Epilogue
Cash
“I’m going to get you, fishy.”
I walk into the townhouse from work early and almost collide with a blond, five-year-old boy running around the living room.
Our once pristine space has been entirely transformed. Colorful foam mats cover the hardwood floors, child-sized furniture clusters in corners, and a rainbow of toys occupies every available surface.
Lucas doesn’t notice me at first, too engrossed in his game of chase. The little boy squeals with delight, darting behind the sofa with surprising agility. I lean against the doorframe, a slight smile tugging at my lips as I watch them.
Six months ago, Lucas converted our ground floor and basement into an in-home daycare center, and I’ve never seen him happier.
Normally, I wouldn’t be overjoyed about sharing my space with a hundred pounds of children’s toys, but we rarely sleep here anymore .
“Got you!” Lucas scoops up the giggling child, tickling his sides. The boy’s laughter fills the room, bright and infectious.
I check my watch—5:45 p.m.. All the children should have been picked up already. “His mom late again?”
“Hey, there. You’re early.” Lucas turns, finally noticing me. He shifts the boy to his hip with practiced ease. “Yeah, Ethan’s mom texted that she’s running behind. Traffic.”
I nod in understanding with a flash of annoyance not aimed at the boy’s mother, a single omega working two jobs. Since Lucas opened the daycare, I’ve gained a sobering education on how many deadbeat alphas there are out there, abandoning their responsibilities without a second thought.
The waitlist for Lucas’s daycare grew exponentially within months of opening, as word spread quickly about an alpha-run childcare center, particularly among single parents desperate for positive alpha influences in their children’s lives.
“I don’t mind,” Lucas adds, bouncing Ethan gently. “We’re having fun, aren’t we, buddy?”
Ethan nods enthusiastically. “Mr. Lucas was a shark!”
“A very scary shark, I bet,” I say, walking over to them.
Lucas’s baby fever hasn’t disappeared completely, but the daycare has channeled his nurturing instincts in a way that works for all of us.
Between these kids during the day and our pack at night, the idea of having children of our own has shifted to the back burner.
Spending time together and figuring ourselves out as a pack has been the primary focus.
I lean in and press a gentle kiss to Lucas’s lips, savoring the moment of domestic tranquility.
The front door bursts open, and a harried-looking woman rushes in, her cheeks flushed. “I’m so sorry! The bus broke down, and then I had to?— “
“Mommy, mommy,” Ethan wriggles out of Lucas’s arms and races to his mother.
“Not a problem, Rissa,” Lucas assures her, waving away her concern. “Ethan and I were playing sharks.”
She kneels to help Ethan into his jacket, relief evident on her face. “Thank you so much. And thank you for not charging a late fee. It makes such a difference.”
“We understand completely,” I say, meaning it. The daycare isn’t about profit—we make more than enough money as it is. This is about Lucas’s personal fulfillment and giving back to the community.
After a flurry of goodbyes and promises to see Ethan tomorrow, the door closes behind them. Lucas immediately begins tidying, his movements efficient after months of practice.
I set aside my work briefcase, glancing at my watch. “We need to go. Leave the mess for later.”
“Go? Go where?” Lucas pauses mid-cleanup, brow furrowing in confusion. He stands upright, a plastic dinosaur dangling from his fingers. Then realization slowly dawns, and he drops the toy. “Oh shit, that’s today? Let me grab my jacket and we can go.”
I shake my head, amused as he rushes around looking for his phone and wallet. “Why exactly did you think I came home early from work?”
Lucas pauses his frantic movements, a slow smile spreading across his face. He sidles closer, crowding me against the wall, his familiar alpha scent enveloping me. He places a hard kiss on my lips, then unexpectedly slaps me on the ass with enough force to make me jump .
“Because you’re always eager to get home to your alpha,” he says, voice dropping an octave lower.
Heat floods my cheeks. Six months into our bonded pack arrangement, and Lucas still affects me like this. “I’ll be even happier if my alpha doesn’t make us late to the most important meeting of our lives.”
Lucas narrows his eyes, still smiling as he shrugs on his jacket. “You’re going to pay for that smart mouth later,” he promises. “And I’m going to make Trinity help.”
A thrill runs through me at the thought. Trinity has proven surprisingly inventive when it comes to keeping us all satisfied. I don’t say that I’ve already decided what I want for Christmas this year—Trinity and Lucas teaming up to dominate me is at the top of my list.
