Page 133 of Vegas Baby!

Ava blushed. “How areyouthis beautiful?”

“Did you know, in all of the chaos I haven’t had a chance to tell you how lucky I am that you came into our lives?”

“All that chaos came in because of me,” she said with a quiet laugh.

“It’s what we all needed. You made our pack complete, and I want to make sure you know that I love you to the moon and back.” I kissed her softly. “My omega. Iloveyou, angel. I love all of it: every bit of chaos you bring, every bit of softness you offer, your spirit, your laugh. You are the perfect omega for me.”

“I love you, too.” She buried her face against my chest. “But you can’t say so many nice things about me at once. My heart can’t take it.”

“We’ve had that conversation before. Do I need toactuallystart complimenting you so often you get accustomed to it? ‘Cause I’ll get started right now.” I hooked my fingers under her chin, forcing her to look up at me. “You are the sweetest soul, a wonderful partner and mother, and I willneverget tired of the taste of your lips.”

Her cheeks were gorgeously pink. “I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one in this pack, no matter what you all keep saying. How many omegas have alphas that say things like that?”

“Only the ones who are clearly goddesses descended to earth.” I grinned at her.

“Micah. My cheeks can’t get any hotter.” Ava laughed and nuzzled closer, letting me wrap her and Lucy securely in my arms, just standing together in the shade. “Our lives are weird.”

“A good weird, though?”

Ava nodded, looking over at the rest of the pack scattered around the pool in the sunlight, Charlotte perched on the edge of the water at the far end out of earshot of our whispers, her boys flinging themselves about on the floaties. “Yeah, it’s good. Nothing like I ever expected, but I’m starting to feel a peace I never thought I’d find again.”

“You deserve some peace after everything.”

Her sigh was long and deep. “Peace is good, but I don’t think I’m ever going to get mad about a little chaos again, not after knowing how many wonderful things can still come even if it looks terrifying at the time.”

“The important part,” I said, chest filled to bursting with affection for her, “is that no matter what comes, we’ll always be there to catch you if you fall.”

The necklace I had ordered for Ava arrived this morning. I checked over each of the stones, a rainbow of color for each of our birthstones beginning with Ava, then the pack alphabetically, and then Lucy, with room to expand. It wasn’t the most practical, but then luxury had little to do with practicality.

It had only been a few months, but it felt like a lifetime, my existence clearly demarcated into Before Ava and After Ava.

She was the start of something new I hadn’t realized I had desperately needed.

Before Ava had been lonely and regimented, following a precise path that I had hoped would gain the approval I craved. After Ava was like when Dorothy stepped into Oz, the world suddenly awash with color you never knew you were missing.

Everything was different, and it would never be the same again. Finding my omega, joining my pack, and becoming a father had gone nothing like I had expected any of those steps to go, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Ava entered the kitchen with Lucy in her arms.

“I thought you two were napping?” I rose up from my seat to kiss my mate and gather our daughter into my arms. I kissed Lucy’s forehead. “Hello, my darling girl.”

“You’re way too cute with her. And to answer your question, I got antsy. I feel like all I’ve done since she was born is rest. Luke and Jesse are still asleep from Miss Lucy’s fussing last night. Where’s Micah?”

“Swimming laps. I have something for you.” I nudged the velvet box toward her.

“Bryce,” she whispered reverently when she’d opened the lid. “This is beautiful.”

“It has to be to sit around your neck. Any jewelry I put on you has some pretty stiff competition.”

I couldn’t help her put it on with an armful of baby, but I had chosen the clasp to be magnetic with a piece that flipped over for extra security so it was simple for Ava to manage on her own. The stones glimmered against her skin, but they were nothing compared to the smile she gave me.

“It’s perfect.” She tucked herself against my side. “Did you hear from your dad about the birth announcement?”

“There’s something from him in the stack of mail, but I haven’t been brave enough to open it.”

Ava peered up at me. “Do you want me to read it first?”

“I can; I just haven’t worked myself up to doing it. I don’t want you to read anything upsetting.”

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