Epilogue

Six months later.

"Hazel!"

I grinned at my tall, beautiful, enthusiastically waving alpha. There was really no need for it. Remy was the only one waiting on the corner of the quad as I emerged from the Business building with my other classmates.

But I loved it, because everyone could see that he was mine.

Our bond was giddy and light, a million tiny bubbles rushing in a stream. I let my shoulder bag fall onto the grass and leapt straight into his arms.

"Oof."

"You love it."

I kissed him before he could say anything else and ruin it.

Instead of putting me down, he sat on the nearby concrete ledge, settling me into his lap.

"How was your first day?" Remy beamed.

I shook my head. "No, I wanna hear about yours!"

Remy and I were both making fresh starts and going back to school. Remy was working on a diploma of audio production from Southern Cross College of the Arts. I was accepted into the Bachelor of Business course at Royal Brighton University.

That was for 18 year old Hazel. Who did in fact study hard despite being completely love-sick and deserved the chance at higher education.

But for present-day Hazel, I was looking for a solid foundation for when Remy and I jump-started the next phase in our plan.

We had closed our individual OmegaFans and OnlyA's profiles. But only because we wanted to do more. I had big dreams of producing audio-only porn that catered for a female audience. Pleasure focused, filled with fantasies that we found hot.

It would let us keep doing what we loved while maintaining the privacy we craved.

I knew Remy and I would be fucking great at it.

For now, we opened a PatronFund where we produced personalised content for the highest-level tiers and made them available to those who sponsored us for a monthly fee. It was a fantastic way to test scenes and see what resonated with our niche. We made shortened versions available to the public as carrots to our more risque work.

It was working. We were building a following even after a few short months beyond our original fans.

Our most popular scene so far was a doctor/patient roleplay.

I must have been extra believable with how turned on I was.

Eventually I would want to make a subscription-only app once we had established enough of a fanbase. I had so many ideas I wanted to try. Bringing on voice talent to read in different accents. A visual component but kept simple — gifs that lined up with key scenes. Representation of different body types. Would any of them work? I was dying to find out.

Juno had been so excited and already designed a logo for us. It looked a bit like a clit and a bit like an ear. I don't know how she created a two-way illusion but it was absolutely perfect.

"Typical first day," Remy said, waving his hand. "Went through the syllabus, did some intro basics." His eyes brightened. "But I'm so excited for the Foley workshop later in the year. I can't wait to find out what will make the exact sound of your wet little p—"

I pressed two fingers to his lips. "Do. Not. Finish. That. Sentence."

He did anyway. "Pu-thy," he said, his voice muffled. Remy pulled my hand away, completely unphased. "Tell me about yours, my love."

Hearing him call me that still had me fighting back an extremely dopey smile. When was the smitten stage meant to end? Hopefully never.

"I'm the only omega there."

"Fuck yeah you are."

"I think they underestimate me."

"You're gonna prove them wrong. Aren't you, baby?"

I kissed him. "Don't give me a big head."

"I have a big head for y—"

I kissed him harder.

"Oh!" Remy's eyes went wide. "Gray finally got back to me."

"Ahh!" I hit him out of sheer excitement. "How is she?"

When Remy introduced me to his little sister, I loved her immediately. I made all sorts of plans to become best friends. She ruined them promptly by following her dreams and landing a physiotherapist job at an English football club.

"She's great," he enthused. "Sounds like she's having no problems showing those rowdy lads who's boss."

I expected nothing less. "Remind me to message her after lunch."

Remy brushed my cheek fondly. "I will."

The rest of his family were much the same unfortunately. But at least I could provide Remy some support at his family dinners when his dad and brother got particularly underhanded with their comments.

I never dared to say anything directly to his mother about her bond, though. But I hoped that maybe she would see a healthy alpha and omega dynamic and realise she deserved it too.

Remy and I quickly jumped on a tram to cross the city to Chinatown. I leapt off and ran to give the tiny Russian woman beside Ben and Aleks a big hug. "Babulya, it's good to see you."

"Hazel." She hugged me back. "You are prettier every time I see you."

I blushed. "I'm just trying to keep up with you!"

"We are also here," Aleks muttered. Remy gave his hair a ruffle and Ben broke up the ensuing scuffle before anyone was hurt.

