Epilogue
FOUR YEARS LATER
JASPER
“ U ncle Jas! Happy graduation!” The high-pitched voice carries over the din of everyone already mingling, our large main room overflowing with people. A small body slams into my leg before I can adequately brace for the impact, and I mutter a curse. “Uncle Jas! You’re not allowed to say shit.”
Rose’s bright blue eyes stare up at me, her strawberry blonde hair done up in two twisted buns and her bangs sitting nearly perfect against her forehead. I need to ask Faedra what product she uses because damn it has some fucking holding power.
“It’s fine, sweetheart,” Logan says, his voice full of equal parts warmth and exasperation. “He was just surprised. And it’s Violet’s graduation.”
“Oh. Sorry Uncle Jas. Happy Violet graduation.” I laugh and run my thumb along her cheek. She purses her lips even as she taps on my leg. “I don’t get to say shit.”
“That’s because you yell it in places that make Momma blush, and not in the fun way.” His voice is warm as he smirks, one eyebrow raised as I laugh. He scoops the toddler up onto his hip and kisses her cheek before turning toward me. “Hey, man, sorry we’re late.”
I shake my head as he hugs me and I kiss Rose’s cheek. Her eyes narrow the exact same way Violet’s do, and I can’t help but laugh.
“How do you have Violet’s expressions?”
“The video calls,” Rose answers, grinning.
Another small person comes running through the front door, her unsmiling face focusing on me. She dodges around Kurt and Phillip as she crosses the room. I’m braced for her impact and manage to swing her into my arms before she can take out my knee like Rose.
“Hey, Iris,” I say, kissing her cheek, too.
She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder and running her hand over my collarbone.
“Uncle Jas,” she murmurs, the cool, collected tone nearly identical to Jude’s. How a three-year-old can manage that level of stoicism is beyond me. Genetics are wild. “Uncle Jas, Momma is tired. She cried.”
I look at Logan, frowning. “You guys didn’t need to come out here,” I say. There’s no reason to make Faedra more uncomfortable than absolutely necessary. I’m sure the graduation itself was hard enough for her to navigate right now. “We’re more than happy seeing you guys tomorrow at lunch.”
“I will miss one of Violet’s milestones when I am dead,” Faedra seethes as she crosses over the threshold and into our house, Carter a half step behind her. Her lips are tight in an unsmiling line, but there’s a mischief in her eyes that betrays her humor. Jude closes the door with a soft touch, his unsmiling eyes softening as he focuses on her, pulling her bag from her shoulder and perching it on his own.
“And I will absolutely not be missing one as important as this for anything less than this baby coming three weeks too freaking early,” she continues even as Jude threads his fingers through hers and kisses her temple.
The effect of her serious threat is lost with just how breathless she is. The simple green wrap dress looks beautiful on her. She runs her hand over her large belly, grimacing for a moment before breathing through her nose.
I take a step toward her, intent on helping her into a spot she can rest, when Carter wraps his arm around her waist, his gaze full of devotion as he takes her weight into his side. Her moan of relief is loud enough that it stops most of the party, everyone slowly looking toward where Pack Bennett congregates near the front door.
Faedra’s blush is swift, and I chuckle.
Violet works her way out of the crowd, her eyes just as hard and intent as Faedra’s. The moment the women lock eyes on each other, they squeal, and Violet runs the rest of the distance, wrapping Faedra into her arms the second she’s within reach. Her joy moves in one great wave through the bond, and I can’t help but smile.
Rylan stops beside me, taking my hand in his and kissing my cheek.
“You feel it, right?” he whispers, low enough that not even Logan pauses to look back at us.
When I nod, Iris lifts her head.
“Feel what?” she asks.
Rylan grins and touches the tip of her nose. “We can feel when Aunt Violet is happy or sad or angry.”
Iris purses her lips and tilts her head to the side. “Does she have bites? Like Momma has bites? Momma says they let her feel Daddy and Dad and Papa.”
Rose nods and looks over Logan’s shoulder, her stoic gaze so intense I feel like I might be under examination. From a three-year-old.
Most terrifying examination of my life.
“But we can’t have bites,” she says. Her eyebrows draw together as she pouts. “It’s not fair. I want to know when Papa is happy when he’s at work, too.”
I glance at Logan, trying to gauge the right way to approach this. He chuckles, his lips twisted into a smirk, but doesn’t offer any kind of words of wisdom. When I turn to Rylan, he shrugs. Not really sure why he’d be helpful, to be honest. I clear my throat and smile at the little girl, trying to not look as awkward as I feel.
“Maybe one day you’ll be able to decide to have something like that,” I murmur. “But it wouldn’t be with your dads. It’d be with someone else you love and care about.”
