69. Two Years Later
sixty-nine
two years later
What the fuck am I doing here?
I know I said I was past all that shit, but seriously.
How did I end up with this tight end’s hairy ass in my face ?
From her place across my old bedroom, Serena smirks at me like the naughty little kitten she is.
You think this is sooooo funny, huh? I gripe internally. Maybe I should tie you to my chair again.
She knows I’m not bluffing. Her sweet, creamy scent is still soaked into the black leather recliner that currently has the Ospreys’ star player draped over i t.
Since we all started sleeping in the Omega Suite together every night, this place has basically become our own personal tattoo parlor.
It sat empty for a couple of months before our girl came to me one day and shyly asked if I’d meant what I said the day I told her I would ink her. Now, a couple of years and half a dozen designs later, she knows I don’t make idle threats.
They’re called “promises,” Ave , Tristan chimes.
He’s downstairs, being a stick in the mud with the other pack alpha, the doctor, and the professor—while the cool kids get tattoos.
For good measure, I send both Thornes a nice, long mental image of Theo Matthew’s bare ass and get an internal wince back.
Jesus Christ, Avery, Spencer snaps. I am eating .
I start to pan my gaze over to a particularly bloody line I just inked, but a soft, tinkling laugh fills our bond.
Menace… Green eyes glance up from where she and Meg are sitting crossed-legged on my former bed.
The makeshift curtain I have up to keep my girl from having to witness this atrocity makes it hard for me to see her whole face, but I catch the teasing light in our omega’s gaze as she asks, Why are we torturing Spencer?
Anytime she interrupts one of my mean streaks, she always says “we.” Because, in her mind, I’m her permanent accomplice. And she’s mine.
Which is how I got roped into this clusterfuck.
It was supposed to be one piece. Her sister’s goalie alpha, Cassian, wanted a blue butterfly like the monarch I have in the center of my chest.
I like the guy, since he tends to keep his yap shut, unlike their other packmate Damon. Plus, it was some romantic shit for my sister-in-law. So I said fine .
Little did I know.
“Peeeeeachessss,” the burly blond football player whines. “It buuuuu rns.”
The Ash Pack omega snickers. “I told you, big guy: This is allll you.”
From their spot on the floor, Declan and Jonah both snort. “It can’t be that bad,” Declan grumbles. “Unlike what this animal did to my spine.”
An animal ? As I stand here tattooing his packmate for nothing but a good time?
I press harder on the needle and Theo actually whimpers .
“Menace,” Serena calls out loud, her soft voice full of mischief. “Behave.”
Jonah scratches his beard and laughs. “Fat fucking chance.”
I flash her half a smile. “What do I get if I behave?”
Gold sparkles in her green gaze. “I’ll let you finish my thigh piece tonight.”
Oh fuck. I’ve been steadily working on it for months . A detailed, shaded vision of the garden she envisions as the center of our bond. I drew it for her as part of her birthday gift, and she’s been sitting for sessions ever since.
It’s been slow work… probably because I stop to lick her cunt every few minutes.
My pheromones flex, filling the room as Declan rolls his eyes, Jonah chuffs, and Meg chortles. Theo shoots me a dirty look. “Are you and your omega flirting while my ass is out?”
“Yep,” Serena and I answer together, then grin at one another.
Fuck me, she’s so beautiful. Even in a ripped-up Ospreys T-shirt and those little exercise shorts she likes to wear when she’s kicking ass at our gym.
There’s no time for that today. As soon as I finish this piece, we’ll be on the go.
And I have to wear a fucking suit. Although this might be the one time I won’t mind.
Or won’t complain , at least.
Much .
I can tell my girl is listening to my thoughts when a soft tendril of love creeps through our tether. I grin to myself, showin g her an image of me kissing the hell out of her as soon as I’m done.
Which will be right… about… now.
I click my machine off, setting the needle aside. “Alright, you big blond pussy. You’re done.”
And I’m officially responsible for the fact that there’s a fat, fuzzy peach tattooed on a grown man’s ass.
The things I do for love.
I barely have a second to stretch and try to dial down my glare before my omega senses my mood. Casting Meg a knowing look, Serena flounces right over and jumps into my arms.
“Thank you, Menace,” she says, wrapping her lithe legs around my hips. “Now I owe you.”
