53. Nash
Chapter 53
Nash
T he current song on Rosie’s playlist takes it way, way back, the beat calling up an old-ass dance song people used for a throwback at parties when I was a kid. She giggles from her position at the stove when I roll my knee and start the dance, using the counter to pop down into a dip before spinning and turning on the coffee pot.
“That’s a lot of energy for post-heat,” Quinn says from the doorway, “but please continue.”
He grabs a seat at the kitchen island, slumping down on his arms. He’s got a beanie and his glasses on, along with one of my sweatshirts, looking cute as hell. I can feel both his exhaustion and his overwhelming happiness.
Dane stumbles in behind Quinn, looking like a total disheveled mess. It’s such a contrast to his usual appearance that I can’t help but laugh.
“Morning, sunshine!” I call, dancing over to hand both of them water. Changing the lyrics of the song, I sing, “Now, chug, baby, chug!”
Rosie turns down the heat under the sausage gravy she’s making on the stove and sucks the spoon into her mouth before using it as a microphone and joining me as we dance around the kitchen. Her pretty tits bounce in her sports bra as she matches my moves, her curves on full display in these tight leggings that make me forget we just got out of the heat.
Quinn cheers for us, and I climb up on the island, lifting my hips until Dane pretends to spank my ass and our two mates are laughing.
“I love it here,” Quinn says, wiping his eyes.
“Me too,” Rosie calls, jumping to sit on his lap as he smothers her in kisses.
When the song changes and the energy burst is replaced by the tiredness of post-heat, Rosie takes the biscuits from the oven and I help her make plates. Our pack shuffles out to the back patio, blankets in hand, to face the evening sun on the pool deck.
We’ve been through many heats with Quinn, but bonding Rosie has changed our dynamic in the best way. We huddle together, chatting lazily as the sun sets. Headlights shine in the driveway, and Dane and I get up, leaving our mates cuddled up on the lounge chair, half-asleep. After Quinn’s heat broke late last night, Dane and I pulled it together enough to remember to text his dad for an update before passing out.
Mr. Daniels gets out of his car with a thick stack of paperwork and a smile. “Sorry to crash the afterparty, but I need to get a few things signed.”
Dane scratches his several-days-old scruff. “We didn’t miss the hearing, did we?”
“Today’s Tuesday. The hearing is the day after tomorrow. Your papa checked in on Rosie’s grandma,” he says, passing the envelope to Dane. “The pack paperwork is in there and ready to be signed. I’ve got Judge Danvers meeting us here.” Another set of headlights announces our newest arrival, but Mr. Daniels keeps talking. “We’ll get that signed now so the pack paperwork is official for the hearing, but I’m leaving a copy of the settlement we’ll plan to propose to the judge regarding the estate. Talk it over with Rosie and let me know what you decide.”
Dane turns to me in question. I can tell he doesn’t want this to be the way we officially add her to the pack.
“Explain it to her and let her choose,” I say.
“And then we promise to make it up to her?”
“Yeah,” I say, already getting an idea.
Mr. Daniels greets the judge and introduces us to the older alpha. We shake hands, but Mr. Daniels saves us by saying, “Why don’t we give your pack a few minutes to get ready, and we’ll meet you back there in ten?”
Judge Danvers looks at his watch. “Make it five.”
* * *
When we make our way to the back, Quinn has his hands in Rosie’s hair, and the two of them are snuggled up on the lounger. We sit on the end, nearly breaking the damn thing, and our mates scramble up.
“Sorry,” Dane says with a chuckle.
Rosie nods toward the envelope in Dane’s hand. “What’s that?”
“Pack paperwork,” I say as Dane takes it out.
“I know this isn’t planned, but my father has a judge here now. If you agree, we can make you an official part of Pack Daniels. From what we’ve read, the backing of a pack will help your guardianship claim, and this is how we get it done before the hearing,” Dane explains.
Rosie looks between the three of us, her eyes welling up. “You’re serious. How did you guys make this happen right now?”
Quinn ropes her under his arm, tucking her into his side. “In case the bonds weren’t clear, we’d do anything for you, Rosie.”
“And we promise to do a full bonding ceremony after?—”
“I don’t want that, truly. A big celebration isn’t my thing,” Rosie says, waving off Dane’s words. “Plus, we have all this stuff going on with my grandma, and?—”
“All right, I hear you, but that leads us to the second thing,” Dane says.
“We wanted it to be a surprise, but we learned those aren’t your favorite, so I hope you don’t mind that it’s not exactly a traditional courting gift,” I add.
Rosie nods for me to continue, and Dane pulls out the remaining paperwork in the envelope, handing it to her.
She squints in the dying sunlight, then gasps, her hand clamping over her gaping jaw. Her eyes are wide as she looks between us. “You want to buy my house? But you just got this house and?—”
“It isn’t home,” Quinn finishes for her. “We’ll sell this one after, but buying yours will protect you both. We asked Grandma Lily if it would be okay, and she’s given us the go-ahead if it’s cool with you. We would like to offer the sale as a settlement to your aunt.”
"Yes, oh my gods, thank you. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m so grateful for you guys.” Rosie leaps for hugs, sending us all toppling off the lounger onto the pool deck.
Mr. Daniels and the judge join us in the backyard, and we try our best to be presentable, but we’re a laughable post-heat mess with everyone half-dressed and huddled in blankets.
“Oh, shit! Hold on a minute.” I rush back to my tool trailer and dig around until I find what I’m looking for before jogging back. “These are made from our original pack knot and a new weave I added for Rosie. I made them when we decided to ask her.”
I pass a bracelet to each of my mates. When I get to Rosie, I add the new bracelet next to the one Dane got her that day at the farmer’s market.
The judge clears his throat, and we join him, with Quinn and Rosie at the center. There isn’t much to it. We simply sign the documents before he announces that Bella Rose Braxton is now officially Rosie Daniels. We shake the judge’s hand, and he congratulates us before excusing himself.
When Mr. Daniels reaches out to do the same, I take a page from Rosie’s book and pull him in for a hug. This man has been more of a father to me than I’ve ever had, and even though we don’t always get along, he and Dane sort of raised my ass.
“Thank you,” I say, clapping his back. “For everything.”
He makes the rounds in our group, but after he’s gone, we move back to the nest, where our pack spends the rest of the night making plans and dreaming of our future before we pass out in a hopeful heap.