Page 111 of The Denver Alpha

Jade blushes fiercely as she steps toward Cole and allows him to sweep her up in an embrace. She’s fifteen and completely boy crazy, always tongue-tied and adorably bashful around my handsome mate.

“Congratulations,” she mumbles, still blushing when Cole lets her go and I cut in to steal a hug of my own from my little sister.

“How was the drive in?” I ask, brushing Jade’s blonde hair behind her ears with my fingertips affectionately.

“Good. I’m excited to see the packhouse tomorrow.” She beams a smile. “You think Mom and Dad will let me move here to go to Denver U like you?”

I open my mouth to answer, but my dad beats me to it, he and my mom stepping up behind my sisters as if on cue.

“We’ll talk about that in a few years,” he chuckles, ruffling Jade’s hair. “Let’s get you through high school first, kiddo.”

Jade frowns, smoothing her hair and rolling her eyes exaggeratedly. She’s all sass, and I see so much of myself in her that I can’t help but giggle.

“Damian, Lyla,” Cole greets my parents, tipping his head to each of them respectfully.

“There’s my handsome son-in-law,” Mom grins, pushing past Jenna and Jade to throw her arms around Cole’s neck. Then she pulls back, taking Cole’s face in both hands. “Jules hasn’t been giving you too much trouble, has she?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” he murmurs, tossing me a wink.

My dad steps in to give Cole a firm handshake, the two of them exchanging pleasantries while Mom slides over to me, pulling me in for a hug. “You look so beautiful, sweetie,” she whispers. Her eyes glisten with tears as she releases me, grabbing onto my hands and giving them a little squeeze. “And most importantly, you lookhappy.”

“I am,” I assure her, returning her squeeze with one of my own.

I mean it, too. These past months, being Cole’s mate, his partner in every way… I’ve never known true joy like this. Sure, we still bicker, still drive one another crazy, but that’s our love language. Not to mention the fact that when we’ve thoroughly pissed each other off, the sex is off the charts hot.

Cole slides his gaze to me, eyes ablaze, like he knows what I’m thinking about. I just bat my lashes innocently, a smirk curling the corner of my mouth.

Jax and Quinn approach us, and while my brother greets Cole with a fist-bump and a bro-hug, Quinn comes up beside me, sliding an arm around my shoulders and smiling at my mom. “Mind if we steal these two away?” she asks.

“Go on,” Mom laughs, giving my hands one more squeeze before she lets them go. “I was about to talk your dad into hitting the dance floor, anyways.”

“As if you’d have to talk me into that,” Dad chuckles. He bends an elbow, offering his arm to my mom. “Shall we, my love?”

She slides her hands into the crook of his arm, gazing up at him lovingly. “Lead the way.”

I smile as I watch the two of them walk off, turning as Quinn steers me toward the bar with her arm still around my shoulders. Cole and Jax fall into step behind us and she leads the way around to the other side of the bar, where the other six-pack alphas and lunas are waiting for us.

“There they are!” Astrid exclaims, hopping down off her barstool and practically tackling Cole with a hug. “Congrats, big bro!”

“Hey, take it easy,” Brock grumbles, stepping over to stand at Astrid’s back protectively.

She just waves him off with a giggle, turning to me with her arms outstretched, throwing her body weight behind her embrace. “I’ve always wanted a sister,” Astrid breathes, squeezing me so tight that I can hardly breathe. For a little thing, she sure is strong.

“Well now it’s official,” I say once she releases me, holding up my left hand and wiggling my ring finger.

She grabs for my hand, eyes glittering as she takes in the sparkly new wedding band on my finger. “Ooh, Coley, you didgood,” Astrid smiles, looking up at her brother approvingly.

“Damn right I did,” Cole growls, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me back against his chest, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Only the best for my mate.”

“Yourwife,” I say, craning my neck to look up at him.

“My Luna,” he adds, leaning down to press his forehead to mine. “My everything.”

“Ugh, you guys are so cute,” Brooke sighs from her perch on Theo’s lap.

“You want me to make you my wife as well as my Luna?” Theo asks, hooking his chin over Brooke’s shoulder and gazing at her intently. “Cause I’ll marry the shit outta you, Brooke Eastwick. Just say the word.”

Brooke laughs, elbowing Theo in the ribs as her twin sister, Fallon, rolls her eyes from her place at the bar beside them, leaning back into her mate, Gray. He places a hand over her belly protectively- which has grown considerably since the last time I saw her.

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