I glower at her gorgeous face. “Everyone in this damn room owes me, kitten.”
Meg scrambles up from her spot and runs over, ducking around the partition to see the finished product before I slap a bandage over it. She squeals, bouncing in place while Serena hides a smile against my neck.
Theo’s face has lost all traces of pain. He grins back at his omega and then bounces his eyebrows. “Sexy, right?”
“Soooo sexy,” Meg gushes, bending to kiss his furry face. “The hottest tattoo in the pack for sure .”
Declan rises to the bait, coming over to sweep her into an openly suggestive kiss. Meg giggles against his lips before breaking away, winding one arm around her quarterback and dropping her free hand to pet Theo’s long hair.
She looks over at us, suddenly remembering something. “Oh! Serena! I have something for you.”
She moves to the purse she left beside the bedroom door and drops to rummage through it. “Really, it’s a gift from me and Remi. I know you’re going to see her later, but I wanted to be the one to give it to you before you leave on your trip!”
Meg fishes out a rectangular box and hands it to Serena, paying no mind to the way I’m snuggling my omega into my chest. “They ’re sort of a tradition,” Meg chirps, returning to Declan. “It took us a while to find the right ones for you, though.”
My girl flips the lid open and reveals a pair of gold, heart-shaped sunglasses. They’re shiny, with exaggerated angles and the words “bad bitch” engraved along the side.
Serena laughs. “Oh my God, thank you! I love them. They’re just like yours and Remi’s!”
Meg shrugs. “We’ve wanted to get you some forever, but you only wear bougie accessories—Remi finally custom-ordered those because we couldn’t find any other gold ones! Now you’ll have them when you’re lying on the beach next week.”
Jonah, Serena, and I all share a beat of excitement at the mention of our vacation. For good reason.
It legit took us two years to agree on a place. Spencer wanted something historic. Jonah wanted to surf and lie on a beach. I wanted to do some adventure traveling. And Tristan was aiming for a romantic angle.
In the end, Serena picked the locale—two weeks traveling from Japan down to Thailand. Plenty of culture, designated beach time, and we get to ride elephants.
Not to mention the moony way she and Tris look at each other every time someone mentions the cherry blossoms in bloom this time of year.
We’ve been on lots of little trips since we bonded, but this one is supposed to be a “honeymoon.”
Two years late. Though, lately, I got the feeling our girl knew exactly where we were going all along—she just liked listening to us bicker and the way we all spent an hour after every pack meeting huddled around Tris’s laptop, researching together.
Sparks fly through her gaze while she settles her new glasses on top of her hair and leans back to look into my eyes. Only took you a year-and-a-half to figure it out, she thinks. This is why you’re my partner-in-crime .
She’s mine, too.
Usually. But today we have a major surprise for her, too.
When she feels my inner curtain drop suddenly, her brows fold in suspicion. What are you up to, Menace?
I grin. You’ll see. We have plans for you.
Glowing green orbs narrow at me. Does this have anything to do with how secretive Tris has been recently?
I pout, knowing she’ll sense my lie even before I think, What?! No!
Instead of getting annoyed, she shakes her head, fondness filling her eyes. “And here I thought you worked alone.”
“ Not anymore, baby,” I admit, unable to help the way genuine happiness touches the words when they echo in our bond.
Not anymore.
“Just hold still,” I grunt, shooting Ave a glare. “Goddamn, kid. It’s a suit, not a straitjacket.”
He fidgets with his solid black sleeves, flashing his signature murderous look. “I take it back. I’m officially complaining about these dumbass clothes. ”
Yeah, no shit , I chuckle internally. This is important to our girl. Just a couple more hours…
I hope.
Truth be told, I have no idea how long this ceremony is going to last, and I’m not exactly a huge fan of wearing a suit in the Florida heat, either.
It’s warm, for an April day. Serena and Spencer get to wait inside, along with all the other graduates. The rest of us are fine baking in the sun, but I hope this weather won’t be too much for Remi…
As I have the thought, Tristan steps up beside me, hiding a smirk as he nods at the solid figure cutting through the university quad. Cassian stands as tall as I do, easily noticeable over the heads of all the other attendees.
He’s frowning, but what else is new? I’ve started to suspect he’s grumpy on purpose, sometimes, to earn himself extra time with our sweet sister-in-law.
