Epilogue

Lennox

Almost A Year Later

T he biting wind is a pain in the ass, but the background is so beautiful I’m in awe. Today has been one for the memory books.

Rush, Bear, and Thorne took me to see a lighthouse and a shipwreck that’s been on the beach for nearly sixty years. There’s some deterioration, but it’s in incredible shape for being out in the elements for so long. It’s down by the shoreline in a little inlet on the mainland.

Once that adventure is over, we all pile back into Bear’s truck.

There’s an actual farm house that we’ll be staying in for a mini-vacation, but it’s an hour drive inland.

I don’t mind a bit because the truck smells exactly like all three of my alphas. Although, Shera has an odor of wet dog from playing on the beach as we checked out the shipwreck.

Still, I snuggle into Rush and listen to the old school rock Bear and Thorne are so fond of.

“Finally,” Bear grumbles from the driver’s seat as we drive down the small dirt road.

I’m in the backseat, and I lean toward the middle console.

I’ve never seen anything like the view through the windshield.

A picturesque lake framed with a row of five houses in a semicircle sits in the middle of an otherwise dense forest of trees.

It’s cozy and rural, but so damn pretty.

One of Rush’s old teammates owns the house on the far left. He showed us extensive pictures that in no way, shape, or form did this place justice.

I can’t imagine owning something like this and using it only as a vacation home, but maybe that’s just from growing up poor.

It was kind of a hike to get up here from the town we stopped in to fill the coolers, and there is something to be said for having amenities close by. Maybe that’s why they only stay here on occasion.

The trees are all covered in a light dusting of snow on the branches and the ground is saturated too, but it’s something in the way the setting sun glimmers over the frozen lake that takes my breath away.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, blinking as I take everything in.

“Not half as beautiful as you.” Thorne twists in his seat and tilts my head until he can capture my mouth. He shoves his tongue into my mouth as Rush grabs my ass from behind.

Rush teases his fingers down, squeezing my pussy. “Damn, I bet I could bend you over in the hot tub and no one would even hear you scream.” He chuckles darkly. “Especially since Brad said the other neighbors are away too. It really is just us out here.”

“If you go in the hot tub, she stays in the water,” Bear growls. “She’s not catching pneumonia on my watch.”

I snort against Thorne’s lips and move to kiss my grumpy alpha.

Bear really is a terrible traveler, but I think it’s cute.

“Love you, grumpy bear.”

The next morning we have a lazy start. We eat breakfast together, but Rush and Bear head out to scrape and brush the lake…

Whatever that means.

Rush is beyond talented at ice skating. I imagine some of that is from literal years of his life being spent on the ice as a profession.

Bear is good too from the time he spent playing hockey in middle and high school, which is kind of incredible to me.

Seriously, he’s a giant.

He’s not supposed to be that agile.

The one time I watched them at the indoor rink, I felt frumpy in comparison and refused to try. Some of my fear was because there was an audience of people we didn’t know, but I’m actually moderately excited to see if I can figure it out.

As long as I don’t fall flat on my face, I’ll live.

Thorne smirks, prowling closer with my coat tossed over his forearm. “You’re so fucking cute. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”

“I know,” I fib as he tosses my coat over the arm of the couch.

“You’re a terrible liar. How is it you can spin around ten feet off the ground in your silks, but ice skating scares the hell out of you?” He bends over my seat, burying his fingers in my hair at the base of my skull.

“Hey, you’ll mess up my ponytail.”

“I’ll be happy to redden your ass if you don’t give me a proper kiss.” He licks his lips as I try to determine exactly how I got so lucky.

I must take too long, because Thorne shrugs and tosses himself down on the couch at my side.

“Oh no,” I whisper, scrambling to twist to climb into his lap.

I know from experience Thorne and Bear have no problem smacking my ass when the situation calls for it. Even sometimes when it doesn’t, but we all enjoy it, so I’m not complaining.

I get situated, kneeling over my alpha, and Thorne chuckles as I dive for his mouth.

I’m obsessed with the way his happiness floods the bond. The connection truly is like nothing else in the world.

“I love you, kitten,” he murmurs as he pulls back.

“I know,” I assure him. “I love you too.”

Something pulses in the bond that I can’t quite decipher, and I nuzzle my cheek to Thorne’s scratchy stubble even though it burns a little.

He squeezes my hips tenderly. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.”

My chest gets tight.

I’ve felt like the other shoe was going to drop at some point. Only I expected this conversation to come from Rush. He’s the only one who seemed undecided about kids.

