Chapter 30

Thirty

ALANA

T he next morning, I swept up the broken pieces of glass from the floor of my shop, and my heart was breaking as I stared at the smashed windows. Grandma was helping me as she swept up the other side of the shop. Last night, after the hottest shower of my life, James watched the babies eagerly while I slept. He refused to sleep and instead wanted to spend time with his babies under Owen's watchful eye. I was reluctant to leave the house, but James had to go back to his people to lead, and Markus took over watching the babies along with Owen insisting it was fine for me to leave. I was singing in my car on my way to the shop, happy that everything was coming together and we would have a nice cozy routine.

But Grandma and I had come to a disaster in the shop.

"This has to be retaliation," I said. "They don't want me to be with a vampire."

"The hate runs deep," said Grandma. "There's nothing you can do until it passes. They will get over it."

"We need to get cameras or something."

"I agree."

We kept the shop closed as we cleaned and straightened the shelves. We lost so much merchandise. It was terrible. I would have to get new windows and take from the budget. When the door opened with the sound of the jingle, I jumped thinking it was one of the thugs who broke in.

But it was only Lio, and I was relieved to see him.

"I noticed the broken windows from outside," said Lio, walking in and looking around. He came over to me, touching my elbow, and I stopped sweeping the floors.

"There are damn criminals running around here," said my grandma, who was pissed off all day. I could tell she was pissed off by how her glasses hung above her head and how her hands shook more than usual today. "Just because my granddaughter fell in love with a vampire."

"It's unacceptable," said Lio with a hard line to his jaw. "I will install cameras all over the store, and we will replace your windows."

"No, it's okay. It's not in the budget," I said.

"Not in your budget," he said. "I'm paying for the repairs."

"Lio, I can't accept it," I said, my eyes burning as I stared at the shelf. "It's my fault this happened."

He turned my face to look at him. "It's not your fault baby. You were destined to be with him, and that's all there is to it."

My chin wobbled with emotion, as he kissed me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Anything for you, my love."

One Month Later

"Do you have any more of the keychains shaped like a fang?" asked a customer.

"I'm sorry, I've run out of those," I said, and her face fell. My vampire merchandise was a top seller, and I couldn't keep up with the demand. James had his people carve out the little wooden trinkets, and I paid them a portion of the earnings.

"We have more," said James, walking into the shop with a box in his hand and wearing a fancy black suit with a white dress shirt and black tie.

"Yay!" said the customer, running to the counter.

I smiled as he set the box down on the counter, and the ten customers flocked to purchase them with the help of my grandma. Things had improved with the people being more accepting of the vampires as they integrated their lives on Howl's Edge. The vampires kept to themselves mostly, even though the females were fascinated by them. A customer even asked if the vampire sucked on my blood while an alpha knotted me. I was shocked by the question, but it was also playing in my mind, and I would get aroused thinking about it.

"Little omega," said James, approaching me. His hands rested on my waist, and I pulled him to the back of the shop for some privacy. I closed the door to the backroom, and he trapped me in his arms.

"Why are you dressed up in a suit?" I asked, touching his neatly shaven face. His black hair was tied back in a bun, without a stray hair in place, and he smelled like woody cologne. He brought his lips to my neck, kissing me there. Lio, Markus, and Owen also had their intimate favorite spot on my body, which I loved.

"I came to whisk you away somewhere," he muttered, his cold breath causing goosebumps to form on the back of my neck and butterflies in my belly.

"But I'm working," I said. "We need to help Grandma."

"We're closing shop right now, then," he said.

"How will I make money?"

"I'm sure you can squeeze a penny or two from Lio," he said, and I giggled. I loved having my own source of income even though they all wanted to take care of me, buy me things, and spoil me.

"Don't you have a vampire land to run?" I asked him.

"It's different now that some of them have moved into the city."

"Are you worried they'll start feeding on people?"

"No, they love the luxury life a little too much," said James. "Although I get worried about seeing a dead beta on the news. No mark on the neck means good news. So far, they're being careful."

"That's good," I said as he kissed me on the neck. He groaned, pushing me up against the wall as his cool lips pressed onto my skin. I longed for his fangs to sink into me and suck my blood again. "You can drink a little bit."

He groaned again, pulling back from me.

"Don't tempt me," he said. I knew he was scared of losing control. It made me sad each time he turned me down and Owen thought I was nuts for wanting it but I didn't care.

Later that day, James waited in the car while I got ready in the house. I walked to the bedroom and gasped when I saw a beautiful flowing red dress with lace sleeves lying on the bed with a note on top of it.

Wear this tonight, love - Lio

Excited, I quickly ran into the shower, washing up at top speed and shaving every part of my body.

I hadn't had a date ever since the babies were born. My mother, Tiana, was watching the babies today, to the delight of my sisters. I was already missing June and Jay since my normal routine after work was to hug and kiss them. After I slathered on a nice-smelling lotion, I pulled the dress on, carefully tying the gold sash into a bow behind me. It fit like a glove, the lace sleeves overflowing past my arms like a butterfly. The sparkle and jewels on the dress looked stunning as I admired it in the mirror.

