EPILOGUE - Mariska
One year later…
I opened the oven and waved the dishtowel around to disperse the smoke before it set off the fire alarm. The last thing I needed was everyone rushing into the kitchen to see I burnt a second apple pie. I didn’t want this Christmas to be remembered as the year I set the house on fire.
Picking up the ruined pie, I whisked it over to the nearest window and opened it. I continued to fan the smoke out and glanced at the silent alarm. “Thank God.”
The kitchen door swung open and I froze, but thankfully it was only Artemis and Liz’s dogs, Twinkle and Sugarplum.
I sagged and kept flapping the dishtowel.
“Hi girls. It’s not dinnertime yet. Aren’t you supposed to be outside chasing the kids around?
The only thing happening here is me ruining Christmas dessert. ”
Sugarplum flopped down on the floor with a heavy sigh, but her sister walked over to me with her big Saint Bernard eyes on the pie. Artemis sat nearby, alert, ready to listen if I told her to do anything, but her gaze kept going to Twinkle as if they were planning a pie heist.
“Uh-uh. No way, girls. Go lie down. No pie for doggies.” I set the dish on the counter and put my hands on my hips as I surveyed everything laid out for the feast. I had time to try making one more pie.
I’d wanted to contribute and this was the one thing they let me do.
I had to get it right. “I hope there’s at least a decent pie once I’m done. ”
“Did I hear something about pie?” Balthazar strode into the kitchen looking delicious in the red sweater stretched across his wide chest. He’d worn the Santa suit for me last night and showed me how Santa handled naughty girls.
“You heard nothing about pie.” I stood in front of the ruined one and leaned against the counter. “I was talking to the dogs.”
The dogs, in response, all went to greet him. Except for Sugarplum, who refused to move from where she was lying.
“I definitely heard pie.” Balthazar pat Artemis and Twinkle then came over and hugged me, kissing along my neck. I felt his body shake before I heard him laugh. “Oh baby, what happened? Is that the second one?”
“Shh, and yes.” It was embarrassing. I wasn’t inept in the kitchen, but I never thought I was a horrible baker.
Not like Jasper whose gorgeous German chocolate cake which was already on the table, and Miss Eloise with her million beautifully decorated cookies.
“I have just enough time to try a third. I need to stash this one somewhere so I can have the dish.”
“Forget about it. We have enough food.” He kissed my cheek and tried to lead me away from the counter. “You’re stressing yourself out and that’s not good.”
“I’m not stressing out.” I was absolutely at my wit’s end, but I had one job. One! I wiggled free from his arms to go to the fridge. “There are enough apples, and I can roll out a new crust…”
“Mariska.” Balthazar caught my hand and pulled me to him, a purr rumbling in his chest. I leaned against him and sighed. He ran his hand over my slightly protruding belly. “The stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”
Ever since I’d found out I was pregnant, my Alphas had surrounded my world up in bubble-wrap and done everything for me.
Or rather, tried to do everything for me.
I wasn’t helpless, and while it was cute how protective they were, I wanted to do the things I normally did until I was too big and sore to do so.
“Telling me what I should or shouldn’t do isn’t good for my baby’s daddy.” I gave him a look, but it only made his eyes grow darker with desire.
Balthazar ran his thumb over my lower lip. “Call me daddy again.”
Oh fuck. I clamped my legs together as my pussy flared with fiery need. Any second now, he was going to have me up on the counter with my legs spread…
“Mm, something smells delicious.” I hadn’t even heard Jasper enter the kitchen. Was my heart pounding that loudly? He grinned at us and rubbed his hands together. Artemis and Twinkle went over to get their head scratches. “Looks like the main course is about to be served right now.”
My cheeks heated. How easily my Alphas could still make me blush. More so, with just a look from any of them, I was a raving nymphomaniac.
“The bun’s in the oven,” Balthazar cupped my pregnant belly and then dipped his hand to attempt to get under my skirt. “But I think the pink meat is nice and juicy and ready to eat.”
“Oh my God!” I swatted at him as both of the guys laughed and fist bumped. “Shoo. Both of you. I’m baking.”
