*Clears throat* The end has come. The last chapter for Will. But don't worry, we'll be seeing him and Hunter in Jules's story. I'm not sure how you guys will take this chapter, but oh well. I love how this story ends. Now for Jules and Bray, I don't know when I'll start them. I really want to work on The Choosing for those of you who are anxiously waiting for an update. I apparently am not good at working two stories at once so I won't try that again. Omg, I love you guys so much. You really inspire me to keep going. So thank you!

*Disclaimer*

Please Enjoy!

Several Months Later…May

JulesPOV

Even at my brother's graduation, Brayden was still pissed off. We still hung out, held hands, and made out, but the anger was still there. We just couldn't keep our hands off each other. If we'd been having sex, it would have been angry. Even Will had talked to him. But Brayden was stubborn. He didn't like that I'd put myself into the fray, especially since he couldn't watch over me. Whatever it was, I decided to let go of it.

We were sitting in the auditorium at school. Will and Hunter had just walked across the stage to the cheers of family and the pack. The ceremony was done and now we were just waiting for the crowd to thin.

Standing up, I tugged on Bray's hand.

He frowned up at me.

I jerked my head. "Come on, take a walk with me?"

Sighing, he got up. No doubt he was thinking that we'd be fighting again. But I was tired of the fight. I wanted my boyfriend to smile again.

Dad gave us a suspicious look as we walked away. I waved at him.

I pushed us through the crowd until I got to the side door. The air was crisp and cool against my now super-hot skin.

"So, what's up?" he asked.

I hated that distance in his tone. Turning, I wrapped myself around him. "I'm sorry," I said as he wrapped his arms around me automatically.

"For what?"

"You were right, okay? I'd just phased. It was probably a better idea that I stayed home that night." I could feel his body still with surprise. Leaning back, I looked up at him. "I was just so angry that night that something was happening to Hunter. She's one of my best friends now, and she deserves better than what she's had. I was so pissed that life wasn't giving her a break. She almost died in my brother's arms. None of that was fair to her or him. And I had to be there for Will. But I'm sorry for fighting. It's stupid and I want to stop. Please."

For a long moment, his green eyes studied my face while a hand came up to brush the hair from my eyes. "I'm not angry that you wanted to protect your friend or even that you didn't listen to me. It's not my place to boss you around. This is an equal-standing relationship. What I'm angry about is that you didn't even stop to think about what you were running into. You were on your own. That terrified me, Jules. You didn't wait for anybody else even after you could see that I was busy taking down the bad guys. You just barged in on your own. I love you more than anything on this planet. If I lost you-,"

I put my fingers to his lips. "I know. I imprinted, too, remember? I love you, too. That's why I barged in. The fear in my gut was choking me not just for Hunter, but for you, too. I had to be there in case you needed me. I'm going to be co-alpha with my brothers. And there might be several situations that I'll have to run into on my own. It's part of the job. Do you not know how terrified I was every time you went off to patrol alone? Let's just leave this here, okay? Please. I hate us being like this."

His thumb rubbed over my bottom lip. The hand on my waist moved under my shirt so that we were skin on skin. I fought not to shiver and sigh. "Alright. It's done. It happened. I don't like that it might happen again, but I guess we can talk about that later. For now, you get me as a guard."

I grinned. "I think I can live with that?"

He pulled me closer. "Really? You think you can?"

Laughing against his mouth, I gripped his shoulders. "Yeah."

And then he tickled me. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear that," he laughed.

Thrashing in his arms, I shrieked out some laughter. "Stop!"

After a couple moments, he stopped, wrapping me up in a bear hug and kissing the top of my head. "Okay, okay. Party-pooper."

"Loser," I said from under his arm.

"Your loser," he said, lips at my temple.

The grin almost broke my face.

Together, we headed back inside toward our group.

Piper rolled her eyes at us.

"Jealous," Bray told her.

She sneered. "Hardly."

