Epilogue
Luke
Eli’s face twisted in concentration as he lined up the hammer and nail. His first tap was too light, but his second hit was stronger, allowing him to let go of the nail while he finished hammering it in.
“Only a few more boards to go, and we’ll be ready.”
He stole a glance at me as he grabbed another nail. “How many kids are coming?”
“Six.” I drove three nails in for every one of Eli’s. “All boys around your age.”
Katie and I had decided to hold a camp for kids who were like Eli—lost in the system. The family was all for it, so we reserved a couple of weeks to host them. If it went well, we’d make it an annual thing.
“They won’t get to ride my horse, will they?” His shoulders were stiff as he asked. He still sometimes wrestled with feeling like he belonged on the ranch. As if he thought we’d send him back any day.
“They will not. Your horse and Jonah’s are off-limits to them.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Besides, I don’t think Major would even let them on his back. That horse is in love with you.”
He made a face, but I could tell he was secretly pleased. He stuck his tongue out as he hammered the last nail in place. “Done.”
I stepped back and surveyed the structure. We’d built a bunkhouse for the kids, figuring it would be easier to have them in one place instead of spread out across the cabins. My brothers and I would take turns supervising them at night.
“We did good, Eli.” I nodded in approval. “Now, let’s head home and clean up. Katie has something special planned for tonight because we have a surprise for you.”
He took off for the cabin, and I ran behind him. I let him beat me, but I doubted it would be long before he won for real. The kid was fast.
“Hi, Katie!” Eli hugged her quickly before darting into the bathroom to wash up.
“Well, that was quick.” Katie chuckled as I stepped to her side.
“I told him we had a surprise for him.” I leaned down and kissed her upturned face.
“That would do it.” She grabbed the oven mitts and pulled a tray of brownies out of the oven. “I thought about making a cake but realized Eli would rather have these.”
“They are his favorite.” I breathed in the scent of warm chocolate and eyed the tray.
“Don’t even think of it.” She gave me the Mae stare that all the mates had perfected. “Is the bunkhouse finished?”
“Mason just has to set up security on it.” I leaned against the counter.
“My father’s in jail now, but Vince is still out there.
The sheriff couldn’t get anything useful out of my father.
He never actually met Vince. He only spoke to him over a burner phone, when Vince explained how to get past our security.
But Mason is sure he’s not done with us. ”
She frowned. “I almost wish he’d just get it over with, so we can move on without the constant worry hanging over the ranch.”
I scrubbed my hand over my face. “Yeah. Mason is still running on fumes. He thinks it’s all on him to protect us and is still kicking himself over the breaches, even though he knows Vince can get around his system.”
“He needs to meet his mate. Maybe that would mellow him out.” She spread a thick layer of chocolate frosting over the brownies.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. It’s all up to fate.”
Eli burst out of the bathroom. “I’m ready for the surprise.”
I grinned at him. “I still need to get clean.”
“Hurry up.” He tugged at my arm, trying to drag me toward the bathroom.
Laughter echoed through the cabin as I pretended to resist. He ran behind me and pushed at my back with all his might. I let my feet stumble forward and pretended to trip into the bathroom. “You got me. Don’t eat those brownies without me.”
After I cleaned up, I entered the main room of the cabin to find Eli already sitting at the table. Katie gave me a nervous smile and held her hand out to me. I took it, twining our fingers together as we joined Eli.
He looked at us expectantly. In the months he’d been here, he’d blossomed, proving what Katie knew all along. He’d just needed to find where he belonged.
I didn’t want to drag out the suspense any longer. It was too important. “Katie and I have something to ask you.”
“We want you to take all the time you need to decide.” She let out a wobbly breath. “It needs to be something you want. If not, nothing needs to change. I want you to know that no matter what, you’ll always have a place here.”
His gaze bounced between us, shoulders still.
I squeezed Katie’s hand beneath the table. “Eli, Katie and I would like to adopt you.”
His mouth opened, and his eyes widened. He studied our faces for a full minute before whispering, “Really?”
“Really.” Katie held her free hand out to him. “Luke and I both agree that you belong here with us, and we’d like to make it official.”
He blinked rapidly, tears glistening. He swiped his arm across his nose, staring at the hand Katie offered. We waited, giving him time. This needed to be his decision. We wanted him to know he had control over his life.
He slowly lifted his hand and laid it in Katie’s. She squeezed his fingers. His gaze found mine. “Will it make you my dad?”
My heart squeezed. “If you want. You can also continue to call me Luke if you’re more comfortable.”
He considered my words before nodding. “I think I’d like having a dad.” His gaze shot to Katie. “And a mom.”
Katie’s smile lit up the room. “We’ll start working on it right away. But you can call us Mom and Dad whenever you’re ready.”
“Okay.” He jumped to his feet. “Can I tell Jonah?”
“Sure.” Katie called after him as he raced toward the door. “Don’t you want brownies?”
“Whatever!” He cackled at the word that had come to mean anything from I don’t care to Later to I love you.
The door slammed shut, leaving us alone. Katie gave me a bemused look. “That didn’t go how I expected it to.”
“Never does with teenage boys. Especially shifters.” I grinned at her. “We’re going to be parents.”
A smile bloomed across her face. “We are.”
Her head rested on my shoulder. “If you had asked me three months ago where I’d be today, I would never have guessed. But I’m so glad everything worked out this way.”
“Three months ago, I told myself I didn’t deserve a mate. That my legacy could only be pain. And while I still don’t think I deserve you, I’m thankful every day that fate put you in my life.”
She slid onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “You are a good man, Luke. And I’ll keep reminding you of that. Eli and I are both lucky to have you.”
My cheeks flushed, but it got easier to hear every time she said it. Still, my embarrassment had me changing the subject. “Good enough to deserve a brownie?”
She tapped her finger on her lips. “Good enough for two.”
I swooped down and kissed her thoroughly, leaving her breathless. Then I grinned as I set her aside and reached for the brownies. “We have the house to ourselves. How about we see how many places we can get the frosting?”
She laughed as I hauled her over my shoulder, brownies in one hand, and carried her to our bedroom. Life with Katie was the dream I’d never dared to dream before, and I’d continue to thank fate and Katie for showing me the error of my ways.