Bear has made it perfectly clear he’s fine with directing all his caregiver vibes toward me.

And I shamelessly soak them up.

My stance on kids hasn’t changed, but I guess I’d try to at least have a conversation about it if it’s important to one of them.

“Ned is really getting up there,” Thorne says, referencing the Chief of Police. “He hasn’t had any qualified bites on the job listing, but there’s no guarantee they’d even hire me. It’s not like my former superiors are going to give me a glowing recommendation or anything.”

“You should apply.” My hands land on his cheeks, running my thumbs over the smooth skin just above where his beard ends. “They’d be silly not to choose you, but even if you can’t enter at that position maybe you could apply for one of the others and once you’ve been there for a while…” I shrug. “Who knows.”

Thorne studies my face. “I told you before that if you took me back, I wouldn’t leave your side.”

I snort, shaking my head. “I didn’t take that literally, you goofball. Thorne, I love you to pieces, but I know you’re bored at Dry Dock.” I swear he looks for any excuse to toss someone out for misbehaving. “I know it. You know it. We all know it. I think it would be healthy to have something just for you.”

He exhales heavily and nods. “And you’ll be happy working with Rush and Bear?”

I nod, moving to brush my lips against his. “I really will be as long as you crawl in bed next to me every night.”

He smirks. “Like you could keep me away from your sexy little ass.”

“I’m going to die,” I squeal, holding onto Rush’s forearms for dear life.

Bear chuckles. He’s right behind me with his hands on my hips. “We’ve got you, little one.”

I can’t see him, but I can see the fog that comes with his breath.

“You two are braver than I am,” I admit. “This lake could give way at any time.”

“The ice is inches thick at this time of year.” Rush skates backward as easily as walking. “Quit being dramatic and enjoy the ride.”

He winks, and my heart races just like it always does.

The naughty little smile that pulls at his mouth ensures he caught my feelings in the bond.

I lick my chapped lips as the twins glide me along the ice until it actually starts to be fun.

Kinda .

“We should have rented one of those old people walkers.” I laugh. “I’ve seen people use them when they’re just learning.”

“You don’t need a walker,” Bear growls, scooping me up and skating along like I weigh nothing. “You’ve got us.”

“Holy shit.” I grab onto his jacket for dear life.

“Show off.” Rush circles around us just far enough away that I don’t stress about a collision.

“Are you ever going to make your way over here?” Thorne calls out from the safety of dry land.

“Yeah, her nose and cheeks are red. It’s probably time we call this session.” Bear nods and skates us back toward the bench on the side of the lake.

Thorne made it seem like he was going to take a few pictures and head back inside.

I wrap my arm around Bear’s neck as he glides us over the ice. He’s ridiculously hot with the black beanie pulled low on his head.

We get close to the edge of the lake, and I start to wonder how I’ll manage to stumble to the bench.

Maybe Bear can hand me off to Thorne.

Between Rush and Bear, they’ve managed to keep me mostly upright.

I’d call this event a success.

I don’t want to ruin it with my clumsiness now.

“Look,” Bear says, nodding toward his twin.

I twist a little until I can see Rush.

He barrels toward us at full speed, but Bear isn’t worried, so I’m not either. It’s ridiculously hot watching Rush move so fluidly.

I gasp when he’s about five feet away. Instead of circling around us like I expect, he hits his knees on the ice, skidding to a stop only a foot in front of us.

“Goddamn, that hurts so much more without the pads.” Rush chuckles, holding out a ring box. “Hey, sweetheart, we know it’s taken a while, but we wanted to give you the chance to settle in. Wanna make this official in a church?”

I nod wildly, and Bear places me on my feet.

Rush rips off my glove, sliding the ring on my half-frozen finger.

It’s a heart-shaped solitaire, and I love it so much that I squeal.

My skates go different directions, and Rush drops the box to grab my hips at the same time Bear’s hands land on my shoulders.

“You’re an adorable mess.” Rush grins unrepentantly.

“Was that a yes?” Thorne calls out. “You know how much I appreciate verbal answers.”

I snort, and my nose burns in the cold. “It was a hell yes!”

“Good,” Bear growls. “Now it’s time to go in and thaw you out.”

“A dip in the hot tub would get the job done nicely.” Rush winks from his spot still on his knees.

“Hot chocolate first, then we’ll see about the hot tub,” Bear negotiates.

I really do love his overprotective tendencies. They make me feel safe and cared for in a way I’ve never experienced.

I smile, nodding my agreement. “That sounds like a good deal to me.”