27. Olive
Epilogue
Ayear changes a lot of things. I stand in the staff breakroom and adjust the plastic clip of my ID badge on the collar of my navy scrubs. The familiar hum of the pediatric oncology ward surrounds me. Monitors beep in a steady rhythm. Cartoons play on the television at the nurses' desk.
I love my job.
Getting fired felt like the end of the world back then, but returning with bonding marks solved every HR problem.
The four mark scars on my neck and wrists act as an invisible shield.
Unbonded Alphas ignore my scent now. The liability vanished.
I get to keep my career and my independence.
Plus, I get to go home to four devoted men who worship the ground I walk on.
Even my sister got a fresh start. Thanks to Lawrence and his top-tier lawyers, Chloe finalized her divorce from Rick months ago. She and the kids thrive in a beautiful new house. Rick faded into miserable, unemployed obscurity, right where a predator belongs.
My inner thighs still ache from this morning.
Waking up in the center of a giant nest with four professional athletes means dealing with a lot of morning wood.
Finn woke me up by sliding his thick cock right between my cheeks, fucking my ass slow and deep while Lawrence ate me out from the front.
They left me a shaking, dripping mess before the sun even came up.
Then Malcolm and Victor cornered me in the huge marble shower. Taking two thick knots while pinned against the wet tile takes a ton of stamina. I drank three cups of coffee just to survive my shift today.
I toss my empty paper cup into the trash can and push through the swinging doors into the main hallway.
I head straight for the main playroom.
The sight inside makes a loud laugh bubble up in my throat. My four towering Alphas volunteer on the floor every Tuesday during the off-season. They trade their hockey sticks and vicious aggression for board games and coloring books. The contrast is hilarious and sweet.
Finn folds his huge frame into a tiny red plastic chair. His knees almost touch his chin. He scowls at a colorful cardboard game board. A six-year-old girl in a hospital gown giggles across the small table.
"You landed in the Molasses Swamp." She points a small finger at his plastic game piece. "You lose a turn."
Finn rubs his face, pretending to look devastated. "This game is rigged. I demand a rematch. I refuse to lose to a princess."
The little girl laughs, clutching her deck of cards.
I walk past them and spot Lawrence. He sits on a beanbag chair in the corner.
Three teenage girls surround him. He signs posters and flashes his signature playboy smile, making them blush and giggle.
He knows the best way to charm a crowd, turning a boring afternoon into the highlight of their month.
Malcolm sits on the rug near the window. A toddler rests against his broad chest. He holds a picture book, reading the story in a low, rumbling voice. His long dark hair falls over his shoulder. The toddler looks mesmerized by the deep sound, relaxed against the intimidating defender.
I scan the room for my center. I find Victor near the art station.
He sits next to a teenager hooked up to an IV pole.
They work on a thousand-piece puzzle together.
Victor wears a plain black t-shirt and jeans.
The arrogant, icy glare from a year ago is gone.
He looks grounded and at peace. He sorts the edge pieces with focused determination, treating the puzzle like a playoff game.
He looks up and catches my eye. A warm, genuine smile stretches across his face.
"Hey." He leaves the puzzle and walks over to me.
"You look good in a tiny chair." I grab the front of his shirt and pull him in for a quick kiss.
He kisses me back, his hands resting on my hips. "My knees disagree. But the kid keeps hiding the edge pieces to mess with my strategy. I need to keep an eye on him."
I lean back and look at my pack. "You guys are amazing for doing this."
"We like it here." He traces a thumb over my jawline. "It beats sitting at the house all day. Plus, we get to see you in your element. You run this ward like a boss."
"I do try." I wink at him.
Brenda, the charge nurse, pokes her head into the playroom.
"Olive." Brenda waves a hand. "The press team just got here. We need the guys out there in five minutes."
"We're on our way." I offer her a thumbs up.
Victor turns his head to look at the other three. "Wrap it up, boys. It's time."
Finn groans, standing up from the tiny chair and stretching his long legs. "Thank God. The Molasses Swamp was kicking my ass."
He looks down at the little girl, pointing a stern finger at the cardboard. "Don't move my piece, princess. I have to go take some pictures. I plan to come right back here to finish this game."
The little girl giggles, covering her cards with her hands. "I won't cheat."
