Epilogue

I pushed Matias in his stroller, more as something to lean on than because I wanted the extra weight. I had plenty of that without adding another forty pounds to the load.

But I had to keep moving.

It was the only way I was getting these babies out of me… And they were coming out. I was coming up on thirty-eight weeks and was ready for my planned C-section.

But noooooo…. Every day, when I showed up for my exam, my damn doctor just shook his head and told me to give it one more day.

I kept trying, I really did. But I was done. I didn't have another day of no sleep, constant peeing, shallow breaths, and an itchy tummy in me.

Those babies needed to get out!

Connor and Joey did their best to remind me that it was all worth it in the end, and a little bit more suffering would quickly be forgotten as soon as I had my babies in my arms.

I wanted to believe them, but it was hard to keep sight of that when I was in so much discomfort.

Everything was a chore, and I just wanted to sleep.

"And where the hell is Felik, anyway?" A contraction locked up my stomach, and I had to curl forward, leaning heavily on the arms of the stroller as Connor flanked my side.

"He's nearby. I promised to call him if we need him." He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Do we need him yet?"

"No. These kids are never coming out." I took a deep breath and started moving forward again, circling the driveway for the millionth time. "I don't even know why they're being so stubborn. This better not be an indication of what I've got coming because I'm trying to make my belly as inhospitable as possible."

"Yeah, we've noticed." Connor laughed. "I don't know how you managed to finish a giant bowl of chili and two cloves of garlic last night, but dude, it's seeping out of your pores."

"And yet, these babies aren't taking the hint. Why aren't they seeping out of me too? They're just so—" I stopped short, taking stock of what was happening.

"What?" Connor looked me in the eyes, and then his gaze slowly traveled down, seeing the puddle of fluid between my feet. "Oh, thank fuck. I couldn't take another day of this." He hit Felik's number on his phone at the same time that he was calling over Nil to help get me inside.

Within seconds, I was being whisked inside to the makeshift paternity ward that was now a permanent fixture in our home.

Felik came running in behind me. "Jer, love. Are you okay?"

I grimaced through a stronger contraction. "They finally got the eviction notice."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss my cheek. "You're so strong, Jeremiah. You've got this."

The babies were large for twins, and we had already been told a natural delivery was out of the question since both were positioned wrong. Which was why waiting just pissed me off. But now that it was happening, it was a little scary. "Are you sure?" I placed my hand over my belly, wondering if maybe it was too soon after all. "I'm not sure I can do it."

The doctor walked in with a smile on his face, probably because his time with me was almost over. "Lucky for you, I'm planning to do most of the work. You just get to relax over there and wait for the sweet sound of wailing."

Felik chuckled as if that joke was supposed to be funny, but a quick glare from me shut him right up.

"Just keep them safe." As cranky as they were making me, I already loved my babies so deeply, and I wanted them as safe and sound on the outside of my body as they had been while inside. "Please."

The doctor sobered up and smiled. "Of course, Jeremiah. I promise to keep you and those babies just fine. Now, let's get you ready to meet these little ones."

Sounded good to me. I finally closed my eyes and relaxed, trusting Felik and our medical staff to do what they needed to do while I finally got some rest once the most immediate pain let up.

I might have even nodded off for a few seconds before that first cry pierced the air and a squirming baby girl was placed on my chest. "A girl!"

"She's perfect, love." Felik was right there with me, staring down in wonder at the life we created together.

"And her identical twin." The doctor placed the second baby on me before covering them both with a blanket and then giving us a few moments of privacy and skin-to-skin time as a family while he did what he needed to do on the other side of the drape.

When the glow of the moment faded and my exhaustion fully set in, I passed out hard, finally resting with the knowledge that my baby girls were healthy and safe in their father's protective arms.

When I woke up next, I was back in my own bed with a bassinet pulled up right beside me. Both of my beautiful daughters were sleeping peacefully as my alpha watched over all of us.

"How are you feeling, love?" Felik reached over and brushed a few hairs off my forehead. "You've had quite a day."

"Tired but happy." I reached over and ran my finger through my daughters' downy hair. "They're good?"

"Amazing." He leaned over and gave me a proper kiss. "I'm the luckiest man alive."

I winked. "Yeah, and don't you forget it."

He chuckled and kissed me again. "Never."

"So, what are we calling them?"

Felik held my hand to his lips and pressed a firm kiss to it. "My favorite nanny was named Eleanor. I was thinking Ellie."

"I love that." I nodded eagerly. After a moment, I thought of a name that seemed appropriate. "How do you feel about Verna? In honor of my father."

"I love it." He slid onto the bed beside me. "And I love you."

"Me too, alpha." I let his mouth caress mine, mingle with it in a dance that only led to one thing.

At least, it used to lead to one thing.

This time, it led to a tiny whimper that led to cries and the first of many feedings in my future. And it was the best future I could have ever imagined for myself.

The alpha of my dreams, my family safe and healthy, and beautiful babies to nurture and love for the rest of my days. Nothing could be better than that.

Next in the series…

When Orsino, the ruthless enforcer for his family"s powerful mafia, shakes down a desperate man over a massive debt to their casino, he expects the usual pleas and excuses. What he doesn"t expect is the man"s son, Ethan, to step forward with an unthinkable offer — himself as payment.

Ethan is an innocent omega. A virgin vet tech with dreams of opening his own pet shelter. He knows nothing of the dark world he"s stepping into, but his determination to save his father leads him into Orsino"s cold, unforgiving embrace.

To everyone"s surprise, including his own, Orsino accepts Ethan"s offer and takes him home, giving him a place in his own room. The hardened mafia man finds himself slowly drawn to Ethan"s pure heart and gentle nature, breaking down the walls he's built around his own. As their bond deepens, Orsino"s icy exterior melts, and he begins to fall for the innocent omega who has turned his world upside down.

But the mafia world is treacherous, and enemies lurk in the shadows. When those enemies set their sights on Ethan, Orsino must confront the full force of his feelings and protect the man who has come to mean everything to him.

In a world where love is a dangerous gamble, will Orsino be able to keep Ethan safe, or will the debts of the past tear them apart?