While they bickered, I frowned as I noticed a shadow across the space of the room. Jason. He was standing in the shadows, watching Piper. Did she know he was here? What was it with him?

His deep blue eyes moved to me.

My eyes widened as I looked between him and her, connecting the dots. On my last look at him, he shook his head minutely.

"Jules?" Bray shook me a little.

"Hmm?"

"You alright?"

"Yeah," I said quickly. "Yeah, just zoning out a little."

I looked up at Dad and then in Jason's direction. He nodded, letting me know he saw it. But there was no more discussion. Will and Hunter came out from behind the stage wearing their gowns. Will had taken off the cap and was shaking his hair out over his eyes.

Mom was crying and taking pictures. The whole family had come out. Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose fussed with Hunter's hair under her cap, taking pictures with Esme. My uncles were standing around, talking to some of the teachers and the pack that was hanging around. And the twins were off flirting. Or at least, Dox was. Ash was hanging out with one of the football players, Cole. He was one of the best on the varsity team. I didn't know much about football, but I was great at gossip. He was going to be a senior with me, Piper, and Ava.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. Will was standing in front of us. "I see you two made up."

I grinned up at him. "Of course we did." Shrugging out from under Bray, I flung myself onto my brother. "Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!"

He hugged me back. "Thanks. Next year, this will be you. And boy am I going to be embarrassing."

I swatted his chest. "Shut up."

"You and me both," Bray said, ganging up on me.

"Leave her alone," Hunter said, moving in.

Over the past few months, everyone had warmed back up to her. She'd sat down with all of us, including Uncle Caden, and spilled about her entire life up until that point. Mom and I had been horrified. Uncle Caden had wanted to go start a war with Robert, which would no doubt be happening anyway with the death of his son. And Aunt Leah had forgiven her on the spot. It had been a really hard life for her. Her story had traveled through the packs. Uncle Walker had initiated her into his pack until she was married to Will, which wouldn't be happening for a while according to both of them.

Will wrapped an arm around her shoulders and went to take her cap off.

She moved back. "I wouldn't unless you want your aunts to come kill you. Frankly, I like you breathing."

He glowered over his shoulder at them before ducking under the cap to catch her lips with his.

I glowed at the two of them. Finally, my brother had the happy ending he deserved.

But my glowing turned to guilt when I saw Piper standing with Ava. Piper had her arms wrapped around herself, and she cast glances at us every now and then. She tried not to show it, but I knew she was jealous of us. Ava was okay because she was absorbed in school stuff. But Piper desperately wanted what I had with her brother and what Will had with Hunter. Again, I glanced over at Jason, who had moved closer as if sensing her pain.

If only she knew.

WillPOV

Later that night, after the celebratory dinner in Port Angeles, I left Hunter at my house so that I could go down to her old house for the last of her stuff. Brayden was with me, helping to unpack the knickknacks into the small house that had replaced Grampa Billy's ramshackle. Hunter didn't know that the house was finished, but I did. This was my graduation present to her.

Together, Bray and I unpacked her stuff, placing the knickknacks around the house. I'd already unpacked her clothes on an alone trip. Nobody else needed to see her underwear but me. There were also a few other personal things that nobody else needed to know about but us. And those stayed in the bedroom.

"So you and Jules patched stuff up, huh?" I asked, hanging up a framed picture. I'd had a few blown up and framed over the past couple of months. The one of her mother and Damien. Her and Caden. Me and her. And a few others that I knew she loved.

I could see Bray nod in the kitchen where he was hanging mugs and getting the coffee-maker set up. "Yeah we finally just actually talked instead of snapping at each other. For the record, she apologized first." After hanging up the last mug, he stepped around the counter. "So you and Hunter are really gonna do this?"

"Do what?"

"Play house together."

I looked over my shoulder. "We're not playing, Bray. I'm serious about her. I was even thinking about when to ask her to marry me."

His eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

I nodded. "What, you don't wonder about when to ask Jules? 'Cause let me tell ya, it's not about 'if'. It's about 'when'. Especially with the two of you."

He leaned a shoulder against the frame of the door leading into the kitchen and crossed his arms. "I can't believe you're so casual about me asking your sister to marry me."

"Why wouldn't I be? You two belong together. Even I can see that." Once the last picture was hung, I jumped down from the stepstool. "Look, I know Dad gives you a hard time, but he really knows how it is. He just does it because it makes him feel more like family, and normal. A dad should worry about who his daughter is with. But really, he loves you like a son already. You and I grew up best friends. He'd never say no if you go to him to ask for permission."

He frowned. "Are you going to?"

"Am I going to what?"

"Ask Caden."

Well that stopped me. Rubbing the back of my neck, I sat down on the new couch. "Well, I haven't thought about it. But I think I might. Do it right, you know?"

"It's kind of old-fashioned."

"True, but it's still a sign of respect, how we were raised. Besides, Hunter's never had a father before. She might like it."

Bray sat down on the loveseat. "Yeah she probably would. After her story, this must be a fairy-tale life for her. She's mating into money, found a dad, has a brother, graduated high school. And found her true mate. I think Jules would laugh at me if I asked your dad."

I chuckled. "I would, too. Let me know when you're planning on asking."

He laughed. "We'll see." Sobering up, he slapped my shoulder. "Look, I'm sorry if I belittled all of this." He motioned to the house. "I'm happy for you, that it all worked out. And that Hunter finally has a place to call home."

I nodded. "Thanks. I can't really believe that I graduated, that I have a woman to take care of."

He snorted. "Me, too. Of course Jules is still in high school, but she's determined."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

His expression said he hadn't meant to say that.

"Bray," I said in warning.

He sighed, rubbing his neck. "She wants to talk your parents into letting us move into Hunter's old place before she graduates."

Once I muddled through the shock, I laughed. "Yeah, right. Good luck with that. Dad's not going to let her do that, not with her still in school."

"Me either," he said, surprising me.

"Really now?"

He nodded. "If we live together, that's more of a chance of us falling into bed. Which means a bigger chance of…pregnancy. I want her to finish high school first. I'm not gonna be one of those guys who wants her barefoot and pregnant to have my meals ready for me when I get home. I want her to have and be whatever she wants."

Reaching over I clapped him on the back like he'd just done me. "Bray, whatever happens, the two of you are going to be okay. Don't worry about it. I know that you'll take care of her. And so does Dad. And the twins. Nothing has really changed between us. Stop trying to carefully plan everything. Let it happen."

He took a deep breath and hung his head before nodding. "Okay, alright. I guess it's just a big thing, ya know? Having my soul mate, it's like I want to get started but I know that she definitely needs to finish high school first."

"Yeah, give her time. If I've learned anything by being with Hunter and the relationship with my parents, it's to let her guide you. And Jules will tell you, I promise."

That loosened the tension. We both laughed.

"Yeah, I guess she will." Standing up, he looked around. "I guess we should get the two of you moved in. Have you moved any of your stuff?"

"A fair bit. I mean, I only have what's in my room. And the furniture is staying. So basically all my crap like clothes and stuff. Hunter's boxing stuff up right now. It's almost cleared out. Maybe one car trip."

"So, this is it, huh?"

Standing up, I shoved my hands into my pockets. "I guess so. It feels weird knowing that I'm done with school. I start full time at the shop with Dad next week. And Hunter is going to work at the diner. We're going to start paying our own bills and everything."

Brayden got a look of longing. "I can't wait to start that. To start living my life. We sort of got the in between, didn't we?"

"What do you mean?"

"We might be teenagers but we're old enough to phase and protect our people. I think the pack kids, from both our pack and Uncle Walker's, are more mature. But they still want us to grow up like normal kids. It's like, old enough to join the army but not old enough to drink."

I laughed a little. "True."

"Come on. Let's get you back up there."

