Page 32 of Arranged Bullied Mate

“I love you, too,” I say, and it comes out raw and unguarded. “I always have.” I find myself smiling through tears.

He closes the final distance between us, reaching out with a trembling hand that cups the side of my face, gently brushing the wetness from my cheeks, the hint of a smile breaking through. “I never knew it could feel like this,” he says. “The truth is, after meeting Sophie, I want it all with you. I want a full house. Five, ten, a whole pack of our own.” His palm cups my jaw, steadying me; his gaze is so earnest and hungry that it turns my insides molten. “I hope you’re carrying again, Ava. I hope we’ve already started.”

“You’re sure?” I whisper, my heart stuttering. “After everything…?”

He shakes his head, a wolfish smile blooming. “Because of everything. I have never been surer of anything in my life. You, me, her”—he breaks off with a laugh—“and as many more as you can stand to give me.”

And then his mouth is on mine, gentle but full of hunger. The kiss is everything I never thought would be possible for me: love and the promise of so much more to come.

Before we can get carried away, Sophie seems to sense the change in atmosphere and begins to stir in my arms. We break apart and look down at her. Opening her eyes, she beams at me.

“Shall we get you a snack and then bed?” I whisper.

She nods, and I go to stand with her, but she turns and reaches for Ronan, arms stretched out to him. He seems surprised for a moment and freezes, looking to me for a signal for what he should do next. I give Sophie a little squeeze.

“You want Daddy?” I ask with a smile.

When she nods, my heart explodes with love as I watch her go into his arms. His face filled with happiness as he held her close, breathing in the scent of his own child. Standing here in the early hours, with the chaos of the last few days settling into dust, and the memories of betrayal feeling more and more insignificant by the second, I know I’m witnessing something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

The moment our family became a reality.

Epilogue - Ava

I listen to the now-familiar sound of Ronan and Sophie making breakfast together downstairs. After growing up with so little, having access to Ronan’s impressive and fully stocked chef’s kitchen is clearly overwhelming her in the best possible way. Their elaborate concoctions have developed over the weeks and now involve oatmeal with all the toppings and a stack of loaded pancakes.

Sophie is flourishing. Not just because of the abundance of food her body was obviously craving, but also because of the boundless love she’s received since Ronan rescued her. Everything shifted the moment her presence was revealed to the pack; perhaps because of the trauma they’d been through with Maddox, the revelation that their new alpha already had a pup and that we were a reunited family seems to have struck a sympathetic chord with many.

There were questions and whispers, but they weren’t as nasty as I feared. They were more surprised and even sad that we couldn’t have been together all along.

Ronan was true to his word, and in the weeks since the night he saved Sophie, my place in the pack has been cemented. The very next day, he took Sophie and me to meet the elders and explain the circumstances of her arrival. The elders always scared me, and I know they hated my parents. But as they listened to our story, I watched their faces soften as they were introduced to Sophie. They welcomed her to the pack and told us we were clearly fated mates—a blessing.

Their acceptance took me by surprise, but nothing prepared me for the fact that Elder Wilder said he was sorry that my parents insisted on taking my brother and me with them.Ronan’s father made provisions for us to stay as we were almost of age and had done nothing wrong, but my parents refused to even consider it.

Considering the way they treated me, I was surprised to learn they didn’t just leave me behind. Why, I’ll never know, but the knowledge that I was never actually banished has made me feel differently about my return.

I was nervous to begin with, as I showed my face more and more in town. But knowing how much Sophie deserves this life spurred me on. With Ronan and Emily by my side, it’s actually been easier than I ever could have imagined to begin building a role as luna.

Nothing has been more important than supporting Garrison’s mate, Sara. At first, I wasn’t sure how to best help her, so I relied on Emily to introduce us. Sara knew all about Maddox’s attack on me after Garrison’s death, and we bonded over the shared trauma to begin with. Now, I can confidently say that Sara has become a close friend, and with the help of the whole pack, she is beginning to process her grief.

Ronan insisted on pushing the alpha ceremony back until the next full moon to allow for Garrison’s funeral and a proper grieving period. After wanting it to be settled for so long, the way everything happened with Garrison’s death, Maddox’s challenge, and Sophie’s rescue seems to have reset Ronan’s priorities. He’s no longer in a rush for the title or worried about looking perfect; he just wants to be the best alpha he can be.

He’s been holding open meetings with the pack to hear new ideas and initiatives. Garrison had helped Sara open the coffee truck and loved being involved in the small business, so Ronan is launching a new fund in his name to support younger pack members in starting their own small businesses. Therecruits are going from strength to strength under his and his betas’ guidance, and a genuinely positive buzz is building around the pack as the weeks go on.

I pause briefly at the top of the stairs to allow the sound of Sophie’s laughter to wash over me one more time before going down to join them. The sight that greets me might be becoming more familiar now, but it never fails to take my breath away. Sophie is sitting on the counter, her party dress already on but her feet bare, swinging her legs as Ronan stands in front of her with a plate of pancakes they’re sharing. The kitchen is a complete mess, and they are both giggling.

They are a picture of happiness, and it takes my breath away. Ronan lifts his head to look at me and beams, his face full of pride. Pride over his daughter, his family, and becoming the official alpha of Starcreek today. It’s all there in his face, and I smile back, knowing the happiness I feel is written all over my face, too.

I realize it’s going to be incredibly hard to keep the secret I’m carrying today, but I want today to be all about him. Thank the goddess that Emily already knows I’m pregnant because she visited the pack doctor with me to entertain Sophie. She’s going to have Sophie tonight so that I can tell Ronan later, after the ceremony.

“Mama, try,” Sophie says, balancing a pancake on her palm and offering it with both hands. Syrup coats her fingers, and it’s a miracle the dress isn’t already covered. I break off a piece and pop it in my mouth, exaggerating my delight until her small face is incandescent with pride.

Ronan’s eyes follow the exchange, warm and almost unbearably soft. “Finish eating, and I’ll clean up this battlefield of a kitchen before the others get here,” he says, ruffling Sophie’shair as she takes another syrup-soaked bite. “You two, go get ready for the ceremony.”

“And when will you get ready?” I tease, surveying the wreckage with flour on countertops, globs of butter around the pans, and a splay of errant blueberries rolling toward the edge of the butcher block. I scoop Sophie off the counter, and she wraps her arms around my neck, giggling at being carried away from the mess.

Ronan laughs and points to his flour-covered T-shirt. “What do you mean? Do I not look ready to become alpha?”

I chuckle, walking to the sink to grab a towel, wiping the syrup from Sophie’s hands before heading to the door. “They will love you however you turn up, as do we.”