Instead, I grab my keys and call out as Lucas heads for the door, “I’m counting on it.”
Kyren
I adjust the bass levels on the sound system, keeping one eye on Trinity as she dashes around the place like a gorgeous whirlwind. Her form-fitting satin dress catches the light as she moves, directing staff, checking decorations, and confirming last-minute details for tonight’s grand opening.
Six months ago, I thought Trinity bonding me on that plane had changed my life. I was wrong. That was just the beginning.
The bonding bite on my neck tingles pleasantly as I watch her work. Everything since that flight—moving into Matheo’s mansion with the others, waking up surrounded by packmates, sharing quiet mornings and chaotic evenings—it’s all been incredible.
But watching Trinity transform her small event planning business into a full-scale event management company has been something else entirely.
“Is that microphone going to work this time?” she calls across the room, pointing to the stage setup.
I give her a thumbs up. “Tested and perfect. Unless you want it to fail dramatically mid-speech? I can arrange that, too.”
Her laughter echoes through the high-ceiling space. God, I love that sound.
When Trinity offered me a full-time position as entertainment and production manager, I barely knew how to respond.
Now I get to blend my technical skills with my love of music, curating entertainment and handling all production aspects for her high-end events.
The flexible schedule even lets me play with my new band on weekends.
For the first time, my work feels like more than just a paycheck.
Trinity bustles over, checklist in hand. Her professional face is on, but I catch the slight softening around her eyes that’s just for me. “How are we looking with the equipment? Any issues I should know about?”
“We’ve got one serious problem,” I say, keeping my expression grave.
Her eyebrows shoot up, and I see the immediate shift into crisis-management mode. Before she can spiral into worst-case scenarios, I pull her into my arms, dipping her backward dramatically.
“I haven’t told you I love you yet today,” I murmur against her lips before kissing her .
When I bring her back to her feet, she’s blushing, that perfect peach color spreading across her cheeks. “Kyren! We’re at work.”
“And?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Public displays of affection are unprofessional,” she says, though her smile undermines her stern tone.
I kiss her again, lingering just long enough to feel her melt against me before pulling back.
“It’s okay. I’m pretty sure the boss is obsessed with me.
” I lower my voice to a stage whisper. “And if she tries to fire me, I’ve got plenty of blackmail material.
Those pictures she sent me yesterday, legs spread on her desk and panties barely hanging from her ankle. Very compromising.”
Trinity slaps my arm, her face growing even redder. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I waggle my eyebrows exaggeratedly. “Of course I wouldn’t. But she doesn’t need to know that.”
Her laugh fills the space between us, bright and uninhibited. I feel it vibrate through our bond, a warm pulse of happiness that echoes my own.
“Ms. Jones,” a voice calls from across the room. “We need your input on the champagne display!”
“Duty calls,” Trinity says with a sigh, still smiling slightly. She steps back, smoothing her dress. “Behave yourself.”
“No promises.” I wink as she hustles away.
I watch her go, marveling at how she commands attention without even trying. Six months ago, I was a sound tech playing cartoon effects when actors fell off stage rigging. Now I’m bonded to an incredible woman, part of a loving pack, and doing work I actually enjoy.
Not bad for a guy who once thought he didn’t deserve anything. Somehow, I’ve found myself with everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
Lucas
What Trinity has done with her venue literally takes my breath away.
The old theater she eventually secured thanks to Egret—and don’t get me started on how I feel about that—has been transformed into something truly magical.
Crystal chandeliers hang from the restored ceiling, casting prismatic light across polished hardwood floors.
The stage, now converted into a stunning presentation area, features Trinity’s company logo in subtle, tasteful lighting.
I pause at the entrance, watching corporate representatives in sleek suits mingle with potential clients and industry veterans. Trinity has outdone herself, creating a space that perfectly balances elegance with functionality.
“There’s Matheo,” Cash murmurs beside me, nodding toward the far corner where our packmate is taking photographs of the event. “We should go say hello.”
“In a minute,” I reply, spotting Trinity across the room.
One look tells me everything I need to know. She’s wearing a stunning black dress that hugs her curves perfectly, but beneath her professional smile, exhaustion shadows her eyes. She’s been working eighteen-hour days for weeks to prepare for this launch, and I can feel her fatigue through our bond.