Filed to story: The Alpha’s Pen Pal Book
I woke up with my girl in my arms, with my other girl singing the song of her people at the top of her little lungs, letting us know she was ready to start her day. I spent the morning and afternoon carrying Savvy around against my chest in her baby wrap while Taryn rested and had a spa day with Haven, Maya, and Blake. I soaked in all her gummy smiles and little coos and baby noises, only bringing her back to the house when Taryn needed to feed her.
There is no broken, emotionally damaged hybrid after my mate and wreaking havoc on our lives—the crones made sure of that. Malachi extended an offer of protection to Taryn, and she has training once a week with the royal healer to learn more about her strengths and how to wield her gift.
And now I’m standing in the garden, surrounded by my family and closest friends, holding my daughter in her poofy white lace and chiffon cupcake dress while we wait for her mom to join us for our mating ceremony.
Like I said. Everything is perfect.
“Your Grandma Stephanie planted these,” I say to my Savvy girl, pointing to the peony bushes. “You can’t see the flowers right now, but next year, they’ll bloom again, and you’ll see just how beautiful they are. And over here”—I walk to the spot where the chrysanthemums bloom, bright and eye-catching—“these are the flowers Mommy and Daddy planted for your Grandpa Terrence and Grandma Lauryn. And eventually, there will be a lemon tree, but it’s still too small to grow any fruit.”
She stares up at me, her gray eyes never once leaving my face to look at the garden. But she smiles and kicks her legs, and that’s good enough for me.
“I know it’s so exciting! We’ll be able to make fresh squeezed lemonade, and lemon meringue pie, and lemon cookies!”
She smiles bigger at me, all gums and tiny tongue, and I smile back at her, bouncing her up and down in my arms as I walk along the edge of the garden. The two months we’ve had with her, while exhausting, have been nothing short of wonderful. I never knew I wanted to be a dad until I met Taryn, until I saw our Sour Patch on that ultrasound image, but I can’t imagine my life any other way.
My mate. My daughter. A family.
“Oh no,” I say, glancing down the path as Sebastian walks towards us. “We’re trapped! Quick, maybe if we close our eyes, he’ll walk right by us.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and cover Savvy’s face with my hand.
“Hi, Reid,” Sebastian says.
I sigh and peek at him from one eye. “Hi, di—” I glance down at Savvy, then clear my throat. “I mean… hi, Seb.”
He scans my body, his brow lifting. “Are you auditioning for Miami Vice?”
I look down at my light pink linen suit jacket and pants and my white sneakers and frown. “Didn’t you wear pink to the one and only mating ball we all went to?”
“Yeah. A pink tie. Not an entire suit.”
I shrug. “My mate likes it. And I look damn good in it.”
Seb smirks. “If you say so.”
“I do say so. And Savvy agrees. Don’t you, Savvy?” She smiles at me and then at Seb, and then lets loose one of her infamous farts, her butt cheeks clapping together and vibrating against my hand.
Seb throws his head back and laughs, then takes Savannah’s hand in his and gives her a high five. “Well, on that note, I actually came over here to tell you that Taryn is waiting for you outside the garden entrance.”
My heart skips in my chest, and my eyes dart past Sebastian and towards the entrance, even though I know I won’t be able to see her from here. “Why didn’t you lead with that?”
“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give you shi… I mean crap for the suit first,” he says, shoving his hands in the pockets of his tan pants.
“You are a…” I glance down at a smiling Savvy. “A you-know-what.”
He raises his brows at me, and I mouth “dickhead” at him. He just shakes his head and laughs, then grabs me by the shoulders and turns my body towards the garden’s entrance. “Go. Get your mate and enjoy your ceremony. You deserve it.”
“Thanks,” I say, looking back at him over my shoulder.
He nods and then walks over to where Wesley stands under the peach tree, talking with him as I make my way to the entrance. I pass Haven, Blake, and Maya as they enter the garden, but I don’t stop to chat with any of them. Today is about me and my mate and our declaration of love for each other in front of our family and closest friends.
Taryn’s sweet scent hits my nose and I pick up my pace, turning the corner and exiting the garden, where I stop in my tracks, breath stolen and words failing me.
She gives me a demure smile, and my eyes scan every inch of her, memorizing the way she looks in her dress. The crocheted ivory lace is layered over thin layers of almost sheer chiffon, and the deep V of the bodice stops at the bottom of her rib cage, giving me a tease of her gorgeous breasts. The top is held by two thin straps, and as she turns around in place, looking at me over her shoulder, my eyes trace those two straps as they extend down to meet in the middle at her waistline. With her natural dark curls up in a gorgeous, full, low bun, it leaves all of her back exposed, all of it available for me to kiss, touch, and tease all night long.
She finishes her slow spin, and I close the gap between us, the gap that feels miles long but is only a handful of steps. My hand slides to the small of her back, where those two strings of fabric disguised as straps meet, and I pull her against me, moving Savvy to the side to make room so I can hold both of my girls at once.
Taryn’s arm drapes around my neck, and I sigh at the fireworks that erupt everywhere I touch her bare skin. Our foreheads rest together, and her other arm wraps around Savvy, the three of us forming a tight-knit little family unit.
“You’re so beautiful,” I say, my nose brushing against hers. “Both of you,” I add, glancing down at Savvy as she reaches her little hands for Taryn’s face.
“Hey there, Sour Patch!” Taryn says, taking her from me and cradling her against her chest.
My arms stay around her, guarding and protecting my girls. My wolf and I are both on alert and ready to defend our precious jewels. Not that we’ll need to today. But that’s our job, and we’ll always be prepared to defend what’s ours.
“Mommy missed you.” She kisses the top of Savvy’s head, then her nose, and then both of her chubby cheeks, and Savvy gives a raspberry and a laugh. “You’re as silly as your dad, you know that?”
Savvy’s eyes flick to me. “That’s right, she’s talking about me,” I say, bopping her nose with my fingertip, eliciting another of her adorable baby giggles. One of my favorite sounds in the world.
“Is everyone ready?” Taryn asks.
“Yes. They’re all waiting for us. Are you ready?”
“I am,” she says, smiling up at me. “Are you?”
My smile widens into a goofy grin that has my eyes watering and my cheeks hurting. “I’ve been ready since our blind date.”
She laughs, her eyes squeezing shut, and she covers her mouth and shakes her head. “Don’t lie.”
“Okay, okay. I’ve been ready since the day you pinned me in the gym. Better?”
She nods and reaches up to kiss me—a sweet, tiny kiss. “I love you, Beta.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?