Epilogue

Greta carefully balanced the tray as she entered the bedroom. Grandma Bee—because she was the honey-bee lady—had helped her prepare the special breakfast and then carried it up the stairs. But Greta wanted to be the one to present it.

She wobbled only slightly as she brought it to the bed holding her mama and Ares.

Mama’s eyes popped open, and she smiled. “Morning, munchkin.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Greta announced as she held up the tray. It wobbled and almost tilted over.

Ares bounced out of bed, no shirt but pants on. He and Mama always wore pajamas, not like the first time she found them naked in bed.

“Let me help you, princess.” He set the tray on Mama’s lap before turning to grab her in a big hug. “Happy Valentine’s Day to my special lady,” he murmured, nuzzling his nose against hers.

She giggled. “I’m a little girl, not a lady.”

“Actually, you’re my princess, and as the special royal in my life, I got you a present.”

“Oooh.” She couldn’t help but coo in delight.

“Sit beside your mom while I grab it.”

Mama snuggled Greta into her side as she chewed on some bacon. Ares returned with two boxes, a little one for mama, a large one for her.

Greta smirked at her mom. “Mine’s bigger.”

Mama snorted. “I noticed.”

Ares scooted into bed, keeping her tucked between him and Mama as he said, “Open them.”

“You first, munchkin.”

The first thing Greta saw beyond the pink tissue paper? A stuffed wolf wearing a pink bow. She hugged it. “My very own puppy.”

“There’s more,” he nudged, pointing to an envelope at the bottom.

She opened it and saw a paper with lots of words. “Is it a story?”

“Kind of. It’s the tale of a man who met a woman and her lovely princess daughter one day and fell in love. Loved them so much he wanted them to be with him forever. And so he adopted the little princess.”

“Adopted,” Greta repeated the word, and a smile pulled her lips because she knew what it meant. Mama had talked to her about it. “Does this make you my dada?”

“It does. I hope it’s okay.”

“Yesss!” Greta flung herself at him and hugged him so tight he choked and begged, “Mercy.”

She giggled. Ares was always so funny. She plopped back in between her mama and her new dada. She’d just gotten the bestest present. Poor mama with her little box. “Mama’s turn.”

Mama’s eyes got watery as she opened her gift. Inside was a ring.

Dada sounded as if he were choking when he said, “Charly, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me?”

“Say yes, Mama. Then he’ll really be my dada.”

“That paper already says he is, but I guess we can make it official.”

They kissed. Gross. But Greta was okay with it because that’s what mamas and dadas did when they loved each other.

The presents weren’t done though. Mama had one too, an envelope with Greta and Ares written on it.

She didn’t understand the weird picture, black with swirly gray and white, but Ares did. He leaned down and whispered, “You’re going to be a big sister.”

“I am!” Best Valentine’s Day ever.

Selene was finally going on her cruise. Minus her mother. Not her choice, but apparently, as a new grandma, her mom had a duty to spoil. Selene argued an aunt had the same right. However, her family insisted she go and booked her into a singles voyage that coincided with Valentine’s Day.

As if she needed help getting laid. Men hit on her all the time, but none kept her attention. Selene wanted a grand love affair. Wanted to be swept off her feet like Athena with Derek and Charlotte with her brother.

Was it so much to ask for?

Mom kept saying one day she’d meet the one and she’d know. She sure hoped so because she was beginning to feel like a third wheel every time she hung out with her siblings.

The plane to Orlando took just under four hours. Then there was the bus the cruise provided that brought them to port, where most of the passengers were her mom’s age.

This could get interesting.

Especially since the one elderly couple had pineapples plastered all over their luggage. When they smiled at her and asked if she’d like to join them for a drink, she politely declined. Was this going to be a cruise for older swingers?

Yikes.

Maybe she’d just stay in her room with a book and order in food.

As the line to board shuffled along, the embarkation delayed until six thirty at night, she noticed the large dogs sniffing people. Drug dogs. She didn’t have any drugs, but given her lycan heritage, she wasn’t surprised they barked in her direction.

As a woman wearing latex gloves and a uniform waved at her to step aside, Selene resigned herself to being strip-searched and questioned.

To her surprise, a deep voice with a slight accent said, “That won’t be necessary. She’s with me.”

She glanced in surprise at the handsome man in the slick suit. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“No, but I plan to rectify that once we’re on board,” said with a smile and a wink.

A shiver went through her.

Maybe she would have fun after all.

Get ready because Selene’s about to meet her love match in the next book, My Boyfriend Bites.