EPILOGUE – Nicolette
The applause echoed in the festively decorated school gym. My own whoops and cheers rang out from backstage. The children took their bows and motioned to me to join them. I laughed as I went out onstage and they surrounded me with hugs. My heart filled with adoration of my students, and I barely got a bow myself with all the children clinging to me.
Above all the clapping, I could hear my pack hooting and shouting my name. I hadn’t seen them for most of the day, because I’d been so busy getting everything set up for the recital. Even though I wasn’t in heat, I still hated being away from them for more than a few hours.
I escorted the kids backstage, congratulating them and wishing them all a merry Christmas. I’d already given them their gifts—teddy bears dressed like the characters from The Nutcracker—and even though we didn’t have the time to practice for that show this year, I promised them we’d perform it for the next holiday season.
After making sure everyone was changed, dressed in their winter wear, and off with their families, I finally found a moment to breathe. I closed my eyes and fanned myself, not wanting to push my body too hard, and mentally went over what I needed to do now to clean up the gym. I just wanted to cuddle up with my Alphas in front of the fireplace and sleep for twelve hours.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.” Kodiak’s gravelly voice had me smiling even before I opened my eyes to see him. He held out a bouquet of red roses and smiled. “For the real star of the night.”
Heat flushed into my cheeks as I took the flowers and went up on my toes to kiss him. “Thank you. The kids are the real stars, though. Everything went off without a hitch.”
“Thanks to you.” Silas snuck in for a kiss. “You put together a fantastic show in less than two months.”
“I can only imagine what spectacular shows you’ll put on when you have more time.” Ezekiel took his turn to kiss me and let his eyes sweep down my body. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
All of their gazes smoldered as they stared at me. I’d worn a red satin dress with a white lace sleeveless scoop-neck top and embroidered snowflakes along the high-low hem of the skirt. Proper for a dance teacher and yet still sexy.
This was the first time I’d seen my Alphas dressed up. Ezekiel had a white button-up shirt with a forest green tie with a Christmas tree pin. He’d rolled up the sleeves, and for some reason, that made me squirm with arousal. Kodiak had on a red sweater that accentuated the broadness of his chest and the muscles of his arms. While his beard wasn’t white, he could still pull off a hot Santa look.
Silas wore all black. Black shirt, black pants, black tie. My bad boy, and I fucking loved it.
“Only like a hundred times,” I giggled and then put on my we’ve-got-work-to-do face. “But I’m going to be a bit of a mess tidying up this gym. We’ve got to get the chairs put away, the floors—”
“It’s all done, baby.” Kodiak grinned. “The only thing messing you up tonight is me.”
“Hey,” Silas huffed and gave him a look. “Christmas Eve rules, remember?”
I chuckled at that. I didn’t want any of my men to feel left out on the holidays, so they all had to share me or use a random card draw to take shifts with me. Kodiak still had a lot of problems with sharing, but no one had come close to throwing punches.
Yet we really needed to clean. The school was kind enough to let me use their facilities tonight as long as I promised to tidy up. My heels tapped on the floor as I left backstage to peer out into the gym. My jaw dropped.
The place was spotless. All the folding chairs had been put away behind the bleachers, the floor had been swept, and even the garbage bins had been emptied. “Oh wow.” I turned back to my pack. “How did you guys do everything so quickly?”
“Christmas magic.” Ezekiel winked at me.
“Folks in this town adore you. Everyone wanted you to go home and enjoy the rest of the evening instead of cleaning, so they helped.” Silas lifted my coat off the hook I had it on backstage and held it up for me to slip into.
“That’s so sweet.” I blinked my eyes, feeling tears well up. When I first arrived in Petersburg, I imagined ways to escape to hot tropical beaches, and now I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Not just because of my pack, but because of the incredible people who lived here. My friends thought it was hilarious how quickly I turned into an Alaskan girl, but when they visited next year, they would get a taste of this life themselves.
Once I had my coat on and we shut off all the lights, I was escorted into the lot where the truck was warmed up and waiting. On cold nights like this, it was the little things like that which mattered, and my Alphas spoiled me.
Silas drove and Ezekiel snuggled me in a blanket in the backseat. My head was still spinning at how well the night had gone and the joy on the kids’ faces when they pulled off such a great show. It was still fairly early in the evening, but it was pitch black outside. Clouds surrounded the island and threatened snow, but everyone welcomed it for Christmas.
We pulled up in front of the cabin and Ezekiel caught me before I could slide over to the truck door. He held up a blindfold and smirked. “We have a Christmas surprise for you, but we need to get you into the house without seeing it first.”
They’d been so busy catching on work missed, I hadn’t thought they had time to do any shopping. Now I was curious and amazingly excited. “Is it a kinky surprise?”
“That comes later, Omega.” Silas chuckled as he exited the vehicle carrying my roses for me.