Dominic comes up behind me, his body a wall of heat that has a bolt of arousal shooting down my spine. I just barely feel his amusement and desire through the hazy link. He palms my waist and pulls me into him, my back flush with his chest, and his purr kicks to life, the low sound vibrating through me.
Violet holds Faedra’s hand as they walk toward us, Jude and Carter chatting with Kurt. Phillip and Johnathan join us, too, their smiles wide. Everyone hugs Faedra and kisses the twins’ cheeks.
Happiness lights my chest, the link with Violet so bright it feels like it’s visible to everyone around me. I squeeze her open hand and lean across Rylan to kiss her temple. His own contentment isn’t as vivid, but I feel it just the same. He grabs me before I can straighten all the way up, palming my neck and kissing me. Iris giggles, and it kills the mood.
The benefit of being childfree is no little people interrupting us. Though I’m happy to endure for a weekend so Faedra can get a break.
I take a minute to survey the space again now that the excitement of Faedra’s family joining has ebbed a bit.
Dominic’s family is tucked away in the corner of their own choice, Alessia guarded by her lovers and Sarah tucked under Lorenzo’s arm, her own belly just starting to swell. Her daughter clings to her legs, though her eyes are bright and curious as she focuses on Iris in my arms. Victor’s hand is held tightly by his wife’s, though that’s as much contact as they maintain. The bond mark on her neck betrays their devotion, though. Her own belly is nearly as large as Faedra’s, her due date only a week or so away.
Liz stands in the midst of her pack, her only child perched on her hip, his eyes the same green as Zach’s. Huntley and Mason stand with them, as does Mark and Owen.
Our entire family and friends gathered to celebrate Violet’s achievements. My own pride swells in my chest. Dominic hums in my ear before kissing the sensitive spot just below it.
“ Tesoro , you are making me want to find a room,” he murmurs.
“Can I find a room, too?” Iris asks. “Aunt Violet, can I play with your elephants?”
Rylan covers his laugh with a half-hearted cough.
Violet smiles but shakes her head. “They’re taking a nap right now,” she says, completely serious. “And they get cranky when they can’t sleep. They get it from Dominic.”
Iris giggles, the sound bright and happy over the din of the party. Dominic murmurs a string of curses under his breath, too fast for the toddler to have a hope of picking up on them. I, however, elbow him.
“Don’t promise a good time when you know you can’t deliver, Dom,” I whisper, tilting my head back so that my lips are hidden.
He chuckles, the sound warm and inviting, and it skates over my skin. Before my dick can decide it wants to get involved, Johnathan holds up his champagne, and Bianca taps a knife against her glass, urging the room at large to silence.
“ Congratulazioni , Violet,” she says once the din of conversation quiets. “ Siamo così orgogliosi .”
Rylan groans. “Please, Bianca, for my sake, let’s skip the part where you prove I still don’t know any Italian.”
Bianca smirks. Faedra laughs.
“Keep going, Bianca. It’s my favorite part,” she says with a grin. She turns to Violet. “ Ti amo .”
Rylan sighs, and both women laugh. Faedra grabs Violet’s hands, her eyes glassy.
“Being assigned to your dorm as a freshman is the best stroke of luck I’ve ever had. You’re the best friend any woman can hope for. I’m so proud of you graduating with your doctorate and starting your research. You’re an inspiration for so many people, including me.”
Violet wipes her eyes. “Damn it, I’m not a fucking crier ,” she mutters as she hugs Faedra again.
Johnathan smiles, and Kurt laughs.
“Keep telling yourself that, darling,” Phillip says, humor in his voice. “Maybe one year it’ll actually be true.”
Rylan kisses Violet’s temple and pulls her around so she’s looking at the three of us.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to us,” he says, his Tennessee accent heavier than normal. Dominic hums his agreement, though I can feel it through the link, too. “We’re so proud to have you be with us. And this is just the start of a legacy I know will follow you forever. Congratulations, pretty Omega. You fucking did it.”
He pulls her into his chest, and I wrap my arm around her waist, kissing her hair to hide the fact that she’s crying again. Dominic’s purr gets louder as he runs his hand down her cheek and traces our bond scar and then his own.
All of our friends clap, Liz handing off her one-year-old to Zach so that she can whistle. Huntley laughs but does the same. The raucous cheering grows as everyone converges on us, offering their own congratulations. Her dads are quieter with theirs, quick murmurs as they hug her again once Rylan releases her.
Contentment roars through me, my own mixed with that of my lovers. The four of us take a quick moment once the attention shifts to the food Bianca and Alessia made for the celebration and Faedra takes Iris from my hold.
“I love you,” Violet murmurs, looking at each of us in turn. “Thank you for this life together.”
“ Per sempre, Sirena ,” Dominic murmurs.
“Until the end of time,” I offer, squeezing her hand.
Joy sweeps through the bond, and I can’t help but grin.
What a fucking life.