HunterPOV

"Um, Hunter?" Jules asked.

Finished folding up a shirt, I stuffed it into the box. "Hmm?"

When she didn't answer, I looked over my shoulder at her. She was staring down into the drawer of the nightstand.

"I think maybe you should clean this out."

Chuckling, I walked across the room. The drawer was full of paraphernalia of the sexual variety. Apparently, Will had forgotten a few things when he'd packed that box.

I smiled at her. "Sorry. I didn't think about it."

She lifted her hands, palms out. "Hey, none of my business."

But I could see the way she studied some of the items. "Curious?"

Startled, she flushed, a pink glow across her cheekbones. "Do you really need all that?"

I laughed. "It's not that we need it particularly. Heaven knows we don't. It's just fun to mix things up."

The embarrassed expression was replaced with something like worry.

"Jules?"

"I love Brayden. I really do."

"But-?" I prodded.

She bit her lip. "What if…what if I mess up?"

A chuckle slipped before I could catch it. Coughing at her look, I sobered up. "Sorry." I took her hand and sat us down on the bed. "Jules, don't worry about that. Please. There's no need to. Brayden loves you. And as far as I know, he's a virgin, too. Sex is all about instinct. But with the right person, it's fun. Brayden is your soul mate. In the right moment, your mating instinct will kick in. I would talk about Will but…"

For a moment, she watched me considering. "Tell me. I know he's my brother, but I can't ask him. He'd have a cow."

That made me laugh. I gripped her hand in both of mine. "Well, let's just say, his instinct definitely took over. But I'm not a virgin, wasn't before your brother. He did have a moment of hesitation. I sort of pulled him through it. But don't worry, love," I said, reaching up to brush a curl from her cheek. "You and Brayden belong together and will have a lifetime to figure things out. Just remember to have fun. It's not some formal ritual. It's making love. It's the physical manifestation of how much you love each other. When you're ready for it, of course."

She smiled up at me. "It'll be nice to have another woman in the Black family."

There was a knock on the door. Will leaned his shoulder on the jamb. "Whatchya talkin' about?"

I smiled at him. The ambient light from the hallway outlined his broad shoulders. "Girl stuff. Where have you been?"

"Hanging with Bray." He looked to his sister. "He's downstairs by the way."

Putting her hands on her knees, she pushed to a stand. "I will take that as the hint it is." Before heading downstairs, she smiled down at me and then hugged her brother.

Once she was downstairs, he came to kneel in front of me. I opened my knees so that his torso moved between them. His big hands moved over the tops of my thighs.

Leaning forward, I put my forehead to his, wrapping my arms around his neck. In the past few months, my life had definitely gotten better. I spent so much time with Gage and our father. Jules was my best friend other than Will, but he didn't count. Nessie and Jacob had made it clear that if anyone had a problem with me, he or she had a problem with them. To try to redeem myself, I'd decided to help with newly shifted wolves in Walker's pack, and kept my enforcer skills sharp with Jason and his father.

And Will? I loved him more than ever. He volunteered at the shop so much to catch up on training before he started as a full-time employee that I couldn't wait to see him when he got home. While he was out, I worked on learning to cook for him. As the months progressed, I found myself becoming more and more domestic, learning to care for a family. It wasn't easy, but I loved every second of it. And it was all worth it just to see him smile at me.

"I love you," I whispered, choking up just thinking about spending the rest of my life with him.

Leaning back, he stood up and held his hand out to me, palm up. "Come with me."

Without hesitation, I put my hand in his and led me out into the hall and down the stairs. On our way to the door, he shared a look with Jacob, who smiled a little and nodded. Nessie put the hand holding a dishcloth up to her mouth, eyes shining. Over the back of the couch, Bray gave Will a wink. Jules squealed and rested her chin on her mate's shoulder.

Will ushered me out to his car and shoved me into the passenger seat playfully. When I was situated, he pulled some fabric out of his pocket, folded it, and wrapped it around my eyes.

