Page 141 of Knight Life In Vegas

“Sometimes I’m still surprised I was. I thought Andrew had broken something in me forever and I might never have a chance at the life I truly wanted.” She gazed down at the babies, her thumbs stroking their little heads. “I only made that step because of you.”

“What do you mean?”

“With the others, it felt likeIneededthem,and I didn’t think I deserved it. With you…youneededme, and it felt so selfish to consider not being there for you. It opened me up to everything.”

“I’ve never been so grateful I was pathetic enough to induce that type of guilt in you.”

Charlotte laughed again, the sound sweet. “I needed to start out with something that wasn’t for me. At least not exclusively. I lied to myself that being with you wasn’t about me, but sometimes lying is what gets you through until you find the truth.”

I turned her toward me, kissing slowly, absorbing every ounce of her quiet passion. “I love you an impossible amount.”

“I love you too.”

“Do you loveusan impossible amount?” Dylan asked, the rest of the pack sweeping in.

“You ask that as if I have any other choice. Now get over here in a group hug.”

“Oh my god. I’m going to faint,” said Dylan. “Did Rain-Beau just ask for a group hug?”

“First time for everything,” Francisco said with a chuckle. All of them crowded around, mindful of the babies, but crushing me between them.

“Our pack is pretty fucking cool,” said Dylan.

“No argument here,” replied Eduardo. He scooped DJ out of the crib, cradling him. “Fate did a damn good job.”

I couldn’t argue either. For all that I had railed against it, fate had given me everything I could need and more. Maybe I would never truly deserve all these blessings, but I was going to work every day to be worthy of them.

I glanced up with the photo of Emily and Bryce, astonished by how much love I was capable of feeling. Not everyone got a second chance, but Charlotte and I had. Maybe Ididdeserve it. We all did, and I never would’ve seen it if not for the omega fate had thrown in my path right when I was ready for her, even if I hadn’t known it yet.

I paused on the way up the stairs, tracing my fingertips over some of the photo frames. Our walls were full of them, each one telling the story of our family growing. Portraits of me and my pack with all of our children, older ones of Beau and Emily and baby Bryce, me and my parents, them with Sam as a baby, Chico and his parents and grandparents, Eduardo’s whole clan,and Dylan’s squad. Every frame carried our history, marking the footsteps of our paths toward one another.

I stopped at one of me with Sam as a baby, taken very shortly after he was born. My little boy was thirteen today and I was barely holding it together. I’d let him sleep even though guests had already arrived, but I’d have to get him up sooner or later.

I moved on to the first family portrait we’d taken as a full pack after the triplets were born and I couldn’t help but marvel over how different my life before and after looked. I still remembered how lonely I’d been. Now we had no shortage of family, of people who went out of their way to make sure my children and I all felt accepted. Sometimes the reality of it still stopped me in my tracks.

Stepping quietly into Sam’s room, I found him sprawled and sleeping despite the open window and sun blazing in. I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked a hand over his hair. “Good morning, honey. Happy birthday.”

He blinked sleepily at me and sat up. “Morning, Mom.”

“I can’t believe my baby’s a teenager.” I squeezed Sam in a hug even though he had already hit the phase where he hated me gushing over him. He relented anyway, hugging me tightly.

“I’m thirteen, not dying, Mom.”

“You’re growing up,” I sniffled. “I just always want you to know how much I love you.”

“Trust me,” he said with a laugh, “it’s impossible not to know that in this house.”

“Are you ready to come down and join the party? We can only hold off your brothers and sister for so much longer.”

“I’ll be right down. Hold back the horde for me while I brush my teeth.” He hopped into his little en suite, rushing through his washing up.

As if she had sensed him waking up, my daughter frantically pounded against the door.

“Miss Emilia Elizabeth.” I stared down at my daughter’s enormous brown eyes, set beneath black curls in pigtails. “Can I help you?”

She bustled right past me and threw herself at Sam as he stepped out of the washroom. “Sammy birfday.” He sat back on the bed, cuddling her on his lap while she squeezed his cheeks. “Happy birf.”

“Thank you, Mils.” He laughed. “I was coming right down. You didn’t have to come get me.”

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