Chapter 81

Carolyn

I was getting the baby ready to go to the BBQ. He was just a couple weeks old and probably the cutest thing I'd ever laid eyes on. He had my blue eyes, but Cody's lighter colored hair and his little cleft chin. We could see his little dimples every time he'd give us his baby smiles, which Carolyn insisted was just him passing gas. She would tell me all the time, "you know Mom, babies don't really smile this young, it's gas." I would just roll my eyes at her and tell her to wait till she had some pups of her own and then we will discuss that. She would just laugh, while grabbing her brother from me. She would snuggle her baby brother and call him little Beta.

"Cody, let's go. I've got Carter all dressed and clean and ready to break hearts," I hollered from downstairs. Cody was taking his sweet time getting ready. I knew he had been working a lot and was probably just moving slow because he was tired. I picked Carter up and walked upstairs to our bedroom, only to find Cody passed out asleep on the bed in nothing but his boxer briefs. "Cody," I shook his leg to get him to wake up.

"Hmmm," he was mumbling. "Unless you are waking me up so I can make love to you, let me be." I laughed loudly and then Carter laughed too. That woke Cody up, and he bolted upright.

"Oh shit, what time is it?", he asked rubbing his eyes.

"It's only five babe, but we need to go. I don't want to be up to late, you know Carter barely lets me sleep," I started to walk out of the room, but turned back quickly. "Please don't fall back asleep." He nodded and got up to dress.

After Cody was dressed and made his way down stairs, he grabbed Carter from me, and took my hand with his free one. We walked out the door, heading for the BBQ and all of our waiting friends. I couldn't believe this was my life now. I was mated and married to this gorgeous hunk of a man, who was also kind and loving. I had my beautiful baby boy, and of course my daughter nearby, happily mated as well. After everything we had been through, I got my happily ever after.

***

Dawson

Ashlynn and I made our way down to the BBQ. I was surprised to see so many people. I really only expected the ranch hands and their families to be here, but there seemed to be a lot more. We made our way over to where the food was, making ourselves some plates and grabbing a couple of drinks. We went to sit at a picnic table to eat. Just as we sat down, Carolyn and Cody walked up with little Carter. He was the cutest baby and I couldn't help but think that one day, Ashlynn and I would have our own little pup. Hopefully soon.

"Oh hello my sweet little brother," Ashlynn was cooing at him. "Let me take him Mom so you can go get yourself some food," she didn't even wait for an answer as she peeled the little guy out of her arms, leaving no room for argument.

"Isn't he the cutest?", Ashlynn asked, turning towards me.

"He is for sure cute. Which brings me to a question," I started. "Do you want to have pups anytime soon?"

Ashlynn was bouncing Carter on her knee gently, "Of course I do babe. I want to have several. I hated being an only child. What about you?," she was looking at me with hopeful eyes.

"I will have as many as you want to babe, it's the trying part that's the funnest anyway," I winked at her and smiled. Of course she slapped my arm, and I just laughed.

"What's so funny," I heard a familiar voice ask, as I looked up to see my Mom standing before me.

"What the hell?," I hollered, jumping from my seat in surprise.

"Dawson!", my Mom scolded me. "Language."

"Sorry Mom, what are you doing here?," I was up squeezing her in a hug.

"Son quit squeezing all the air out of your mothers lungs," my Dad chuckled as he walked up to us.

"Dad?", I was so confused.

"We brought your sister with us. We heard a certain Alpha had returned. And well, Alpha Gabe called and invited us over for the BBQ. We drove in last night and stayed at the cottage. It was all we could do to keep your sister in check. We wanted to keep it a surprise. Seems Connor doesn't know she's here," Mom threw me a wink. Now it was all coming together.

"What's happening?," Ashlynn asked.

I turned to my beautiful mate with a grin, "My sister and your cousin are in love. They haven't seen each other in two years, and she's been pining for him all this time. I heard he had called her every day since he's been home, asking why she hasn't come to see him yet," I told Ashlynn.

Just then we heard a commotion on the other side of the lawn. The shrill shrieks of my one and only little sister could be heard all the way to town, I was sure. It was then that we noticed Connor had walked into the yard from around the back side of one of the barns, to be nearly tackled to the ground. He was laughing and swinging my sister around. I don't know if I'd ever seen two happier people.

I glanced over at Ashlynn, a huge smile on her face. Her eyes met mine, and I thought, no I take that back. I did know two happier people. I stared at my mate and she quietly mouthed to me, "I love you."

Cody and Carolyn had come back in that time. Little Carter was being passed around between my parents and Alpha Gabe and Luna Jenna. I grabbed Ashlynn's hand and took her out to dance on the little make shift dance floor that had been set up in front of the band. I twirled her around the floor for a few songs, and then a slow song came on. The sun had set and the twinkle lights strung around made for a beautiful scene. I bent down to whisper in Ashlynn's ear, "Let's go home and work on those pups." She giggled and grabbed me by the hand as we hurried off into the dark, kissing and touching each other as we made our way home. Goddess I loved this woman, and I loved our life.