EPILOGUE

"Do we really need to get out of bed?" Shana asked with a soft moan as she felt Asher's lips travel down the column of her spine.
"Yes. Cole, Mila and Ethan called to inform us they'll be a bit late. Mark should be here in an hour but Stella, David and Quinn should be here any moment from now, if they are not here already. They are probably busy fawning over the little attention eater," he said with mock disgust in his voice.
Shana couldn't help her giggles. "Stop pretending like you aren't the biggest fan of the attention eater. You certainly provide her more attention than everyone combined," Shana said turning her head to regard him.
"I can't help it," he said with a sheepish grin. And he swept the sheet completely off her, revealing her sweet, senseous body to his hungry gaze.
"Can we cancel the party?," she asked breathlessly as his hand coasted over her butt cheeks.
"And have Rose demand for my head? Never. We are having the party and our guests will be here anytime soon. That gives me very little time to have my way with you."
And he proceeded to have his way with her. Shana moaned helplessly as he positioned her and slide into her warm, waiting body from behind.
"God, how I love you," Asher said smokily from above her, pumping his hips rhythmically to give her the maximum pleasure.
"I love you too," she said just before her first climax hit her.
★★★★★★★★★★
"I can't believe that little munchkin is one already," Mark muttered to Asher as he watched Rose fly across the room at Mila, Cole and Ethan. They all got ready to catch her just in case she tripped.
"I can hardly believe it myself," Asher said with a light chuckle, watching as his little daughter chattered away and Mila tried to listen to her insensible, jumbled words.
Then his gaze moved on to Shana as she organized the pack children alongside Stella for games. She was his.
"I love you," he said through their bond. She turned to him and smiled, communicating the words back.
Anyone watching could see how happy and proud he was.
"I'm happy to see you this way," Mark said staring at his friend.
Asher understood what he meant and he turned to give him a startling smile. "I'm happy too. But I would be happier if you would forgive yourself," he finished as his bright smile dimmed. "Everything that happened was never your fault. You should move on and stop blaming yourself."
"I don't know Asher, I just don't. I've moved on but I'll never forget the wrong my family did to you."
"You should. You deserve to be happy."
Mark smiled sadly to himself. "Maybe I would, someday."
They were silent for a while then Asher asked, "How's she doing?"
"She's fine. Thank you for asking."
Adele was somewhere he didn't know and he didn't care about, trying to sort out her messed up life. She deserved her own second chance.
"I frigging hate that kid. Who does he think he is? Tom Cruise?," Cole muttered and grumbled as he joined them.
No one bothered to ask who the kid was.
They all knew Quinn had taken a certain fancy to Mila as soon as he met her and that had not changed even when he found out she was married to Cole.
In fact, that knowledge had motivated him to strengthen his pursuit and it soon became obvious to everyone but Cole that Quinn was only trying to get on his nerves. And he succeeded every time.
"You possessive bastard, she's heavily pregnant for goodness's sake and in no state to run off with him," Asher said testily.
"The pot calling kettle black," Mark murmured.
"I'm not possessive," Asher said defensively.
"Yeah right," Cole scoffed. "He's kissing her hand! That fucking bastard. I'll kill him," he said storming off towards his wife.
Quinn sensed his approach and took off immediately to stand beside a bewildered Armando. The whole party was not his thing, he was like a fish out of water with his grumpy look.
"Unkie Mark, con take a look at my bear," Rose said running and screaming towards him.
"Does she ever stop running?," Mark asked as the little girl jumped into his arms.
"Not since she could stand on her own," Asher said ruffling her hair.
"Con an see it. It's just over there," she told him excitedly.
"I'll leave you to your musing friend. I've a date with the beautiful lady here and her bear," he said, making Rose giggle helplessly.
"Have fun."
Asher watched his friend walk away, praying the goddess gives him a chance at happiness.
"Why are you lurking in the corner my Alpha?," Shana asked as she approached him.
"I'm just here musing and trying to take it all in. I'm so happy Shana," he said looking into her big brown eyes.
"Happy enough to risk having another lightening bolt like that?," she said looking across the room at their happy daughter.
"More than happy to have a dozen more of her," he replied readily.
"Then you are in luck. Another one should be joining us in the next seven months," she said smiling up into his dazed eyes.
"Are you sure?," Asher asked, his heart racing wildly.
"As sure as I can be."
"I love you so much and I'll never stop proving it to you as long as I live," Asher said as he caught her in his arms.
"You don't have to prove it, my love."
Then she rose on her toes and kissed him, happy and grateful for the fate that had brought them together.