by Ally Summers
I didn’t want to think about the possibilities. “Come on. Let’s get her back inside. Doesn’t matter what his intentions are, this is dangerous.”
Gabi agreed. We strolled to the back corner of the house where Annabelle’s father was telling her a story. She listened to him intently.
“Hi,” Gabi spoke quietly.
He stood to meet us. “I’m Colton.” He shook her hand. “I’m Annabelle’s father.”
“Annabelle?” She looked at the little cub.
I put a protective arm around Gabi’s shoulder. “I think until she’s gone we should stick with Willa. Don’t use her real name.”
“You renamed her?” Colton looked surprised.
“She wasn’t exactly speaking. We had to come up with something.”
Gabi knelt to the ground. “Sweetheart, I need to get you back in bed. Can you tell your daddy goodnight?”
Colton didn’t want to move either, but he kissed Annabelle on the cheek and pushed her into Gabi’s hands.
“Papa,” she sniffed weakly.
Gabi picked her up and cradled her. “I promise we’ll keep her safe. I’ll take care of her like she’s my own.” She smiled over her shoulder as she took the girl inside.
Something ripped at my heart. Gabi already cared for her like a mama bear.
Colton watched as they disappeared. I heard the latch click in place on the lock and turned to him.
“I don’t know what you were thinking tonight, but you could have gotten hurt. Poppy should have told you that.”
He shook his head. “She doesn’t know I’m here. I’m supposed to be out of the state. And I will be. But I had to see her. You understand that much, don’t you? She’s my flesh and blood. My child.” His eyes started to water. “Take care of her. Will you? If something happens to her tomorrow night—”
I slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Nothing is going to happen to her.” I gave him a second. “Now get the hell out of here.” I looked at him.
I entered the code on the garage and walked in through the laundry room. Gabi was singing to the cub. She looked up when I walked in the room.
“Can she sleep with us tonight?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll take the floor. We’re not letting her out of our sight.”
Twenty
Gabi
Event days were my favorite part of the job. It was when everything fell into place. All the months of planning finally came together, or at least they were supposed to.
I sipped a cup of decaf tea and scrolled through my tablet. With Boone’s help, I had nearly all my to-do items checked off the list. The festival gates opened in two hours and I needed to start posting my social media status.
I walked along the downtown streets and snapped pictures of the vendors getting ready. The food trucks were dotted at one end of the street. There was an open town square full of pumpkins and hay bales. Everyone had done an amazing job bringing everything together.
It was going to be the perfect fall festival. There was a little bit of everything. The kids had games, rides, and face painting. The older crowd had a huge selection of artistic shops and specialty foods to sample. And then the classic fall-seekers could bob for apples, carve pumpkins, and drink cider until they turned into apples.
Once the sun set, the event moved to the McScott Orchard where everyone could dance the night away in the open-air barn. I sighed. It was going to be magical.
My phone buzzed. I looked down at the text from Boone.
Miss you, baby.
I smiled.
Miss you, too.
We were going to be in separate parts of Twilight Hollow the entire day. I wouldn’t see him until the dance.
You know we have an empty house tonight.
I blushed. If only he knew what his teasing did to me. We had been relegated to locked door rooms in the house. We weren’t exactly free to be spontaneous. But as of tonight, Willa would be gone and if Boone wanted to devour me on the kitchen table he could. I shivered. I wanted that.
I tucked my phone back in my pocket as I ran into Jackie from Sweet Treats.
“Good morning.” She smiled. “The festival already looks amazing. You’ve done an incredible job.”
“Oh. Thank you. I’m glad you’re happy with it.”
“Not just me. Everyone keeps talking about it. I think they want to hire you again for next year.”
“Really?”
She stacked apple pies on a pie tower. “Do you think you can handle sleepy Twilight Hollow another year?” she asked.
I grinned. “Actually, I think that sounds perfect.”
I didn’t know how I was going to balance work and Boone, but this might be one outlet. If I could add a few more local festivals in the surrounding Virginia counties, it might be enough to keep me busy. Between that and helping him add some events at the orchard, I might be able to carve out a place for myself here.
“I’ll let the town manager know you’re interested in coming back,” Jackie offered.
“Thanks. That would be great.” I saw one of the McKierneys walking toward me. I wasn’t sure whether to run or stand my ground. They still gave me the creeps.
“Hi, Mr. McKierney.” I straightened my back.
It was silly I was nervous in the middle of the street. It wasn’t like he was going to club me and take me back to the hardware store. But he had that kind of look in his eyes, like he’d thought of that exact scenario.
He reached in his grease-stained jacket. I tensed. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to me. “Here.”
I took it from him and unfolded it. It was a check. I read the amount.
“Mr. McKierney, this is generous. Very generous.” The check was for two thousand dollars.
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “It’s for kids you said.”
I nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Then take it.” He spun on his work boots and headed back down the street.
Jackie looked at me. “What was that about?”
