I gasped, pulling back so that I could see his face. “You love me?”
He grinned. “I do. I know it sounds crazy, but when you’re in my arms, nothing else seems to matter. The idea of losing you like I lost Ronnie…” He shook his head.
“I would never do that to you,” I promised him, cupping his cheeks in my hands. My heart swelled with hope, withpossibilities. Could this really work? Could I really keep this man and call him mine? My Alpha?
“So…you wanna try this thing?” I ventured. “With me? No takesy-backsies?”
Mackenzie clenched me to his chest, but not before I saw the tears that slipped down his cheeks. “I would be so blessed. So damn blessed.”
Epilogue: Mackenzie
Two years later…
The delighted shrieksof little kids running around underfoot made me smile. What started out as the beginnings of a lip twitch, soon turned into a full-blown, ear to ear grin as I watched our little girl toddle along after Jonah and Jeremiah, squealing her heart out the whole way.
I was the luckiest man in the world. I had the most wonderful fiancé an Alpha could ever ask for, and he’d given me the greatest gift of all—our little peanut, Kennedy Lynn.
Short and petite, she had bright hazel eyes like her daddy, and her smile was just as impish. People didn’t even question that she wasn’t mine, since she’d been blessed with my dark hair and my skin tone, but it didn’t matter. She was mine in heart and in soul. My angel.
I loved them both so, so much.
Nathaniel hadn’t been lying when he said his family was huge. There were so many of them that they’d had to rent a building just to fit everyone for the Christmas party. And since I was practically family now—at least according to Mum and Ma—Nathaniel had insisted that my sister and her family join in on the festivities.
“It’s Christmas,” he singsonged. “It’s just not the holidays without family.”
I looped an arm around his waist, drawing him flush. “And I’m so damn happy you’re a part of mine.”
“Always.” Leaning up on his tiptoes, he pecked me on the lips. “Hurry up, Santa’s coming!” He sprinted off, leaving me to run my tongue along my bottom lip, where his peppermint lip balm lingered. Sweet and spicy, just like him. I loved his peppermint kisses. His eggnog kisses. His gingerbread kisses.
I just loved him, okay?
Santa Claus—who was actually Grandpa Barnes in disguise—sat in a big wooden rocking chair next to the Christmas tree. He’d donned the crushed red velvet suit and shiny black boots, and I had to admit, he looked the part. His blue eyes twinkled as he gazed down at the children who gathered around.
“Ho-ho-ho!” he boomed out, and when Kennedy was plunked onto his lap, he steadied her with his gloved hand. “Hello there, little girl. What doyouwant for Christmas?”
Kennedy blinked, then let out another ear-piercing squeal before grabbing Santa’s not-fake beard and giving a big tug. “Santa! Santa!” Santa did his best not to grimace as he carefully loosened her fingers from his snow-white facial hair.
Nathaniel slid his hand into mine and gave a gentle squeeze. When I gazed down at him with love in my heart, his smile mirrored my own. “She’s perfect, isn’t she?” His sigh was a happy one.
I grinned. “She is. You did good.”
He leaned up and kissed me. “No,wedid good,” he murmured. “She’s perfect because she has two wonderful daddies who adore her. I love you, Mackenzie Weaver. Now let’shurry up and get this over with. I can’t wait any longer. I’m so nervous!”
“Nothing to be nervous about, baby,” I assured him. “You’re perfect.”
He batted his lashes at me, then tugged me along after him to the front of the crowd. With baby Kennedy still bouncing on Santa’s knee, Nathaniel and I took the stage.
I cleared my throat. “Hello, everyone. We have an announcement to make, and I don’t think Nathaniel can wait any longer.” I nudged him with my elbow. He giggled and waved to his family members.
His Mum gasped out loud. “Nathaniel Barnes! Does this mean what I think it means?”
We exchanged a glance. My Omega’s eyes glittered with happiness, even as a faint blush crept over his cheeks. Squeezing my hand, he nodded. “That’s right, Mum. Everyone? Thanks to a little holiday magic, Kennedy’s gonna be a big sister. We’re expecting!”
Just as we expected, our families went wild. We were soon surrounded by love and tears and hugs to go around. It was kind of like a mosh pit, but instead of screaming, there was crying. Lots of crying.
Ma sniffled, beaming at her son with tears in her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Nathaniel,” she gushed, then turned to me. She clasped my elbows in both hands and looked me up and down. “And you… You make him so happy. You’re a better Alpha than I could’ve ever hoped for for my little boy. Thank you.”
My vision misted over. “Thanks, Ma. I love him.”