Then I blow-dried my hair until it cascaded in waves down my shoulders and my back. Today, I went all out with my makeup. I put on a layer of foundation and spent a bit of time doing my eyebrows. Then I put on matching red lipstick to match my dress, a bit of shimmering eyeshadow, and blush.

Being told to wear a certain dress and taken to a secret location sent happy thrills up my spine. I spritzed perfume on myself that complimented my natural scent, and I was ready to head out the door.

James was waiting downstairs for me as I walked down the stairs. He held a bouquet of roses for me, and my heart lifted.

"Aww, you didn't have to," I said.

"Anything for you," he said, handing me the flowers and kissing me gently on the lips. "Are you ready to go, my sweet?"

"Yes," I said, smiling.

In the car, James played soft romantic music on our way there. I stared out at the night sky and the twinkling stars thinking about how James came a long way to be here. He had blended well into the family, loving me in his own quiet way away from the rest of the men.

I wanted to love them all at once in one room, but James was uncomfortable with that. He enjoyed having me to himself every chance he got. He would volunteer to watch the babies a lot so I could have my private time with the alphas. Especially during the times when Markus took me in my pussy and Lio would take my ass in the next room. Owen was the most worried parent, careful about any child entering the room by accident and strict rules around the house to prevent that from happening, making sure the door was locked even though the babies couldn't walk yet.

"We're here," said James, parking the car in front of a garden.

"Oh," I said in awe as I stepped out.

We walked hand in hand into the beautiful garden with beautifully trimmed shrubbery, over the rocks melded together with a stream of water underneath. In front of us was a giant fountain that trickled softly, casting a glow over the three figures standing in front of it.

Lio, Markus, and Owen.

All of them were standing there proudly in their suits, and they had smiles on their faces as they watched me walking across the stone path to them.

I smiled back, feeling sexy in my dress which flowed at my feet. I was uncomfortable from my heels clicking on the stone pathway, and I couldn't wait to rip them off later.

"Hi, my loves," I said softly. They quietly surrounded me, kneeling down on one knee, including James. "Oh my god."

My cheeks burned with embarrassment at all the attention on me at this moment. I never expected this to happen.

"Lana," said Lio, holding out a small red velvet box and snapping it open. I gasped out loud when I saw the ruby-red rock encircled with diamond stones. "I've always loved you. All my choices in life were made because of you. And for years, I came to your shop, wishing you'd look my way, but here we are now, and I have this vampire to thank for. For him bringing you to my doorstep."

It was his own subtle way of making James feel welcome.

James was next as he looked me earnestly in the eye and grasped my hand. My heart was beating so hard I knew they could hear it with their heightened alpha and vampire senses. My scent was thick in the air, and I clenched my thighs together in my nervousness and excitement.

"Thank you Lio," said James. Then he turned to me. "Since the day you crashed into my little village, I knew you were mine. The day I saw your trembling small form in my hut, emotions that had remained dormant for years came alive. I didn't allow myself to feel until you came into my life, and for that, I'm grateful. I pledge to love you, to protect you until the end of my life."

Then he released my hand, and Markus wrapped his large warm paw around my hand, gazing into my teary eyes.

"Alana," he began. "It all started in the heat clinic for me. You've brought my soul back to life. Your scent invigorates me and charges me like no other omega. Fate has meshed us together in this mysterious way, and there's no way I will refuse it. I will protect you with my heart, soul, and body until I die."

Now the tears were flowing down my cheeks.

I couldn't help it.

They were putting their hearts out on the table, releasing all their emotions tonight. Markus released my hand, and I turned to Owen, who grasped my hand in both of his. His voice, tinged with both trepidation and excitement, expressed the depth of his emotions as he spoke.

"Hey, sweetheart," he said smoothly, and I smiled through my tears. "Since the moment you showed up to be our patient, I knew something would change. Your beauty surpasses all others, and your strength and kindness inspire me daily to be better. I may joke a lot, but I'm being serious when I tell you that I love you Alana."

Tears streamed down my face. These men were serious about me, and ready to commit their life to me. He released my hands, and Lio spoke next.

"Lana, will you do me the incredible honor of being our mate? To walk hand in hand with you forever?" Lio asked with a sparkle in his eye. As we looked into each other's eyes, I remembered the boy who was in love with me from the beginning. The boy who I was excited about at the campfire years and years ago.

Overwhelmed by the sincerity and depth of his proposal, my heart soared with joy.

"Yes to all of you," I said, my voice betraying my emotion as it cracked. "I would love to spend the rest of my life with all of you, however different we all are."

Then he slipped the blood-red ring on my finger, the jewels shining brightly from the glow of the fountain.

"She looks so good with that on," said Markus, admiring my finger as I smiled and held it up to them.

"We're engaged!" I squealed as Lio picked me up and spun me around.