Some of this may seem like filler, but props to you if you catch the foreshadow in this chapter I:}
…
Quinn's POV
I literally tell everyone I can. Perry and Priya are incredibly happy for me and my siblings completely freak out. Hazel promises to throw us a party, which is nice. Teddy and Hermes have to keep telling each other that I'm going to have a baby.
Once the excitement has died down, I remember that I was going to ask Apollo a question. Leaving Knox with his twin brother, Ford, I head from Perry's office to the medical bay. I find him standing by a bed that contains Eden the Black Panther. "Oh, Quinn!" Apollo calls. "You're just in time. I need your help."
Feeling a thrill in my chest, I hurry over, trying to ignore the grim sight of her dislocated knee. "What do you need me to do?"
I glance at Eden, who seems to be asleep.
"I gave her anaesthetic," explains Apollo, seeing me look. "Okay, I need to pop her dislocated knee back into place but the pain is going to wake her up so I need you to stand by Eden's head and hold her shoulders down and calm her down when she wakes up, okay?"
"I'll try," I say nervously, placing my hands on Eden's shoulders.
"Thank you. I wouldn't normally ask you but my nurses are all out and if I leave it much longer, it'll be even more painful. Okay, I'm going to do it on three. One. Two. Three."
He wrenches Eden's knee back into place with a haunting cracking sound that makes me flinch. Immediately, the black panther wakes up with a yell of pain. She's strong but I firmly hold her down and talk soothingly to her until she settles, gasping in pain.
"There we go," I say. "It's all over now, okay?"
She nods, eyes closed. "Thanks. That was the most painful experience I have ever had."
"You're welcome."
Apollo sets her knee in a cast and then he goes to wash his hands. I join him, washing my own paws.
"Thanks for helping out," Apollo says. "Sorry, was there something you wanted to ask or tell me?"
"Actually, yes," I reply.
I ask him my question. His face splits into a smile. "Absolutely," he says.
…
I stay in the medical bay for the rest of the day, and almost all of the next day too. At about six in the evening, Knox comes and gets me. He takes me to my parents' house in Bodicote. As soon as I walk in the door, I see party decorations everywhere. I laugh as Hazel comes running out of nowhere and tackles me in a hug with such force that I actually fall over. "Watch out!" I gasp.
"Oh my gosh!" Hazel leaps off me. "I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, you didn't hit my stomach," I say, gingerly feeling my abdomen. I've only been pregnant for a few days so my belly hasn't grown yet. "What is all this?"
"It's kind of like a baby shower mixed with a celebration for you becoming mates," Hazel replies excitedly. "You know, it's lucky you stayed away so long. If you'd come here, you'd have seen all the preparations and then the surprise would have been ruined."
I grin at my older sister as she babbles about the preparations she made. Hazel used to be this enthusiastic all the time when I was a baby but she mellowed when she became a mother. Yet her old self would often come out when planning parties or doing something she loves. When she's passionate about something, she suddenly reverts back into her nine-year-old self who is excitable and energetic. It's nice seeing her like this for a change.
"So who's coming to the party?" I ask, interrupted Hazel mid-flow.
"Oh, it's just Mom, Dad, Teddy, me, you, and Pearl. Mom and Dad wanted it to be intimate. Oh, and Knox's parents and his twin brother."
I inwardly grimace. Dad and Cassie kind of dislike each other so this might be a bit awkward. But Ford is nice and Ravi is sensible so maybe they can keep her in check. Dad only retaliates if Cassie does something first.
…
Cassie's POV
Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about my son being mates with Perry's daughter. A decade ago, I would have thought that there was a chance that Perry's daughter would be my daughter too but I knew there was no chance of that once he took Priya as a mate.
When Ravi, Ford, and I arrive at Perry's house, we find the party already in full-swing. Hazel is dancing with Teddy to some random PFT song that I don't recognise. Perry's youngest, Hermes, is sitting on the sofa looking rather out of place. I make sure to steer clear of Hermes. I don't entirely trust his powers.
Ford's POV
I'm a little jealous of my brother, for two reasons. One, he and I are the same age and he's found true love already. Two, I used to have a crush on Quinn myself. Even though that's behind me now, I do feel a bit envious of Quinn's love for my brother. Two years ago, I would have given anything for that love to be directed at me.
Quinn's POV
The party is amazing. Everyone is civil and has a great time. Knox and I slow dance to There's No-One I'd Rather Go Nowhere With, which is a moment I'm sure I'll remember for the rest of my life. Even Cassie gives dancing a go, to her family's delight and slight amusement.
We have finger food at about eight and cake at about nine. It's my favourite cake: Victoria Sponge with chocolate icing and multi-coloured sprinkles. Knox and I cut the cake together as if we're at a wedding. It all seems like a dream, a wonderful dream. Even the threat of having to ultimately decide if I'm going to join OWCA or not goes away for one night.
When the party is over, Perry and Priya set up the sleeper sofa for Knox and me to share. "Thank you, Mom and Dad," I say to my parents.
Perry's POV
That's the first time she's called me Dad since she was three. It makes me feel happy inside.
Knox's POV
I feel a whole lot better about sleeping in the same bed as Quinn now that we're mates. I cuddle up to her and she cuddles up to me, though I'm careful of her stomach. I've already begun thinking of names for our child. If it's a girl, I'd like her to be called Kelsey. If it's a boy, I'd like him to be called Chase. I don't know which gender I'd prefer; it seems like both have their pros and cons, but both genders have more pros than cons.
Quinn's POV
Even as I snuggle up to my mate, my worry comes flooding back to me.
What am I going to choose? OWCA life or peaceful life?
…
This is going to be the penultimate chapter. There'll be one more chapter after this, then an epilogue. So I guess it's not really the penultimate chapter after all XD