Page 119 of Knot Your Business

Their laughs fill me, warmth spreading through my body, and I relax into it.

Because this? This is perfection. And I never thought I’d be able to have it.

Epilogue

FOUR YEARS LATER

JASPER

“Uncle Jas! Happy graduation!” The high-pitched voice carries over the din of everyone already mingling, our large main room overflowing with people. A small body slams into my leg before I can adequately brace for the impact, and I mutter a curse. “Uncle Jas! You’re not allowed to say shit.”

Rose’s bright blue eyes stare up at me, her strawberry blonde hair done up in two twisted buns and her bangs sitting nearly perfect against her forehead. I need to ask Faedra what product she uses because damn it has some fucking holding power.

“It’s fine, sweetheart,” Logan says, his voice full of equal parts warmth and exasperation. “He was just surprised. And it’s Violet’s graduation.”

“Oh. Sorry Uncle Jas. Happy Violet graduation.” I laugh and run my thumb along her cheek. She purses her lips even as she taps on my leg. “I don’t get to say shit.”

“That’s because you yell it in places that make Momma blush, and not in the fun way.” His voice is warm as he smirks, one eyebrow raised as I laugh. He scoops the toddler up onto his hip and kisses her cheek before turning toward me. “Hey, man, sorry we’re late.”

I shake my head as he hugs me and I kiss Rose’s cheek. Her eyes narrow the exact same way Violet’s do, and I can’t help but laugh.

“How do you have Violet’s expressions?”

“The video calls,” Rose answers, grinning.

Another small person comes running through the front door, her unsmiling face focusing on me. She dodges around Kurt and Phillip as she crosses the room. I’m braced for her impact and manage to swing her into my arms before she can take out my knee like Rose.

“Hey, Iris,” I say, kissing her cheek, too.

She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder and running her hand over my collarbone.

“Uncle Jas,” she murmurs, the cool, collected tone nearly identical to Jude’s. How a three-year-old can manage that level of stoicism is beyond me. Genetics are wild. “Uncle Jas, Momma is tired. She cried.”

I look at Logan, frowning. “You guys didn’t need to come out here,” I say. There’s no reason to make Faedra more uncomfortable than absolutely necessary. I’m sure the graduation itself was hard enough for her to navigate right now. “We’re more than happy seeing you guys tomorrow at lunch.”

“I will miss one of Violet’s milestones when I am dead,” Faedra seethes as she crosses over the threshold and into our house, Carter a half step behind her. Her lips are tight in an unsmiling line, but there’s a mischief in her eyes that betrays her humor. Jude closes the door with a soft touch, his unsmiling eyes softening as he focuses on her, pulling her bag from her shoulder and perching it on his own.

“And I will absolutely not be missing one as important as this for anything less than this baby coming three weeks too freaking early,” she continues even as Jude threads his fingers through hers and kisses her temple.

The effect of her serious threat is lost with just how breathless she is. The simple green wrap dress looks beautiful on her. She runs her hand over her large belly, grimacing for a moment before breathing through her nose.

I take a step toward her, intent on helping her into a spot she can rest, when Carter wraps his arm around her waist, his gaze full of devotion as he takes her weight into his side. Her moan of relief is loud enough that it stops most of the party, everyone slowly looking toward where Pack Bennett congregates near the front door.

Faedra’s blush is swift, and I chuckle.

Violet works her way out of the crowd, her eyes just as hard and intent as Faedra’s. The moment the women lock eyes on each other, they squeal, and Violet runs the rest of the distance, wrapping Faedra into her arms the second she’s within reach. Her joy moves in one great wave through the bond, and I can’t help but smile.

Rylan stops beside me, taking my hand in his and kissing my cheek.

“You feel it, right?” he whispers, low enough that not even Logan pauses to look back at us.

When I nod, Iris lifts her head.

“Feel what?” she asks.

Rylan grins and touches the tip of her nose. “We can feel when Aunt Violet is happy or sad or angry.”

Iris purses her lips and tilts her head to the side. “Does she have bites? Like Momma has bites? Momma says they let her feel Daddy and Dad and Papa.”

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