I laughed. "Where are we going?" I asked as he hopped into the driver's seat.

"You'll see."

We were both quiet as he drove. But the entire time, my fingers were against his warm lips. Ever since I'd gotten out of the "hospital", he always had to touch me in some way when we were in the same room.

I smiled the entire drive. When he stopped, I reached for the blindfold.

"Don't you dare," he said.

I moved my hands away from my face in surrender. And was forced to wait for him to walk around the car and open my door. Gripping my hands, he helped me out of the car and positioned me where he wanted me.

"Ready?" he asked, lips close to my ear.

"Of course," I whispered back.

Gently, he took the cloth from my eyes, careful not to pull me hair.

And when I could focus once more, my jaw dropped.

The most beautiful little cottage I'd ever seen in my life was sitting quietly in the clearing. It was built of light-colored stones, black shutters, and wooden flower boxes hanging from the windows. The porch was spacious with a little stone table and various chairs. Beside the cottage was a two car garage that was linked to the house by a walkway.

"Happy graduation," Will said as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

In shook I turned to look at him. "It's done?"

Grinning, he nodded. "Been done. I've just been getting the inside all done up for you." Moving back, he dug into his pocket. A second later, a key was held in front of me between his fingers. "This is yours. Mine's already on my keychain."

Giddy, I grabbed the key and ran for the house before stopping, pivoting, and running back to Will. I kissed him hard and deep, and then ran for the house. It took a moment to get the door unlocked, but once I did, I busted into the house.

And froze.

The interior was warm and cozy. To my left was the living area with a sectional sofa and coffee table in front of the fireplace. A fire was already roaring. A large screen television was hanging above the mantle. The dining area was separated by wooden columns. A six-seat dining table was set with candles and placemats.

The kitchen faced the dining room. It was spacious but managed to still seem small and cozy.

"It's beautiful," I whispered as Will came up behind me.

"You haven't seen it all," he said, closing the door behind him.

I turned to face him, fighting the emotions. "I don't need to. It's absolutely perfect."

Chuckling, he put his hands on my hips. "Well, you did design it."

Gripping the shirt at the small of his back, I let out a laugh. "Yeah, but I didn't think it would be exactly how I pictured it."

He pulled me toward him and kissed my forehead. "You planned with my aunts, Hunter. They're nothing if not meticulous about the details. Especially my grandmother because she understands."

Looking up at him, I just shook my head.

"What?"

"I just can't believe this is really happening. Only a few months ago, it was so very bad between us. Even after it all, I thought that you'd still want me gone."

He brushed his fingers over my cheek and jaw. "You were dying in my arms, Hunter. But more than that, I realized how wrong I'd been when Caden took you in his arms. He told you that you couldn't die because he'd only just found you. My anger made me selfish, wanting you away from me so I wouldn't hurt every time I saw you. When you asked me what happened after you blacked out, I didn't tell you all the details."

I put my hands on his chest, feeling his strong heart beat against my palms. "Tell me. Please."

He took a deep breath, the sharp scent of pain floating from him. "After I pulled you onto the beach and got you breathing again, you were conscious just enough to tell me you were sorry and that you loved me. Even dying, you didn't beg me to save you. You just had to make sure that I knew those two things. And I realized that no matter what, you're mine. And all the baggage you have is mine now, too."

I snorted. "I think I have enough for the both of us."

He brushed my hair back. "Exactly. I don't really have any having been sheltered here all my life. Now I have to sac up and take care of you. I was wrong for what I did. And I want to have a life with you. A life here, in this house."

Smiling softly, I brushed my lips over his palm. "I'd very much like that."

He grinned. "Yeah?"

Allowing the tears to fall, I nodded. "Yeah."

There we stood in our new home and held each other.

