Epilogue
Lev
“This is ridiculous.” Miles paced the floors, tapping his watch like it was broken. It wasn’t.
“Miles, this will be the last time, right?”
He curled his lip. “Yes. The last damned time.”
Harper had some classes that had to be taken at the school and one of them was an afternoon class. There was a time or two, like tonight, that she caught the bus late and, in turn, was later coming home. After dark.
But she insisted on taking the bus. Said she had to do some things by herself.
Didn’t mean we had to like it.
Besides, we had a surprise for her that would solve the problem. She was probably going to kick up a bear-sized fuss about it but we’d wear her down.
Harper was so strong now. She believed in herself again. Knew what she wanted. I didn’t think it was possible for me to love her any more than I did when we first met her, but here I was, loving her infinitely more by the day.
She didn’t have to work anymore, but our girl didn’t lie around, even though we encouraged it. A few months ago, she began taking martial arts classes and now helped one of the teachers teach self-defense to omegas at the community center.
So it only made sense that she needed proper transportation.
I’d gone over the argument in my head a dozen times.
Both of us turned as the door opened. It was only Rowan. “She’s not here yet, is she? I got home as fast as I could. Whoa! You guys did great with the place.”
We had gone all out. It was our omega’s birthday.
There was no choice. It had to be perfect.
We had streamers put up and balloons. Three dozen roses, each dozen in different colors, were arranged on the island.
Each of us had bought her individual gifts, but we had one big gift to give her as a pack.
“No. We’re waiting for her.”
“Thank the goddess we won’t have to do this again. We’ll all feel better once she’s not taking the bus at night.”
Her favorite Thai food takeout had been delivered. Everything was ready. All we needed was…
The door opened and Harper walked in.
“Happy birthday!” we all said at the same time.
She grinned ear to ear and kissed each one of us. “Thank you!” Leaning over, she peered into the kitchen. “Oh, my goddess! You did all this?”
We had dinner and cake together. She opened our gifts one by one and gushed over them like they were made of gold.
They were not. She insisted on practical gifts.
I got her a new bag for school. Miles bought her some workout clothes she’d had in her wish list, along with new shoes.
Rowan bought her all kinds of self-care things we’d seen her look at but didn’t want to buy for herself.
“You guys spoiled me. The cake was fantastic. Did you buy that at the bakery?”
We had. It was an almond cake with raspberry filling. Her favorite, of course, but it was seasonal. Good thing her birthday fell around Valentine’s Day.
The three of us alphas looked at each other. I braced myself for her argument. Miles nodded. “Omega, there’s one more gift for you, but we are very nervous about it.”
“Why are you nervous?” She giggled a bit. “All of you. I can scent the anxiety. Come on. It can’t be that bad. Is it something naughty?”
I wrapped her up in my hold. “No, that comes later. We did buy you some gifts for the bedroom, but after this. Close your eyes.”
We led her to the garage and made her stand right in front of her new Jeep. Her dream car, in her words, and she’d thought one day she might be able to buy one.
That day had come. We bought it for her as a pack. She would be safe in it and could get herself around without us worrying about her on the bus.
“Surprise,” Miles said. “Open your eyes.”
She gasped and looked at each of us. “This…this is for me?”
Rowan chuckled and handed over the keys. “It is. We wanted you to have transportation to get around the city.”
She snorted. “This is one hell of a mode of transportation.”
He shrugged. “You said practical gifts, my love.”
She sighed and walked over to inspect it inside and out and even got into the driver’s seat. “I love it. Thank you, alphas.”
I was stupefied. Shocked. “You’re not going to fight us on this?”
“My pack bought me my dream car. How in the world could I argue? Thank you all. I love you so much. You’ve made this the best birthday ever.”
She got out and Miles asked her, “Not going to take it for a spin?”
“Not yet.” She hung the keys on the empty hook. “I want my alphas to take me to my nest for more celebrating.”