Chapter 1001

"Oh my god!" I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth. "I didn't even think —“

"Tell me!" mom moans, leaning back against dad, pressing her eyes shut like she's very pained. "I have to go shopping! I have to know if I'm buying little tiny dresses or tuxedoes!" Rafe and Jesse laugh at mom. Dad presses a kiss to her hair, smiling down at her antics.

I just whip my head up to stare at Jacks in shock.

"Go on then," Jacks says, smiling at me and lifting his chin towards mom. "Put her out of her misery."noveldrama

"What are you talking about?" I whisper.

He frowns at me. "What are you talking about?"

"Jackson, I don't know if the babies are boys or girls -"

"You don't?" he asks, his face twisting in confusion. Marigold looks up at him, studies his expression for a second, and then looks down at me, her face twisting just like his. I pause for a second, momentarily distracted by how amazing it is that they just look exactly the same -

But then my eyes fly wide and my hand whips out, smacking him on the arm. "Wait, you do!?"

"Of course I know!" Jackson says, laughing and shaking his head at me. "I knew instantly, from the first second that I became aware of the bonds -"

"Well then why don't I know!?" I shriek, staring at him and then whipping my head around to stare at the rest of my family, who all grin at me. "Do you all know!?"

"Of course we don't know, Ari," Rafe says on a sigh. "They're your kids, your bonds. But mom and dad always knew immediately when they figured out they were pregnant."

"Not true," mom says, pointing a finger at Rafe. "I didn't know yours, because I didn't know I was a wolf, and your dad had to -"

“Um, I think I need this to be about me right now!" I interrupt, rather shrill.

Mom just laughs and turns her face back to me, tilting her head to the side a bit. "It's not hard, baby. Just...look closely at them. You're not doing anything wrong - you were just distracted and didn't know what to look for."

I feel everyone's eyes on me as I exhale slowly and turn my attention inward to the two shiny new bonds in my soul, my wolf sitting proudly between them, her nose held high and her tongue lolling with happiness. I look a little closer, my mouth pursing tight, inspecting, trying to see...

But then I sense it, immediately. And I'm absolutely shocked I didn't notice it before.

I gasp, my eyes flying open, my head spinning up to stare at Jackson.

"Figured it out?" he murmurs, grinning widely at me, stroking a hand over my hair.

"Girls," I whisper, awed, one of my hands drifting to my stomach and pressing there to where my precious little daughters are growing. "They're girls!"

Mom squeals with joy, turning to face dad and bursting into tears.

Rafe and Jesse let out shouts of joy, both of them jumping up off the couch and giving each other big

tears coming to my own eyes, completely awed and overwhelmed and stunned for what feels like the tenth time today.

hugs. But just stare at Jackson et

"Three daughters," Jackson murmurs, smirking at me and then leaning down to press a kiss to my mouth. “A year ago I didn't know any

girls, and now I've got four all of my

own."

en

I laugh a little, the sound shaky, and then reach up to wrap my arms around his

neck, pulling him closer for a moment, wanting the steady reality of him.

Three daughters. Jackson and I - we've got three daughters now.

God, but that's fantastic.

Heavens, but they're going to run us ragged. And I'm going to love every second of it.

"I can't wait to teach them how to snipe," I whisper into my mate's ear.

He laughs, pulling back enough that I can see him shake his head, even as he smiles at me.

Further congratulations go around then, with everyone hugging me and each other, celebrating the new addition to our family. Mark comes in from wherever his new bedroom is and it all starts again - the shock, the rs, the surprise, the wonder. And even as I laugh and bask in the

joy of this surprising morning...

I think about Juniper. And I wish, desperately, that she was here. She should know, of course, that she's got her first niece in Marigold. And that two more are on the way.

"We'll tell her," Jackson murmurs, sensing the direction of my thoughts and stroking my hair with his broad palm. "We'll go there and tell her."

"What?" I ask, my eyes going wide as I stare at Jacks. "How - how will we do that?"

Jackson smirks and lifts his chin towards Jesse. "He's got it all worked out."

I spin my head to stare at my cousin, appalled. "What are we waiting for!?"