Chapter 78
Lucy
Horoscope Pisces
Pisces, after a season of self-discovery, summer invites you to flirt with your newfound confidence, knowing that the groundwork of spring will guide you toward lasting security for you and the ones you love.
“Drumroll please!”
My guys, Felix, and Blossom sat at the large table in my shop, staring at me expectantly.
“Umm, I don’t hear any drumroll sounds.” I raised my eyebrows.
King furrowed his brow. “Oh, I thought that was just a thing people said.”
I let out an impatient huff, my hands on my hips.
Leo elbowed both alphas. “Cue us again, azizam.”
“All right! Drumroll please.”
Wilder tapped on the table, King made a noise no one would ever mistake for a drum, and Leo made a barely passable ba-da-ba-da sound. Felix, on the other hand, flicked his tail like he couldn’t believe I’d suggested he do something so undignified, and Blossom flopped over on the table, fast asleep.
I snorted. “That was terrible. Let’s not do that again. But here’s the grand reveal!” I zipped open the garment bag and pulled out three button-down shirts.
“Woah.” Leo got up from his chair to get a closer look, King and Wilder following close behind. “Those are amazing.”
Today was the Swedish Midsummer Festival—a celebration of the first day of summer and one of my favorite days of the year.
Once I’d recovered from my heat, I’d jumped into making everyone’s Midsummer outfits.
I sewed my guys a pair of slacks and a matching button-down—Wilder’s was dark burgundy, King’s was navy, and Leo’s was olive green.
That had been the easy part. The delicate floral embroidery on the collars and down the sides of each pant leg was what had kept me at my shop late at night, my guys blowing up my phone because it was “cuddling time”—King’s words, not mine.
“These are seriously amazing,” Wilder said.
King kissed the top of my head. “I can’t wait for all of us to be matching. Do you like your outfit, Felix?”
I held up the floral embroidered vest I’d made for him, and he gave me a meow of approval. Blossom was fully conked out beside him, but I felt pretty confident she’d love her matching mini vest when she woke up.
I leaned in to King. “Were they worth my late nights?”
He made a very Wilder-like grunt that made me laugh. I loved that my guys matched my neediness, missing me when I was working, even if we’d spent the entire day together.
“Okay, we need to get moving. After you get dressed, I’ll check if I need to make any adjustments,” I said.
I skipped to the back room where I’d stashed my dress.
I’d opted for pale blue fabric with gold embroidered flowers scattered across the voluminous skirt.
I glanced in the mirror. An omega with bright eyes and pink cheeks stared back at me, a huge smile on her face.
How was my birthday only three months ago?
Spring had certainly fulfilled its promise of transformation and new life.
“What do you think?” I returned to the front room, giving my guys a spin so my skirt flared around me, but stuttered to a stop because my guys were…well, sexy was an understatement. Their outfits fit perfectly, highlighting their broad chests and muscular arms and thighs.
“Baby girl…” King trailed off.
I bounced over. “You like it, Daddy?”
“Fucking love it.” He gripped my chin, holding me at his mercy as his lips crashed against mine. I dragged my tongue along his, nipping at his bottom lip. We were right next to the table. He could bend me over, lift my skirt, and…
A sharp smack on my ass startled me out of my fantasy. My mouth fell open when I realized Leo was the one who had spanked me. “What was that for?”
“You’ll be upset if your hair and makeup get all messed up.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, but he just smirked as he pulled me away from my sulking alpha. “It’s time for your flower crown.”
“I’ll get it,” King snapped. “Leo, you need to sit down.”
Leo huffed with mock annoyance, but his flushed cheeks gave away how much he loved his alpha’s overprotectiveness.
“Come on.” I tugged him over to the closest chair. “Daddy says.”
I went to sit beside him, but Wilder snagged the seat first and pulled me onto his lap.
I snuggled into his chest. This would be my happy place forever.
“Are you excited to dance around the maypole?” I asked.
Wilder grimaced. “Is that a requirement?”
“Only if you want to make me happy.”