“Baking, huh?” Jasper looked over at my ruined pie. “Oh sweetheart. How did you do that?”
“I don’t know! I followed the recipe exactly.” I needed a hug. Maybe a little cry. I also wanted to kick their asses out of the kitchen and prove to the world I could bake a simple pie. Damn pregnancy was making me crazy.
Jasper gave me a soft smile and kissed the top of my head. “I think you need to put aluminum foil over the edges. That will keep it from burning. It also makes the crust nice and flaky.”
I heaved a sigh and nodded. Jasper knew way more about baking than I did.
He didn’t do it often, but when he did, it was like being treated by a professional chef.
Usually he helped more with Christmas dinner, but since Liz, Justine, and Miss Eloise were here, they took charge, and left all the men to tucker out Justine and Hudson’s two boys.
Though I suspected the kids would outlast all the adults in the house.
There was nothing like the energy of children on Christmas Day.
Lucian entered, his cheeks rosier than mine from having been outside. “Why is everyone in the kitchen?” The dogs greeted him, but seeing me between the other two Alphas, concern lined his handsome face. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m fine.” I smiled and silently prayed no one else walked in.
“No, she’s not. She’s stressed.” Balthazar rubbed my back, undeterred by the narrow-eyed look I shot him. “She should lie down.”
“I’m not stressed.” I huffed and picked up a wooden spoon. I wagged it at them. “Get out of the kitchen and leave me to work. I have a spoon and I’m not afraid to use it.”
A gleam appeared in every Alpha’s eyes.
“Fuck. Why does that turn me on so much?” Jasper wet his lips and pinned me to a wall with a sexy look.
“I say we should all be naughty boys tonight and let Mrs. Claus punish us.” Balthazar chuckled and ran his fingers through his beard as if making a spot for me to sit.
Ack! Why was I thinking these thoughts? Pie. Must bake the pie.
“I think I’ve been the naughtiest of all.
” Lucian stalked around me, sending hot waves of desire through me.
“I left Hudson to fend for himself with the boys, and I abandoned Charlotte to the ladies who are giving her dating advice. And I haven’t said anything as Twinkle snuck your pie off the counter. ”
“What?” I spun around in time to see Twinkle take off out of the kitchen with the burnt pie in her mouth. How a huge canine like that could be so quiet and sneaky was a mystery. Artemis was hot on her heels and Sugarplum decided it was a good time to follow the other dogs.
Hudson would be fine as the kids were his sons, but my sister being descended upon by the other women was something I’d have to stop.
Charlotte was only nineteen and just starting college.
She was recovering from distancing herself from our parents and their messy divorce.
We’d reconnected, and she helped out at the farm this Christmas season.
She’s great with people, but she was still a bit spoiled and self centered.
Yet she was starting to grow up and didn’t need the complications of a relationship no matter how much Liz thought one of her cousins’ sons would be good for Charlotte or my sister-in-law’s newly single friend.
Lucian’s strong arms wrapped around me. “Everything will be okay.”
Jasper came round the other side of me and plucked the wooden spoon from my hand to hug me too. “We’ll take care of it all. You just relax and enjoy the day.”
The world was right again surrounded by my pack.
This past year had been the best one of my life.
My Alphas took care of me in every way, and let me do the same for them.
My job with the DNR was challenging, fascinating, and allowed me to have a flexible schedule.
Perfect for when our baby was born. I had the family I’d always wanted.
“Here’s what we’ll do. We’ll all help make the pie and it’ll be done quickly. Then we can relax on the couch until Mom says it’s time to eat.” Balthazar cupped my chin and lifted my head to kiss me. “I’ll rub your feet.”
The beautiful Alpha knew my weakness.
“Let’s make the pie together.” Just how I wanted to do everything for the rest of our lives.
Together. Laughing, joking, and sneaking kisses. I never wanted moments like this to end.
I loved them so much. They were excellent mates, and they would be the world’s best fathers. I didn’t know what a grinch like me did to deserve such love, but I would spend my life making every day feel like Christmas for them.
END