The door opened slowly to reveal a man who was surprisingly taller than him. It wasn't often Wulf met such a person.
"So you do protect her," the man said quietly.
"Yes."
The Apollite gave him a strange look. "You love her." It was a statement, not a question.
"I barely know her."
The man gave a half-smile at that. "Time has no meaning to the heart." He held his hand out to Wulf who shook it reluctantly. "My name is Shanus and I'm glad to know you will do anything to keep her safe. Good. Now, come, she's waiting for you."
Cassandra was lying on the bed while a nurse prepared her blood transfusion. It was a good thing too. She'd been weak before tonight, but the added excitement of Stryker's attack had taken a lot out of her.
The doctor handed her a T-shirt to put on instead of the sweater so that they could hook her up to the machine. At first, they had balked at her refusing to drink blood. Apparently, Apollites weren't squeamish, but Cassandra had enough human in her to not want to do that.
So after a brief, heated debate, they had given in to her.
Cassandra exchanged shirts while the doctor prepared her for a sonogram.
"You will need more blood than normal to accommodate your baby," Dr. Lakis explained as Cassandra lay back down on the bed. The doctor lifted Cassandra's shirt, exposing her slightly rounded stomach. "It's a good thing you're here since Apollite blood is stronger and will have the nutrients in it your baby needs. You'll also need a lot more iron and calcium since you're part human. I'll make sure you have plenty of vitamin-enhanced food to eat."
Cassandra heard Kat say something outside the door. She lifted herself up on her elbows and cocked her head to listen but she couldn't make anything out.
Weird. Chris and Phoebe had both gone on to their rooms to sleep.
Cassandra was about to get out of the bed to go check outside when Wulf came through the door.
Relief flooded her at the sight of all six feet six inches of that well-muscled male form. He looked tired, but unhurt. She drank in the gorgeousness of his body and face.
The doctor, however, looked at him suspiciously. "Are you the baby's father?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
Cassandra held her hand out to Wulf who took it, then kissed her knuckles.
"You're just in time," the doctor said as she rubbed an oily gel over Cassandra's belly. She placed the cool paddle against her.
The machine on the cart bonged and hissed.
Cassandra watched the screen anxiously until she saw the teeny-tiny infant that was kicking its feet.
Wulf's hand tightened on hers.
"There he is," the doctor said. "A fine healthy little boy all ready to take on the world."
"How can you tell it's a boy?" Cassandra asked breathlessly as she watched her son flex. He looked much like a tadpole to her.
"Well, we actually can't really tell yet," Dr. Lakis said as she took measurements with the machine, "but I can feel him. He's strong. A fighter like both of his parents."
Cassandra felt a tear roll out from the corner of her right eye. Wulf kissed it away.
She looked at him and saw the happiness on his face. He was proud of his son.
"Everything looks fine so far," the doctor said as she printed out a small photograph of the baby. "You just need to rest a lot more and eat a better diet."
The doctor wiped the goo off her belly while Wulf and Cassandra looked at the tiny picture.
"He looks like an angel," Cassandra whispered.