Page 128 of Talk About… Rivalry

Maybe it had a bit to do with our bond always being full of reassurance and adoration that never failed to make me feel appreciated and seen.

Having it hanging in the lounge was enough for a few more commissions rolling around. Of course, Avery decided I needed a website, helping me set it up so I had a way for people to contact me and I could pick and choose which ones I took on.

The biggest surprise of the century came when my dad stopped by to visit. Along with apologizing for his actions, he handed me over bank account details. He explained he’d been putting money in there for years. It was meant to be a college fund, then a marriage fund when I stuck around.

Despite my protests, he insisted I take it, and it was enough that I could be comfortable, buy what I needed, and I now added to it with each commission I landed.

With all of us sharing expenses there wasn’t much to cover outside of our monthly trips to thrift stores and antique shops, slowly adding more and more decor to our house.

Some may call it cluttered, I called it cozy. Everywhere you looked there were pieces of my pack, I couldn’t walk through our house without smiling.

After that talk with my dad, I’ve been heading over to the ranch to ride Queenie. She wasn’t a good horse for teaching riding lessons, but she deserved to have someone who could show her the trails. Especially, since she never warmed up to anyone else.

Those were some of my favorite days. A chance to get away and clear my head, to connect with nature and the horse I’d formed a bond with.

Oddly enough, dad started joining me on those trails after the first few weeks. We didn’t talk much, but it was no longer awkward and I knew he was trying for me. Queenie even let him feed her a treat now and then.

“You nervous?” Bennett’s words pulled me from my thoughts and I glanced over, smiling at my alpha.

“Shockingly, no. Just excited,” I said as I ran a hand over my bump. Somehow we made it through my first heat without a pregnancy and decided to leave it up to fate my second heat.

Fate decided it was time for a baby. The day I found out I was pregnant, I was terrified. But after the first several scans showed only one baby, I fell in love with the idea.

That and my men were absolutely feral over me now, protective and constantly ready to claim me.

“She’s ready for this,” Taylor said with confidence. He was in back with all of my canvases and leatherwork that Maverick didn’t already have in his truck. I’d finally given my grandmother’s box attention one day and it wasn’t long before I fell in love with the process of making horse bridles. Now I had an array of them to share, though I kept my favorite for my girl Queenie. Seeing her prance around after I put it on only made me love her sassy self more.

Now, here I was, ready to share all of it with the world.

We spent weeks preparing for today, the booths were set up, and now, three hours before the fair opened, we were ready to set up mine.

Bennett and Taylor were hanging with me so I wasn’t alone or overwhelmed. Not to mention they seemed to think I shouldn’t lift anything at all now.

Maverick and Leo left hours ago to handle the last minute logistics, making a surprisingly perfect duo. Mav had the passion and connections, Leo had the analytical mind to monitor numbers and put all of those great ideas into a perfectly meticulous plan.

Leo’s grand opening had gone so well, and he had a steady flow of people coming in each night. Our entire pack was there to show support, even Maverick.

In fact, Maverick admitted he was wrong when numbers for Whitaker Brews never dropped. After that, Leo became Mav’s biggest asset with finalizing this fair. I was so damn proud of how far they came together.

I was shocked when we pulled into the lot. It was still filling and there was even a crowd already waiting at the gates of the fair grounds. Security had them blocked off for now. It seemed we didn’t have to worry about this being a success. It already was.

We circled around back, parking in the vendor lot and unloading everything before heading in, arms full of my hard work.

Maverick must have had the bond wide open, he appeared almost the moment we stepped up to our booth, helping arrange everything, eyes brimming with pride.

It wasn’t just for me, but for this whole event coming together.

A lot was riding on this first fair. If it went well and turned a profit, he’d be able to keep it running, keeping his fathers’ legacy alive.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he finally greeted, dipping down to kiss me. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”

He was looking at my work, while I was taking in all of his.

“And I’m proud of you. Did you see the front?”

He grinned, the smile unrestrained and lighting up his face, taking away his signature scowl he reserved for anyone but us and his family.

“I did,” he admitted. “With our small entrance fee and the table fees, I think we’re going to be just fine.”

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