I ignored them all and linked arms with his grandma. "Ready for yum cha? You're gonna love it," I assured her.

We had just gotten seated when Remy gasped, whacking my arm to get my attention. He directed my attention to what looked like the owner, talking to a couple of the staff with their trolleys.

"Wha—?"

The owner turned around and he had a huge moustache.

"Oh…my." I was beyond impressed. How often did you see a Chinese man with such magnificent facial hair? "Aleks," I hissed. "Aleks, it's your new grandpa."

We all turned to look. Aleks groaned, putting his head in his hands.

"Oh!" Yelena was a beat behind us. "That's a very nice one, isn't it?"

"Babulya, no." Aleks looked so distressed.

"We have to come back," Remy decided.

"Yes," Ben agreed. "Weekly. Does that work for you, Yelena?"

Her low cackle was answer enough.

The cost of her care at Willowbrook was now split between the four of us. Ben had insisted it was a necessary pack expense. We didn't want Aleks' father to have anything to hold over his head.

We loved when she was doing well enough to take her out like this. I knew how emotional it was for Aleks to watch her come to an unfamiliar environment and thrive the way she used to. Sometimes all she was up for was a walk to the park down the road and back again. And that was ok too.

The brisk, no-nonsense trolley ladies swanned past us. Soon our table was laden down and the little slip of paper of our orders was covered in circles.

"You are dancing in your chair, Hazel," Remy told me out of the corner of his mouth, looking amused.

Well, obviously. Did he not see where we were? The food on the table? Yelena's eyes were wide as she took everything in. Ben flagged down the owner (Aleks wouldn't look at him) and ordered steamed prawn rice rolls too.

"So they come around and you pick what you want?" Yelena asked finally.

I put some siu mai and Chinese broccoli on her plate before adding the same to my own. "Yes, it's great, isn't it?"

I knew it would suit her very well, considering every time we went out she was hellbent on making sure Aleks ate double what his stomach was capable of holding.

"How was your first class?" Ben asked.

Yelena's eyebrows shot up. "First class?"

"I started my business course today," I explained.

"Business course…" Yelena turned to Aleks, a string of fast-paced Russian flooding out, growing more stern as she continued.

I stared at them after she was done. "What did she say?" I asked Aleks.

He had a smile tucked away. "That you're too good for me and I have to do my best to keep you."

That's it? Yelena had spoken for a good…minute and a half. "Somehow I feel like your summary left a lot out," I huffed.

Aleks shrugged. But his pride and affection for me glowed in our bond, like the perfect ray of sunlight igniting sparkles across a lake.

"We're bonded, babulya," I told her warmly. Aleks took my hand, tracing over where his mother's ring glinted from my finger. "He's mine forever."

It surprised her every time we mentioned it.

"Alyosha," she said wondrously. "That is just—"

She reached over and pinched his cheeks aggressively. Aleks could do nothing except tolerate it.

"I love these catch-ups," Remy sighed.

After we dropped Yelena back at Willowbrook, we returned home to 101 Riverside. Remy and Ben didn't resign their leases and had officially moved in last week.

On paper, that is. In real life, they had never slept anywhere but my nest since we bonded.

"Welcome home, Pack Maren," Jesse greeted us cheerfully.

Aleks had been the one to suggest the name. After the beach he took me to that fateful winter's day. None of our surnames felt right so taking on an entirely new one suited us perfectly.

The group chat remained Pack brAH though. To Ben's dismay.

I still had all my plants and we never did get around to painting. But there were touches of all them throughout the apartment now. Ben and Aleks' medical texts on the shelves. Remy's funny light-up boxing pad on the wall. Two of the exact same gaming console courtesy of the alphas. We bickered over the single bathroom a lot and I couldn't remember the last time I showered alone.

What was previously my old office/Aleks' temporary bedroom now had acoustic insulation installed. It's where Remy and I made our recordings. We read off scripts now but we also got carried away regularly.

If you didn't love what you did, what was the point — right?

"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" Ben asked, hugging me from behind and kissing his bondmark.

Tomorrow. The sentencing.

I sighed heavily. My mother and Damien had been fighting the charges tooth and nail. They tried their best to get something to stick to Ben and Remy too, for assaulting them in the house. I still wasn't sure how they managed to convince a lawyer to take their civil case. He was a blithering idiot compared to the lawyer Isaac had recommended. The lawsuit failed miserably — Ben and Remy's devotion to me left no question they were simply doing what was required to defend their omega.