I caught his muttered “Brat” as Leo snorted.
King returned with two large cardboard boxes. He set them down on the table in front of me, but instead of the single flower crown I’d expected, there were six—four large ones and two miniature ones.
“While you were busy with our outfits, we made these,” Leo said. “A flower crown for each of us, and for Felix and Blossom, of course.”
I looked between King and Wilder. “You made flower crowns?”
“Leo’s a good instructor,” King said. He leaned down to kiss our beta.
My chest squeezed at their thoughtfulness. They knew how important it was to me that we all matched, and instead of dismissing it as silly, they did this. I blinked quickly because Leo was right—I was not about to burst into tears and ruin my makeup.
I helped pin on everyone’s flower crowns—including Felix’s and Blossom’s—and was about to head out when I remembered one last surprise I’d prepared.
“Wait! I almost forgot.” I ran to the storage room and returned with Leo’s present.
He burst out laughing when I handed him the cane-shaped package. “What could this be?”
I grinned. “I couldn’t find a box big enough for it.”
He tore the brown paper off, revealing a see-through Lucite cane I’d covered with pressed flowers. I’d recruited Felix to help me steal flowers from Leo’s shop. After I’d dried and glued them onto the cane, I’d covered everything with a clear coat to seal them.
Leo was quiet as he took it in. When he looked up at me, there were tears in his eyes. “Jigareto bokhoram. This is amazing.”
He used his cane to stand and pulled me tight against his body.
“You’re welcome. You can eat my liver anytime.”
Jaunty folk music played by our local band, The Light Rovers, filled the air as the residents of Starlight Grove danced and sang around the maypole.
My guys had gone to get us food and drinks, leaving me with my moms, who were all sporting flower crowns and outfits I’d sewn for them through the years.
Mamma wrapped her arm around me. She was wearing the first blazer I’d ever made in high school—the one with wonky, puckered seams and the interior pocket I’d embroidered with I love you in Swedish.
I’d made her much better outfits in the years since, but she said this one was her favorite because of how hard I’d worked on it.
“How’re you doing, love?”
I rested my head against her shoulder. “I’m happy.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “Good.”
“Uh-oh,” Mom said. “We might be waiting on food for a while.”
I followed her gaze to see an intense Stanley cornering Wilder.
“Should we rescue him?” Lala asked as Stanley frantically waved his clipboard.
Jojo snorted as she wrapped her arm around her omega. “You can, but I’m not about to get roped into another Stanley lecture.”
“So…” I fidgeted with my skirt. “What do you think of my guys?” Between my heat and time-intensive Midsummer prep, we’d only gotten together with my moms once for dinner at the Azad house.
It had gone really well—all of our parents had gotten along right away—but I hadn’t had time to really talk to my moms about everything that had happened over the past couple of months.
“I was worried they’d be like your exes, but our new sons are wonderful,” Lala said.
“Your sons? When did you get so close?”
“You’ve been busy at night, darling, so we’ve spent some time together.” Mamma patted my arm as if she hadn’t dropped a huge bombshell.
“Doing what?”
“Just mother/son things,” Jojo said.
“Nothing bonds you like a trip to Newburyport,” Mom added.
“Newburyport? What are you talking about?”
“I was worried about a New York City CEO,” Jojo continued. “I thought he might be too uptight and not really get you. But he has a diabolical mind, and I fully approve.”
“Agreed,” Mamma said. “I never would have thought to mist fabric furniture and rugs with milk.”
“And his tech connections are impressive. He even let me be the one to send the intel.”
“What intel?” I asked loudly.
“Not that I was surprised they’re cheating again,” Mom said, fully ignoring my question. “But they won’t be able to get away with that again.”
“What are—”
“Oh, I love this song!” Lala said. “Let’s go.” My moms joined hands and ran to the maypole, grabbing Tara and Mahmoud on the way. Leo’s parents had fully embraced the Midsummer spirit with their yellow and blue outfits and flower crowns.
I scanned the crowd and spotted Leo heading toward me with a slice of cake. I jogged over to him.
