Epilogue
One Year Later…
“Careful. Richie likes to bite.”
Of course he does.
It’s been about three weeks since we had a huge intake of animals, some of them due to their owner passing and them being left to us in that owner’s trust, and the rest saved from a small shelter about fifty miles away that was forced to shut down.
The “Richie” in question is one of six horses we took in from Jasper’s former sponsor, who paid for the equine expansion on the property. And he’s a spoiled brat. And pushy.
But, boy, is he handsome with his all-black coat, mane, and tail.
The other five horses have been sweet, beautiful animals, and they’ve gotten along great with Pie and Gator.
Oh, and the three alpacas we now have.
I give Ezra’s back another death glare that he doesn’t see.
I swear that he went out of his way to get us some alpacas. Like, where do you even find alpacas in need of rescue? It’s like he joked about it and manifested them.
I need a little of that energy myself.
As I scratch the top of Gator’s fuzzy head, he mewls with joy, getting the attention of an all-white alpaca named Molly. She comes a bit closer to the two of us, still watching carefully for any wrong moves. When I very slowly extend my arm to her, palm up, Molly backs away a few steps.
Ezra comes up beside me and places a slice of pear in my hand, and this little fluffy creature’s eyes light up before she dives in like a thief in the night, taking a pear and trotting off with her prize.
“Here.” He hands me a small basket with fruits and vegetables and a small knife.
Gator, my little savior, gets his pick of the basket—our tradition now—leaning in for a carrot, before I start handing out fruit and veggie treats to the other animals.
Except Richie.
Not that I don’t want to give him one, it’s that he keeps dashing off in the opposite direction when I close in. I don’t want to traumatize the poor guy. Even if he is spoiled.
Jasper makes a sound from behind me, just beyond the fence. “One of Gary’s kids said that horse was his closest pal. Had him the last twenty years of his life.”
“Oh, no…” My chest grows tight, then I remember something. “Didn’t we get some saddle blankets from his old place?”
“Oh, yeah.” Jasper climbs over the fence and lightly jogs over to the new barn to the right of the old one. The original red barn still sits proudly in the center at the back of the main fenced area, but now, on either side of it are two new stables.
Jasper comes back with a nice, soft blanket, deep blue in color. The weaving is immaculate, and I know, not just because Gary was a billionaire but by the look of the article, that it’s handmade.
“Thanks,” I say, exchanging my nearly empty basket for the blanket and swiping the last apple before heading toward Richie again. I hold the blanket out to him like an offering, making sure he can see almost all of it as I get close.
He still looks skittish, so I slow my pace. His eyes dart around just a bit, but keep landing on the blanket.
I’m hoping that my bet is going to pay off, that this blanket was something Gary handled a lot, maybe even put under the saddle when he used to ride.
When I’m beside Richie, blanket still extended, he doesn’t shy away this time, and I slowly reach the blanket out to him, my hand inside, to gently rub his neck with the soft woven fabric.
Richie lets out a little snort, then shakes his head, moves his nose to sniff the blanket.
Keeping steady and calm, I move to the side of his body and put the blanket over his back.
He stays so still, I have no idea if he’s scared or angry or pleased, but then his nose moves to my left hand, where the apple is. I do my best to stay calm and not celebrate like a small child as he takes the apple from me and eats it.
“Good job, cowgirl.” Ezra comes up beside me and wraps his arm around my waist. “The classes are paying off.”
“Let’s not get too excited, now,” I whisper. “One small step.”
Jasper chuckles at my other side, kisses my temple. “Nah. You’ve got this in the bag.”
With my Alphas by my side, I think they’re right.
We’ve got this.
The inside of the house looks like a party store had explosive diarrhea everywhere.
Streamers, balloons, those paper hearts that resemble accordions…
I immediately panic. It’s not Valentine’s Day, is it? I’d remember if it was, right?
