Epilogue
Iwas meeting the rest of his family, and I was a bundle of nerves. Nina told me a little about the oldest brother and the thought of meeting him was terrifying. Even her Astor sounded frightening, but I would never say that to her face.
I smoothed my palms down my dress, more to wipe the dampness than anything else.
“Everything will be fine, baby,” Caine murmured against my temple.
He could say it all he wanted, but it wouldn’t calm my nerves.
He pushed open the front door into the Astor foyer illuminated by a chandelier.
Dalton ran past and careened to the right.
A few moments later, I froze at the threshold of an open space with couches, settees, and lots of people. Caine squeezed my hand.
My breath stalled in my throat.
“Issa.” Vanessa strode over, a grin on her face. She pulled me into a hug and whispered. “Told you.”
I could only grin. Alex waved from the settee diagonal from the entrance and there was a large man in a love seat against the wall.
“Sam, this is who I was telling you about,” Nina said from the lap of a large man to the bear of a man’s other side. The man she sat on was wide and intimidating—her Samuel. He grunted, nodding toward me.
“Lovely to meet you, Issa. I’m Theo Astor.” Samuel was large and wide, but the man that spoke somehow seemed bulkier and wider in the shoulders. He held a glass of gold liquid in hand and was dressed in a button down tucked into slacks. “Have you heard from Baron?” He turned his focus on Caine.
“He’s been radio silent.”
“With the rest of us too,” Samuel murmured and sipped.
Clipped steps echoed down the hall, then a dark-haired man stood in front of me. “Oh, you’re a morsel,” he said, eyes mischievous.
Caine tensed, and the dark-haired man backed up fast.
“Oliver,” Vanessa hissed.
“Kidding, kidding,” he said. “Not that you’re not gorgeous, sweets, but I’d rather not be knocked out again.” He suddenly grunted, grabbing his leg. “Dalton, what the hell, little man?” Oliver shouted, rubbing his shin.
Dalton walked over and grabbed my other hand, turning his glare on his uncle. Vanessa clasped her hands together, her eyes wide on us and a huge smile on her face.
“When are you getting married?” she asked, hopping on her toes.
My face warmed and I put my hand up, opening and closing my mouth as I scrambled to figure out what to say. I peeked up at Caine.
He smiled fondly at me and brushed his knuckle across the crest of my cheek. “Soon.”
His blue eyes crinkled at the corner from his smile. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to play off that his statement had caused a hot flush to spread south.
“Right fucking now if she let me.”
I tried to hide my smile. Thank goodness I hadn’t put the engagement ring on; Vanessa might have had a heart attack. He’d already proposed, but I’d asked him for a year together before we made it official.
“You fucking saps.” Theo clicked his tongue in obvious disapproval.
Vanessa squealed and ran over to Dalton, hugging him hard.
“Why don’t you give me a tour of the house?” I ran my finger down his chest.
“Anything for you,” he whispered in my ear.
Vanessa was already dragging Dalton to the couch where Alex sat.
His family’s chatter melted into the background and Caine gripped my hand, tugging me up the winding staircase.
We only managed to get down the second hall when he pulled me into a closet.
He left the door cracked open so a sliver of light came through.
The sound of the zipper echoed while I pulled my panties off. He hoisted me up on the edge of a shelf and slid inside. His length throbbed, gliding inside me. I moaned, dropping my forehead against his chest.
“I love you, Alpha.” I couldn’t hide the emotion seeping my tone.
He pumped his hips with a hiss. “I love you, angel,” he breathed.
My channel clenched around him, squeezing his length. I was so blessed to have found him.