Page 89 of When She Needs Them Most

My eyes bug as I nod. She is continually chantingyesunder her breath. Now is the time to do it.

Arden fumbles and begins digging in his jacket pocket.

“You’re there, aren’t you, sweetheart?” Lincoln asks softly.

“Yep.” Chelsea moans, nodding. “Yeah, yes. Right there.”

Lincoln laughs, nodding at Arden.

“We love you,” Arden says, popping open the box. “We already have the legal commitment, but will you wear our ring?”

“Yes,” Chelsea groans.

“Oh, good,” I say, smiling. “Shove the ring onto her finger.”

Arden grabs her hand and shoves the ring on while Lincoln buries her face in his chest to muffle the sounds that escape her lips.

“God, you’re killing me here,” Linc says, tilting her mouth up to meet his.

Movement comes our way, and I panic. The waitress approaches with a massive tray on her shoulder.

“Incoming,” I whisper-hiss.

Chelsea jolts, hurling herself back against the booth. Lincoln laughs under his breath. I panic-gather our salad plates and pile them by Arden in hopes the server won’t get too close to the table.

And Arden keeps twisting Chelsea’s hand, so the diamond glints in the low light.

The little omega squeaks when she catches sight of the three-carat emerald-cut diamond solitaire.

Lincoln pulls his hand up and begins licking his fingers clean.

The waitress waits patiently, blinking in confusion.

I snort.

They think I’m the crazy one?

Hardly.

But this is the kind of chaos I enjoy.

Now, to eat a delicious meal, get home and check on our daughter, and then I’ll snack on my omega.

Epilogue

Lincoln

Another Four Months Later

Sky is beyond pissed that we locked her in the downstairs bedroom, but that dog is just as gone for Chelsea as the rest of us are. I have no doubt that she would step in to defend her favorite human, even from me. Which is weird, because I used to be her person.

Luna is with Kase’s mom for Chelsea’s first heat after giving birth, and while it’s coming to an end, it’s not over just yet.

Arden came up with a little game ofhunt the omega. It’s a lovely plan, but Sky won’t stop whining from inside the bedroom every time I stomp past. It makes me feel like a shitty owner, but she’s got a bed and a TV. She’ll be fine until we catch Chelsea and bring her into the nest.

I quietly sneak up the back stairs and come around the curve to the hallway.

Kase has Chelsea’s back to his chest as he holds her dangling in the air. He speaks closer to her ear and bites her throat before setting her on her feet and slapping her ass. “Careful if you head down the stairs.”

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