A Few More Months Later… August

WillPOV

Closed garages were a blessing. The rain was pouring so hard that I had to drive well below the speed limit. It was also getting colder out, the temperature dropping in the evening hours. It had been a long freaking day at the shop. Grease was shoved under my nails and smeared all up my arm. The jeans and shirt I had on were about ready for the throw-away pile.

But I was happy as a clam as I opened the side door to the house and scraped my boots on the door mat. Apparently, every pack member was coming up with the mat that had a picture of paw prints and the writing said "Wipe Your Paws". Hunter had giggled until tears had beaded at the corners of her eyes.

As soon as I walked inside, a barrage of scents assaulted my nose. Smelled divine and my stomach let out a hunger call as loud as a lion's roar.

"Smells good in here," I said as I shrugged out of my jacket.

Hunter peeked around the corner with a smile. "Hi. How was work?"

"Exhausting. The colder weather is starting to cause more and more problems, especially with the older cars. But we got everything we wanted to get done."

"That's good."

Kicking off my boots, I hung up my jacket and shrugged out of my shirt. I really needed a shower, but I doubted I had time before dinner was ready. And I refused to sit at the table in filthy clothes. So I moved to the washer and dryer which were situated behind the kitchen in an alcove to the right of the side door. Without touching anything else, I grabbed a clean shirt and sweats.

It had taken a little bit to get used to living with only Hunter, but I loved it. We didn't have to be quiet when we had sex. Those months living with my parents and Hunter in my bed had royally sucked.

And then it had taken some shoving to get the twins and Jules to go back to Mom and Dad's when they visited us here. Eventually they got the message, but Hunter liked for them to stay some weekends.

After redressing, I shook out my hair and went into the kitchen. Hunter was at the stove, stirring something. I moved up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, putting my face in her hair.

"Mmm, how was your day?" I asked.

I could hear the smile in her tone. "Pretty good. I think a few in my group are close to shifting, Ryell among them."

"Really? How old is she now?"

"Fourteen. And she's quite a firecracker."

"I can imagine." In my arms, she started moving around. I frowned, nose twitching. "What is that?"

"Soup."

I wasn't talking about the food. Over the past couple weeks, something had been off. Hunter's natural scent had come back when the spell wore off, and that had taken time to get used to. But now, something else was off. Maybe it was me. I was so used to the oil and grease now that anything else seemed weird.

"It's ready," she said. "Go sit down."

Before I did as she ordered, I stopped at the sink and scrubbed my hands until the water ran clear. When I sat down, I noticed a box on the table. I picked it up, looking it over. It was wrapped in brown paper and addressed to me and Hunter. No stamps or return address, but I recognized the handwriting as that belonging to my Aunt Rosalie.

"Hey, babe?"

"Yeah?"

"What is this?"

She came in with two bowls of steaming potato soup topped with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon as well as some breadsticks. One of the bowls got set in front of me.

"Oh, your aunt dropped that off today. Not sure what is though. She told me I couldn't open it without you around." And then she went back for drinks.

I frowned. "Which aunt?"

"Um, the smaller one. For life of me…"

"Alice?"

She nodded and sat down. "Mhm." And then stood right back up. "Right, forgot something." Leaning over the corner of the table, she pressed her lips to mine. "I love you. Welcome home."

I grinned, setting the box back on the table before cupping the back of her head and pulling her to me. "Love you, too."

The kiss was long and deep. She tasted like home.

I was satisfied when she sat back down breathing hard. That's how a woman was supposed to be kissed. At least my woman anyway.

Dinner was a fast affair. We talked about my work and her counseling up at Walker's pack. She was so excited to be "useful", and the kids loved her from what I understood.

After we ate, I washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. She had the tv on and was going through our list of recordings. I grabbed the box off the table and flopped down next to her.

"So," I said spinning it between my fingers. "Should we open it?"

She shrugged. "I guess we can."

"I can say that I'm a little nervous with this coming from Alice."

Laughing, she took it from me. "Fine. I'll open it" Under the paper was a note scrawled in Aunt Alice's elegant handwriting.

