Page 24

EPILOGUE

WILDER

It was officially the first day of high season, and that meant the first of our summer people would be here soon. I loved the sound of that: Summer People. They were our guests that made this place so much more than a business. They made it our home.

One of my favorite things that had happened since we reopened the resort a decade ago was the number of families who decided to come for a month or two—some of them all summer—with their families. They still had their city lives but used this time and Cougar Lake to also embrace their shifter selves. Some were grandparents with their grandkids, with the working parents coming on the weekend, some were whole families who had the time off, and there were a growing number of people who used the shared office space we’d built about five years ago, to work remotely and still have the experience.

We still didn’t have as many cougars as once thrived here, but we had wolves, bears, koalas, raccoons, foxes—you name a shifter, we had them. On a business level, it had us thriving. On a personal level, it was like having a big summer camp for our four kids, and that was the biggest success of all.

At first we worried about what to do if a human booked for the season, but so far, that hadn’t been an issue. Probably because the place booked the day we opened reservations, and we no longer advertised at all, allowing shifter word of mouth to do it for us.

It started with Frank the year our son was born. Who would’ve thought my cousin’s friend being suckered into a weekend of painting would turn into our resort growing into all it was today.

That first season he’d stayed for a month, determined to find his mate and convinced this would be the place that would happen. But Frank being Frank, he always went back on the weekends. He liked his clubs and social life there. But by the third week, he brought that social life with him, and they had a great time.

Word got out. Their friends, cousins, brothers started to come too, and now the entire summer was filled with all different generations of shifters enjoying the lake, the woods, the peaceful quiet that came from a place like this.

Frank did find his mate here, two years later; one of Gertrude’s grandsons, and they had the most adorable triplets. He wasn’t the only one who found their mates here. Peter and Paul both did as well. Paul now had two cubs, and Peter, six pups. Not to mention all the other guests who left here mated. Cougar Lake had become mate-matching central.

I pulled the shade down slightly, the sun causing a glare when Thorn came into the lobby, holding our youngest, Kenson. He was three and sitting on my mate’s hip, tears streaking his face.

“He fell and needed you.” Thorn’s voice told me there were no injuries, just a scared preschooler.

I reached over and held my arms out for him. “What’s going on?”

Kenson practically leaped into my embrace and rubbed his snotty nose against my shirt.

Ten years ago, when we first opened this place and I was still waiting for our son to be born, I never would’ve thought that having snot rubbed on my face and shirt would be an honor. But it was. It meant he trusted me completely.

“I fell.” He sniffled.

“Well, that stinks. Why don’t you show me where it hurts?”

He showed me his knee. I gave it the magical father kiss, and off he went to play with the blocks we kept in the corner here.

“We ready for today?” Thorn asked.

“I think we’re ready.”

His eyes went wide, as if I’d just told him none of the beds had been made and none of the trash taken out.

“I meant yes. We’re ready. We’re more than ready.” I had checked everything a thousand times, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to do it one more time. “Where are the rest of the kids?”

“Dylan Brett, Willa, and Bryant are outside waiting for their cousins.” They weren’t all really cousins. There were my cousin’s kids, but also Frank’s and Peter’s kids. They grew up like cousins, spending the summer together, and the title worked.

I loved this for them. They might not be part of a pack, but they had their own equivalent, minus the political bullshit.

The door opened and Wilder bolted, managing to catch our youngest just as they were about to head out without letting us know. Each of our kids had their own personalities, and Kenson’s included being an explorer. It would serve him well in the future, but it had the ability to age his dad and me.

“We’ll see you in a bit,” Wilder called over his shoulder.

I stayed and made sure everything was ready for check-ins and waited for Sally, our desk clerk, to come in before heading outside. Sally was a goose shifter and college student who had family locally. She was the perfect fit for this place.

We’d gotten to the point where we had some regular staff now, as well as summer staff. They helped with cleaning and customer service or odd jobs we needed done. It was nice to have them. It allowed us to enjoy our life here without it being all work all the time.

My cousin had just pulled up as I left Sally to her duties. His kids tumbled—because shifter kittens—out of the car, bouncing up and down, telling their cousins about all the goodies they’d brought, everything from bubbles to kites to fishing poles.

The kites were not a good idea with all the trees, but they’d learn that soon enough.

We helped them get settled in, and once everyone else arrived, it was time for our Opening Night Picnic at the lake. We were always open, but this was the official grand start of high season.

Thorn had it catered by the local diner. It was much easier to have sandwiches and salads brought in than to try making it ourselves, especially with the chaos of check-in day. It was a great decision, allowing us to relax and enjoy the celebration.

The kids were laughing, running around, and enjoying the water. Many of the adults joined in on their fun, while some lounged on shore in both their shifter and human forms. It epitomized everything this place should be.

I stood behind my mate, my arms wrapped around him, hands resting on his belly where our newest little one was growing. I rested my chin on his shoulder.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since you strolled in here and changed my world.”

“You changed mine, too.” He leaned back into me, letting me bear his weight. “Do you think my uncle would approve?”

“No… I think your uncle would have more than approved. He’s probably chilling with the goddess, looking down at this place with a huge smile on his face.” I kissed his neck. “Cougar Lake is now a safe place for shifters to spend quality time again—and I can’t think of a better place to raise our children.”

“Speaking of…” He turned in my arms and wrapped his around my neck. “Saw the midwife today. Got a surprise for you.”

“What’s that?” I didn’t like the sound of a surprise from the midwife, but my mate was beaming.

“What do you think of twins?”

I stared, and he mouthed the word again.

“You’re having twins?! Two babies? Two?” That was double the diapers, double the mess, double the everything, including love.

“What do you think?” He was nervous, and I felt bad I hadn’t led with my joy.

“I think that’s the most amazing news I’ve ever heard.” I kissed him and began to deepen it when a blood-curdling scream came from the water.

I didn’t even have to look to know why.

My mate turned his head and belted out, “Frank, you gotta warn people!”

Laughter filled the air as Frank shifted back into his skin in the water and offered an apologetic wave.

“Maybe we should put a sign up: Koala on the beach = cute. Koala in the water = terrifying. Don’t worry, he’s harmless.” I was kidding about the sign, mostly.

“For real.” Thorn gave me a peck and then stood at my side, taking my hand in his. “Let’s go join the fun.”

* * *

Sometimes the wrong number is the exact one you need.

Most people think that being next in line for den Alpha equals me having my shit together. I categorically do not. It’s more than being a leader. I also need to keep our den business going and I’m flailing hard and I’m only in charge of only one division. How am I supposed to handle them all?

I have two years to figure this out or step down and let my brother take the reins and his idea of leadership is to bleed anyone who disagrees with him. My den needs me to be the alpha they deserve and I hire a shifter who runs a business consulting firm to be my shadow.

Only problem is, a website error has me actually hiring his co-worker instead, one who has no idea shifters exist, knows how to wear a suit in the most distracting way, and has me forgetting this is strictly business. Oops.

Wrong Number, Right Fox is a sweet with knotty heat MM Mpreg romance featuring an alpha fox trying to step up for his den, the omega human consultant who finds himself in a world he didn’t know existed and paired with a man who has him wanting to do very unprofessional activities in the office, the wrong number that brings the two together, true love, fated mates, an adorable baby, and a happy ever after. If you love your alphas hot, your omegas strong, and your mpreg with heart, order your copy today.