“You were meant to meet Reina and fall in love with her. To have Kiara and to become best friends with my parents. It was part of your journey. And as much as I hate to say it, Reina died when she was meant to. You had to learn how to be on your own so you would appreciate Pack Owens when you met them.” I blink away the tears threatening to fall. Fuck being an omega and dealing with these overwhelming emotions. “Because you were meant to find your happily ever after with them. But if you hadn’t met Reina, you wouldn’t have had Kiara. Without Kiara, I wouldn’t have even met Alexander, Mason, and Davis. I never would've known this love that’s so damn important to me. Honestly, without Kiara, none of us would be who we are.”
A tear slips down Akira’s cheek, but he doesn’t bother to wipe it away. “Thank you, Crew. I didn’t know I needed to hear that.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I happily return it.
“I love you, Crew, and I’m so damn happy my girl has you in her life.”
“You and me both, Akira.” I sniffle as I pull back. “Now, how about we go grab that beer and join the others?”
He grins. “Oh, yes. Let’s do that. I’m so looking forward to putting the fear of my alphas into those men again.”
“Again?” I question.
“Do you really think this is the first time we’ve had a conversation with the three of them about Kiara?” He laughs. “Now, we just get to include you in the threats.”
I snort. “Okay, this I have to see. Lead the way.”
Because there’s no way I’m missing Akira, who doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, threatening my mates. I’m going to enjoy this way more than I should.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Kiara
Another Month Later
“Before us stands five people who have decided to form a pack,” my dad says, who cannot wipe away his grin. “My baby, Kiara, is joining her life with those of Alexander, Crew, Davis, and Mason. They each have chosen to speak their own bonding words. Kiara?”
I take a deep breath at his side, smiling at each of my guys. “I love all of you. Moving back to Champagne Falls has proven to be the most life-changing event of my twenty-five years, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Crew, you’ve always been in my life. First, as a friend, and then as more. You were my first in everything, and there’s no one I’d rather spend the rest of my life with. I love you so much.
“Mason, when my dad joined your parental pack, you took me under your wing and made me feel welcome from day one. Well, all three of you did, and I was crushing on all of you so hard. I never expected that it would ever amount to anythingmore than that, but here we are. Over ten years later, and we’re becoming a pack. Mason, you’ve always been my rock, and I don’t see that ever changing. I love you.
“Davis, you’ve always been the person who can make me smile even when I’m feeling my worst. You’re one of the kindest people I know, and my life would be a darker place without you in it. I love you. Alexander, you’ve always been my safe place to land. I’ve always known that if I needed someone to talk to, you’d be there—no questions asked. I love you.” I take another deep breath. “This pack we’re creating is everything I could’ve wished for and so much more. I’ve never felt happiness like this before, and that’s because of you and the love we share. I love all of you, and I can’t wait to begin the rest of our lives.”
Dad turns to my omega. “Crew?”
“Why am I the one that has to go after her?” Laughter surrounds us as he grins. “Kiki, you know you’re my person—always have been and always will be. I just didn’t know you were going to introduce me to my scent matches. I’ve never known a day where I didn’t love you in one way or another, and I plan to continue that for the rest of our lives. Alexander, Davis, and Mason—our courtship was fast, but I never doubted that the three of you were made for Kiki and me. You’re the perfect pack for us, and I love you.”
“That’s it?” Dad scoffs, turning to Mason. “Are you going to do better than your omega?”
Mason chuckles. “Unlikely. Kiki and Crew, you were the missing part of our pack. I’ve loved Alexander and Davis probably as long as you’ve loved one another, but we knew we weren’t a complete pack. We were never sure if an omega was in our future, but imagine our surprise when the woman we all loved arrived with our scent-matched omega. It was as if fate was speaking. The last few months have been the happiest of my life, and I look forward to an even happier future. I love you all.”
Dad sighs. “Men. They just really don’t know how to voice their emotions well, do they?”
“Dad.” I dig my elbow into his side as our guests laugh. “Knock it off.”
He just grins at me before nodding to Davis. “Your turn.”
“I’m not even going to pretend that this is going to be eloquent.” He grins, eyes moving between the four of us. “I love all of you, and I can’t wait to begin the rest of our lives.”
“Yeah, that sucked.” Dad shakes his head. “Alexander?”
My final alpha grins. “Akira, there are many words that we’ve shared between the five of us, and most of them aren’t appropriate for an audience.”
“Alex!” I hiss, my face bright red.
Isn’t this supposed to be the happiest day of my life? Why are my mates and my dad determined to embarrass me?
“Oh, come on, Kiki. You love us just as much as we love you. This is what you have to look forward to for the rest of your life. I’m going to give all four of you every part of me and everything I can. You’ll never want for love or affection. I will spend the rest of life making sure you’re as happy as you can be. I love you so much.”