Page 156 of Pack Choice

Then we’re all piling into the SUV and driving downtown to the little shop on the corner River bought Molly a month ago. It was inevitable. She was a pretty awful assistant. No clue how to file and the slowest typing skills I’ve known. But the woman can most definitely bake. Besides which, she loves it. It hadn’t taken much convincing to make her believe she could do this. Especially with Harper bouncing off the walls at the idea her new mommy would be running a cookie store.

The store Molly chose was run-down with paint peeling, boarded-up windows and dirt and dust everywhere, but our omega fell in love with the quirky feel of the place and its location – right by the subway, meaning plenty of passersby. Ford quit working for Silver – not happy to guard other omegas when he wanted to be watching his own – and has been doing up the place ever since. Turns out the man is as handy with a hammer and a paintbrush as he is a gun. And I’ll be feeling happy knowing he’ll be by her side, helping out at the store and keeping her safe.

We pull up outside the shop, and both Harper and Molly let out simultaneous squeals at the bright yellow sunshine sign painted onto the gleaming windows.

“I still think we should have called this place ‘Molly’s Buns’,” River mutters.

“No,” Molly says.

“Or ‘Molly’s Sweet Treats’,” I add.

“This is why I let Harper choose the name,” Molly says, and Harper nods proudly.

“Cookie Corner.”

“I love it, lollipop,” Molly says, kissing her forehead.

“Can we go in and look?” Harper asks.

“Sure can.”

We pile out of the car and stand out on the sidewalk in front of Molly’s new store. Ford hands her the keys and she steps forward, tears glistening in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” all three of us alphas ask at once.

“Nothing,” she wipes at her nose, “I’m just so happy. I never thought I’d have all this and … I’m so lucky to have all of you.”

Harper wraps herself around Molly’s leg and rests her head against her stomach.

“I wish Mom was here to see this,” Molly whispers.

“Your mommy?” Harper asks, “Grandma Lena? The one in Heaven?”

“Yes, she’d be so happy for me if she could see all this.”

“But she can see it,” Harper says, “she’s watching you, isn’t she?”

Molly breaks out into a series of noisy sobs and I pick Harper up and rest my hand on Molly’s shoulder.

“Of course she’s watching us,” I say softly. “I think she’d be very proud of your mommy, don’t you? Of this shop she’s going to open. Of this baby she’s growing inside her. For this amazing pack, for this beautiful family she’s made.”

“Best pack ever!” Harper says.

“You bet, Lollipop,” I say, kissing Molly’s wet cheek, “best pack ever.”

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