I shook my head. “I’m not exactly sure, but it was for the scholarship fund, so I’ll accept it.” I would ask Boone later to tell me more about the McKierneys. Maybe they weren’t so bad. I grinned. “I have to run. Good luck today.” I eyed the muffins.
“Do you want one?” she asked. She caught me peeking.
“Ok. Just one.” She handed me a hot pumpkin muffin topped with streusel and crumbled brown sugar. I could smell it before she even put it in my hand.
“Will I see you tonight?” Jacked questioned.
“Yes. I’ll be at the dance.” I took a bite of the soft muffin. My mouth exploded with the sweet pumpkin flavor. It was the best muffin I’d ever had.
“The Harvest Ball is always my favorite part of the festival. It’s one night when the men around here don’t mind dressing up a little.”
“Someone you have your eye on?” I asked.
She blushed. “Maybe. But I’ll tell you that story when you aren’t so busy.”
I smiled. “I’d like that. Ok See you later,” I muffled through a mouth full.
I had a hundred more vendors to see and at least that many more pictures to take. The wind picked up and the leaves swirled in front of me.
By the time the sun started to set, the crowds were thinning. Everyone knew there was a short lull between the festival and the dance at the orchard.
I got in my car and started to drive toward the farm. I raced into the house. I didn’t have much time before Charlene would open the barn for the band. I needed to be there to greet everyone.
I hopped in the shower and dressed. Willa was with Boone. He promised to keep her with him all day. I wanted to spend more time with her today before she left, but it wasn’t possible. I’d have to settle for a goodbye tonight at the dance before we gave her back to her mother.
I dabbed a little gloss on my lips and coated my eyelashes in mascara. I checked my reflection before running out of the house again. It seeme
d like I was running non-stop today.
By the time I reached the barn, the band had set up. I walked over and introduced myself to everyone.
“We do take requests,” the band leader added.
“Oh. That’s great. Whatever the crowd wants.” I smiled. “Just keep them dancing.”
“Oh, we will. We’ve never had a bad review.”
I turned and ran into a solid wall of muscle. “Oomph.”
“Hey, baby,” Boone growled.
I looked up into his eyes. “Hi.” All the craziness of the day faded away. The calm washed over me.
“Ready for the Harvest Ball?” he asked.
I nodded. “Are you?”
“Holden’s taking care of our last-minute arrangements. Everything is going to work out.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the tears. “Where is she?” I whispered. “I’d like to see her before her mother gets here.”
“Of course. She asked for you too.”
I followed him out of the barn and across the lawn. The crowd was starting to pour into the dance. Somewhere in that group was Willa’s mother. She had her work cut out for her in the next twenty minutes. But if everyone stuck to the plan, this would work.
We walked into another smaller barn. It was divided into four sections, like dining rooms.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“Our apple tasting barn.”
“Apple tastings? You do that?”
He laughed. “We have to make sure we have the right flavor. I have a lot to teach you about the orchard business, don’t I?”
I nodded. “But I can’t wait to learn.” It wasn’t the right time, but I wanted to tell him I’d been thinking about the orchard business today. I wanted to know the history of the farm. I wanted to know what he loved about it. What kept him here. I wanted to know everything about Boone.
He squeezed my hand. “She’s in here.” He pushed open one of the partition doors and Willa was in the corner coloring.
“Hi, there.” I walked over to her.
“Gabi,” she squealed.
I pulled her into a hug, crouching to her level. “It’s a big night tonight.”
She clung to my neck. “I scared.”
“I know you are. But Boone will always make sure you’re safe. And I promise he’s going to take extra special care of you tonight.”
I heard the music start to play. The drummer was on a roll. Jackie wasn’t kidding about the Harvest Ball being a favorite part of the festival. The tickets had sold out.
Boone placed a hand on my shoulder. “She’s here.”
“Already?” I looked up at him.
He nodded. “Holden sent me a text. The plan is in play.”
I hugged Willa to me. “Be good, sweet girl.” I kissed the top of her head.
Holden appeared in the doorway. “It’s time.”
I took a deep breath, knowing this goodbye had to happen. Holden would take Willa to the car, while another member of the plan separated Axel from Poppy with a few shots of moonshine by the campfire. By the time he realized she wasn’t somewhere on the dance floor, he’d either be too drunk to do anything, or it would be the next day. Either way. Holden would put hundreds of miles between them.
Axel would have no idea where to start searching. Poppy and Willa would be safe.
Boone reached in his pocket and handed Holden a thick brown envelope. “It’s enough cash to get her started. I hope her mate can take it from here. He’s a good man. He’ll do the right thing.”
I looked up at him. My heart was bursting for everything he had done for them.
“Go, brother,” he urged Holden. “Be careful. Take care of them.”
I stepped forward. “Holden, she means everything to me.”
He nodded. “I’ll protect her with my life for you, she-alpha.”
My jaw dropped in disbelief. Is this what it meant to have this kind of alpha power?
Boone and Holden hugged quickly and then Holden scooped up Willa and disappeared in the dark. The barn door slammed shut. They were gone.
