"Congratulations, Hannah," Brody turns to me with a huge grin. "You've won."
Immediately, Enzo sweeps me into a hug and I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Oh my gods," I breathe, my head falling back. "It's over. I can't believe it."
Then I'm being passed to Charlie, who dips down and kisses me breathless. "Fuck, I love you," he says, squeezing me tight.
"Congrats, darlin'," Austin grabs me next, planting a kiss on my cheek. "I'm so damn proud of you. I am sad I never got to meet your Nana though. She seemed like an amazin' woman."
"She was," I smile wistfully, "and she would have loved all of you. She would have put you to work making those chocolate chip cookies all day though." I laugh, and Austin chuckles.
"I woulda done it happily."
"I know you would have." I kiss him, and then Noah has me.
"You did this." I poke a finger in his chest.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, princess." He winks, and then leans in close to my ear and whispers, "But hacking is the least of what I would do to protect you from this world. There isn't a line I wouldn't cross for you." His words send a shiver down my spine and I nod as he pulls his head back. "I love you."
"I love you too." Fuck, is it like really misty in here or something? No? Just my eyes? Cool.
"Stop molesting my best friend's granddaughter for one second, young man!" Marie calls out and I burst out a laugh.
"Marie! He wasn't molesting me!"
She grins deviously. "Oh, I'm not saying to not enjoy it, I just wanted to be able to talk to you for a minute."
"Whatareyou doing here? How did you even know about the court case?" I mean, not that it didn't make me tear up all over again to hear her defend me, but it doesn't make any sense.
"Well, apparently, a gal pal of yours came to the salon to tell them about the trial and how you'd be out of commission, and I was there, getting my hair done by that Lilah girl, who, by the way is not nearly as good as you—"
"Marie," I interrupt, "focus."
"Right," she laughs, shaking her head. "Well, that gal pal of yours told me all about the trial and said that she wished someone who knew both you and Sylvie could go testify, and I thought, well why not? So here I am, and I daresay I did a pretty good job of it, too."
"This gal pal of mine," I ask, "was her name Cady? Long blonde hair, purple tips?"
"Yup!" Marie snaps her fingers. "That's the one!"
Of course it was. Smiling, I make a note to rip into her for dragging retired ladies into my business when they should be resting. Marie and I talk for a second more before Kieran comes up to me. "I guess I wasn't needed after all," he says thoughtfully. "I'm glad I came though, I missed you."
"I missed you too! You should stay for a while." He gives me a thoughtful look. "Maybe I will. I could get used to the big city life."
Then, the bailiff starts telling everyone to clear the room, and I leave the courtroom with my alphas, only to run into Cady, Wren, and their packs waiting on the courthouse steps where they wrap me in a hug.
We give them a play by play of what happened in court, all the things we found out about Birdie and how she duped different packs over the years.
I feel lighter than I have in months, and it hits me, I'll finally get to just live life with my pack, without the threat of the trial looming over us.
It's the first day of the rest of our lives.
Chapter 46
Hannah
"Bro, I'm telling you, that's not how you carve a turkey." Ollie tries to grab the electric knife from Titus, who gives him a death glare.
"Why are we even having turkey on Christmas?" Archie asks, eyeing the bird with distaste. "Thanksgiving, like,justhappened."
"Turkey is also a Christmas food. I think." Charlie says thoughtfully, grabbing a seat next to me. "But it's not Christmas, it's Christmas Eve."