She nods, her small hand bunching my shirt as she calms herself down. I can feel down the bond her combination of emotions. There’s a sense of sadness, but there’s also relief and closure as well.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me,” Charlotte says.
“I’m glad,” I reply.
“I just never really got to say goodbye, you know? Letting go of the guilt and finally being able to say goodbye makes it feel final, but it also feels like relief?”
Anders nods and kisses her forehead. “She’d be so proud of you, Charlotte.”
She nods her head, and we sit down on the bench staring out at the lake, taking a moment to take in the scenery and what just happened.
I look over at my pack and my heart feels fuller than it ever has in my life. These people who chose to be a family. The amount of love on this bench is something I never expected in my life, and I’ll do everything I can to protect it. A few months ago I would have said that we were one fucked up pack. Looking at us now, I would say that we’re a pack that dreams are made of.
Epilogue
6 months later
“Oh,damn,”Pipersaysnext to me as we stand in the background of the photoshoot going on. I roll my eyes as Alexi holds the foster kitten that was brought on set for the photoshoot. “Where do I buy this calendar?”
“Online. Why don’t you just talk to him?” Piper rolls her eyes.
“I did, remember?”
I furrow my brows and shake my head. “When you all had your housewarming party, I was going to introduce myself, and I heard him talking to Mikael. He was going on and on about how he wanted an Omega and a pack. That—” She points at Alexi, who is in a suit and kissing the tabby cat on the cheek. “—is not the kind of man you just hook up with. He’s looking for something serious.”
“Well, you only have three more years of school.”
She scoffs. “And then an internship and a residency. It’s going to be a long time until I’m ready for someone like Alexi. Plus, he’s what? Thirty-something. He’s not sitting around and waiting for someone like me.”
“If you say so, Piper.”
“I need easy prey, like one of the rookies,” she says, looking at the other men lining up waiting for their photo to be taken.
“Maybe Elias?” I suggest.
“Only if he puts in his fake teeth while we bang,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh and cover my mouth. It gets Alexi’s attention from in front of the camera. He looks at my best friend and gives a grin. He’s still missing his front tooth, and it’s kind of adorable.
“He… he could fuck me with his front tooth missing,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh harder.
Suddenly I feel three pairs of eyes on me and I look over at my guys, Hank between them as they wait to get their picture taken first. They all smile at me. I can feel down the bond how happy they all are and just how much seeing me smile brings them joy.
“Oh, looks like your guys are up,” Piper says, nudging me in the arm.
I look up and watch as they all sit on the floor with a drooling Hank in the middle of them. They’re wearing suits, and they all look sexy as fuck. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love them in sweatpants, nothing, their jerseys. But seeing my guys in tailored suits, nothing gets me slicker than seeing that. They all smile and take turns interacting with Hank as the photographer takes picture after picture. Hank is loving the attention, and I swear the big oaf is smiling for the camera.
“Why don’t you get your Omega in for one?” the photographer says. I could be someone who acts shy and says no thanks. But miss the chance to get a picture with them looking like this? Hell no. I nod my head, not caring that I’m wearing jeans and my homemade jersey that represent all of them. I get on the floor between Eli and Anders and pet Hank’s head as the photographer takes pictures of us.
Once she’s done, I watch as Mikael goes up to her. I can hear him clear as day. “I’ll pay you on the side if you can get those photos expedited to me. I’ll have Cheryl send you the info.”
I grin and try to hide my satisfaction, but they all feel it down the bond. I get kisses to my head from each Alpha.
“Time to get ready for the game,” Cheryl says, walking up to my guys. To say that I love their new agent would be a serious understatement. Cheryl is a no-nonsense female Alpha who already has an Omega and adores me. She doesn’t smile at the guys, but smiles at me. “Charlotte, are you sitting in the box with me tonight?”
I nod. “Piper and I will both be in the box.”
“Great.” She looks back at the guys with a flat expression and points to Mikael. “No unwarranted penalties tonight.” Points to Eli. “Score as much as you can, you’ve gotta keep up with Petrov for points.” She looks over at Anders. “You just do your thing.” She spins and walks away, likely heading to our box for the game that doesn’t start for a few hours.
“I feel like Cheryl ranks us the same as Hank does,” Mikael says, and I laugh.
