Page 48 of Take All of Me

Holt’s eyes soften, his hand cupping my cheek. “Go to your team. I think the coach deserves it.”

The team swarms me as I step out onto the ice, all of them lifting me up, their voices chanting, “Coach M! Coach M!”

Dakota grumbles, pushing through, as he tugs at me for them to let me down. “Put her down so you don’t break her.”

One of the guys—Jake, probably—starts laughing. “Why, is she pregnant?” and I roll my eyes, swatting the air.

“There are no babies!” I push back, “I just don’t trust you to catch me when you lost that pass!” The team roars, laughter echoing through the rink as Brogan skates up tome.

“I knew you could do it, Coach.”

His words take me back to when I first stepped into the hockey rink, his assurance already there like he knew I’d make it. Everyone’s debating where we’re going for dinner but that’s cut short when Roman cuts in. “Actually, we have a bit of a trip to go on, and we’re on a schedule.”

My brows furrow, confusion settling in because I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Found a cute little town to spend Christmas in,” Roman grins, “think it’s called Ansdale?”

“We’re going to meet your family?”

Roman promised that we would but it’s also a piece of home, a place I grew up in and haven’t yet returned to because of all the chaos I’ve been subjected to. I run to him, Roman catching me in his arms as he spins me around on the ice. Just over a month ago, I thought I only had myself but now I’ve got a pack, a team, and nephews.

God, I can’t fucking wait.

Epilogue - Roman

Staring up at the estate, I always forgot how daunting this place is. It’s been in Puma’s family for generations, one of Gray’s Alphas—complete with the cobblestone driveway and massive oak door. I’m nervous as fuck to spend Christmas here because this place is all wealth and grandeur, a far cry from the subtle, grounded life I prefer. Gray mated into this influential pack of art dealers and collectors—Violet, Sofie, their Alphas—and I haven’t been here in years, opting for quick restaurant meetups, neutral ground, when we’ve crossed paths. But somehow, I conned Gray into letting us crash for Christmas, desperate to show off my pack, my family, my everything even as I realize that I forgot to mention I’m an Alpha now, and Dakota’s an Omega.

Well,shit.

Maya’s leaning forward in the passenger seat, eyes racing across the structure. I can’t tell if she’s intimidated or intrigued. Maybe both? “Damn, they’ve got money.” Her brown eyes flick to me, narrowing when she catches my expression. “Why do you look like you’re gonna puke?”

I swallow, my throat tight, my hands gripping the steering wheel. “I might’ve forgot to mention a few designation changes.” I told myself that it wasn’t a conversation over the phone and definitely not through text but now it’s beenweeks.

Maya giggles as she slips out of the car, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Well, then we’ll all be full of surprises,” she teases, my heart suddenly in my stomach because I have no idea what the fuck she’s talking about. I all but stumble out of the car, the rest of our pack walking up from the second car we brought.

“Are you pregnant?” I ask, half-serious. Dakota, Holt, and Brogan are suddenly on alert after hearing my question but Maya’s still hiding behind that deviant smile. “What surprises?” I twist around for help from the others but no one seems to know what she’s talking about either.

“No idea,” Dakota shrugs, his claiming bites peeking from his collar.

Holt murmurs the same thing in agreement as Maya takes my hand in hers, gesturing for me to lead us inside. My nerves are a little more frayed than before but now I have no idea how to approach this. It’s been months since I last saw my brother and even longer since I’ve actually seen my nephews. I really do need to visit more or at least do some video calls. That’s a problem for later, though. Blowing out one last heavy sigh, I head up the steps and knock on the door. Shrieks of laughter spill from inside and then the door swings open, revealing my brother. There’s a moment of shock and then he’s dragging me into his chest for a hug, a laugh vibrating between the both of us. God,it feels good to be here again. I’ve missed him, missed this, too caught up in my pack to realize how much.

Gray pulls back, his gaze narrowing at me and it’s then that I know he’s caught onto my newer scent. “How the fuck are you an Alpha?”

My cheeks heat because I wasn’t sure how well he’d take this. “Surprise?” I shrug, waiting for the judgment or disgust or literallyanythingbut it doesn’t come.

“Brother, would you stop thinking I’m going to get angry. Probably should have guessed that you were an Alpha with all those bullshit grins and cocky skating around the ring you used to do.” Gray chuckles as he drags me inside, ushering for the rest of my pack to follow. “Let me meet this pack of yours that you kept from me.”

There’s a lot of pleasantries, the rest of the pack coming to greet mine. There’s a regal air when it comes to the Ashford pack, Puma a few years older than the rest of them, then there’s the twins—Lance and Hawk—and then my brother. Their Beta and Omega, Violet and Sofie are a whole adventure, one that I’m glad are my brother’s problem and not mine. Maya is fierce in her own way but from the stories I’ve heard, those two are devious and masterminds of trouble.

Two little curly heads rush up to me, Milo and Eli, squealing ‘uncle’ before trying to drag me into the living room to play with blocks. Violet and Sofie ignore the rest of us, embracing Maya, giggling about god knows what but I recognize that smile on her face. It’s the same one she’s had plastered on her lips the entire way over here and now I’m just wondering what the fuck this surprise is. She didn’t answer when I asked her if she was pregnant but we would have noticed, right?

We can’t keep our hands off each other and she all but walks around naked in the dorm rooms now, way more confident in herself than she used to be. I glare at her departure as Violetand Sofie tug her past us where the blocks are and into the living room, the giggles hushed and then swapped for serious hushed whispers.

My attention is stolen away when my nephews start yelling for my attention, appeased by Dakota and Brogan who take over. I have absolutely no idea what to do with all this chaos until Gray gestures toward the kitchen table. I gladly oblige, needing a moment to resituate as I slip into a seat, Holt beside me, Gray’s other Alphas on either side of him. It feels surreal to be here, both of us finally finding our packs, our happily ever after in a way that I didn’t think was possible.

I also had no idea I’d be this close with my brother, either.

However, I still feel like the kid brother at the adult table, the regal air coming from the four Alphas sitting across from me so much stronger than the air Holt and I give off. Maybe it’s just different or maybe I’ve always been trying to live up to something when I don’t have to.

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