"What's it say?"

Hunter cleared her throat. "'I saw myself having these made by Esme. Enjoy. Alice.'"

We both frowned at each other.

She grew a claw and cut the tape. When she opened the box and got a good look at what was inside, she froze, the smile dying down. A mix of emotions crossed her face in quick succession.

"Hunter?"

Swallowing hard, she reached into the box. What came out confused me at first. It was something knitted in purple yarn with pink ribbon. And then it was free of the box.

A hanger with things tied to it. On the top, a small hat covered the part that did the hanging. What looked like little gloves and small shoes were hung from the hanger with pink and purple ribbon.

My mind was racing, trying to figure it out.

Hunter's hand was covering her open mouth, and she was trying to breathe through emotion.

I took the hanger from her and studied the items. And then my mind rushed, connecting the dots. These were baby things, gloves and hats and booties for a newborn. I remembered pictures of me and my siblings.

Swallowing hard, I looked over at Hunter. And inhaled. The weird scent. Carefully setting the gift onto the coffee table, I went to my knees on the floor in front of her and leaned between her legs.

Reaching up, I took her hand away from her mouth and moved into her line of sight. "Hunter, are you-?"

Eyes shining with tears, she jerked her head. "I…I don't know. With my kind, the males are the pregnancy tests."

That's right. The scent got stronger the closer I got to her. Lifting her shirt up, baring her stomach, I got so close that my nose skimmed her skin. The hormones. That's what I'd been smelling.

Heart hammering, thudding against my ribs, I turned my head, pressing my ear to her belly. There was nothing. Hunter was breathing hard, her own heart going a mile a minute. Closing my eyes, I stroked her legs and hips, up over her ribs in an attempt to calm her down.

"Shh, it's okay. Just breathe." Sure there was such a thing as a pregnancy test, but I wanted to do this, to be the one to confirm the situation.

Slowly, she eventually did calm down. Her hands went to my hair, fingers threading through to my scalp. I could fall asleep like this. Hell, I had in bed before.

And then I heard it.

A flutter.

It was dim, sounding lower. So I adjusted, moving down to just above the waist of her low-rise jeans.

I jerked back when it came through loud and clear.

"Will?" she whispered.

I just looked from her eyes to her stomach, mouth working but nothing coming out. Her hands moved over my jaw, neck, and shoulders. And then I looked back to the table with the small, purple gloves.

"A girl," I rasped out.

"What?"

My gaze swung back around to my imprint, a smile pulling my lips up when her eyes met mine. "We're gonna have a girl."

Her hands went to her stomach. "I'm…we're pregnant?"

Taking one of her hands, I moved it down to where the sound had been the loudest. "Right here. That's where I heard it."

It took a moment, but eventually she started to smile, too. The shock had to wear off. We'd both been so busy with our own jobs that we hadn't even considered a pregnancy so soon, especially with us so fresh out of high school. Was I scared? Terrified was a good word. Not even nineteen yet and I knew without a doubt that my child was resting just under our hands, growing safely inside her mother. Aunt Alice had somehow known it was going to be a girl, hence the color scheme.

And I knew that if I was nervous, Hunter definitely was.

"Are you happy?" she asked in a soft voice.

I smiled, swallowing my own emotion. "Happy? More than you could even know. What about you? Are you okay?"

Her eyes went unfocused, moving back and forth as she sorted through her feelings and thoughts. I knew her well enough by now to know that she had to have the control of knowing which of her feelings was the most important before she spoke them. So I didn't take the silence as a bad thing.

And when her eyes finally met mine, my grin widened.

She laughed, letting her tears fall. Some of the drops landed on our hands over her stomach. "I'm perfect." Moving her hands, she cupped my face and leaned over me. "So fucking perfect."

Surging up, I crushed my lips to hers. "I'll be right back."

When I pulled back and stood up, she grabbed for my hand, bewildered. "Will?"

