Baby System: My Mates Can Read my Mind?

A few days have passed since Rue gave birth again.

The energy in the house slowly faded into a quiet, peaceful routine. Outside, the summer wind blew through the tall pine trees, but inside the bedroom, time seemed to stand still.

Knox spent most of his time in the room with the baby, and right now, he refused to blink, convinced the baby would disappear if he looked away.

The giant panther leaned his broad chest against the edge of the wooden crib. He rested his scarred hands on the smooth wood, keeping them far away from the tiny bundle sleeping inside.

He just stared. His dark hair fell over his forehead in messy waves, casting a shadow over his sharp face, but his golden eyes stayed glued to his daughter.

He watched her chest rise and fall. He counted her tiny breaths.

Rue sat propped up on the giant circular bed across the room. She leaned against a tall pile of soft grey pillows.

Her body still ached from the tough birth, but the sharp pain was gone. She felt warm and comfortable under the white blanket Caius gave her. She held a clay cup of fresh water in her hands, taking slow sips while she watched her mate.

Her heart melted right in her chest.

Watching Knox behave so out of character because of the little one was a beautiful thing. Knox was a warlord. He commanded fierce panther shifters and ruled the dangerous panther tribe.

He fought rival packs with his bare hands. He usually roared loud enough to shake the trees. But right now, he looked like a gentle, worried boy. He barely breathed. If the baby let out a tiny sigh, Knox stiffened in panic. If she wiggled her little nose, he leaned an inch closer to make sure she was okay.

"You can touch her, you know," Rue whispered softly into the quiet room.

Knox flinched slightly. He looked over his broad shoulder at Rue.

"I might wake her up," Knox whispered back. His deep voice rumbled, but he kept it so low it was just a rough hum. "And my hands are too rough. I don’t want to scratch her soft skin."

"You won’t scratch her," Rue smiled. She set her clay cup on the wooden nightstand. "You held Theron when he was just a tiny one. You held Mochi. You are so good with kids, Knox."

"This is different," Knox argued gently. He turned his attention back to the crib. "She is so soft and fragile. If I squeeze too hard, she might break."

He loves her so much,

She felt a bright glow spread through her tired body. It felt nice to see this side of him.

She remembered the very first time she met him. He was terrifying. He claimed her as his mate with loud demands and a fierce glare. Now, he was afraid of his own shadow because it might wake up his daughter.

Rue pushed the white blanket off her legs. She wanted to stand up. She wanted to walk over to the crib and stand beside him. But the moment her bare foot brushed the cold floor, Knox turned around fast.

"Don’t move," Knox ordered. He left the crib and rushed to the bed in two long strides. He knelt down on the woven rug and placed his large hands gently over her knees. "What do you need? I will get it for you. Do you need more water? Are you hungry?"

"I just wanted to look at her with you," Rue sighed, letting him tuck her feet back under the warm blanket.

"I can bring her to you," Knox offered eagerly. "Just tell me when."

"Let her sleep," Rue chuckled. She reached out and traced the thick scar running down Knox’s cheek. "I just like watching you watch her. It makes me happy."

Knox leaned into her touch. He turned his head and pressed a soft kiss to her palm. His golden eyes softened.

"I still can’t believe she is here," Knox murmured. He rested his chin on the edge of the mattress. "I never thought I would have a family like this. I never thought I would have a little girl. I don’t know how to raise a princess."

"She isn’t just a princess," Rue said, brushing his dark hair back. "She is a panther too. She will be strong, just like her dad."

Knox smiled, but the worry didn’t leave his eyes. "She needs a name. Axel keeps reminding me. Every time I walk into the kitchen, the dog asks me if I picked one yet."

Rue laughed softly. "Well, did you?"

Knox groaned. He rubbed his face with his free hand. "No. Every name I think of sounds too harsh. I thought about naming her after a sharp weapon or a fierce storm. That is how my people name our cubs. But then I look at her little face, and those names just feel wrong. She needs a good name. Something special. Something that fits her."

"Take your time," Rue assured him. "There is no rush. You will know it when you see it."

"I want it to be perfect," Knox insisted. "She deserves a perfect name."

The room fell back into a comfortable, easy silence. The afternoon sun filtered through the glass window, painting warm yellow squares across the floor. Rue rested her head back against the pillows, enjoying the quiet moment with her mate.

Then, a soft rustle came from the wooden crib.

Knox snapped his head up. His pointed panther ears twitched, catching the tiny sound instantly. He stood up from the floor so fast he almost knocked over a small wooden stool. He hurried back to the crib, gripping the smooth edges tight.

Rue shifted on the bed, stretching her neck to see over the wooden slats.

Suddenly, the baby stirs.

The tiny newborn wiggled in her warm blankets. She let out a tiny, high-pitched yawn that sounded like a squeak. Her little hands curled into tight fists and stretched up into the air, fighting against the soft fabric wrapping her up.

"She’s waking up," Knox breathed. He looked terrified and amazed at the same time.

Rue smiled, her heart doing a happy flip. "Pick her up, Knox. Say hello to her."

Knox hesitated. He wiped his sweaty palms on his dark trousers. He took a deep, shaky breath. He reached down into the crib very slowly. He slid his large hands under the soft blankets, supporting her tiny head and her fragile back. He lifted her up like she was the most valuable treasure in the world.

He held her against his broad chest. The contrast was startling and beautiful. He was huge, dark, and covered in battle scars. She was tiny, pale, and perfectly smooth.

Knox looked down at her face.

The baby stopped wiggling. She scrunched up her little nose. Her dark curls fell over her forehead. Then, very slowly, she opened her eyes.

Her tiny eyelids flutter open for the very first time.

Knox gasps.

The sound echoed in the quiet bedroom. He stopped breathing. He just stared.

Rue felt her heart skip a beat. "What is it?" she asked, leaning forward eagerly. "What colour are they?"

Knox didn’t answer right away. He was frozen in place. He stared right into bright golden eyes that matched his own.

They were not pink like Rue’s. They were not blue or brown. They were a vivid, striking gold. The exact same bright, fierce shade as the Southern King.

She had her mother’s delicate skin and soft features, but she carried the undeniable mark of her father’s wild spirit right in her eyes.

Knox felt a single tear slip down his rough cheek. He didn’t even try to wipe it away. He looked at those beautiful golden eyes blinking up at him. She looked so small, yet so fierce. She looked perfect.

Without even thinking, the name just fell right out of his mouth.

"Seika," Knox whispered.

The baby stared at him. She let out a soft, breathy coo, as if she accepted the gift. Her tiny panther ears popped out and twitched at the sound of his deep voice.

"Seika," Knox repeated, his voice cracking with raw emotion. He looked up at Rue. Tears shined bright in his golden eyes. "Her name is Seika."

Rue’s eyes narrowed in warmth. She loved it. She didn’t need to hear a long list of choices. She didn’t need to debate it with the others in the main hall. The moment she heard the beautiful word, she knew it belonged to her daughter.

She let the word wrap around her heart. It sounded soft, but it held a quiet, enduring strength. It was the perfect balance between a fragile rabbit and a fierce panther.

Rue tests the name on her tongue with a pure and vibrant smile. "Seika. Pure flower."