That would never work on Serena , Tristan thinks with pride. She’d figure us out in two seconds .
He has a point. It’s a miracle she hasn’t unriddled her surprise yet. Tris has been killing himself to keep it completely secret, but our omega is brilliant.
Case in point—we’re at her graduation, and she’s only been in school for two years.
It helps to have your professor inside your head , Serena quips. Makes it sooooo much easier to cheat .
All three of us snort at Spencer’s internal scoff of outrage. As if I would ever allow that, Mrs. Thorne .
Serena’s musical laugh fills our bond, lighting everything up. Oblivious to the way we all grin at each other like idiots, she asks, Is Remi here yet?
Tristan sends a mental image of Smith Pierson melting the flesh off of someone’s face as they accidentally step in her sister’s unsteady path.
Oh, yes …
Damon brings up the rear, turning and offering charming smiles to everyone Cassian and Smith have just growled at.
Relatable , I think, casting Avery and Tris a glower.
Avery pulls at his collar again and Tristan rolls his eyes. “I’m not that bad,” he mutters, watching while Smith runs his anxious eyes over Remi’s profile.
All four of us blare back at him in the bond.
Um, yes you are , I laugh.
HA! Avery exclaims. You’re hilarious.
No , Spencer puts in drily. You’re worse.
Serena’s tether glows with happiness. Don’t listen to them, Senator. I happen to like it .
Tris still hasn’t wiped the shit-eating grin off his face when the Piersons finally make it over. He shakes hands with Smith and gives Remi a careful once-over.
Avery slaps Damon’s shoulder and exchanges grunts with Cassian while I hug Remi from the side, careful not to get my scent on her or squeeze her enormous middle.
“How are you feeling, little sis?” I ask, grinning down at her huge baby bump.
Well, babies bump, I guess.
When everyone found out Remi was having twins, Serena was overjoyed. I think, in a way, the two sisters getting to go through this together has been healing for them.
Tris and Smith haven’t had any luck finding out what happened to their mother. But my hummingbird once told me, while we were lying in our garden, that not knowing didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would. She likes to imagine Alana flying free, wherever she may be.
In the meantime, knowing that she’ll get to watch her sister’s twins grow up has really helped Serena make peace with all the time they lost. I wonder—if our girl is ever ready for babies—whether having some of our own will be another big step in coming to terms with her past. The same may be true for Spencer and Avery, too .
Seeing Remi carry her babies has definitely gotten all of us thinking about the future. We’re in no rush, though. The most important thing is that Serena gets where she wants to go and has everything she needs.
That’s clearly the Pierson’s only goal for their omega, too. If having two humans inside of her distresses Remi at all, I can’t tell. So far, she’s been one of the happiest pregnant ladies I’ve ever met.
A wide smile graces her slightly drawn features. “I’m good! A little tired. They were playing tetherball with my bladder most of the night.”
Avery can take all the gore and violence in the world, but he looks a little squeamish as he cringes at Remi’s big belly and the purple pleated sundress draped over it. “You guys are done after these two, right?”
Damon snorts, wrapping his arms around his omega. “Hell no! We all have to have a turn!”
Serena told me they don’t know which alpha fathered these particular babies, but I guess we’ll find out fairly soon. Still, three alphas and two babies a piece…?
Remi rolls her eyes. “If you each get your own set of twins, that’s six babies, Trouble.”
He grins at her. “Exactly! We’d have our own hockey team!”
The wash of horror that floods Avery is enough to have Tristan and I hiding snickers. And then, a moment later, we’re all swallowing a bit of longing, too.
Spencer’s voice interrupts my musings, announcing that it’s time for us to find our seats. Thankfully, they’re reserved and we don’t have far to walk.
Cassian winds up between Remi and me while we shuffle into the second row of folding chairs. “So, how are you doing?” he grunts in his grumbly way. “Missing the field yet?”
Last fall marked my first season as a retired NFL player. And, really, I was surprised how much I didn’t miss playing. The game will always mean a lot to me, and I definitely miss seeing my teamma tes every day—but we’re around the Ash Pack so often, these days, it honestly doesn’t seem like I’ve given very much up.
Especially when our house and our pack run so much better with me available to help Tristan and care for Serena every day.
