Page 23 of Beta's Virgin Bride

“Yeah,” she agreed. “I was so focused on you I couldn’t see anyone else. I’ve spent my whole life afraid I’d turn out just like my mother. I thought maybe her inability to love or develop bonds was something she’d pass on to me.”

“Ivy, you’ve already developed some pretty intense bonds. Look at you and Jasmine. Or you and Raina. And I know you cared for Rowan. Just watching you with your sister and with Raina the other night, I’ve seen a woman who loves fiercely. You seem so fearless, Ivy. As if you’d take on the whole world if you needed to.”

She nodded against my chest. “Mm-hmm.”

I laughed. “You know you can’t fall asleep like this? We have to get you back in your seat, pants on, so we can head back to the house.”

“Are you going to move in with me?” She perked up a little at that.

“I’d like to,” I offered. “Unless you have bad memories in the house. We can look for another one. I’ll live wherever you want. As long as we’re together.”

“I like my house. Plus, Jasmine is already settled in the neighborhood. And since it’s right in the middle of our pack territory, it’s the perfect place for the new beta to live.”

“Okay,” I agreed. Honestly, I’d do anything in my power for her happiness.

“What about kids? Do you want kids?”

I blinked, her question taking me by surprise, but the answer was a no-brainer. “Yeah, I do. I’ve always wanted a big family.”

She smiled. “Good.”

I cupped her chin and tipped it up so I could see her face. “Does that mean you do, too?”

“I know I’m not Jasmine’s mom, but I’ve felt like it most of our lives. I love her as if she were my daughter instead of my sister. Raina worried I was pushing my dreams aside by staying here with Jasmine instead of going off to college. But I didn’t give up anything. My dreams changed the moment I held my perfect, little sister in my arms. I knew then I wanted to be a mom.”

“Then how in the world would you ever worry you could be like your mother?”

She blinked then shrugged, burrowing her face back into my neck. She was the exact opposite of her mother. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever have the opportunity to meet Ivy’s mother or not. Part of me wanted to, so I could put the bitch in her place for what she’d done to Ivy. Part of me thought it would be in everyone’s best interest if our paths never crossed.

While I’d contemplated what I’d do, my mate had fallen asleep. I grinned. It was nice to know I wore her out so thoroughly she conked out. I ended up tugging her shirt back down and lifting her into the passenger seat. She mumbled, but her eyes stayed closed. I wasn’t attempting the pants, so I snagged a blanket from the back seat and covered her with it.

After snapping her seatbelt, I adjusted my own clothing and put the seat back into place. I took my time driving back to her house—no. Our house—then carried her inside. It didn’t take long to strip us both down and get under the covers. I planned to talk her into a new bed, a much larger one to better accommodate my size.

I lay awake for a long time with Ivy draped over my chest, one leg thrown over mine as she clung to me. I easily recalled thinking my best friend, Bas, was insane for looking at a picture and deciding the woman was his. I’d basically laughed at him. Now, I understood completely. Maybe, it was the animal part of us, but when we found our mates, there was no questioning.

I glanced down at the woman in my arms. Ivy was mine, and no matter what life threw at us, I was never letting her go.

Epilogue

~ Ivy ~

Six Years Later

“Cyan!” I bellowed, staring in horror at the mess in my kitchen.

My mate barreled around the corner with our youngest son in his arms, stopping in his tracks as he took in the chaos. Noah bounced against his father’s arm, reaching for me. It was hard to believe we’d just celebrated his first birthday a few months ago.

“I thought you were watching them,” I said.

“I, uh, went to change Noah.” He passed Noah to me and waded into the kitchen, trying unsuccessfully to look serious. I saw his lips twitching with amusement. I’m sure our sons did, too. “So…who wants to explain what’s going on here?”

“I make pancake!” Parker clapped his hands, and a cloud of white rose from him. He was coated in flour from head to toe. In fact, I didn’t see a single spot in the kitchen that wasn’t covered. I didn’t think it was possible for us to have that much flour in the house.

“We helped!” Our five-year-old twins, Liam and Lucas, hurried to stand next to their brother.

I shook my head as Cyan fought hard not to laugh. “Pancakes?”

“For your birthday,” Liam said.

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