“I’m going to pretend you couldn’t stand being away from me for a minute longer, and not that you ran over for cake,” he said with a grin.
I narrowed my eyes. “Actually, I ran over because my moms were telling me something very interesting about a trip to Newburyport.” I glanced down at the slice of strawberry cake. “Also for this.” I stole it from him and took a huge bite. Serves him right for keeping things from me.
“Hmm? Great town, or so I hear.” His expression was all innocence, and I scowled.
“Uh-huh. It just so happens to be the city my exes moved to.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Leo.”
He laughed, his deep brown eyes sparkling as he played with the ends of my hair.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, azizam.
It would be really weird if your pack drove to your ex-pack’s home with your moms, broke in while they were out, misted all their furniture with milk, and sent proof that they’re cheating on their current omega to her apartment. ”
My jaw dropped. “You didn’t.”
He used my distracted state to steal a huge bite of cake. “There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you.”
I didn’t know what it said about me that instead of indignation, all I felt was warm, gooey gratitude toward my guys and my moms.
For seeing me.
A bolt of anxiety shot through the bond, and Leo and I lurched. King sprinted over to us, his hair sticking up and eyes wild.
“Have you seen Blossom?”
“What do you mean? I thought she was with you.” We’d all been shocked when Blossom had stuck close to King’s side all day, choosing him to carry her to the festival.
“She was! I swear I was paying attention to her the whole time!”
I squeezed his arm. “It’s okay. She probably got distracted by something and hopped off.”
Wilder jogged over. “What’s wrong?”
“Blossom is missing,” Leo said.
“Shit.” Wilder went to run his hand through his hair but was stopped by his flower crown. “She was hanging out with Felix, but I don’t see him, either.”
King looked on the verge of tears. I squeezed his arm.
“It’s okay. Let’s just spread out and look for her.”
At least she was bigger now than she’d been at the Eggstravaganza. She was much less likely to be stepped on, and her little body was about ninety-seven percent sass, so she would certainly give a kidnapper a run for their money.
We spread out and just a few minutes later, King shouted. “I see her!” He sprinted to a food booth and let out a frantic noise. “Help! We need an ambulance!” He turned around with Blossom in his arms. She was flopped on her back, her paws and chest drenched in red.
We all ran over, but when I got a closer look, my heart rate returned to normal. King, however, did not share my relief.
“Why aren’t you moving!? Where is the vet? James!”
I covered my mouth to suppress my laughter. “Umm, King?” But he couldn’t hear me over his shouts.
Leo wrapped his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on the top of my head. “He’s a lost cause.”
James jogged over, eyes wide. “What? What is it? Did Felix get into the meatballs?”
“No, it’s Blossom! She’s dying!” King held out the bunny to James, who pressed his lips together.
“I think she’ll pull through. Besides maybe having a tummy ache from the amount of strawberries she’s consumed.”
King’s jaw dropped, and he lifted Blossom under her little arms until they were face-to-face. “You did this on purpose.”
Blossom’s nose twitched.
“No, you can’t fool me with that innocent act. I know how your diabolical mind works!”
“He’s lost it,” Wilder said.
Leo and I nodded.
“I am the only one who sees the truth!”
“Of course you are, baby.” I took Blossom from King, keeping her in the crook of my arm as I kissed his cheek. “Let’s go get a slice of cake. That will make you feel better.”
I handed Blossom to Wilder as I led a still-grumbling King to the dessert table.
“I apologized for the ear comment,” he said. “And I made her that castle play area in the cabin.”
I patted his arm. “I know, Daddy. You’re doing great. She’s pranking you because she likes you.”
“You think so?”
It was hard work to suppress my smile. My real answer was that Blossom pranked King because he was so easily flustered, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.
“Absolutely. And why wouldn’t she? You’re the best Daddy I could dream of.”
He wrapped me in a tight hug. “I know you’re bullshitting me.”
I shook my head. “No, you really are the best.”
He snorted a laugh and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”