Did I mention that I am studying for the LSATs and that studying for said test sucks all of the brain out of you. I actually finished this story due to being so sick of studying so, yay for LSATs (not).
Piper woke like a scared colt. Eyes wide and legs unstable. She fell a few times, and pushed herself up into her feet before realizing that she didn't have any. She was no longer Piper, she was a wolf.
Talk about a bad day.
The wolf across from her yipped happily, keeping his distance, Mate, her wolf whispered within her, and she realized Bran was just as beautiful in this form.
The admiration only lasted a minute, however, when thoughts of her baby resurfaced. Horrified, she searched for the baby. Only dried leaves of red and a strange smell met her nostrils.
Piper looked wildly toward Bran. He nodded back toward the trail and then nodded once more. Piper took it for al it was worth. Clumsily, she ran full-speed toward the trail, back toward their house. Her legs felt awkward and stiff, like she was walking on ice. She fell twice along the way and tripped once more over a log. Despite, the constant whining and growling, she managed to get in one piece. Bran was behind her, walking like he'd been doing it for years. Which he had, she grumbled.
On the porch Samuel held a small human bundle. The bundle smelled of woods and peppermint. Within those blankets was their child. Mine, the wolf declared.
The declaration may have come across as a snarl, but Samuel still smiled warmly towards her. A moment later, Brady exploded out of the house and down the steps. He stopped a foot short and she saw tears line his eyes. She dipped her muzzle once, to reassure him and he continued forward, dropping to his knees and wrapping his arms around her.
He began to weep, and her wolf whispered that he was also hers. Son, it said. "I was so scared," he was mumbling into her pelt, "I was so scared you were dead and I'd be alone again, don't leave me, please." He continued to squeeze her as Bran walked out of the trail behind her, once again human.
With a smile, he took their baby from Samuel and walked toward her. Before he got to her, he gazed down, and the look told that he thought the baby was the most precious thing in the world. Piper yipped at him, impatient.
"You're going to have to change back," He glanced toward her, while rocking their baby, "I want to know what to call our daughter."
She yipped again, a girl, she realized. Joy filled her. He grew serious. "Change, Piper."
But she didn't know how! There wasn't a button or anything. She didn't even remembering changing to begin with. Stupidly, Piper imagined herself as human. She thought of her long neck, her legs, her flat chest, the scar above her lip.
As the image took place in her mind, bones began to shift. She cried out in pain, wondering if it was too late to stop the change
Maybe it would be lovely to stay a wolf. Wolfs sleep all day, right?
The agony continued, bones snapping and molding. Eventually, the black faded from her vision and she came to be Piper again, human, and sprawled out on the lawn in front of her home...naked.
"Fuck, that hurt,' she mumbled into the grass.
Bran ignored the pain, instead, bending down beside her. Their baby was close enough to be seen. She noticed the child's beautiful blue eyes and the single dark wisp of hair. She was perfect.
The baby was also, big. Piper remembered seeing a picture of a newborn. Brady had remarked they had that squished head-look. This beautiful girl in front of her didn't look newborn. "She looks so big."
"You've been out of it for a week," he smiled. sadly, "she grew a lot."
A week. She had missed her daughter's first bitch Leah had taken away the first week she was supposed to spend with her child. Rage bubbled slightly, the wolf growled and the sound left her lips. Shocked, she glanced toward the baby. Who wasn't frightened but instead rewarded her with a smile.
"It wasn't your fault Piper, the change is hard."
"I should kill Leah for taking that away from me."
He smiled dangerously, "too late. Just make now count."
She nodded, still feeling terrible. She took three deep breathes before shrugging into the shirt Samuel had tossed beside her. When she felt strong enough to stand, she did. After a moment of gaining her balence, Bran smiled at her and handed her their daughter.
Their daughter.
He kept an arm wrapped around her waist, humming some tune into her ear and smiling down at the baby.
Brady stood apart, looking relieved and still upset. Samuel came up behind him, ruffing up his blonde hair. "What's her name, then?" he called out.
Piper looked back toward their baby, not realizing she had already decided, " Mackenzie," she declared, "Mackenzie Latham Cornick."
Latham is Anna's maiden name, FYI.