Page 113 of The Denver Alpha

I can’t take my eyes off him.

The mysterious Denver alpha, now my mate, my husband. My everything.

It’s more than I ever dreamed of.

Five Years Later

“I told you we were gonna be late,” I grumble as I shift the gear into park in front of the packhouse in Norbury. It’s the territory of Chase Walker’s pack, part of the six-pack alliance. His mate Vienna recently gave birth to their first pup, hence this little summer barbecue they’re hosting as an excuse to show him off.

Juliet turns to me and grins smugly. “Worth it.”

I rake my gaze down her body, appreciatively drinking in every bare inch of tan skin on show in her little white sundress. Just a few hours ago, I had my hands all over that body, my tongue licking a path between her breasts while she sank down onto my cock and rode me like a rodeo queen. I bite back a groan at the memory.

“Worth it,” I agree, the heat in her gaze matching my own when I blaze a trail back up to her eyes.

And I mean it, even though I despise being late. Then again, history has proven that it’s sometimes a good thing. Take the night of our wedding, for instance…

Juliet told meshewas. Eight months later, our first son was born.

“Come on, boys,” Juliet sighs, unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing out of the SUV. We had to upgrade since having children, but we’ve still got the Camaro for joy rides.

I get out on my side, opening the back door and sharing a glance with Juliet across the back seat where our sons are squirming against the buckles of their booster seats, raring to go. Parenting is stressful. Hectic. But damnit if it isn’t worth it.

“Is Sloane here?” our oldest boy, Hayes asks as I unstrap him and help him out of the car.

“She is,” I confirm, setting him down on his feet. “And Tristan and Lo and Iver…”

“Baby Harper?” JJ, our other son- short for Jude Jaxon- asks as Juliet leads him around to our side of the SUV.

“Baby Harper, too,” I chuckle.

“And your Auntie Astrid and Aunt Quinn, and Uncle Brock and Uncle Jax,” Juliet adds, keeping ahold of JJ’s hand as we lead the boys onto the packhouse lawn, heading around back.

As soon as we round the side of the house and the backyard comes into view, Hayes takes off in a dead sprint, JJ tugging against Juliet’s hand in an effort to break free and join him. She holds strong for all of three seconds before she lets him go, always a softie when it comes to our children.

“Hey, slow down!” I call after them, but my voice just carries away on the breeze, neither of the boys paying me any mind.

“Uncle Cole!” I see a mess of bouncing curly hair coming my way, moments before a small body crashes into my leg, a cute little giggle rising to meet my ears. I laugh as I stoop down to pick up my niece- Brock and Astrid’s daughter, Sloane. “Hey, wild one,” I croon, sliding her over to balance on my hip.

“Uncle Cole!” comes a second scream of excitement, and I look over to see a flash of blonde hair belonging to Lo, Jax and Quinn’s daughter, as she streams across the yard toward me. I stoop before she crashes into me like Sloane did, scooping her up into my other arm and balancing her on my opposite hip.

Juliet laughs as she steps over and reaches up with both hands to ruffle their hair. “How are my favorite girls?” she asks, beaming a smile.

“Good, we’ve been playing tag,” Lo says as I start to carry my nieces across the yard toward the picnic tables.

“Madd’s it,” Sloane chimes in, grinning mischievously. “He can never catch me.”

“I’m sure your dad would prefer to keep it that way,” I remark, sliding a glance in Brock’s direction as we approach the picnic table where he’s seated beside Astrid. Our boys have slid in on either side of her, helping themselves to Astrid’s plate of food.

“Hayes, JJ!” Juliet scolds.

“They’re fine,” Astrid laughs, waving her off. “I can always get more, isn’t that right boys?” She slides an arm around each of their shoulders, pressing a kiss to JJ’s temple first, then Hayes’.

“About time you two showed up,” Jax teases as he approaches us with two beers in hand. He offers one to me and I nod, lowering Sloane and Lo to their feet. As soon as they’re standing, they take off, weaving between the picnic tables to dodge Gray and Fallon’s son Maddox, resuming their game of tag.

“You know how it is,” I sigh, taking the beer from Jax gratefully. “Getting kids loaded up and ready to go is chaotic.”

Jax gives me an exhausted look like he knows exactly what I mean, clinking the top of his beer bottle with mine and taking a swig. “I don’t know how you two manage it all,” he mutters after he swallows it down. “A pack that size, the kids, Jules going to med school…”

---