Epilogue
Theo
I checked the oven, inhaling the scents of cabbage rolls and fresh bread. The pasta was done. Everything was ready.
Friday nights were date nights. At home. The way we preferred. Especially with three babies.
I closed the oven and realized how silent it was in the house. No baby noises. No cooing of my mate at his daughters and son. No sounds at all.
And that scared me.
Not wanting to call out and disturb anyone’s sleep, I walked to the living room and saw no one.
Then to our bedroom. Again, no one.
I crept down the hallway to see a shirtless Brent tiptoeing from the nursery into the hall, moving slower than time itself. He looked at me with wide eyes.
He took my hand and led me to the kitchen. Our at-home dates were often accompanied by one of the triplets, but somehow, after four months, we’d gotten lucky. “You got them all asleep?” I asked. “All at once?”
“What can I say? I’m magic.”
He was. In all the ways. I’d gone from a dragon feeling so alone even though I was surrounded by people who loved me, to someone who had sunk completely into belonging.
My family loved me and, even though they weren’t blood, there were people in our lives who were more important than what flowed in our veins or biology.
Brent was my life, and so were our babies.
I belonged with him, and he belonged with me. No matter what this world threw at us, we would be together.
That went for my brothers as well.
“You are so magical, omega.”
We sat down to eat and, on these dates, we tried to talk about things that were not triplets and feedings and chores.
“Greta wants this Sunday’s family dinner theme to be Greek,” he said, inhaling his food. Feeding triplets took it out of him.
My sister-in-law had themes for our new family dinners. Always at Xavier’s and her house. Always at five. It was nice. The shop was closed, and we got to spend time together.
My family had been amazing while we got used to having triplets. Greta the most. She was born to be an aunt, and I hoped one day she and Xavier would be blessed with children.
“I’ll start looking for recipes.”
Brent let out a sigh and put his fork down. “I was thinking this morning.”
“About what?”
“About how silly I was for walking away after our first night together. If I had stayed and trusted myself and you…”
I pulled him from his chair and settled him in my lap. “Things work out the way they should. All of this. Fate knew what she was doing, and I’m glad you took your time to trust me. We built a foundation and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He shrugged.
“Otherwise, you might not have ever gotten my dragon tattooed on your back.”
“Goddess.” He threw his head back. “You are so obsessed with that tattoo.”
“I drew it for my mate. I made that tattoo for you before I even knew you.”
Brent moved to nuzzle my neck. “I know we’re not supposed to talk about the babies, but I think Harris blew some smoke out today.”
“No way!” I said louder than I should’ve.
“He did. We might have shifter baby dragons soon. Like, in dragon form.”
“Well, they have a firefighter dad. It’s going to be okay.”
Brent looked me in the eyes. “Thank you for this life.”