Page 72 of Verses and Blooms
I leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
My pack was waiting outside, all six of them waiting. I should’ve known they’d be waiting for me, likely feeling the emotions through the bond. Audrey was at the front, stepping forward the moment she saw me.
She was excited, but nervous. “Cross told us they’re here.”
“They are,” I confirmed. “Do you guys want to meet my daughter?”
“Absolutely we do,” Audrey said. “And Cross said he’ll send lunch in for us all so we can take our time.”
I held my hand out for Audrey, and she slid her palm into mine, intertwining our fingers. The others followed right behind us as we walked back inside.
Lilly had her arms wrapped around Sarah, peeking around from behind her like she wasn’t sure how to take it.
“Lilly, Sarah,” I said with a smile spreading across my face. I wasn’t just proud of my family, I was proud of my pack as well. This moment was perfect. “I’d like you to meet my pack. Thisis my omega, Audrey. Then my pack mates: Ansel, Ares, Kane, Ledger, and Rydell.”
“You’re beautiful,” Lilly said as she stepped out, eyes locked on Audrey. “Your eyes are so cool.”
Audrey giggled. “And here I was thinking the same thing about you both.”
“Oh, I like her already,” Sarah said, rushing forward and crushing Audrey in a hug. My sister wasn’t shy.
My omega startled at first, not sure how to take it, but eventually wrapped her arms around Sarah and hugged her back.
When Sarah pulled away, she was wiping at tears. “Look at me, blubbering like a baby all day. I just wanted to thank you for bringing him back to me. He’s all I had, and it was so hard knowing he was stuck here and there was nothing I could do. You changed everything.”
“He changed a lot for me, too,” Audrey promised, giving me a smile that said it all.
“You’re big,” Lilly said as she moved onto Rydell, staring up at him in wonder with her head tipped back. We all started laughing but she ignored us as our biggest alpha crouched down to get as low as he could.
“I am,” he agreed.
“That’s so cool,” Lilly said. She did a little dance, something she always did when she was happy, and I was glad some things hadn’t changed. Rydell was stunned at her happiness but a crooked smile formed on his face.
“He’s our gentle giant,” Kane told her, whispering conspiratorially like it was a secret.
Lilly’s attention shifted to Kane, and she giggled, pointing to his hair. “I like your braids. Can I paint mine with rainbows, too?”
Kane’s eyebrows wrinkled as he looked at me, confused, but Audrey just chuckled and walked over, lifting the one in question and holding it in front of him to show the paint that had splattered there.
“That was not intentional. I’m a painter, and I guess I got a little carried away.”
“I love to paint,” Lilly said, lighting up yet again. “I just painted my nails, too. They match your hair.” She held up her hands, spreading her fingers wide so he could see every single color decorating the tips.
“Oh, that’s beautiful. You’ll have to paint mine next time.”
Her eyes widened. She clapped her hands. “Really?”
“Oh, absolutely,” he said. “I love a good pop of color.”
She moved on to Ledger who was next in line. The poor alpha was stunned into silence. For the man who always kept his cool, he seemed out of his depth right now. He’d mentioned he’d never been around kids, and I had a feeling my little girl was about to eat him right up.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, not holding back at all as she stepped up to face him.
“Nothing,” Ledger said with a frown.
She mimicked his expression, crossing her arms with a huff.
That seemed to break through his defenses. He shook his head and relaxed. “Can I tell you a secret?”
