Epilogue - Clover
Three months after Blossom’s birth
“Istill can’t get over how perfect she is,” Maggie cooed as she watched Blossom kick out her legs playfully.
“Would you expect any less, when she’s my child?” I smirked at my sister-in-law, who rolled her eyes in response.
“I already knew you’d make the cutest babies, but I’m responsible for bringing her into the world.” Maggie beamed.
A snort escaped me.
“My lovely mate did all the work, I assure you,” Avery said, kissing the top of my head.
We were in the nursery, watching the baby nap—or do everything to avoid napping. My girl was a wriggly little monster and was far happier interacting with the world around her than closing her eyes.
I was so incredibly lucky that I had four mates who could take shifts being awake so we all got some sleep.
I’d heard horror stories of sleep deprivation from people who only had one mate, and I’d quickly determined I would have lost my marbles in a situation like that.
I probably would have done something wildly stupid, like turn down my push presents—the shiny new Birkin from Hunter, the pink diamond necklace from Avery, our upcoming vacation to Costa Rica from Logan, and the four-seater Rolls Royce from Parker to fit car seats and besties for girl time.
My mind would truly have to be addled to say no to those.
Maggie turned to me, her face serious. “I know I’ve asked a dozen times since, but are you doing okay?
“ It wasn’t hard to know what she meant.
That basement had turned my first time meeting my daughter into a nightmare.
The guys had grilled me on the experience, and while I knew it had scared the shit out of them too, they could never truly understand the terror I’d felt down there.
Only Maggie could.
“I’m good, really,” I said softly, looking down at Blossom. “I’ve been lovingly bullied into trauma therapy, and it’s helping.”
Next to me, Avery gently rubbed my lower back. The simple, reassuring gesture was much appreciated.
“And are they letting you go out for air occasionally?” Maggie said, her tone playful but with a hint of something more serious underneath.
Avery chuckled. “Our mate can go wherever she wants, albeit supervised. I think it’s going to be a while before we can all relax enough for solo outings.”
I nodded. “I’m happy to stick close to home while Blossom is still little. The most excitement I get lately is a trip to Meadow’s to visit her, sapling, and her new little seedling. Savannah is so fucking cute. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I love my pack.”
“Speaking of packs, I still can’t believe your dads convinced Parker to go camping.”
I cackled. “I’ve been getting photo updates, and everyone is entirely too adorable in their flannel. Look,” I said, fishing out my phone to show her my alphas crowded around a campfire in a selfie with my dads.
Maggie glanced at Avery. “You’re not feeling left out?”
“Nah. I get to hang out with the prettiest lady on the planet while they’re getting splinters learning to rub sticks together to start a fire.”
“I think it’ll be good for Parker,” Maggie said with a laugh. “Please forward all the most embarrassing pictures of him to me.”
“Obviously.” I stuck my tongue out at her, turning to coo at Blossom when she let out the most precious squeal. “Oh my goodness, my sweet girl has quite the set of lungs. You singing to us, honeybunch?”
“She’s so cute, it almost makes me want one.” Maggie booped Blossom’s nose with a gentle smile.
“How’s your situation going? No bodyguards today, or have they developed invisibility powers?”
Maggie grimaced. “If my mother had anything to say about it, they’d be with me night and day.”
“I understand the mama urge to protect a lot better now, but I get how it could be frustrating. Everyone just loves you a lot.”
Maggie rolled her eyes, but the curve at the corners of her mouth belied her annoyance. “Sure you’re not just siding with Mom because she thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread?”
“Might be slightly influenced by that.” The Ashcroft matriarch had been intimidating for all of two minutes when I’d finally met her. She’d melted for Blossom and was straight-up delighted to see Parker happily bonded—and relieved he hadn’t scared me off with his nonsense.
“Parker’s brutes follow me everywhere, and they’re driving me up the wall.”
“And where are they now?” I asked, craning my head to look out the window. If they were waiting outside, they were doing a damn good job because I hadn’t noticed them.
My sister-in-law’s face flushed. “I may have ditched them…”
“Maggie!” I laughed loudly.
“How the hell did you do that?” Avery asked. “I thought they were pros at keeping tabs?”
“I climbed out my bedroom window. Look, if I’m going anywhere, like a public mall or somewhere I’m seeing strangers, yes, I’ll take them. I understand the risks, but I only wanted to come here and see my niece! The most dangerous thing I’m gonna face is a poopy diaper.”
“There’s always spit-up,” Avery commented as Blossom started to fuss, casting a mischievous smile at Maggie. “You want to take this one, Auntie?”
She beamed. “You know I do!” Before she’d even finished speaking, she was scooping up our daughter to cuddle her, nuzzling her close and kissing the top of her head, making little cooing noises.
It had been a no brainer to give Blossom the middle name of Maggie, since her namesake had literally caught her as I gave birth.
I couldn’t even imagine how much worse my birth experience would have been without her there beside me.
