Epilogue Part Two #2
From the first launch, Kellan hit the track with more aggression than usual, swinging his car around corners like it was on rails. Hunter, Finley, and I remained at the back for the first and second lap, but by the third Hunter had passed Kenzo, falling in behind Warrick and Kassidy.
Slade and Kellan were out in front battling hard, and while the SVJ had more power, Kellan was on fire today, leaving them evenly matched.
Warrick was solidly in third, but Kassidy could really freaking drive as she pushed him all the way.
Hunter remained in fifth, Kenzo sixth, leaving Finley and me in the last two places.
Finley caught my eye, as we headed into the fourth lap, and I loved that we were side by side. You and me, darlin’, he drawled in my mind, and I cackled like a damn witch cliché.
I’m going to beat you today, Grouchy. Hold on to your bear coat.
Planting my foot, I took the next bend faster than I’d ever taken a turn out here and almost lost control. But this car’s handling was near perfection, so with a lot of help from its traction control, I managed not to crash. Thank you, Golden, for insisting I leave that on.
His was dialed all the way off, of course.
Careful, Emmeline, Hunter ordered, his tone serious. You’re precious cargo, with nothing to prove here.
Ignoring him, I took the next corner almost as fast, finding the perfect speed to half slide around the curve. By the fifth lap, Kellan was a car in front of Slade, with Hunter and Warrick side by side for third and fourth.
I closed in on Kenzo, who was sliding the track in true rally style, and while my Porsche couldn’t drive like that without me possibly dying, I did catch him on the next straight by hitting my DRS button.
This nifty little piece of tech adjusted the rear wing and front diffuser to reduce drag on straights.
I’d never used it before, but fuck, Kellan was right, it really made a difference.
When I crossed the line beside Kenzo, I looked up to the flashing board to find I’d beaten my last race combined lap time by a good four seconds.
Yes!
This time Kellan caught me as I launched from the car, spinning me around in a circle. He’d also beaten his last combined time by three seconds, and in the bond his wolf was losing it.
“Best birthday ever!” he cried, his cheeks pink as he smiled so hard it had to be hurting his face.
It made me happy to see him happy, and I climbed him until our lips met in a breathless kiss. “Congratulations, baby,” I murmured, pressing kisses all over his face. “Are you ready for your present?”
His eyes widened. “Didn’t I get that all morning? ‘Cause that was definitely a present.”
With a snort, I smacked his shoulder. “That was a present for both of us. I got you something else of course.”
I had to wiggle against him, and for a second he refused to release me.
When he finally relented, he kept his eyes locked on me as I dashed over to the Lambo, where Slade was retrieving the wrapped gift.
Taking the weighty box, I returned to Kellan, who’d been joined by Kenzo, Talon, and Constantine.
My father had not only tamed and cut his hair, but he was in new jeans and blue button-down, with runners on his feet. “You look amazing,” I said, giving him a one-armed hug, since my other one was occupied by the heavy present. “Thanks for being here.”
He pulled away wearing a slightly stunned expression, and I wondered how long it would take for this family thing not to take us by surprise. “I wouldn’t have missed it,” he said. “You drove amazing, by the way. I’m so proud of you.”
And just like that I regressed all the way back to a child craving her father’s approval. Hello, childhood trauma. Maybe it was time for me to book my own appointment with Dr. Karen, since I could no longer use the excuse that I was too busy saving shifter kind.
“Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that,” I said, sniffling to tamp down my emotions. “I hope you’re around for more of these days.”
Constantine nodded, the icy blue of his eyes lightening. “Hunter said there’s a house available on your street if I want to claim it, and I might take him up on that offer.”
My gaze snapped to my entitled alpha, who even in the midst of his conversation with Warrick, watched me closely. Thank you.
Anything for you, baby girl. Absolutely anything.
Kellan, who’d been as patient as he could manage, wrapped his arm around my shoulder and dragged me into his side. “I’ve been a very good boy waiting over here,” he said in a rush, pressing his lips to the side of my head. “Can I have my present now? Please, pretty mate?”
This alpha… “I do love when you beg, Golden Boy.”
On my knees, baby?
My thighs clenched and I shook my head. I can still feel you between my thighs, Golden Boy. But yes. On your knees.
He groaned. Everyone here is about to see you get fucked. I hope you know that.
My dad is here.
He shrugged, like he couldn’t give less of a shit about that, but before he could haul me into his arms, I thrust the gift into his face. “Happy birthday, Golden!” My voice was higher than usual, but only my pack knew what was going on, as they drifted in the quintet essence.
The blue of Kellan’s eyes was light as he gently removed the box from my grasp, hefting it up and down. “It’s weighty,” he mused, eyeing it closely as he turned it side to side. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to open a gift.”
He tore through the shiny blue paper to reveal the ornate box below. It was similar to my dagger box, but his had its own unique spin, with sapphires and diamonds embedded in the carved wolf. Kellan’s eyes were wide as he stared between me and the box. “Oh, Shortcake. You didn’t!”
He lifted the lid slowly, and when the contents were revealed, he stared down like he couldn’t believe his eyes. The pair of long blades were nestled inside the navy velvet lining, and when he brushed his fingers over the glinting steel, he released a small rasp. “Best birthday ever.”
Making his day a little special was exactly what I’d hoped for.
“Plenty more where this came from,” I informed him, and when Kellan looked at me, it was with even more reverence than the blades.
Best birthday ever.