Page 187 of The Beta's Blind Date

Epilogue

REID

TWOMONTHSLATER—SEPTEMBER 30th

Today is a perfect day.

The sun is shining, its rays warming the grounds and the lake and the garden. There is a light breeze winding and swirling its way around the forest and through the flora, carrying the scent of pine, water, flowers, and sunshine with it. There isn’t a cloud in the sky, and the air is an ideal temperature—neither too hot nor too cold.

I woke up with my girl in my arms, with my other girl singing the song of her people at the top of her little lungs, letting us know she was ready to start her day. I spent the morning and afternoon carrying Savvy around against my chest in her baby wrap while Taryn rested and had a spa day with Haven, Maya, and Blake. I soaked in all her gummy smiles and little coos and baby noises, only bringing her back to the house when Taryn needed to feed her.

There is no broken, emotionally damaged hybrid after my mate and wreaking havoc on our lives—the crones made sure of that. Malachi extended an offer of protection to Taryn, and she has training once a week with the royal healer to learn more about her strengths and how to wield her gift.

And now I’m standing in the garden, surrounded by my family and closest friends, holding my daughter in her poofy white lace and chiffon cupcake dress while we wait for her mom to join us for our mating ceremony.

Like I said. Everything is perfect.

“Your Grandma Stephanie planted these,” I say to my Savvy girl, pointing to the peony bushes. “You can’t see the flowers right now, but next year, they’ll bloom again, and you’ll see just how beautiful they are. And over here”—I walk to the spot where the chrysanthemums bloom, bright and eye-catching—“these are the flowers Mommy and Daddy planted for your Grandpa Terrence and Grandma Lauryn. And eventually, there will be a lemon tree, but it’s still too small to grow any fruit.”

She stares up at me, her gray eyes never once leaving my face to look at the garden. But she smiles and kicks her legs, and that’s good enough for me.

“I know it’s so exciting! We’ll be able to make fresh squeezed lemonade, and lemon meringue pie, and lemon cookies!”

She smiles bigger at me, all gums and tiny tongue, and I smile back at her, bouncing her up and down in my arms as I walk along the edge of the garden. The two months we’ve had with her, while exhausting, have been nothing short of wonderful. I never knew I wanted to be a dad until I met Taryn, until I saw our Sour Patch on that ultrasound image, but I can’t imagine my life any other way.

My mate. My daughter. A family.

“Oh no,” I say, glancing down the path as Sebastian walks towards us. “We’re trapped! Quick, maybe if we close our eyes, he’ll walk right by us.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and cover Savvy’s face with my hand.

“Hi, Reid,” Sebastian says.

I sigh and peek at him from one eye. “Hi, di—” I glance down at Savvy, then clear my throat. “I mean… hi, Seb.”

He scans my body, his brow lifting. “Are you auditioning for Miami Vice?”

I look down at my light pink linen suit jacket and pants and my white sneakers and frown. “Didn’t you wear pink to the one and only mating ball we all went to?”

“Yeah. A pink tie. Not an entire suit.”

I shrug. “My mate likes it. And I look damn good in it.”

Seb smirks. “If you say so.”

“I do say so. And Savvy agrees. Don’t you, Savvy?” She smiles at me and then at Seb, and then lets loose one of her infamous farts, her butt cheeks clapping together and vibrating against my hand.

Seb throws his head back and laughs, then takes Savannah’s hand in his and gives her a high five. “Well, on that note, I actually came over here to tell you that Taryn is waiting for you outside the garden entrance.”

My heart skips in my chest, and my eyes dart past Sebastian and towards the entrance, even though I know I won’t be able to see her from here. “Why didn’t you lead with that?”

“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give you shi… I mean crap for the suit first,” he says, shoving his hands in the pockets of his tan pants.

“You are a…” I glance down at a smiling Savvy. “A you-know-what.”

He raises his brows at me, and I mouth “dickhead” at him. He just shakes his head and laughs, then grabs me by the shoulders and turns my body towards the garden’s entrance. “Go. Get your mate and enjoy your ceremony. You deserve it.”

“Thanks,” I say, looking back at him over my shoulder.

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