They all stare at the box for a moment, then at each other. Then, as if on some unspoken signal, they lunge for it simultaneously. There’s a brief scuffle of five massive alphas trying to reach the same small box at once before Ryker emerges victorious, the package clutched in his hand.
“Got it!”
“Children,” my mother mutters, though she’s grinning.
Ryker carefully removes the wrapping paper, setting it aside before lifting the lid of the box. Inside, nestled among blue and pink tissue paper, is the tiny onesie and, more importantly, the positive pregnancy test I took this morning.
For a moment, there’s complete silence. Then…
“Holy shit!” Rex exclaims, jumping to his feet. “You’re pregnant? We’re having a baby?”
The room erupts. Alaric and Lorenzo are high-fiving each other, both of them grinning like fools. Marcus lets out a whoop that’s loud enough to make the windows rattle, pulling Rex into a back-slapping hug. And Ryker is completely still, his eyes fixed on the tiny strip of plastic, his expression unreadable.
“You’re...” he starts, then stops, clearing his throat. “You’re sure?”
I nod, suddenly nervous. “Yes, babe.”
The others are still celebrating, already arguing about names and who gets to teach the baby to shift first, but Ryker has eyes only for me. He sets the box carefully on the table, then rises to his feet in one smooth motion.
“I was going to do this another time,” he says, his voice low enough that only I can hear. “Somewhere more romantic, with flowers and candles and all that stuff you’re supposed to have.” He drops to one knee, reaching into his pocket. “But this feels right. More right than anything ever has.”
My heart stops. The rest of the alphas crowd me, watching me with bated breath.
Was he seriously about to propose?
“Anya,” Ryker continues, pulling a small black box from his pocket. “I love you. More than I ever thought possible. And if you want to go home and you want to leave the island, leave us, start over somewhere else—I’ll understand. All I want is for you to be happy.” He opens the box, revealing a diamond so large it catches the light from every angle, throwing rainbow prisms across the walls. “But if you’ll have us, I’d be honored if you’d be my wife. Our wife.”
Tears fill my eyes, blurring my vision.
“You’d really let me go?” I whisper, unable to believe what I’m hearing. “If that’s what I wanted?”
Ryker nods, his expression solemn. “I’d hate every second of it,” he admits. “But yes. Your happiness comes first. Always.”
Something breaks open in my chest—a dam of emotion I didn’t even know was there. They love me that much.
I let the pause stretch just a beat longer, enjoying the way their faces fall, the hope fading from their eyes. Then I throw myself into Ryker’s arms, nearly knocking him over.
“Yes,” I say, the word bursting from my lips. “Yes, yes, yes! Of course I’ll marry you!”
He catches me easily, his strong arms wrapping around my waist as he rises to his feet, lifting me with him. His mouth finds mine in a kiss that steals my breath, that pours every ounce of his love and relief into me.
When we break apart, Alaric kisses my cheek, Lorenzo presses his lips to my temple, Rex claims my mouth for a brief, fierce moment, and Marcus brushes a gentle kiss across my knuckles.
Each of them, in turn, places a hand on my stomach, their touch reverent, awed.
“I love you,” Ryker says, slipping the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly, the diamond catching the light with every movement.
“I love you too,” I reply, then turn to include the others. “All of you. So much.”
My mother is crying quietly in the corner, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “Oh my goodness.”
We move to the kitchen then, opening the bottle of champagne my mother bought for the occasion with sparkling cider for me, toasting to our future, to our family, to the life we’re building together. As I look around at the six most important people in my world, my heart feels so full I’m afraid it might burst.
Thirty-Two
ANYA
Three Months Later
