Page 16 of The Alpha's Autumn Baby Mama (Triple L Ranch Shifters 4)

“What? No. They were already together.”

“They had been friends for a long, long time, but I’m willing to wager they didn’t cross that line until you came into their sights.”

“I was nearby when they were together for the first time,” I admitted, cheeks burning at the memory. “But they didn’t know it.”

“Didn’t matter what they knew. You were there.” She kissed my other cheek and then gave me a gentle push away and embraced each of my mates in turn. She had something to say to each of them as well, but I couldn’t hear. She made them smile, though, and cast sneaky looks in my direction.

Once Analise had greeted us, she passed us along to the alphas who did the formalities, welcoming us to the pack and making me an instant member. I laughed and cried as much as I ever had in life, feeling at home for the first time in so many years. Since my parents and siblings all died in the wolven flu epidemic that hit our pack so bad. Something I didn’t talk about ever but would probably have to make an exception for because my mates deserved to know everything about me.

Not today though. Today was about homecoming. And friends and family and love.

Epilogue

Owen

The wettest, snowiest California winter in nearly a century descended on the Triple L Ranch right after we arrived home. My parents and Levi’s had planned to visit, but heavy snowfall and cold temperatures that kept it from melting made it difficult to get in and out of the ranch area until now. Finally, in June, it was melting slowly and soaking into the thirsty ground. The creeks and streams were rushing downhill, and a hike to the little lake showed that it was already much higher than when we were there last time.

Gardening in the High Sierras was very different from Carson Valley, but we’d get it down in time. The natives we planned to gather seeds from were running late, but we had plenty to do anyway. We’d decided against using one of our family cabins, preferring to leave those for when the families visited, and we loved the idea of building a home out of logs salvaged from some buildings a nearby settlement that was falling down. We wanted to make a home for our mate. For our family. And the whole pack helped transport the logs to our site.

Nova sat with Analise on our front porch, rocking gently and talking. There was still work to do indoors, but it was finished enough for us to live there. The great room and kitchen were close to done. The master bedroom and bath were finished. And the nursery would be ready in plenty of time.

My mom and dad strolled up the walk and waved to our mate. She stood up, her baby bump making her movements less graceful than usual. She got pregnant that first night we were all together, the midwife was sure. So, we only had a couple of months to wait to meet our baby. Everything was in motion now that the weather was warming. Mom and Dad hugged Analise and Nova in turn. They’d been on FaceTime with our mate for months, so they felt as if they knew her. Levi’s folks would be along any time, and tonight we’d have a big feast and a pack run. First one of the year. First one for our family all together.

I wanted to thank the goddess for the gift that happened that one night when we shifted while we slept. Also, the second night. It had never happened since, and Nova was convinced it was our wolves being pushy but I wasn’t so sure.

It was a mystery.

A beautiful one that would remain between us because it was also so personal. Nova and Levi and I were in love. With our families, our pack, our not-yet-born baby, and our mates. I watched Nova and Levi, who had arrived at her side, speaking with my parents, laughter drifting to me on the wind.

I remembered the day when we stood in front of the development that had gobbled up our home like so much garbage. We’d been at the lowest point of our lives, and two days later, we were mated to not only each other but also Nova. Quite a climb from the nadir to the zenith.

Levi had his arm around Nova’s shoulders, and he waved the other one to me. I strode over to join them and our alpha female and my parents. It wasn’t hard to convince me. There was nothing I liked better than spending time with the people I loved.

And who loved me back.

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