Epilogue
Sylvia
I knew from Lily that the first couple of months with a newborn were tiring and that interrupted sleep didn’t work the same way as a good solid night of rest would—but also, it was such a beautiful time. She’d been right about all of it.
Taking care of Ben and my mates being around all the time…I loved it.
We’d done a lot of things at home during this time as a family.
Ben had met our wolves. We ate outside, did some gardening, finally planted those rose bushes.
We finally rearranged the living room furniture.
We read countless board books and learned a ton of lullabies.
There was never a dull moment, not even the quiet ones.
As much as we did here on pack lands, we hadn’t done anything beyond them. Sure, one of us ran to the grocery store when needed, but that was it. Ben’s entire life had been on our property.
Then my brother called up and asked us to come over for lunch, saying that he had a surprise for me.
“Looks like you get to go on an adventure,” I singsonged then got Ben cleaned up and ready to go in his most adorable sleeper, one covered in wolves.
We packed up, bringing enough baby supplies for a week.
I didn’t know what I thought was going to happen over the course of lunch, but apparently, twenty diapers were necessary.
I had to laugh, because it wasn’t like they lived hours away…
it was literally down the road. We could always run home and grab something we missed.
But that knowledge didn’t stop any of us from overpacking.
We pulled into my brother’s drive and parked.
Archer brought out the stroller, which still had the bassinet attachment on it, as I got Ben out of the carrier car seat and then put him in the baby wrap against my chest. The stroller hadn’t been used to actually hold the baby yet.
Even when we were home, where we used it a great deal while outside, it had only been a glorified baby carrier.
I got him snug in my baby wrap, his very favorite place to sleep. He wasn’t picky about who was wearing him, as long as someone was.
“Mom! Dad!” Archer ran over to two people who I quickly recognized as his parents.
“Benji said he had a surprise for us, but I didn’t realize it was you!”
His mother smiled bright. “We were passing through the state, but we didn’t want to put too much pressure on you to have us over. And here we are.”
There had to be a whole lot more to that story.
I’d talked to them over the phone, including video chats, but this was the first time seeing them face-to-face. They were wearing clothes that probably cost as much as all my art supplies put together, but they didn’t have any airs about them. They were the epitome of grandparents.
When my mother-in-law held out grabby hands, I passed Ben right over, and he snuggled in close.
“I still got it,” she said, resting her head on her mate’s shoulder.
“Yes, you do, dear.” He kissed the top of her head. “Yes, you do.”
They were freaking adorable.
I laced my fingers with Talon’s, and he offered to give them a tour, but Benji came out and cut us off, saying lunch was ready.
We all went inside, and that was when I got my second surprise.
Tyrone was here.
In all ways but blood, he was my brother, and I ran to him, hugging him close.
He was the reason I was rescued. He was the one who found me and called my brother. Without him, I’d still be there.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I came to see if this nephew of mine is as cute as Benji says. He claims he looks just like him, and I find that hard to believe because he also said he was cute. Those two things can’t coexist.”
I cackled. “Oh, my brother. We named him after you, but trust me, he looks like my mates.”
“Which one?” he asked, glancing at the three men behind me.
“All three, obviously.”
I introduced everybody around, and we sat for lunch.
It was neat seeing Lily’s little one, or more accurately, not so little now, and knowing that was our future soon.
We laughed and talked, ate lots of amazing food. But before dessert came, Tyrone stood up and said he had to leave.
“Where are you off to?” Benji asked.
“Thinking about joining a pack not too far from here. Two bears, like me. They’re looking for a third. I had a dream that said I should check it out, so here we are.”
If Tyrone had a dream, then there was a reason he was going there.
One of his dreams was what had helped lead to the intel that got me out.
Another of his dreams was what had led him and my brother to find me that first day at the castle and to know to hide me.
I trusted his dreams as much as I trusted my mates, and that was saying something.
“Well, have fun with the bears.”
We all hugged him, and he left, leaving the rest of us to enjoy Lily’s wonderful cookies.
“Maybe he’ll be lucky like me.” Talon wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “I came here because of a seer, and look how great that worked out. I don’t see why a dream can’t do the same for him.”
I didn’t either, and if anyone deserved to be as happy as we were, it was Tyrone.
“If he is half as happy as we are, he’s a lucky bear.” Archer gave my hand a squeeze.
“Agreed.” Dax came up behind me, resting his hand on my shoulder.
“If ever there was a time for pictures, it’s now.” Tyrone told us to stay put as he ran outside. Thirty seconds later, he was back with enough camera equipment to start his own shop.
“Dad, do you think that’s maybe a bit much?”
“You’ll thank me when the pictures are in. Now, all of you, lean in and kiss your mate.”
Safe to say, I was already thanking him now.
Mazzy and Ever are having a great time collaborating! One-Click Embracing Their Omega, the second book in the Saved by the Alpha Pack series and The Sassy Omega and Her Three Bears, the first book in the brand new Knot Her Bears series.