Page 55 of A Promise of Forever (The Vallaverse #3)

A Month Later

Sterling

It's been a month since we officially registered our bond at the courthouse, and I'm sitting in the living room, caressing my belly that's just starting to show a small bump. The baby is growing quickly and I'm already at the point where I can feel small flutters of movement.

Astra is sitting beside me, staring at the small velvet box in his hands with obvious excitement. Inside is a sleek black ring with one diamond set into the middle, custom-designed specifically for Forrest. I've been planning this for weeks, working with Astra and Koa to get every detail perfect.

"It's so gorgeous," Astra gushes, reaching out to trace the box with one finger. "It came out even better than I thought it would. Forrest is going to lose his mind when you give it to him."

I laugh nervously, my stomach doing flips that have nothing to do with the baby. "You really think he'll like it? It's not too much?"

"Sterling, the man let you build a nest under his desk before he even claimed you," Astra says with affectionate exasperation. "Trust me, he's going to love that you're asking him to marry you officially."

I've been enjoying my life over the past month, finding unexpected pleasure in helping set up the house for Caelan and his pack to move in.

They're taking over the entire east wing on the main floor, which hasn’t been used in almost a decade.

The last several weeks have been full of making everything perfect and setting it up to what I thought would bring back the life it used to have.

I find that I genuinely enjoy the menial tasks of organizing spaces and working with the staff on household items.

There were some growing pains at first. I wasn't sure how to interact with the household staff, worried they'd resent me for suddenly having authority over them.

But Marcus started working with me directly, teaching me how to manage a household this size.

He told me I reminded him of Forrest's Omega father, who also enjoyed taking care of the house while maintaining private time with his Valla.

The comparison made me emotional in ways I didn't expect. The idea that I'm following in the footsteps of someone Forrest loved and respected feels like validation that I belong here.

I twist around at the knock at the door, reminding myself of the importance of this evening.

Astra and Koa were adamant about throwing me a baby shower, even though I have everything I need in life.

I think it was just an excuse to spend time here in this space, which I’m all for.

However, the moment Astra showed up, he’s been making fun of me for becoming a "stay-at-home daddy," but it's said with so much affection that I can't even pretend to be offended.

Especially when his smile keeps getting bigger every time one of the maids asks me for clarification or permission before they continue working in the east wing.

Bryn opens the front door and the St. Clairs step inside, their presence immediately filling the space with additional warm energy. I officially met them once before at a dinner a few weeks ago, and they've become important friends to both Forrest and me.

Their Omega, Koa, is nearly ten years older than Astra and I, but she's absolutely adorable in ways that make her age irrelevant.

The way she makes her powerful Valla and Alpha mates melt with just a look immediately made her a friend in my book.

She understands what it's like to be an Omega in a non-traditional pack structure, and her advice has been invaluable.

Koa comes to sit on the other side of me, settling in as she folds her legs beneath her. "You're finally going to do it?" she asks with a knowing smile, nodding toward the velvet box Astra is still clutching.

Before I can answer, boisterous laughter erupts from the kitchen.

All of us turn around to look at our mates gathered there, discussing what sounds like business but with an ease that speaks to growing friendship.

Forrest, Caelan, Bryn, Moses, Hunter, and Ames are all clustered around the island, gesturing animatedly about something.

I turn up my nose at them playfully, and they all glance over, seemingly aware their Omegas are staring. Their gazes soften when they see us watching them, territorial affection clear in every expression.

"Don't they all look fucking adorable?" Hunter asks, his voice carrying just enough to reach us.

Koa throws him a middle finger as she sticks her lips out in a playful pout. "I'm in my mid-thirties, you assholes. I'm not adorable, I'm distinguished."

Moses snorts with obvious affection. "And yet you're still my adorable Omega. Distinguished and adorable aren't mutually exclusive."

Koa throws her hands up in mock defeat, but there’s a genuine smile playing on her lips. The playful banter between them reminds me of what I have with Forrest, the way we've learned to tease each other while still maintaining deep respect.

I twist back around to face Astra and Koa as Astra closes the velvet box and hands it back to me. "When are you going to do it? The suspense is killing me."

"I was waiting for Koa to get here," I admit, running my thumb over the soft velvet.

"I wouldn't be sitting here if it weren't for both of your packs helping us.

You saved me from Wilson, helped Forrest track him down, supported us through everything.

It only felt right that you both be here when I do this. "

Astra's expression softens with emotion. "Well, dinner is in thirty minutes, according to Marcus. Do you need us to set the mood? We could dim the lights, put on some romantic music, make it all dramatic?"

"Don't be weird," I say quickly, anxiety spiking in my chest. "I'm already freaking out enough as it is. If I start breathing weird or my scent goes off, Forrest is going to come over here immediately."

As if summoned by my words, Forrest's voice calls from the kitchen. "Little dove, are you okay?"

Astra and Koa burst out laughing at my expense, and I groan while pushing to my feet.

"I'm fine! All good over here!" I stuff the box behind my back, eyes growing wide as Forrest moves closer, unable to resist checking on me physically.