We gather the pack and head out into the hallway. The energy on the floor shifts from playful to electric anticipation. Today marks a huge milestone. We waited a year for this moment, and none of us plan to miss a single second.
The main waiting area of the outpatient oncology clinic looks like a packed house party.
Nurses line the painted walls. Doctors stand near the charting stations with wide smiles.
A journalist from a major sports network waits in the corner, typing on a phone.
A photographer adjusts the lens on a huge camera.
They came to cover the story of the Iron Wolves and the brave boy who beat the odds.
I stand near the double doors leading back to the exam rooms. Finn, Lawrence, Malcolm, and Victor form a protective half-circle behind me. The heat radiating off their tall bodies keeps me warm in the cold clinic.
The heavy doors swing open.
Sam steps out.
He's eleven years old now. The oversized hospital gown is gone for good.
He wears a brand new gold and black Iron Wolves jersey and dark jeans.
His warm brown skin glows. Thick dark curls cover his head, replacing the bald look from a year ago.
He gained weight and grew three inches. He looks like a normal, thriving pre-teen.
Elena walks behind him, wiping tears from her eyes with a tissue.
A shiny brass bell hangs on the wall near the clinic's front desk. A wooden plaque sits above it, reading "Ring for a Cure."
The crowd goes silent. The anticipation hums in the air.
Today marks his official one-year checkup. Sam's body accepted Victor's stem cells without a single complication. The engraftment worked better than anyone hoped. Twelve months of clean scans and clear bloodwork led to this exact milestone. He beat leukemia. He won the hardest battle of his life.
Sam walks across the clinic floor. He stops in front of the brass bell. He looks at the crowd. He spots Victor standing behind me.
Sam offers a bright, gap-toothed smile. He points a finger at the center forward. "We won." Sam beams with total confidence.
Victor nods. A hot tear slips down his cheek. He ignores the camera flashing in the corner. "We won, kid. Ring the damn bell."
Sam reaches out and grabs the braided rope hanging from the clapper. He yanks the rope hard. The brass bell rings with a loud, piercing chime. He rings it a second time and then a third, putting his whole back into the motion. The clear, triumphant sound echoes down the entire pediatric clinic.
The room erupts. The nurses cheer and clap their hands. The doctors whistle. Finn lets out a deafening, victorious roar. Lawrence claps Malcolm on the back, a huge grin breaking across his face.
Elena covers her face with her hands and sobs.
Sam lets go of the rope and runs across the linoleum. He bypasses the nurses and runs to our pack. He throws his arms around Victor's waist, burying his face in his stomach.
Victor drops to his knees. He wraps his huge arms around the kid, pulling him into a tight, crushing hug. The icy, untouchable athlete shatters into a puddle of raw emotion in the middle of the clinic floor. He cries without an ounce of shame. He saved this boy's life, and he knows it.
I press a hand over my mouth, trying to hold back my own sobs. The tears flow hot down my cheeks.
Finn steps up behind me. He wraps his broad arms around my waist, pulling my back flat against his chest and rests his chin on the top of my head, anchoring me in the chaotic space. Even in a crowded clinic, my Alphas shield me from the overwhelming emotions.
Malcolm rests a large hand on my shoulder, his thumb tracing soothing circles over my cotton shirt. Lawrence steps to my side, grabbing my hand and squeezing my fingers.
I lean back into their solid, warm presence. The scent of ozone, cedar, black pepper, and juniper wraps around me.
The journalist steps closer, typing notes on a phone. The photographer snaps picture after picture, capturing the love in the room.
"Sam." The reporter points the phone toward the kid to record his voice. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Sam looks up at Victor with a huge smile. "A hockey player."
They get the story of a lifetime. The Iron Wolves didn't just win the Alpha Cup last year. They won a family.
Victor stands up and wipes his face. He keeps one hand on Sam's shoulder. He looks at me. His blue eyes shine with devotion.
I smile back at him. My heart feels full. The long, brutal road of getting fired, getting evicted, and fighting my own hormones led me here. It led me to four incredible men and a life better than any dream.
I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of my pack.
I have my career and health. I have four men waiting to strip these scrubs off me the second we get back to the mansion.
The chaos is gone. I stand in the middle of the busy clinic and feel nothing but absolute contentment. Life is fucking perfect.
The End
Anonymous Reader Survey: