Epilogue #2
“Congratulations, Lia. Seriously,” Tansy mumbles.
I squeeze her tight. “Thank you. For everything.”
When we finally release the hug, she heads out of the kitchen with a wave of her hand. Walker’s grinning at me proudly and I hear Knox cursing underneath his breath at that light he’s trying to fix. Amber’s laughter echoes down the hallway; she’s no doubt running around with Pickles somewhere.
I turn slowly toward my kitchen, looking around at everything. At my ovens, and my countertops, and the crest that dots everything from the utensils I use to the packaging I need for deliveries around town.
“I have a bakery,” I whisper.
Emotion rushes up my throat so fast it nearly chokes me. My dream has finally come true. But before I can spiral too far, a sharp ding cuts through the air.
The oven.
My goodness, how could I have forgotten about that?
I rush toward the oven and yank down the door. I grab an oven mitt and slide it over my hand before pulling out the cookie sheet cake. I plop it onto the top of the stove, watching it steam as the chocolate melts perfectly into the cookie dough.
“Cool faster,” I murmur.
“Smells good,” Knox says as I hear him coming down from the ladder.
“Whatcha making?” Eli asks.
“Don’t you guys have stuff to do?” I ask, giving them pointed looks.
Walker holds his hands up in surrender. “Come on, guys. Let’s leave our Omega to work in peace.”
Knox comes over and presses a kiss to the top of my head. I smile up at him before Eli kisses my cheek. Walker blows me a kiss from the doorway he’s practically taken up residence in, and I watch as my Alphas exit my kitchen.
Good.
Because I have something I need to do, and I can’t have them hovering over me while I do it.
I move the sheet pan to the kitchen island in the middle of the room so that it’s away from any heat source that may hinder it cooling down in a timely fashion.
It doesn’t take me long to split open the baking pumpkin and acorn squash before I pull out another sheet pan. While the oven comes back to temperature, I grab a few sweet potatoes and stick a fork into them so they can vent while they’re baking.
Then I slide them all into the oven so they’ll be ready to bake this afternoon.
“All right,” I say to myself as I turn back to the cookie sheet, “let’s get the icing made up for—”
A phone ringing on the wall of the kitchen pulls me out of my head. I whip my attention toward it before taking off like a bolt of lightning. My first-ever phone call to my bakery. I wonder if it’s an order for something?
I’m vibrating with excitement as I pick up the phone.
I clear my throat and put on my best professional voice before I speak. “Milk I figured it was just nerves with the bakery opening. But one little test confirmed a very different story.
Is it too soon?
Will they be upset?
“Everything okay, Sunshine?” Knox asks.
I gasp as I whip my head up and find him taking up the entire space of the doorway into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I give him a smile, though I know it looks nervous. “Can you get Walker and Eli? I have something to tell you guys.”
His face grows serious. “What’s wrong?”
I pick up the cookie sheet before he can see it. “Just go get them. I want to talk to you guys all together.”
“Walk! Eli!” Knox barks. “Bakery kitchen! Now! Something’s wrong!”
I groan. “Knox, nothing’s—”
Thunderous footsteps sound down the hallway before my Alphas crash into my kitchen. Walker looks like he’s already on a rampage, his nostrils flaring and his fists bunched up. Eli wipes the sweat from his forehead, no doubt still running behind Amber, and his eyes look wild as he finds me.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Eli pants.
Walker snarls. “Tell us what it is so we can fix it, Omega.”
“Is everything okay?” Amber asks, breathless. Pickles barks at her side. “Why’s everyone running?”
“Something’s wrong,” Walker says.
“Wait, what?” Amber asks.
I shoot a look at Knox. “Nothing’s wrong. Knox is blowing things out of proportion.”
Eli reaches out and playfully smacks Knox in the back of his head. “Idiot. We thought something was wrong.”
“I think something is. She’s not telling me the whole story,” Knox says, keeping his gaze trained on me.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asks.
I just shake my head and sigh before I place the cookie sheet back down onto the kitchen island. I slide it toward them, and I watch as my three Alphas gather around it.
“What is it?” Amber asks as she tries to get in on the action. “What’s going on?”
“What?” Eli asks, his gaze whipping up to mine.
Knox stares down at the cookie sheet with his mouth hanging open. Walker’s hands ease out of their fists before he runs them through his hair.
I swallow hard. “Surprise?”
Amber finally shoves her way in between Knox and her father while Pickles pacing the length of the hallway just outside the kitchen door. Amber looks down at the cookie sheet, her head tilted to the side.
Knox finally speaks. “Oh my god.”
Amber squeals.
Pickles comes racing into the kitchen at the sound of her squeal, but it isn’t long before his attention is turned toward me. He tilts his head while Walker stares me down.
“I’m gonna be a big sister, Daddy!” Amber exclaims.
“Oh my god!” Knox says, louder this time. “You’re pregnant!”
His words send all of them rushing toward me.
Knox picks me clear up off my feet, swinging me around while he peppers my face with kisses.
He passes me off to Eli, who cradles me close and envelops my lips in a kiss, stealing my breath away.
Walker wrangles me next, burying his face into the top of my head.
“I love you so fucking much, my Omega,” he mumbles.
Tears crest my eyes as I purr for him. “I love you too, my Alpha.”
Knox grips my hair and turns my attention to him. He kisses the tear trails off my cheeks. “I love you, Lia.”
I sniffle. “I love you too, Knox.”
Eli comes over and kisses me again, his tongue swiping into my mouth. “Oh my god, I can’t believe it. I love you so much, Omega.”
I lean into his wondrous kiss. “I love you too, Alpha.”
My heart feels so full that I’m concerned it actually might burst. The instant they put me back down onto my feet, Amber rushes me, wrapping her arms around me. Her head falls right to my chest and I slide my fingers through her hair, just holding her.
“Are you okay with this?” I ask softly.
“I’m gonna be the best big sister. I promise,” she says.
I drop a kiss to the top of her head. “I know you will be.”
Pickles wiggles back into the fold, and I crouch down to pet down his neck, letting him place his head on my shoulder.
“I love you, too, big guy,” I whisper as I wrap my arms around his neck.
He lets out a low woof before nuzzling his big head against my cheek.
As I stand and look around, I realize something. The life I’ve always wanted for myself is right here, in this kitchen.
My Alphas, who will never let me be alone another second again in my entire life. Amber, who has shown me that even in the midst of awful circumstances, life can bring such joy. Pickles, who has stood by me ever since I started my freelance baking business just shy of a decade ago.
We’re all standing in my kitchen, attached to my bakery.
I did it.
I pieced together a life worth living.
And it is so much better than I could have ever dreamed for myself.