He appears at my side within seconds, his hand immediately going to my small baby bump in that unconscious way he's developed.

I sigh, but I'm not actually annoyed. This is one of my favorite parts of being Forrest's mate.

He's always there, always touching and caressing and checking that I'm okay.

It makes me feel cherished in ways I never experienced before.

He presses a sweet kiss to my forehead, and I melt into his chest. "I'm fine," I assure him more gently.

"I just wanted to wait until everyone got here to say something. "

Forrest's eyebrows raise with curiosity. "Oh? What's the occasion beyond the baby shower?"

"Can you gather everyone in the living area?" I ask, my heart starting to pound harder. "I want to talk to all of you."

Forrest nods and calls out to the group in the kitchen. Within moments, everyone is settling into the living area, claiming chairs and couches, Astra and Koa strategically positioned where they can see everyone.

I stand in the center, my hand resting protectively over my belly while the other clutches the velvet box behind my back. "I wanted to thank all of you for helping me get here," I start, my voice wobbling a little. "For helping Forrest, for bringing me out of that nightmare I was trapped in."

I look around at each face, making eye contact and letting them see my genuine gratitude. "You all made me hope again after years of having that beaten out of me. You helped me believe in trust, learn what real love looks like. You gave me a home and a family."

I look up at Forrest, who's watching me with such love and pride that it makes my chest hurt.

He reaches for my hand and pulls it to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles.

I grin at him, tears clouding my vision as I tighten my hand around the box.

"I've been looking for the right name for our baby for weeks," I continue, my voice breaking slightly.

"Nothing seemed good enough, nothing captured what this child means to me.

And after finding out that I'm having a girl.

.." I pause to breathe through the emotion. "Well, I chose Anneth. It means home."

Everyone makes soft sounds of appreciation, and I can see Koa wiping at her eyes while Astra is grinning so wide his face must hurt.

"Because this is my home now," I explain, looking around at everyone gathered here.

"Not just this house or this city, but all of you.

The family we've built together. And Valla.

.." I turn my full attention to Forrest. "You're my home too.

You gave me safety and love and choices.

You let me be myself without trying to change me or break me down. "

Forrest's eyes are suspiciously shiny, his emotions flooding through the bond so intensely that I can barely separate his feelings from my own.

"The only thing I wish," I continue, pulling the velvet box from behind my back, "is that I could claim you the way you claimed me. That I could give you a permanent mark showing the world you're mine."

"You already have all of me," Forrest says, his voice rough with emotion. "Every part of me belongs to you, little dove."

"I know," I agree, flipping open the velvet box to reveal the black ring inside. "But I'm hoping I can have one more thing."

Forrest's breath catches as he sees the ring, understanding dawning across his features. "Anything," he says immediately. "Name it and it's yours."

My hands are shaking as I look up at him, love and hope and terror all mixing together. "I'm hoping you'll marry me. I want the world to know you're my Valla, that you chose me and I chose you. Will you marry me, Forrest?"

Forrest's grin is so wide it looks like it might split his face.

He cups both of my cheeks in his hands and pulls me into a deep kiss that makes my toes curl and my whole body heat.

When he finally pulls back, we're both breathing hard.

"I would love nothing better," Forrest says firmly, his voice carrying to everyone in the room. "Yes. A thousand times, yes."

I slide the ring onto his finger with trembling hands, glad that it fits.

"Astra helped design it," I explain, admiring how it looks on his hand.

"And Koa helped coordinate with the jeweler to make sure it was exactly right.

" I still don’t leave the house much, so I needed a lot more help than I would have otherwise.

Forrest pulls me into another kiss, this one deeper and more possessive. His hands slide down to my hips, pulling me closer despite my belly between us. I can feel his desire through the bond, matching my own need building.

That's when I feel someone tugging on the back of my shirt.

I break away from Forrest to find Astra standing there with an expression of fond exasperation.

"Hey, I love you like a brother or cousin or something—I don't actually know how this pack structure works yet," Astra says with a grin.

"But fuck, can we at least eat first and do presents before you two go celebrate? "

I blush furiously as everyone starts laughing. The knowing looks from the others suggest they all remember the early days of bonding when they couldn't keep their hands off each other either.

"You said there's like thirty minutes before dinner," I point out, glancing hopefully at Forrest. "Maybe we could just..."

Astra snorts with delight. "Damn, you're becoming more like me every day. I love it."

More laughter fills the living room as Forrest hugs me to his chest, and I relish how far I've come from that terrified Omega hiding under a desk.

I have a family now, a home, a future growing inside me.

I reach down to touch my belly, feeling the small flutter of Anneth moving.

She's going to grow up surrounded by love and protection, never knowing the fear and pain that defined my early life.

That knowledge fills me with more peace than I ever thought possible.

"We can wait until after dinner," Forrest murmurs against my hair, though I can feel his reluctance through the bond. "But after presents, you're mine for the rest of the night."

"Promise?" I ask, grinning up at him.

"Always, little dove. Always."