I thought I would relish my mother's comeuppance. But a few months ago when Investigator Morgan informed us that she was about to be arrested for kidnapping and assault, I didn't rub my hands and ask if it could be somewhere public. Instead, it just made me sad.

Isaac informed us that her mugshot mysteriously made the rounds amongst the gossipy church ladies. He also noted that the pastor was horrified once the details of what my mother had done came to light and the congregation donated a not insignificant amount to the National Omega Commission on my behalf.

I couldn't paint all religious people with the tar of my mother's actions.

But it would never be something I wanted to be part of again.

It had been a long, difficult process but it was coming to an end tomorrow. She was likely going to jail for years. I thought back to when I'd taken the stand in court and told everyone what she'd done to me.

I didn't think she was even a little bit remorseful.

"I'm glad it will be over soon," I said, my voice reserved. "I should probably check in and see how my dad is doing though."

I had seen my dad a few times since. It was awkward, neither of us really knowing what we wanted from our relationship.

Ben stroked a comforting hand down my arm. "Only if you want. If you're unsure, you can always speak to Kerry about it."

Now that I was finally embracing therapy, I was better armed with tools to deal with things that came my way.

Better late than never, I supposed.

I did end up telling Kerry about Adrian. All of it. The longer we worked through it the more I yearned to return to August Bay.

It happened about a month ago. They came with me and watched me plant a lemon-scented gum. I finally had my own funeral for Adrian. It rained as I was tamping down the dirt. A light, summer sprinkle.

I think he was saying goodbye too.

Ben left a bundle of elderflowers and promised to look after me.

I didn't know if I would ever set foot in August Bay again. For now, the answer was no.

But there were no absolutes to grief and loss.

If I felt the need to return one day, I knew they would be there with me.

"I will. Next session," I promised before rising up on my tiptoes to kiss his nose. I tilted my head listening. "We better get out there. Aleks is about to find out that Remy watched the new episode of Shifter Moon without him."

Ben huffed. "Odds on him being able to pretend he hasn't seen it the entire way through?"

"Not a chance in hell."

That night, I lay in my nest with all of them huddled close around me.

"Guys, do you feel like there's something missing in our lives?" I asked.

Ben swept the hair off my forehead with concern. "Has something been bothering you, Hazel?"

I picked at the thread on one of my pillows. "I don't know. Sort of. You know I love being a plant mum."

Saying the word mum completely shifted the energy in the nest. They all stared at me, and I could feel waves of apprehension in our bonds.

We'd never discussed kids. But I think I knew based on all our history and the emotions I was sensing.

It wasn't for us.

"But you know, the plants are really my babies. I chose them. Named them. Raised them," I prattled on, letting them suffer a little more. "Don't you think it would be nice to have something to care for that belonged to all of us?"

I think Aleks was the first one to kind of catch on. "Hazel…" he said warningly.

I'd teased them long enough. They were really starting to panic.

"What do you think?" I smiled at them innocently. "Should we get a dog or a cat?"

Remy collapsed back on the mattress. "You're a psychopath for doing that to us," he said, clutching his chest and wheezing.

Aleks tugged at his curls. "We can…go visit an animal rescue soon," he suggested thinly, still sounding stressed from what I'd implied.

Ben positioned his body over mine, caging me in. "Cats are better suited for apartment living," he reasoned. His tone was light but the way his thigh pushed my legs apart and pressed against me was not. His nose touched mine. "They're also notoriously evil. Just like you."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You do." Ben pinched my hip lightly and I squeaked. "How about we go tomorrow?"

Instead of dwelling on the sentencing, I could be meeting cute animals instead. Huge improvement.

I nodded vigorously and Ben laughed, leaning down close to my ear. "I vote dog, by the way."

Aleks raised a hand. "Cat."

We glanced at Remy who was looking at Aleks like he was crazy. "Dog, 100%."

They drew close, waiting for my answer. Our bodies linked, a leg hooked here, fingers carded through hair there. Touching was easy but loving even more so.

"I vote…both."

Why not? After all, I'd gotten used to having it all.

THE END