We were family, more so than ever, and I wasn’t letting her support slip by unacknowledged.
Blossom lapped up the attention happily.
A sigh escaped me. “We’ve probably spoiled her, considering she sleeps in our arms more than she sleeps in her crib.”
“It’s not possible to spoil a baby,” Maggie insisted. “Can’t go wrong with extra love.”
“I’d see no problem with it even if we could spoil Blossom,” Avery said, looking at me pointedly. “We already have one spoiled princess in this house, and we love her dearly. Nothing wrong with two.”
“I’m not spoiled!” I laughed, lightly slapping him on the chest.
This time, it was Maggie who snorted. “I’m sorry, sis, I don’t think you can say that when you have that gigantic rock on your finger.”
I preened, holding my hand out. My latest ring was a more visible declaration of my position as pack omega. A stunning nine carats on a simple gold band. “I used logic for that.”
“How so?” Maggie asked, swaying side to side with Blossom.
“Turns out, if they ask how big you want the rock, you can just ask how close they want someone to get before they can see I’m taken.”
Maggie cackled. “I love it. That’s so smart.”
“I had to stop Parker from buying an even bigger one,” Avery told her. “He was looking at stuff that I’m pretty sure qualified as historic treasures. Surprised he didn’t get her a damn crown.”
“I wouldn’t say no to a crown…”
Avery laughed, a loud, belly sound as he leaned down and kissed me. “And you think you’re not spoiled?”
“Oh, eww! No kissing in front of me!” Maggie made an exaggerated gagging noise.
Blossom fussed, and I broke off the kiss with a laugh. “My goodness, is someone hungry?” I turned to Maggie, holding out my hands. “Gimme the baby. She needs feeding.”
She pouted. “Can I snuggle her after? Your mates are constantly hogging her, and considering I helped bring her into the world, I think I’m entitled to extra baby time!”
“You sure are. If you’d told me you were coming, I could’ve had a bottle ready so you could feed her, but unfortunately, she needs to get her meal from the source today.”
Maggie nodded sagely, giving Blossom an extra cuddle and rubbing her cheek on her downy hair. “Sorry I don’t have the equipment you need, but you’re going to be having snuggles with Auntie Maggie very soon.”
She adjusted to hand the baby to me but froze when the front door slammed open and a shout vibrated through the house.
“Magnolia!”
Maggie’s eyes widened, and she stilled, her deer-in-headlights look almost comical.
“Oh shit!” She glanced down at the baby. “I mean…sugar! It’s him.”
“Him?” I asked. “Should we be worried?”
Next to me, Avery was on high alert for the potential threat.
“Not worried, no. He’s dumb, not dangerous.” Maggie sighed.
Avery relaxed, going from alert to playful in a split second.
“He’s one of the stupid bodyguards Parker hired. Quick, take the baby.” She thrust Blossom back into my arms and headed for the window as I did my best to contain my laughter.
“Why are you running from your guards, Mags?”
She glowered at him. “Because I want to and I can. Do you happen to have any soft flower beds under that window?” Maggie pressed up against the glass, trying to peer below.
“You are not jumping out of the window.” I laughed.
She pouted, but while her body language was tense, her Earl Grey tea scent had definitely sweetened.
“You could always hide under the bed,” Avery suggested.
“This is a nursery, not a bedroom. The bed is a crib and it’s tiny, and also, I can’t hide under it, you dummy!” Maggie hissed.
Avery shrugged. “Oh nooo…” he trailed off, grinning.
Maggie opened her mouth to say something but was cut off when the door opened and a very large, very grumpy security guard came storming in.
“He’s definitely her guard, right?” I whispered to my mate, who nodded, his smug smile never slipping.
“He wouldn’t have gotten in here if he wasn’t,” he explained. “Parker gave them their own code in case they ever had to bring Maggie over here and we weren’t home.”
That seemed right. Our security had also been considerably beefed up since I gave birth. Nothing like your omega having a baby in a basement to scare you into hiring what felt like every security guard in a ten-mile radius.
“I’ve been looking for you for hours,” Maggie’s guard growled. “You could’ve been—”
“I’m fine! As you can fucking see. I don’t need a babysitter to visit my brother’s house and see my niece.”
“The hell you don’t.” He stalked toward her, his face stony. “You’re coming home, now.”
“Fuck you. I’ll have you—” Maggie yelped as he tossed her over his shoulder, fireman style, and stormed out of the room with Maggie cursing the whole way.
The interaction took all of thirty seconds, and then we were alone. Maggie’d had plenty of anger on her side of their little exchange, but beneath that was a whole other type of tension brewing.
“I’ll put a hundred bucks on them sleeping together within the next month,” I said, gently rocking Blossom.
“Really?” Avery asked. “I’ll put double that on it happening in the next two weeks.”
“Seal the bet with a kiss?” I offered, sticking out my tongue.
“You think I need a reason to kiss you, angel?”
I warmed down to my toes. “I know you don’t, and I’m very glad for that.”