“You know,” I tell him, sitting down. “It’s actually been really good.”
It helps that our omega is so appreciative of every small thing I do for her. There’s never been a single day where she’s let me doubt my value—to her or the others.
Once everyone is settled, “Pomp my wife gets whatever she wants.”
I totally knew what was happening the whole time .
But they’re so damn proud of themselves, I just let them believe I’m as blown away as they think I am.
I guess on some level, I am sort of stunned.
I had a notion that whatever Tris had up his sleeve was something grand like this—and a new home makes sense, since we’ve been outgrowing the townhome ever since Jonah retired and each of the guys started spending more time at home with me.
But the fact that Tristan got us the exact house he saw me swoon over before we were even really together …
That’s my alpha . Providing for all of us, making sure we all have exactly what we want.
Which is why I’ve made it my mission to make sure he has everything he wants, too.
Mission accomplished , I hear him whisper, just to me.
Our gazes meet across the picnic blanket laid out in the middle of the new house’s empty living room. Candlelight illuminates the huge, dark space, sending flickering shadows across all the black walls. I smile as I look around, imagining how cool this place will look once we add our pack’s signature blend of class and badassery.
My Omega is already humming in contentment, plotting our new nest and basking in the scents of our mates, swelling to fill this new place for the first time.
Spencer pops a bottle of champagne, passing glasses to each of us while Jonah lifts me into his lap and Avery lies with his head on my thigh. Tristan squeezes my hand, grinning down at me.
“So, tell me, did we really surprise you?”
I bite down on my amusement and nod, wide-eyed. “Oh yeah. You totally got me.”
I feel all four of them pause, realizing I have my curtain drawn and assuming it’s because I’m fibbing. Shocked indignance sparks in each of them. Jonah’s jaw drops to my shoulder while Spencer sighs and Tristan narrows his eyes.
Avery groans into my thigh, “ Seriously ? All of that for nothing ? You weren’t even really surprised?! ”
“It’s not that.” I shrug. “It’s just that… you guys aren’t the only ones with a surprise.”
Another roaring silence fills the bond. Loud enough that I nearly laugh.
Instead, I pull up the mental image I’ve been dying to show them all week. The reason I haven’t taken a sip of my champagne yet.
Awe and joy light up the oasis inside of me as they all focus on the collection of positive pregnancy tests looming in my mind’s eye.
I toss them all a smirk and lean back into Jonah, as smug and happy as I could ever possibly be.
Which is when they all tackle me.
“ Manamea ,” Jonah breathes, his voice full of reverent amazement. “This is incredible .”
“Are you kidding me , kitten?!” Avery shouts, rolling me out of Jonah’s arms and kissing me all over my face. “You are such a bad girl.”
Spencer bends over to scent-mark my face, grinning. “I thought I was proud before,” he whispers. “But you always find new ways to amaze me, darling.”
Tristan is last, still sitting frozen in place when Spencer pulls me back up. Our eyes meet and I crawl to him, settling in his lap while he blinks at me.
I can feel everything he does—the longing, the love, the all-consuming gratitude.
Because this?
This was his dream.
After the night he refused to tell me, I took my time coaxing the truth out of him. When he finally confessed that he’d always wanted to have children, it was almost as if he’d plucked the secret desire straight from my own heart.
And now, I get to give him his dream. The same way he’s given all each of us everything he could.
“Serena…” he whispers, nestling our foreheads together, “I?— ”
His words choke off, but he says them through our bond. I’ll never be able to thank you, sweet one. But I’ll never stop trying .
I close my eyes, showing him how happy he’s made me—today, and every other day since we bonded. “Thank you , Alpha.”
I love that he lets me say that to him, now. Once he felt how sincere my appreciation was, he slowly stopped feeling guilty about accepting it.
It helps that the others all started making a bigger effort to tell him, too. It’s important for him to know how much we all love him.
It’s important for all of us.
Our bond is awash in it, at the moment. All of them dazed and punch-drunk on this newfound joy. I soak it in, feeling like a flower in full bloom. Bursting with color and life and possibilities, all because of them.
My alphas huddle closer, purring and reaching out to touch me. I smile, shooting each of them a look.
“For the record,” I preen, “ that’s how you plan a surprise.”
Thank you for reading Knot Her Fight!