#Capítulo 298 – Ahora  es hora de mamá

Durante las próximas dos semanas , Sinclair y yo no dormimos mucho . 

En cambio , nuestro precioso . Cariño _ maravilloso _ increíble _ paquete _ de . Joy … nos tortura hasta que somos básicamente zánganos sin  sentido , tratando de averiguar lo que quiere y dárselo lo antes posible . _ _

” Oh, Dios mío ” , le digo a Sinclair una noche a las tres de la mañana , desesperada por la ansiedad y la falta de sueño . Camino por la habitación con Rafe presionado contra mi pecho , tratando de consolarlo . _ _ _ ” Ha sido alimentado ,cambiado , eructó … ¡probablemente solo tenga sueño ! ¡Pero se mantiene al día con todo este ruido que está haciendo ! ” 

” Todo irá bien ” , dice mi siempre paciente compañero , extendiendo los brazos . _ _ _ _ Le pasé el bebé y … Rafe se tranquiliza instantáneamente . 

Y este es el momento en el que al mismo tiempo descubrí lo mejor y lo peor de mi vida : que mi pareja es una susurradora de bebés y que mi hijo ama a su papá más de lo que él me ama a mí . 

Por supuesto , estoy tan exhausto en este momento que realmente no me importa que Rafe se calme en los brazos de Sinclair y no en los míos . Me alegro de que esté callado . ” Está bien ” , susurro , retrocediendo lentamente , como si fuera una granada activa . _” Solo abrázalo … así solo … ”  _ _ _

” Ella ” , dice Sinclair , dándome un pequeño ceño fruncido . ” No seas ridículo – no es como si – ” pero da un paso hacia mí y Rafe comienza a llorar . Me congelo como un ciervo ante los faros . Sinclair también . _ Despacio, da un paso atrás . _ Rafe se calla . 

” Justo ahí , Dominic , ” susurro , retrocediendo hacia la cama . _ ” Solo quédense ahí por … dos , tres horas … ” murmuro mientras me subo a mi desordenado nido , ” y los veré a ambos … más tarde … ” 

2 

” Esto es ridículo , Ella ” , me susurra Sinclair a medias , pero no se mueve . Apenas lo escucho ya que casi inmediatamente me quedo dormido . Ambos estamos completamente a merced de Rafe . el es el alfa 

ahora _ 

Cuando me despierto unas horas más tarde , el sol se asoma en la habitación y me levanto sobre mis codos , mirando alrededor . _ Veo que Sinclair se dirigió a la mecedora en la esquina de la habitación y ahora está durmiendo allí . _ _, el bebé yacía en un moisés cerca . _ _ Sin embargo , sonrío al ver que Sinclair apoya una gran mano en el borde de la canasta , listo para responder si Rafe hace un movimiento o un sonido . 

– 

Me río un poco para mis adentros y niego con la cabeza , preguntándome el poder que este pequeño bebé tiene sobre nosotros . Sin embargo , me levanto de la cama y voy a mirarlos a ambos , mi gigantesco compañero , mi pequeño bebé , uno al lado del otro .. Se ven tan parecidos : su color , algunas de sus características y , sin embargo , tan increíblemente diferentes . Mi corazón se  rompe de amor al verlos allí .

mismo 

– 

I stretch my arms over my head and decide to let them sleep, turning to quickly and silently pad out of the room and go down to the kitchen. 

This, oddly enough, has become where I spent most of my time now because I am constantly – constantly – hungry. I had assumed that my hunger would abate after I gave birth and was no longer growing a twelve pound baby within a five–month span, but I am still voracious. I head straight to the pantry, reaching for the big box of shredded wheat as well as a king–sized candy bar. I peel the latter open as I head to the counter and pour the former into a bowl. 

Slowly munching on the candy, I wonder if I’m going to be hungry like this for the duration of the time that I’m breastfeeding Rafe. I look down at myself, considering that I’m relatively lucky – my body has bounced back fast, at least in terms of health, probably because of my wolf biology and my mother’s gift. My figure still hasn’t returned to what it was before I was pregnant – I don’t care about that but health–wise, I feel as fit as I’ve ever been. 

Smiling to myself, I say a little prayer of thanks and go to grab the milk out of the fridge. 

“Chocolate?” someone asks, and I give a little shriek, jumping in the air and spinning around – looking everywhere for the intruder. I’m still panting and on edge when my eyes land on Roger, grinning at me from the doorway. “Chocolate for breakfast? What kind of role model are you being for your child, Ella?” he scolds jokingly. 

“First of all,” I say, brandishing my candy bar at him, “I’m eating this for him, because he demands it. And also, I’m also eating shredded wheat!” I say, gesturing towards my cereal bowl. “So, healthy!” 

Roger laughs and comes forward to give me a hug, which I warmly return. “Eat whatever you want, Ella. Just don’t bankrupt my brother to the candy company.” 

“No promises,” I return, returning to the fridge to grab the milk and making my way back to the bowl. “Why are you here so early?” I ask, curious. “We don’t need you here until nine.” 

Roger raises his eyebrows at me and taps his watch. My eyes go wide with disbelief and I glance towards the stove, which reads 9:08. “Oh my god!” I say, looking back at my brother–in -law. “I can’t believe it! We’re so late!” 

He just shrugs and leans against the counter. “It’s all right, you’re on mom time. It’s understandable.” 

“No, it’s not!” I say, tossing the milk back in the fridge without pouring it and bolting for the stairs, “If we miss our appointment at the temple, we’ll never get another one! And then the moon ceremony won’t happen for another month and everything will be ruined!” 

Roger follows to watch me sprint up the stairs, calling after me. “I think they’ll make an exception for you, Ella! For the woman who ended the war!” 

“No excuses for being rude!” I call over my shoulder, pushing through the door into my room. “Sinclair, quick! We overslept!” 

An hour and twenty–two minutes later, we arrive at our appointment at the temple, just barely 

on time. Cora is there already, waiting anxiously on the steps. She storms over to me the moment we step out of the car. 

“Ella!” my sister hisses. “You’re late! You left me here all alone, with all the wolves!” 

I screw up my face in confusion as I give her a little glare. “We’re not late yet,” I huff, reaching into the car to unhook the baby’s car seat. “And since when do you care about being alone with wolves? You’re alone with wolves all the time.” 

“Yeah, you, and Sinclair, and Rafe,” she murmurs, glancing awkwardly over her shoulder at the temple. “Not…strangers.” 

I look at her carefully as I straighten, Rafe’s car seat handle looped over the crook of my arm. He is, thankfully, quiet and calm. “I didn’t know you were uncomfortable, Cora,” I say softly. ” I’m sorry.” 

“It’s fine,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I just…don’t like being late.” 

I nod, but study her a little bit. Only since after the war has Cora felt this way about being a human amongst wolves. Did her breakup – or was it even a breakup? – mess with her mind this much? I’m about to ask, but unfortunately the man in question comes around the car at just that moment. 

“Hello, Cora,” Roger says softly, carefully. “It’s nice to see you.” 

Cora doesn’t say anything, just looks at him with a little disdain. I raise my eyebrows and look between them. I know that they haven’t seen each other since Rafe’s birth – but they had been fine with each other in the room that night. 

What did I miss?