Chapter 49

TWO YEARS LATER

Ethan has Braxton on his hip as he swings him around in the pool.

“Not so fast, he just ate so much watermelon,” Bram says to Ethan who rolls his eyes.

“Need anything?” Bram asks, rubbing my growing stomach in my bathing suit.

“Eli is making the hot dogs and hamburgers right now,” Charlotte says from the seat next to me.

“My daddy makes the best hot dogs,” her oldest daughter, Katie, says with a grin. She has purple flower sunglasses with a matching purple bathing suit. I can’t deny how much I adore her. Maybe it’s because we’re both red heads, or I’m excited about the thought of having my own baby girl in a few months.

We figured we wanted our kids to be similar in age, and with me completely home and Ethan home most of the time, it just made sense.

“Well then, I’ll just have to have a hot dog,” I tell Katie.

“Fantastic choice,” the little girl replies as she takes out three Barbies and sets them along the pool to play with.

Mikael has one twin, and Anders has the other as they splash around with Braxton in the pool.

Piper walks over with two margaritas in hand along with an iced tea for me.

“One of these days we’re going to get you drunk, Sloane,” Piper says, handing me my drink.

Bram arches an eyebrow at Piper, and she waves him off.

“God, they’re all getting so big. I’m happy you’re giving us a fresh new one,” Piper says, pointing to my stomach.

“I’m just hoping everything goes smoothly,” I say, running a hand down my belly.

“I’m sure it will,” Piper assures me.

I nod my head and take a deep calming breath. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last few years, it’s that life never goes to plan, but chances are it will all work out in the end.

“Would the children like to see the grand power of their Uncle Alexi?” the large Alpha says, showing off his muscles.

Max and Owen are behind him and shake their heads while the kids laugh.

“You sure you don’t want to give that man a baby?” Charlotte says to Piper.

“Hell no, not when you two keep popping them out. We’ll just rent them and return them,” Piper says, and I snort.

Alexi takes a massive leap into the pool, grabbing his legs against his chest as he splashes into the crystalline water. He creates a massive wave, making the kids laugh.

When he breaks the surface, he comes over to Ethan.

“Give me my nephew,” he says.

Ethan shakes his head but hands over my baby—toddler—to his uncle. The minute Brax is in his arms, he starts playing with his beard.

“See, malyshka , he likes my beard,” Alexi says to Piper.

“Him and this fucking beard. I’m going to trim it in his sleep,” Piper says while waving at her mate.

Max and Owen go over to the grill to help Anders with the food, and I really look around at the life I have and smile. It’s everything I could have ever imagined.

Bram drags my chair closer to him so he can have his hand on my stomach.

“We did good,” he says, looking out at the pool.

“No regrets?” I ask him.

“Not a single one, liefje .” I smile at him, loving that I’m still as obsessed with him as I was when I first met him.

Alexi pulls Braxton out of the water, sending him running over to me with his swimmies on.

“Mommy, swim,” he says, putting his cold hands on me.

“Okay, go to Pa, and we’ll get in the water together,” I tell him.

He immediately runs into Bram’s arms, who picks him up and kisses him all over his face, making him giggle.

“Why don’t you ever kiss me that way?” Max complains as he brings over a tray of food.

“You’re not as cute,” Bram says, and Max glares.

“Do you want to come to Dad instead?” he says, holding out his arms.

“Swim,” Braxton says, not caring which one of his fathers has him, just that he gets what he wants.

He is my child after all. Though he looks like a splitting image of Max, there’s no denying it. His bright blue eyes and bright blond hair don’t seem to be making any shifts. To be honest, I was always under the assumption that he was biologically Max’s from our first time in the locker room. We might have played it fast and loose with birth control during my heat, but I’m pretty sure that’s the moment Braxton was made.

“Come help me up,” I tell Max who places a quick kiss on Braxton’s cheek before Bram walks into the pool with him.

I hold my hands out, and he grabs them, gently pulling me to my feet.

“Feeling okay, baby?” he asks, picking a piece of hair that was sticking to my face.

“Never better,” I tell him.

He steps into the pool first, gripping my hips like I’m going to fall to my death if he doesn’t hold on to me.

But I love it.

I was worried how our relationship would change after kids, and don’t get me wrong, there are moments that have been difficult. But maybe because there’s four of us to share the workload or because we have such a great village to help us, we’ve been able to stay more connected than ever.

As I wade into the pool feeling weightless, which is amazing, I join all the dads and the kids in the shallow end.

“Can you say grumpy?” Mikael says to Braxton as Bram holds him. “Pa is grumpy,” Mikael repeats.

“If you don’t shut the fuck up,” Bram hisses.

“Fuck is a bad word. I’ll bring out my swear jar later,” Katie says, and Bram curses under his breath again.

Braxton splashes the water, and I hold out my arms to him. He grins as Bram holds his little body, shooting him through the water toward me.

I have him on my hip as Ethan goes underwater and then pops up, making Braxton splash and wiggle in my hold.

As much as I would like to say that Braxton is a mama’s boy, it would be a lie. Ethan is his person, and I can’t even blame him.

Ethan adjusts his hat, and Braxton smacks his hand away.

“Particular, just like mommy,” Ethan jokes.

“Hey,” I splash him lightly, and he smiles and leans down and gives me a kiss.

“It’s something I love about you.”

“Uh huh,” I grumble back.

Braxton holds his hands out for Ethan, hating that I got a kiss and he didn’t. So I begrudgingly hand him over.

“Foods ready,” Eli shouts as everyone gets out of the pool and dries off. But I stay inside with my little family for a moment longer.

Tears well in my eyes, and I groan. This is the one thing I won’t miss after this pregnancy.

“Aw, baby, what’s wrong?” Max asks.

“I’m just really happy,” I tell him.

“Group hug,” Ethan announces, putting Braxton in the middle, making him laugh as we all hug.

Every tear, moment of doubt, and unknowing moment was worth it for this.

I thought I knew what I wanted in a pack, but what I got in reality is a million times better.

This. This is the life I always wanted.