Epilogue
LUCY
Six Months Later
“You’re free!” I shout, cheering with my hands in the air in front of my three Alphas. Behind me, Mr. Colby’s driving away, never to be seen again. He’d just handed them the paperwork confirming they were released from the reintegration program.
“Fuck, this day couldn’t come soon enough,” Wolf hollers, grabbing me up into his arms and lifting me off my feet. He spins us around, kissing me, and I’m giggling. This is my life, loved by my Alphas as I bathe in the gorgeous spring sun.
“Did you see his sour face and how hard it was for him to finally announce that we were free?” Grayson asks. “Glad to see the back of him.”
Roman’s at our side and snatches me into his arms. Now, I’m glued to him, throwing my arms around his neck. His mouth finds mine, and I kiss him back with unrelenting passion.
“Congrats,” I whisper against his mouth and pull back as they all crowd closer. “You can go anywhere now, be anyone,” I tease.
Wolf hooks an arm around my waist, and I crash into his side with an “Oomph” spilling from my mouth. “Anywhere we go, you’re tagging along. It’s too late now to get rid of us, songbird.”
They all stare at me.
I drag the other two into a close-knit hug, the warmth of their bodies pouring over me.
“You think I’ll let any of you go anywhere without me?
” I pout for effect. “But seriously, you’ve earned your freedom, dealt with too much heartache in your past. And now, your new life starts at this very moment.
We can do anything as long as we’re together. That’s my only requirement.”
Roman bursts into laughter. “Pretty sure you don’t need the disclaimer.”
I’ve been thinking about this moment all morning, about how the world is at our feet, and yet I have never been happier in my life than here at this lodge. It’s where the universe keeps bringing me back to. So I’m going to listen to it from now on.
Spring blossoms around us, sunlight sparkles, and the mountains stand as giants over us. Everything’s greener, with tiny violet flowers everywhere, and the days are longer. I take a deep breath of the fresh breeze. How is this my life?
Grandma emerges from the lodge in a red dress and steps down from the porch.
She walks carefully, holding on to her cane, and grins in our direction.
“Well, it’s finally done, then. Saw that Mr. Colby left.
It’s now official,” she says with a smile stretching her lips.
“I am truly proud of you three completing the program, working the logging job, and helping us run the lodge. Plus, taking care of my granddaughter, which is a huge thing.”
“Oh, yeah, that last one is the most challenging.” Wolf nudges me and chortles, while I roll my eyes.
“Thank you, Eve. You gave us a chance when others wouldn’t have,” Roman says.
“And for that, we will forever be in your debt. Without your support, we wouldn’t be here today,” Grayson adds.
“Hush, you’re going to make me tear up. But congratulations, boys. You earned your freedom. Regardless of your past, the most important thing is the kind of man you are today.”
They nod, and I adore how much respect they have for my grandma. It means the world to me.
“Lucy, dear, I have something for you that I know will benefit all of you.” She pulls a small box with a ribbon out of her pocket, much like a ring box from the jeweler’s.
Curious as to what it is, I accept the gift and study it.
“Girl, open it already,” my grandma urges with a laugh.
So I pull at the ribbon and push the lid back.
At the bottom of the black box sits a single gold key.
I blink a couple of times and lift my gaze, my rib cage seeming to squeeze the life out of my lungs.
“Is this…?” My next breath comes out as a hiccup that goes all the way down to my stomach. “You didn’t… You can’t—”
“Lucy.” She’s closer, patting my arm. “This was my intention all along, and why I renovated the place. I’m giving you Crimson Pine Lodge and all the land. It’s yours. I’ve got the contracts drawn up and ready for your signature.”
Wolf gasps behind me, while my vision blurs from tears because this is everything I could have wanted. I wipe my eyes and hug my grandma, taking her into my arms, realizing how much smaller she is compared to me. She’s getting older, and being here by her side now means the world to me.
“I love you,” I whisper and sniffle as tears slide down my cheeks.
She pulls back and wipes her eyes. “Now you’ve got me all teary-eyed.”
“You look gorgeous as always, Eve,” Roman adds.
She grins his way. “Always the gentleman.”
Grayson nudges him, murmuring, “Suck-up.”
But I can’t stop staring at my grandma, my chest hurting from how hard my heart is beating. “Are you sure? You dedicated your whole life to this place. All your memories are here.”
She takes my hand with the box and closes the lid, then pushes my fingers over it.
“My mind’s made up. I’m not young anymore, and my ankle is proof of how long it’s taking to heal.
I plan to enjoy my life in these woods. Sit beneath the sun, read my books, bake cakes, watch you blossom with your own family.
” She squeezes my hand. “You know, the lodge was always meant to be yours. Now you and your Alphas can build this into anything you want.”
“This means so much to me.” I hug her again, harder, unable to believe she’s doing this. “Yes, of course. I would love to take the lodge. And this is your home too, so don’t even think about moving away.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” she says playfully. My Alphas are right at my side then. They hug Eve, each whispering their own thanks, while my happy tears refuse to leave me alone.
“Thank you, Grandma,” I say as Grayson collects me into his arms from behind and kisses the top of my head. “We’re a huge family now.”
“We are, but I do have one condition,” Grandma says.
“Of course, anything,” I answer eagerly.
“I want to take one of the cabins as my home. The one right by the creek that’s on its own.
” She grins at me, and the lines at the corners of her eyes deepen.
“It’s the quiet I seek, sitting on the porch, while you manage the guests coming to enjoy the lodge.
I’ve done my time dealing with a place full of strangers.
It’s all yours now.” She holds on to her cane, her silver hair pulled off her face, and for those few moments, I’m taken back to my childhood.