“Uh…” Jasper looks as confused as I am, then calls, “We’re back.”
Adam sticks his head out from the dining room, specks of sparkly stuff all in his beautiful black hair.
Ezra laughs, like, really hard, and I’m almost there with him, but I’m still so confused. “Am I missing something?”
“Oh, heeey…” Adam’s blue eyes go wide as he forces a smile.
“Are we allowed inside?” There’s laughter in Jasper’s voice as he asks.
“Yeah. Yeah, sure. Come on into the dining room.”
Adam sounds really unsure of us coming into the room, and not only are my suspicions on high, but my fingers are itching to take the debris out of his hair. But as soon as we round the corner, the dining room in full view, I stop short, my jaw falling.
The room is much more coordinated than the entryway is, streamers meticulously arched from the ceiling, falling down to chandelier height, balloons tied to chairs and china closet handles. The color scheme is white, gold, and black.
But that’s not what has my jaw hitting the floor. That would be the handmade sign hung at the back of the room.
Will You Marry Us?
Hearts and stars and even wedding bands drawn all around the words. The drawings range from looking kind of like a kid drew them with crayons, to just about picture-perfect.
I know who drew what at a glance. And I love them all.
I don’t even realize tears are streaming down my face until a rustling brings my attention in front of me, and just below, where all three of my Alphas kneel, each on one knee, Adam in the center, a small velvet box in his extended hand.
Inside is a beautiful white gold band with a simple, traditional princess-cut diamond in the center.
My hands fly up to cover my parted lips as my mates all ask in unison, “Will you marry us?” just like their sign says.
Before I realize what’s happening, I’m on my knees, too, arms open wide to the men I love.
“Yes!” I cry between ugly sobs, nodding my head vigorously as we all embrace as one.
Eventually, Ezra and Jasper delicately hold my left hand as Adam slides the ring onto my finger.
No fit has ever been more perfect: the ring, our love, our life.
Jasper is on his feet soon after, moving into the kitchen, his voice ringing out through the space, “Free the beasts!”
A pounding of paws on tile, then hardwood follows his shout, and we’re all surrounded by wiggly fuzzy butts, pants, and sniffs. I’m tackled onto my back by Crooze and Nikki in cahoots, and I laugh all the way down.
Our newest arrivals join in on the doggie pile, corgis and chihuahuas that once belonged to Gary, like the horses.
It’s not long before all of us, the whole family, old and new, are lying on the dining room floor together, scritching and wrestling and rubbing bellies.
“As much as I love this, this floor is really uncomfortable.”
We all laugh at Ezra’s admission, knowing full well it’s true.
We move to the living room and sit on the couch instead of the floor. Ezra’s arm rests around my shoulders, Jasper and Adam’s hands are on either of my knees, my left hand with my shiny ring on top of theirs.
“Did you plan this for long?”
Jasper chuckles beside me. “It was all Adam’s idea. Well, the presentation, anyway.”
“We wanted to wait to ask you until after we knew what was gonna happen with Tommy. Didn’t want a trial looming over our heads when we asked.”
Thankfully, a trial wasn’t necessary. Between the local police and August, they got Tommy to admit he’d come here with the intent to harm, ruining Ezra’s happy life.
He won’t be a problem now.
“I wanted to make sure it was all from the heart, hence the custom banner.” Adam squeezes my hand. “I hope you liked it.”
“I loved it. Everything!” I lean in to kiss each of my mates’ cheeks.
I can’t believe that this is my life now: Surrounded by love I never knew if I’d ever find, but I’d hoped. The love of my Alphas, my friends, and all the animals we love and care for.
There’s still hope for Richie and my friendship. I hope.
“We should celebrate.”
“Absolutely, but let’s stay in,” Jasper tells Ezra.
“Yeah, I want Adley all to ourselves tonight.”
I shiver at Adam’s words and bite my lip.
Yeah. I am one lucky Omega. Now, and forever.
The End