Page 96 of Talk About… Trouble

I hope this honeymoon phase never truly ends.

As soon as our family cheered, Shepherd was leaning down, whispering in my ear, a low rumble that promised that he’d be devouring us both later.

“Tell me this is the point that I get to take you upstairs.”

“Sorry, big guys,” Devon said. “We have a reception waiting at Whitaker Ranch. Tonight is the night for celebration, and then when you take us home, you can do whatever you’d like. In fact, we’ll have a whole week’s honeymoon to enjoy this. Don’t worry, we’ve been talking to Mindy, so the vet clinic will be covered, and we’ve been talking to your ranch hand, so our babies here will be safe, too.”

“You two thought of everything, didn’t you?” he said, shaking his head. I felt like he did that so often with us, as if he couldn’t quite believe that we were as crazy but as incredible as we were.

As soon as we were at Whitaker Ranch, music playing, a full catering buffet waiting, Avery moved up to me, pulling me into a hug.

“I told you that Rockwood Valley has magic, that you’d heal here,” she said, sounding a bit smug.

“You did,” I agreed, “and I’m so happy that I decided to stay.”

And as I looked around at all the people who came out to our reception, not just our close family, but friends as well. There were so many people that I had yet to meet, but I loved that they were all here for us. This was what a community should feel like.

Devon had made the place look beautiful. Each table in the long tent had centerpieces lined in photos of us in black and white, a mix of black and purple flowers and accents letting them stand out.

Of course, he couldn’t go simple. Our catering was insane. We also had an entire dessert bar as well. And of course, vegetarian options for yours truly.

“May I have this dance, wifey?” Devon asked, extending his hand. I didn’t hesitate to put mine in his, letting him drag me out to the dance floor. The song shifted to a slow dance as he twirled me across the stage.

The moment he pulled me back in, our pack was pushing in around us, swaying together in one unit, not caring that we were likely offbeat and looked crazy, just wanting to be close.

I breathed in their combined scent, the happiness radiating through the bonds, shifting it to something even sweeter.

“Well, omegas, are you happy?” Nash asked.

“Happier than I’ve ever been,” I promised.

“Truly,” Devon agreed, placing a kiss on my temple.

Then he was pulling away, gesturing for the DJ. “Now that the sappy part is over, let’s get this party started!”

The song switched to something upbeat, and the rest of the crowd joined us until we were all jumping and swaying, having the time of our lives.

I truly was lost before I met this pack, and now they were ensuring every single day that my omega would never have to go dormant again, that she was loved, cherished, and protected with them.

And our baby would be, too.

Wren

Three Years Later

Ophelia was giggling like crazy as the bunnies hopped around her, her little hand stroking each one when they got close enough. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes dancing with excitement.

She truly was a farm kid, from her dirty overalls, which usually had rocks in the pockets or a stray frog, to the dirt forever coating her shoes and pants, to that carefree attitude and longing for adventure that had us all chasing after her non-stop.

She had all four of her daddies wrapped around her little fingers, one pleading look from those wide, blue eyes that matched my own, and they melted for her.

Honestly, Devon was her co-conspirator most of the time.

His strong arm slipped around me, curling under the baby bump I was now sporting, lifting it slightly as I sagged against him, relieved of the burden for a moment.

“These boys look heavier and heavier every day. How you holding up, sweetheart?” Nash asked.

“I don’t know. Whoever convinced me to become mates with a triplet deserves to be throat-punched,” I joked.

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