Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
Holly
Five Years Later…
Snow falls lazily outside, and I smile as I watch it come down, blanketing the surrounding forest.
“Can we go outside?” Everett, our oldest, asks, his big green eyes pleading with me.
“It’s bedtime, but we can play in the snow in the morning,” I promise him.
He pouts, and I almost give in, but I know that if we go out, I’ll have to redo the whole nighttime routine, and I’m too tired to do that tonight.
My hand moves to my swollen stomach, rubbing my baby bump as I smother a yawn.
“You heard Mom,” Camden says as he comes in, scooping Everett up in his arms.
“Did you get Owen down okay?” I ask.
He nods, bending to drop a kiss on my forehead. “Yep, he’s passed out.”
I smile as Camden carries Everett off to bed and grab my tea, shuffling into the living room and curling up in my favorite chair.
It’s crazy to think that this is my life.
I never thought I would have a family, a husband who worships me, and two—almost three—amazing kids.
Camden and I have been married for close to five years now, and things couldn’t be more perfect.
The Pack is doing great, our kids are thriving, and I swear I fall more in love with my husband every single day.
The baby kicks, and I adjust my position, rubbing circles on my stomach until it stops. We decided to let the gender be a surprise, but something tells me this little one is a girl. I smile at the thought, then groan as the kicking starts again.
“Everything okay?” Camden asks, looking concerned as he crosses the room to my side.
“Yeah, just kicking.”
He places his hand there, smiling as our little one answers with more kicks.
“So strong and feisty. Just like their mama.”
I smile, and he drops a quick kiss on my lips before he sits next to me, tugging me to his side.
“Are you warm enough?”
I nod. “Perfect.”
“Good.”
“What’s on your schedule tomorrow?”
He sighs. “Meetings. We have our budget review tomorrow.”
“Hmm, need any help?”
“If we do, I’ll let you know. What about you?”
“Adeline and I are going over the budget for Sweet Moon Confections.”
“Yours sounds like more fun.”
I laugh. “Yeah, and easier too, I think. Although if it gets hard, I can always reach out to that cruise line to see if they’re still hiring.”
Camden growls, shaking his head.
“You could come see me on the ship,” I tease. “We could do it in my little cabin.”
“Not a chance.”
I gasp. “You wouldn’t fuck me on a boat?”
“I would, but I’m not letting you take a job where you leave me for weeks at a time. I wouldn’t survive.”
“I know. The kids would overthrow you before dinner.” I chuckle.
He grins, nuzzling into my neck, and I sigh, melting against him.
“And I’d die of a broken heart before bedtime,” he adds.
“Well, we can’t have that. I guess I’ll have to stay.”
He nods, running his fingers through my hair as he continues to kiss and nuzzle me.
To be honest, I’d never leave Night Grove Falls. I couldn’t be away from Camden or my kids for that long. Besides, I love it here, and over the years, this place has become my home. It’s where I got married, where I had my kids, and where Adeline and I started our business.
We started Sweet Moon Confections four years ago, and things have been going great.
She handles all the baking and recipe testing because I’m still somewhat of a disaster in the kitchen, and I take care of the business side of things.
We’ve grown the business from a small start-up to a six and then seven-figure business.
We send out boxes of Adeline’s baked goods every week, and we’ve had to hire more and more people.
It's great working with my best friend, doing something we both love. Rhodes and Camden have been nothing but supportive, helping when they can.
I smother another yawn.
Camden grins. “Time for bed, missy,” he murmurs against the shell of my ear.
I shiver. “It’s too early,” I complain.
He shakes his head. “You need your rest.”
I groan, and he smiles as he lifts me in his arms. I let him carry me upstairs to bed, sighing happily as he crawls under the covers next to me.
My man is so much more relaxed than he was when we first met. He’s a great leader, and his Pack loves him, but I know the kids and I come first with him, and we always will. He’s a great dad and an amazing husband.
“What are you thinking?” he asks, tucking me against his side.
“How lucky I am that fate chose us for each other,” I murmur, my eyes drooping.
“Nah, I’m the lucky one,” he whispers.
I smile as I drift off to sleep, knowing that we’re both lucky to be right where we belong.