Kayla watched Mino and Ramses' daughter sleep. Meadow walked up to me and handed me a cup of tea.

"How are things going?" she asked.

"Good, I think," I said. She smiled at me.

“That is good then. We have got things under control here, so you can focus on Amie and the pup," she said.

"Thank you," I told her and headed upstairs again.

An hour later my heart was on its way to explode as Hugo placed a perfect little pup in Amie’s arms, and I wrapped my arm around Amie and looked down at the miracle she was holding.

"He is perfect," I said, gently running my finger over his head.

"He is," Amie agreed.

"Congratulations," my aunt and Amie’s mom said as one.

"Thank you," we both said, still too mesmerized to look away from our son. I was vaguely aware everyone left the room and gave us time to bond. I had made several announcements to the pack about pups being born, but as I focused on the pack mindlink, I was struck by the enormity of the moment. I was about to tell my pack that Amie and I had a son. I had created this pack, and they had followed me into uncertainty. For a long time, I had shouldered the responsibility by myself. Then Amie came and took some of the burden. As a pack, we had shown we were a force to be reckoned with in our world, and now I was about to announce the birth of the second generation of Alphas.

'I have the honor of announcing the birth of Amie’s and my son, Asher Martin Cadwick. He is now one with the pack,' I sent out. The joy and congratulations that flooded back were heartwarming, and Amie beamed at me. She looked tired, but happy.

"Are you up for some visitors?" I asked her after Asher had finished his first meal.

"I am," she told me. I was leaning against the headboard of the bed with one arm around her and my other hand resting on Asher’s head. Amie’s parents were the first ones up.

"I am honored you gave him my middle name," Ron told us as he held his grandson. It had been an easy choice. Both Amie and I liked the name Martin, and we figured he would be called Ash for short. That fits well with the plant theme in their family. Ron, besides being Amie’s dad, also felt like my dad as well. Our son couldn’t get a better namesake than him. Next up was Elder and Shelly with Mino. Mino climbed up on the bed and sat next to Amie to stare at the pup.

"Would you like a little brother like this?" Amie asked him.

"Don’t go putting ideas into his head, little sister," Elder said. She giggled at him and handed Asher over to his uncle. One by one, our friends stopped by. They congratulated us and said hello to our son. No one lingered. I took Amie to the bathroom and helped her to take a quick shower before tucking her into bed and let Asher have his second meal. When we were sure he was happy and sleepy, I put him in the little crib I had made which fitted to the side of the bed. I got into bed next to Amie and helped her get comfortable.

"Are you happy?" I asked her.

"I am," she said, and I felt something wet on my chest.

"Are you crying?" I asked.

"I am, but they are happy tears. We have a son," she told me.

"We do," I agreed and felt myself get tears in my eyes.

"I love you, Finn."

"And I love you, Red. I will spend the rest of my life thanking every deity known to man that I stopped at that diner and found you," I told her.

"Best decision I ever made when I let you talk me into coming here." I stayed awake as long as I could. I listened to Amie falling asleep, to the unfamiliar sound of Asher’s heartbeats, and my wolf memorized his son’s scent.