Page 132 of This Pack of Ours

I held his gaze for a moment, his smile and touch relaxing me as they always did.

“Okay,” I said finally, tentatively opening up the menu again.

“Why is it so big?” I asked, peering at Kit over the top of mine. He raised his eyebrows.

“Right?! But the words are like, so tiny.”

We both burst into a fit of giggles, and after that, all my nerves were gone. Kit helped me pick out what I wanted and then we both burst into laughter again when the food finally came out—a tiny portion on a massive plate.

There was a tiny dessert, too, and then Kit said he wanted to show me the view from the balcony.

We went and collected the pack, and then we all made our way outside. Ez was giving a very detailed account of what we’d done earlier to a bemused Adrian. Kit and I followed Jhin and Vander as they leaned on the stone railing, and I smiled as I watched Jhin press a kiss to Vander’s head.

It was dusk, and there were strings of lights along the pathways, glittering off the water in the various tanks and the pale walkways. Beyond the aquarium walls, there were paths of trees decorated with more lights. I leaned on Kit’s shoulder.

“This was the best day,” I said quietly, glancing at the others.

“Good,” he said, and tugged me to his chest. I felt a faint purr start within me, and Kit’s joined in as we gazed out at the view. Adrian and Ez joined us on the other side, the latter actually quiet for once.

“This is how it was supposed to go, Juni,” Kit said, pulling away and looking at me, a little sad. “My plan. I wasn’t supposed to ask you to join my pack in a coffee shop right after I scent matched. I always hoped you would find a pack. And when I was sure you loved them and they loved you, I would have taken you somewhere like this. And I would have been terrified, but I’d say ‘Juniper Anders, I fell in love with you the first day we met. You’re strong and smart, and beautiful and brave. You changed my life.’ And I’d have asked if you’d have me in your pack.”

I sniffed, trying to make my lip stop trembling.

“But you know, I think this is better in the end. Because now I get to speak for all of us.”

He pulled back, and I blinked at him when he sunk down onto one knee. I froze, and everyone was looking at Kit as he tugged a little box out of his pocket and opened it up, offering a ring. My breathing was shallow and I could hear my heartbeat pounding.

“Juniper, will you do us the honour of marrying us?” Kit asked, his voice steady.

I broke, tears pouring down my face as I nodded, trying not to spray snot everywhere and ruin this beautiful moment.

“Yuss,”hissed Ez as Kit stood up and couldn’t even get the ring onto my finger, before Ez pulled everyone into a huge pack hug. Me and Kit were crammed in the center, and Jhin was sticking out the top. Vander was being held in by Ez, and the brothers were the ones holding us all together. I was laughing and definitely spraying snot, but Jhin came to the rescue with a handkerchief. This one was new and had juniper berries embroidered in the corner.

Vander eventually had to wrestle me out from Ez, lifting me up so I was sitting on the balcony rail, his warm hands holding me in place. Kit scrambled up beside me with Adrian’s help and slipped the ring onto my finger. It was a glittering ring made up of delicate vines that intertwined and formed into a small leaf, with five small blue stones decorating it.

It looked familiar somehow.

“Is this… Dee’s ring?” I asked, looking up at Kit. He nodded, swelling with pride.

“Went to grandmother’s to get it back—finally. And cut her off for good.”

“He’s being modest,” Vander said, ruffling his hair. “He tore up a cheque right in front of her face, and also managed to get in an excellent ‘fuck you’.”

Kit blushed.

“I recorded it actually,” Vander said with a shrug. “If you wanted to hear.”

Kit grabbed his arm.

“You recorded that? The whole thing?" he asked, eyes boring into Vander’s.

“Yeah,” said Vander. Kit bounced on the rail excitedly, causing Adrian to grab him in alarm.

“We got her!” Kit exclaimed. “Fuck, we got her on tape admitting she stole Dee’s stuff from the will!”

A wide grin settled on my face. This really was the best night ever.

And then I doubled over astheheat cramp hit me.

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