I was laughing as Ezekiel put on the blindfold, careful of my hair and earrings. He kissed me, sneaking a grope before he directed me to the door. Kodiak scooped me up and carried me inside. The snow crunched under his boots, and I was set on my feet once more as we entered the warmth of the cabin.
In my head, I could picture our twelve foot tree in front of the big windows at the far side of the room. A wreath hung on our door and ivy boughs framed the main room. There weren’t a lot of decorations, but I’d do more next year when I had time. If I had time! After helping my Alphas recover last November, my December was a whirlwind of activity getting the recital together.
“What is it?” I bounced, trying to think of the possibilities. I’d wanted a bigger fridge and stove. And even now, I shook my head at myself at how domestic that sounded, but I enjoyed cooking for my pack, and they ate a lot. It could be my own snow machine, but they wouldn’t put that in the house, would they?
Atka and Kavik rushed over, barking at our arrival and licking my hands. I pet them, trying not to get too much dog hair on my dress. “Wait, is there a third dog here?”
“What? Hell no,” Kodiak scoffed as he slipped my coat off. I could hear the guys taking off their coats and boots.
“She seemed very excited about another dog,” Ezekiel teased.
“No.” Kodiak barked and Atka woofed right back at him.
Silas took my hand and wrapped an arm around my waist. He led me further in and lifted me, spinning me around. I squealed at the suddenness of it and laughed as he smoothly set me back down. I had no idea which way I was facing now as we walked forward. The kitchen? Or toward our bedrooms?
Kodiak and Ezekiel whispered something, and I heard a light flick on. Silas still held my hand and kissed the back of it. What amused me most about this was that they were working together on something. Sure, it was for me, but this in itself was the best gift: it showed me my pack was healing.
After the blizzard last month, things got very quiet. Kodiak had to go back into the clinic for a week, and Silas and Ezekiel had to complete their contract themselves, along with the help of a few men they temporarily hired to help. Once they were all back in the house, I set up a schedule to spend equal time with each of the Alphas. There was a lot of muttering and grumping, but we fell into a routine.
My love for each of them was reconfirmed without my heat being a factor. If any of them fought, it wasn’t around me and I never heard about it. I was in absolute bliss having the three of them, but I also wanted them to have each other. This surprise was a step in the right direction.
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy flowed softly around me. The tinkling opening notes sounded as if they were coming from all directions. “What’s going on?”
My blindfold was removed and I stared at myself in floor to ceiling mirrors.
A dance studio.
The pack had taken the unfinished side of the cabin and turned it into a dance studio!
A small cry escaped me and I covered my mouth, slowly spinning around. The ceiling was at least fifteen feet high, and the mirrors went all the way to the top. They’d capture so much light when the sun was out. A beautifully polished barre went the length of the wall. To one side was a stereo, and the speakers were positioned in every corner. A little jungle of plants sat in one corner near the windows, and in the other corner—separated from the room with an elegant panel screen painted with ferns—was a desk and chair with a new computer.
“Your personal dance studio and home office.” Ezekiel spread his arms, slowly turning with me as I did. “I hope it’s big enough. We weren’t sure how much space you’d need. We can open up the wall and extend it in the summer if you need more space.”
“Oh no, this is perfect.” More than perfect. It was my dream studio made by the three Alphas I loved. “I love it. I… But what about your workout room? I thought you were going to make this area a gym?”
“I mean, we can move in our weights and machines…” Silas smirked and received a glare from Kodiak.
“It’s not a priority anymore. This here is much more important.” Kodiak stepped forward and held out a gold envelope to me. “There’s more, baby.”
“More?” This was immense already. I took the envelope and opened it carefully. Inside was a packet of paperwork. My brows furrowed until I started reading. My vision blurred with tears. “Oh my God. You bought the warehouse on First Street. My future dance school….”
As elegant as my dress was, my crying was messy. My pack surrounded me, comforting me with touches and kisses. We had talked about it, but eventually decided it would be a project for the new year when we could look at some plots of land Savva suggested that might be better for a school and make it from the ground up. With everything going on, I agreed, especially with the surprise I had for them.
“I know we only looked at it a couple of times, but I went back and gave it a thorough go-over with a building inspector. It’s a solid frame, and the location can’t be beat.” Silas kissed behind my ear. “I studied the blueprints of other dance schools, and the size is perfect. You can have everything you want and a little room to grow.”
“Thank you.” I kissed and hugged each of them tightly. “Thank you all so much. Thank you doesn’t even cover how much this means to me. You’re making my dreams come true. I love you all so much.”
Ezekiel tenderly wiped away my tears. “Anything for you, Nicolette.”
With my heart overflowing, I basked in their love for another minute before I extracted myself from their arms and stepped back toward the barre. Knowing what I had in store for them was going to make me cry again, but right now, I wanted to make them squirm a little. “I have a surprise for you all too.”
“Really?” Kodiak raised his brows. “Did you book you and I a trip to that resort in Aruba you and the doc were talking about?”