The meals she’d make for me, her teaching me how to trek in these woods, the bonfires we’d hold and cook marshmallows over.
Not once did I feel unloved, even if my parents had abandoned me.
My grandma more than made up for it, and even now, she’s giving me everything I could have wanted.
I wipe away a stray tear. “Absolutely. But I’ll be visiting you often and bringing you food sometimes.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You deserve this. It’s settled.”
We all stand in the sun, and I’m still coming to terms with what’s just happened. I glance at my Alphas around me. “Looks like we’re staying here.”
“It’s exactly where we want to be,” Roman adds, with Wolf and Grayson grinning. After everything, this is just the cherry on top of our beautiful new life.
“Are you all ready?” Ethan calls out as he emerges from the lodge, tablet in hand, dressed in tailored navy pants and the Crimson Pine Lodge polo shirt I just ordered.
“A big bachelorette group is arriving any moment now.” He’s stepping down off the porch, glancing up at the sun, smiling.
“What a gorgeous day.” His attention swings to us.
“Also, a huge congratulations on your freedom, and to Lucy, on being my new boss. I am blessed to work alongside you for as long as you’ll have me. ”
“I know you’re up for the job, and I’m lucky to have you with us,” I say, grinning at him.
After all the chaos from six months ago, we’d agreed on giving Ethan another chance.
He had, after all, tried to set things right and testified in court against Bryan and the mayor, both of whom are behind bars.
It helped that authorities had captured the two men who broke into the lodge with Bryan, as they also testified against the mayor, confirming that he’d paid them for the break-in, the destruction, and to hurt me.
Ethan has tried to make it up to us every single day by starting early, finishing late, and never complaining. Slowly, we’re getting to where we once were in our friendship because his betrayal cut me deep. But Grandma reminded me that Ethan is so much more than his one bad decision.
“I really can’t thank you enough. All of you.” Ethan holds the tablet to his chest, and for a moment, I’m afraid he’s going to start crying. Except he clears his throat. “So, are you three lumberjacks up for tomorrow’s fun?”
Wolf chuckles. “Born to flex my muscles for a crowd.” He cracks his knuckles.
I giggle, having watched their show over two dozen times already.
Word of mouth about our Lumberjack Deluxe Package has spread like wildfire, and we’ve been booked out for months, and for more than just bachelorette events.
Friends, birthdays, girls’ weekends away, any reason really to gawk at three handsome men with axes.
Next week we’re doing a photo shoot, as I plan to use them in our marketing materials.
All the destruction Bryan's accomplices caused to the lodge has let us install a new double door at the entry, which is stunning, and fix the rest of the damage inside the building.
Wolf kisses my head, and Grayson threads his hand into my free one, saying, “We may need to charge extra to take our shirts off.”
Grandma laughs. “I knew the package would take off the moment I saw you three.”
I press into my Alphas’ arms, realizing that, for so long, I blamed the universe for what happened to Jerry and me. Only to figure out that, the whole time, it drove me back home to finally receive the happiest life I could ever have imagined.
“A weekend of women drooling over you three,” Ethan says, the corners of his mouth curling upward. “I’m sure it’s a hard life.”
“We carry a lot of professionalism in our act,” Roman adds. “Every grunt and flex is timed. It takes practice to be this good.”
Ethan’s laughing, as is Grandma. I’m smiling, loving my life, realizing how lucky I am.
A crunch of gravel draws our attention to the driveway, where a white minibus approaches, and it’s full of women. Oh, it’s going to be a packed house all right.
“So, I can take it easy now, officially starting my retirement.” Grandma lifts her chin, rather proud of herself.
“Absolutely. We’ve got this,” I say, my Alphas already starting to tense their muscles to show off, and of course the women are all plastered to the windows of the bus, gawking.
Grandma laughs, and I adore her. “Okay, after this one party,” she says, patting Ethan on the arm. “Let’s go welcome our guests.” They both head to where the bus has parked.
I laugh because I struggle to believe she’ll be able to stay away from the events.
I head inside with my Alphas, ready to sign in our new guests. Once we’re indoors, Wolf grabs my wrist and draws me against him and between my men. “Not so fast,” he whispers, and suddenly all three are kissing and embracing me.
It’s impossible not to swoon when they dote on me with endless love. “I’m certain I’m the luckiest woman in the world. Can you believe we’re going to be running this place?”
“We’re going to kill it,” Grayson whispers. “But right now, we just want to show you a taste of what we have planned once we have you all to ourselves.”
Wolf’s licking my neck, Roman’s hand slides under my shirt, crawling up, and I’m breathless in seconds.
“And we’re ready to make babies,” Wolf murmurs, to which I gasp.
“I think we can calm down a bit,” I say.
“I want to be a dad,” Roman adds, and it warms my soul to hear him say that.
“Oh, Roman, I think my ovaries just woke up.” My knees soften beneath their touches.
They hug me closer, and I try really hard not to cry at how fast my life is moving. I remind myself to take in everything so I never forget a second of how incredible my life has become.
“So, are you ready to become a mom?” Grayson asks, and they all stare at me, watching and waiting for a response.
I nod instantly and picture the three of them running after our child and how beautiful it would be. “You have no idea how much I’d love that.”
“You just melted my heart,” Wolf whispers. “And at least three babies, one from each of us.”
I laugh, shoving a hand into his arm. “Calm down and let’s start with just one.”
They’re all chuckling with me, and I realize I’m still holding on to the key from Grandma, still needing time to let all of this sink in. We watch through the window as a busload of women pours out onto the driveway, and everything feels as though I was meant to end up here all along.
With my Alphas, and finally, all the way home.