The afternoon is spent doing baby shower stuff, and gossiping, without tears or arguments. The girls don’t push too hard on why Kai isn’t with me. Likewise, we don’t push Raney on wanting to see her house, or the reason why Tristan is unusually quiet, or why Simona tells us she’s taking time off; we just enjoy being with each other, not letting our own secrets interrupt our incredible friendship.
The day is full of highlights; hearing the heartbeat of Raney’s baby is something I will always cherish. Instead of making me super clucky, it makes me more determined to get the Triplet Law abolished.
Puck’s speech is equally memorable. His devotion and adoration of my bestie is the stuff of romance novels. He makes no bones telling the world how much he loves her which is the perfect ending to their love story that started when he was barely old enough to drive.
I swear the whole building shakes with the cheers of all the guests when the Anders Empire gets blown sky-high. I may have squealed the loudest, but holy shit, The Phoenix Group did an amazing job.
Raney’s Pack coming out day is near perfect.
I hope mine will be too.
ChapterFifty-Seven
HEIDI
NINE MONTHS LATER
“You don’t have to leave,” I repeat, my arms wrapping around Allan.
He’s getting much better at hugs, but he still pushes me gently away, his eyes flitting nervously over my shoulder.
“Dad, don’t let them intimidate you.” I twist around and scowl at Darius and Ramses, the both of them hovering unnecessarily.
“Heidi, your mates don’t worry me, but I am not wasting time entertaining your guests.” He’s sharper than usual before his eyes drop to the very reason why my pack are super salty, and why my father has a new determination to resolve the Triplet Law.
There has been a lot of headway, and much like we hoped, the community jumped on board supporting Verdune’s latest research project on multiple births in our society. Expanding his research paper’s parameters ensured we garnered even more support, and the hotline we set up was inundated with Packs who had been in hiding. Admittedly there were only a hundred or so packs globally who met the specific triplet parameter, but still it was a win.
Allan has spent every spare second of the day either in his office, his lab or on the lobby campaign trail. He has met with politicians, Alpha Council electors, birth specialists, other scientists, anyone, and everyone he can to get them to listen, to see for themselves his comprehensive preliminary findings on the stability of triplet alphas. It’s been a balancing act because there’s nothing more offensive in the medical field than discounting someone else’s findings. At the same time, Allan’s not holding back. It is his life’s mission to have this overturned, and my recent news has been like pouring a gallon of gasoline on a lit fire: unnecessary but spectacular, nonetheless. And his work is paying off, by no means are we completely safeguarded, but the Alpha Council accepted Allan’s findings and have tabled a bill, along with establishing a committee. As we hoped, Allan’s work is being fast tracked.
“The Verdune Estate is not my home; I’ve been a guest here.”
“You said you were not moving out permanently.” I glare at him.
“I’ll be back to visit. You won’t be able to keep me away, but at the same time, Heidi, this is a special time for you and your pack.”
Allan steps closer, his hand hovering in indecision. I nab it and put it on my tummy. “You look after those babies, Heidi.”
“I will. Give Douglas and his pack a hug from me,” I say, rubbing his shoulder.
And then he turns and walks away. The second he closes the door behind me, I’m swept off my feet.
“Little moon, we have guests coming very soon. You and our babies are going to have a nap with the kittens while we finish getting everything ready.”
“Dare, I’m not going to be able to sleep.” I groan.
“Why? Are you feeling sick?” He stops so he can stare down at me, his eyes scouring over me looking for evidence I’m ill.
“Nervous. And there’s too much to do. I really won’t be able to nap!” I growl, making the giant fool purr in desperation to comfort me.
He races up the stairs towards our suite, which is very much a different place now. Furniture that had been in our family for generations has been scattered into different parts of the house, including the area that was my original wing. We flipped everything around, my old bedroom is now our guest wing.
Walls have been stripped of wallpaper that my grandfather imported from Paris when he first built Verdune, instead we chose subtle colours and reminders of both sides of our family. The carpet was replaced to match the new paint work. But it’s also thicker, plusher than normal carpet because the Denali boys were insistent the place be more reminiscent of a palace fit for a queen.
My bed that was on the office floor has been removed, but in its place, they built me the most beautiful nest, full of even more pillows and blankets. The bathroom was remodelled and expanded to fit in a micro version of the grotto pool at The Great House.
Our bedroom is one of my favourite rooms in the house now, decked out in all the colours of the sunrise. The bed is insanely big, and so freaking comfortable some days I don’t get out of it. The office Ramses set up is big enough to accommodate the four of us, and work is busy.
‘Work’ encompasses too many businesses and companies; we probably spend too much time actually working but we’re together, and that’s all that matters. Since we found out I’m pregnant though, the Denali brothers have been selling off profitable gaming, catering, and supply labour businesses, filling our bank account with even more money.