I laughed as I bent to remove my heels. “No, but if you guys want to take a trip to a tropical paradise, I’m never going to say no.”
“Mm, I bet you look hot in a bikini,” Silas bobbed his head.
“Oh yeah, she does.” Ezekiel chuckled. The other two gave him a quick sharp glance before they all turned their attention back to me.
“It’s been a crazy past few months, but next year is going to be even crazier.” Now in my bare feet, I did a few pirouettes and an arabesque to swirl my skirt around me. Then I stopped en pointe, and reached back, unzipping my dress.
“Does this ballet bar double as a stripper’s pole?” Silas might have been teasing, but his eyes darkened with arousal as I started to slip off my dress.
Kodiak gave a little growl, and I was sure it was more in appreciation of me than in irritation with Silas.
I spun as the dress fell to the floor with my arms around my torso. Maybe I was being more than a bit dramatic about this, but as they had changed my life, I was going to change theirs. I’d worn sheer red panties with a strapless bra to match. In time with the music which I knew as well as my own heartbeat, I flung my arms out and let them see what I’d written on my lower abdomen with red body paint.
We’re having twins!
Kodiak nearly bulled me over with the force he rushed me and gathered me in his arms. “Are you serious, baby? When did you find out?” He kissed my face all over, ending with a long one on my lips. “I love you so much. You’ve made me the happiest Alpha alive.”
I grinned and squeezed him tightly. “Earlier this week, I stopped by the clinic to chat with Katherine and she wanted to give me a quick once-over since it’s been six weeks since my heat. She was pretty certain I was pregnant, but we did two tests, and they came back positive. She listened to my belly and heard two heartbeats. We have an ultrasound scheduled for the first Monday in January. I knew you would all like to be there.”
Kodiak reluctantly let me go as Ezekiel came over and embraced. “This is incredible.” He kissed me deeply and caressed my face. “How are you feeling? Any morning sickness? Cravings?” He turned to look at the other guys. “We’re going to have to make that spare room into a nursery now. No, actually, we’re going to make my room the nursery so it’s closer to the master bedroom. I’ll move into the unfinished one.”
“Ezekiel,” I wanted to protest, but what he did was so immensely thoughtful, I could only kiss him instead. “No morning sickness or cravings yet. But I haven’t slowed down in the past month to really take note of what I’m feeling other than the stress of the show.”
“Well no more stress for you. None. You’re staying in bed with your feet up for the next nine months.” Kodiak would do that if I let him.
“Nope, I have a sprint recital I want to start working on with the kids.” I peered at Silas, the only one of the Alphas who hadn’t said anything yet. I extracted myself from Ezekiel and walked to Silas. Was this something he didn’t want? I’d seen Kodiak and Ezekiel with my students and how much the children liked them, but never Silas. Maybe he didn’t like kids. I’d be devastated if he wanted nothing to do with them.
Silas slid his hand over my abdomen and stroked it. “I never thought it would happen so fast,” he said quietly and then pulled me against him. “You’re going to be a fantastic mother, and I’m so lucky I get to be around to see it.”
I held him tight. “And you’re going to be a great dad. All of you are.”
Kodiak and Ezekiel came over to hug me too. My pack. All together. With our future in my belly. Just when I think I couldn’t be happier, it gets upped a notch.
“If they’re girls, I’m locking them in the house after they turn sixteen and they’re never leaving again.” Kodiak huffed, and I giggled. He was going to be one overprotective dad, and no doubt, the one that spoiled our children the most.
“Savva is going to be bragging to every person that will listen.” Ezekiel laughed.
“He’s going to be insufferable. We’ll never get rid of him.” Kodiak grumbled, but I could feel his smile as he kissed my cheek. A grandbaby was exactly what I knew Savva wanted, and he’d be ecstatic when we told him tomorrow at Christmas dinner. “But now, we need to get you to bed. Sleep is very important for pregnant women. Do you need a snack? We have lots of peanut butter. Protein is good for growing babies and mom.”
“Stop fussing, I’m fine.” I gave his beard a playful tug, but my belly growled to prove him right. “Okay, maybe some peanut butter on crackers would be good.”
“I’m on it.” Ezekiel gave me one more kiss. “I love you.” Then he hurried to the kitchen.
I looped my arms with Silas’ and Kodiak’s and walked to the kitchen. “I don’t want you all going nuts with fussing over me. I’m young and healthy, and Katherine said my hips were good for carrying twins, which I’m going to take as a compliment.”
“I’m going to fuss as much as I want. It’s my job.” Kodiak kissed my head.
“Well, if your job is to be the fuss bucket, I’m going to be the one to keep her sexually satisfied.” Silas patted my ass and whispered in my ear, “Are you sure you’re craving peanut butter and not something else? Or we could combine the two.”
I burst out laughing as a pang of arousal lanced through me. This was going to be the best Christmas ever, and they would only get better each year.
THE END