We count down together. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
"Happy New Year," we say in unison.
And then we're kissing. All of us reaching for each other at once. Mouths meeting and hands tangling and scents mixing until the air is thick with pack and love and future.
Outside, Pine Hollow celebrates with distant sounds of fireworks and cheering. Inside, we celebrate with each other. With the life we've built. With the future we're planning.
This is what home feels like. Safe and warm and exactly where I'm supposed to be.
I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
EPILOGUE
Sharon
The morning sun filters through the bedroom curtains in stripes of gold and amber, warming the tangled sheets around me. I blink awake slowly, registering the familiar weight of Cassian's arm across my waist, the warmth of Jett's chest pressed against my back, and Pine's fingers tangled loosely in my hair. Six months of waking up like this, and I'm still not used to it. Still not used to the fact that this is my life now.
Still can't quite believe I deserve it.
My stomach rolls, and I freeze. Oh no. Not again.
I've been telling myself for the past two weeks that it's just stress. That planning Hazel Whitlock's destination wedding from Pine Hollow is making me nauseous. That the exhaustion is from taking on too many clients. That my heightened sense of smell is just my omega senses going haywire because I'm surrounded by three alphas 24/7.
But I can't ignore it anymore. Not when Cassian's cologne, which I usually love, is making me want to gag. Not when thethought of coffee, my one true love, makes my stomach flip like a gymnast. Not when my breasts are so tender that even the soft cotton of the sleep shirt I stole from Pine feels like sandpaper.
I'm pregnant.
The realization hits me like a freight train for the thousandth time this week, but this morning it feels different. More real. Because I'm not just suspecting anymore. I know. Deep in my bones, in the way my body feels foreign and familiar all at once, I know.
"You're thinking too loud," Jett mumbles against my shoulder, his voice rough with sleep. "S'too early for whatever crisis you're having."
"I'm not having a crisis," I whisper, which is a complete lie.
Pine's fingers tighten in my hair, a gentle tug that makes me shiver. "Your heart's racing, sweetheart. You okay?"
"Fine. Perfect. Never better." My voice only cracks a little.
Cassian's arm tightens around my waist, pulling me closer. "Sharon."
Just my name, but it's enough. It's always enough with them. The way Cassian says my name when he knows I'm lying, when he's giving me space to tell the truth without pushing. The way he trusts me to get there on my own.
I take a shaky breath. "I think I'm pregnant."
The words hang in the air for exactly three seconds of absolute silence. Then chaos.
Jett sits up so fast he nearly knocks me off the bed. Pine's hand freezes in my hair. Cassian's entire body goes rigid behind me, his arm still locked around my waist like he's afraid I'll disappear.
"You think or you know?" Pine's voice is carefully controlled, but I can hear the edge of something wild underneath.
"Think. Pretty sure. Like, ninety-nine percent sure." I wiggle around to face them, and the movement makes my stomach protest. "Okay, definitely sure."
Cassian's hand splays across my stomach, tentative and reverent. "How long have you known?"
"I've been suspicious for about two weeks, but I was in denial. Then this morning I woke up and just... knew." I bite my lip. "I know we haven't really talked about kids yet, and the timing is terrible because Hazel's wedding is in two months and I'm supposed to be flying to Hawaii, and I just took on three new clients, and..."
"Sharon." Jett cups my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. They're bright with something that looks suspiciously like tears. "Shut up."
"Excuse me?"