I brought her wrist to my lips. "Stay here. I'll be right back." I grinned. "I'm not running. I promise."

Hesitantly, she let me go.

When I came back from our bedroom, I knelt between her legs again. "I'm glad I asked your dad last week."

She frowned. "Asked him for what?"

I flipped one of her hands up and shakily placed the small box in the center of her palm. She gasped as I opened it. "For his permission to marry his daughter."

Now the tears fell in earnest.

"And I guess now all that's left is to ask you. I love you, Hunter. More than anything. I promise that I will always take care of you." I put my hand to her stomach again. "And our family. I would be honored if you'd be my wife."

She met my eyes as she took the ring out of the velvet and slid it onto her finger. I breathed a sigh of relief when it fit perfectly.

"Is that a yes?"

Grinning, she exploded off the couch to wrap herself around me. "William Black, I will absolutely spend the rest of my life married to you!"

Sweeter words had never been said. Wrapping my arms around her, I stood up. As I did, she reached over to grab the hanger. Leaving the lights and tv on, I went for our room, my face buried in her neck, taking in the scent of her and the baby.

In the bedroom, I stripped us both down. It wasn't hard to make love to her for hours and hours until weak sunlight filtered through the windows.

We laid in bed, her head on my chest. Every now and then she'd lift her hand up to study the ring. It was a platinum band with an opal gemstone in the middle for her October birthstone. Black diamonds surrounded it. Like most of the women in my family, she preferred a ring that didn't sit too high on her finger so she didn't clonk it on everything. So every stone was set into the band.

"It's beautiful, Will. I love it."

I kissed her temple. My fingers ran over her lower belly as we laid there. "So are you."

She smiled up at me. "I can't believe this day ended the way it did."

"Actually, it's dawn. The day is just beginning."

She sighed, snuggling into my side. "I wouldn't mind just laying here all day. It's so much to take in."

I rubbed my hand up her back. "Then that's what we'll do. I think Dad will understand if I tell him something came up."

So I texted Dad to tell him exactly that. Something had come up and I needed to stay home. After a short interrogation, I returned my attention to my fiancée.

For most of the day, we contemplated names and ways to announce the pregnancy. Now that she wasn't dependent on herself, Hunter had become more feminine, softer. She wanted something cute to tell everyone. I wanted to get her checked out by Carlisle or the medical staff in Walker's pack. But that could wait for tomorrow, my actual day off.

When there was a lull in the conversation, I'd thought she'd fallen asleep. Nope. Between one moment and the next, she shot straight up in bed.

"What the-,"

"Oh my god," she said. "Your mother's going to kill me."

At first, I'd been worried, but then I just laid back and started laughing.

Turning around, she slapped my stomach.

"Ow," I laughed.

"It's not funny, William. I'm taking her boy away from her."

Laying back on the pillows, I put my hands behind my head. "She didn't kill you when I moved in with you."

To that, she had nothing to say. When she kept opening her mouth with nothing coming out, I raised my eyebrows. With a huff, she got out of bed. It was noon. Maybe she was hungry. She was supposed to eat for two now and we hadn't had breakfast yet.

Instead, she went to the bedroom door where she'd hung the hanger of gifts.

"What are you doing?"

Coming to my side of the bed, she arranged the booties on my bedside table. Then she moved to her side, setting the mittens against the lamp. The tiny hat she laid carefully on the corner of a framed picture of us on her table.

Stepping back, she tilted her head, studying her work. "What do you think?"

I rolled over to her side, putting a hand on her belly. Her hands covered mine.

"I think we're perfect."

*Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!* I so loved this. And I don't care what you guys say, I love Hunter. I can't wait to get to Jules and the twins. All I can tell you though is Dox is not going to be having any lemons. Sorry, ladies. And I really don't know about Ash. That's going to be very tricky. A lot of you have guessed about him and have been right. But we'll see. Please review or feel free to PM me with any questions. Love y'all! xoxoxoxo