She stepped aside and waved up Hunter who had a bright smile on his face. He held out a hand toward the kids.
“We are honored to be here and my Junior Deputies have a little something to say too,” he revealed with a glance at them.
“Happy Fall Festival!” They all screamed, clicking on their battery operated lights. The cheers rang out as the kids filled the pumpkins with their lights. Autumn ushered them away as Hunter lit the large pumpkin, a real candle inside of it.
“Let the festivities commence,” Janet called out, dismissing everyone. The kids ran toward their families and I felt my chest warm at the sight of Hunter putting his arm around Autumn.
Seeing my pack truly come together was everything I’d hoped for and more. We’d always been strong. Two alphas who worked well together and a beta who was our balance. Sure, we’d let life and complications get in the way, but when Autumn came into our lives we realized just how far we’d fallen from what we wanted to be, and we were able to get back to who we were at the core, a pack through and through. Now, with one extra member, the missing piece to our puzzle.
In my heart I knew that this Fall Festival would always be my favorite. This was the one where we found our pack finally falling completely together and I didn’t think I could ever be happier than I was in this moment.
Chapter29
Autumn
As much as I loved everyone’s excitement for the new community center partnership out at the orchard, I couldn’t think about anything except dragging my pack home and claiming them as mine in every way possible.
I’d already done so in front of everyone in Holiday Hollow but it wasn’t enough.
After I’d run off the stage and into the guys’ arms, the crowd had converged, offering congratulations and raving about Cedarwick’s and how proud my grandparents would be of me. Having a place where kids could learn about local agriculture and how business worked would be a great opportunity. The small patch of land I planned for the community garden would be beneficial as well.
I’d been watching Hunter when I mentioned the junior deputies and I knew how much that meant to him as well. Getting to help with the pumpkin lighting ceremony was just the icing on the cake. Ever since that night at the bar, when Hunter finally decided to stop holding back, he’d been no holds barred, the last final piece of the puzzle clicking in seamlessly and creating the best picture of my life.
“Alright ladies, why don’t you come with me over to Claire’s booth?” Riley spoke up, gesturing to the crowd who’d gathered as he laid on his charm. “She can tell you about all the goodies her and Autumn have been cooking up and have plans for.”
I shot Riley a grateful look to which he just threw me a knowing wink, leading the crowd away from me and my pack.
“Let’s go home,” I said, linking my hands through Jack and Boone’s as I looked at Hunter.
He tipped his hat to me in acknowledgment before he turned and led us through the crowds and back to the car. He’d been dressed in his uniform for the festival, and I couldn’t help but admire the view of his firm ass. Maybe I’d place my mark right there.
“I know you love my ass sweetheart, but maybe try to think of something else so we all make it home safely,” Hunter said, looking over his shoulder with a knowing smirk.
“Did I speak my thoughts aloud again?”
The grin on his face got wider as he held the door to Jack’s truck open for me, hoisting me up before leaning closer into me.
“No, but you will soon enough,” he said. “Drive safe you three.”
As Hunter made his way to his patrol car, I couldn’t help but sigh. “Would it be an abuse of power if he turned on the lights and we followed him so we could get home quicker?”
“He’d do it for you in a heartbeat,” Jack said, climbing in next to me.
It was all I could do to not go ahead and jump the two of them on the ride home. My heat had only ended a couple of days ago, but the desperation in which I wanted them almost seemed as great. Only now, my head was clear, and my heart was full.
There was only one way this was ending, and that was with their bites on my skin and our bond fully in place.
The tension was palpable as we pulled into the farm, the cruiser already parked. Hunter leaned against the side, his arms crossed against his chest looking every inch of the alpha he was.
“Nest, now. You’ve got a ten second head start and then you’re ours.”
A thrill shot through me at his words, my feet already sprinting to the porch and up the steps. I’d just reached the banister of the stairs when I heard them start to follow and I urged myself faster, desperate to win a race I knew I was destined to lose.
They were on me as soon as I made it to the landing, arms swooping under my legs as Boone pulled me to his chest, his warm woodsy scent flaring around us. They didn’t stop or pause until we made it to the nest.
“I love you, baby girl,” Boone said, his chest rumbling out a pleased purr.
“I love you too, bear.”