Twenty-One
Boone
I pulled Gabi into my arms. “Are you ok?” I whispered.
She nodded. “I am.”
I saw a small smile on her face. “She deserves her mother. And her mother deserves to live without a crazy abusive husband. They are going to be together now. Because of you.”
I tilted her chin upward and kissed her soft lips. She tasted like apple cinnamon tonight.
Gabi sighed. “And if it wasn’t for that little girl, I don’t know that I would be here right now. She brought me too you and made sure I stayed.”
“Are you saying I scared you too?” I teased.
“You did have that Paul Bunyan beard. And you were walking around the orchard in your flannel like a mountain man.”
I stroked the side of my face. “Clean shaven now. And no flannel.”
“You do look rather sexy in a button-up shirt.” She grinned.
“Sexy enough to marry?” I asked.
“What?”
I pulled the ring from inside my pocket. I lowered to my knee as Gabi gasped. The diamond shimmered in the low light.
“Gabi Aprils. My she-mate. Love of my life. Will you marry me tonight? Under the autumn sky? Under the boughs of the apple trees? Will you be my wife?”
“You’re serious?”
I nodded. “Marry me.” I never thought I could be so fucking nervous about something. I’d already claimed her. Loved her. Put my cubs inside her. But this. This was out of my comfort zone.
“God, yes. I want to marry you.”
I pushed the ring over her knuckle as she collapsed into my lap. Our mouths collided in a fevered kiss. Our tongues twisted together as her breath became my breath. I could take her right here. I wanted her. Needed her. But I swore I was going to do one thing the human way, and I was certain that meant a ceremony first and the honeymoon second.
I lifted Gabi from the floor.
“Come on, I have something to show you.”
She followed me outside. The apple cart was decorated. She looked at me. “What is this?”
“Your escort to the ceremony.”
“This is really happening.”
I kissed her as she slid into the passenger side. “It’s happening, baby.”
I stepped on the pedal. We careened past the dancing guests. Charlene and Hank were dancing. We rolled beyond the bonfire where the men were successfully getting Axel drunk. We chugged up the hill, toward the pinnacle.
It had been a hell of a lot of work to ask Hank and the others to add this to the schedule today, but somehow they had squeezed it in.
As we approached the pinnacle I heard the sigh from Gabi’s lips. The orchard was strung with party lights.
“Boone,” she whispered.
I parked at the bottom of the hill and walked around the other side of the cart. I reached for Gabi’s hand and led her to the top of the pinnacle.
“There’s no one else here.” She looked around.
“Is that all right?” I asked. “It was kind of late notice. We can interrupt the Harvest Ball.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s perfect like this.”
“This is where we met. It’s my favorite place on the orchard. I couldn’t think of a better spot to marry you.”
“Me either.”
I walked around behind the tree where I first hid Annabelle out of sight. I picked up the bouquet I had made at the florist this afternoon. It was bright with autumn colors of orange, red, and gold. The roses were tipped with deep maroon and surrounded by berries. Abi wiped a tear from the corner of her eye when I handed it to her.
“They’re beautiful. It’s the most gorgeous bouquet.”
“We can do this again later,” I explained. “I’ll do whatever human tradition you need to do to make this marriage real to you. We can invite your family and Atlanta friends. Tonight, I wanted to do this wedding for you. Beca
use I love you. Because you’re carrying our cubs. Because I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that you and our children are my forever.”
She touched a finger to my lips to silence me.
“This marriage is real to me, Boone. I know I’m yours in every way. And this is beautiful. I don’t need my parents. But maybe you should meet them soon.” She giggled.
“And the orchard?” I asked. “All of this is yours. You know that, right?”
She nodded. “I’m not leaving. Ever.”
I tipped her lips to mine. “I can’t wait until after the vows.” I took her lips, kissing them like she belonged to me. Like she was my bride. And I was her groom. I kissed her until there was no doubt tonight she was going to be my wife.
Epilogue
There wasn’t a more magical night in my life than the night I married Boone. It was perfect. Sometimes when I strolled through the orchard, if I closed my eyes I swore I could transport myself to that moment on the pinnacle. It was as if the starry sky hung above us and the music from the barn still drifted through the air. I could hear Boone pledge his love to me, and I to him. I could feel his palms close around my hands as we vowed to love each other until the end of our lives. I could see the desire in his eyes. I could feel the safety and warmth radiating from his bear. That moment changed us forever.
It was hard to believe all that had happened in our first year together. I still hadn’t come down from my newlywed high. I had a feeling being Boone’s wife meant I never would. There was an intensity and passion in our marriage that was hard to explain.
We had shared an indescribable bond. I had carried his cubs and brought them into this world. I didn’t know it was possible to cherish a pregnancy the way I cherished mine. Every day his cubs grew inside me, was another day we were bonded deeper and stronger than the day before. Now we were parents. And I was his she-alpha. I was still trying to figure that one out.
I didn’t think I was qualified to lead the clan with him, but I stopped arguing with him about it. Becoming a she-alpha was something I had to ease into on my own terms.
