Daisy rubbed her big, round belly and put the finishing touches on the mantle over the fireplace in her and Cyrus his new home. They’d built a big, three-bedroom log cabin about a mile away from his brothers’ houses on the ranch. Leland, Buck, and Jessie had lent a hand in financing and building the house, and it had come together quickly.

Now Daisy was nine months pregnant and had the chance to decorate her house any way she wanted. She arranged the bouquet of roses on the mantle and looked into the little silver frame, at the picture of her mother. It was so nice to finally be home.

After the trial for her stepfather, Pierce Evert, and all of the hired goons, the men had gone away for a long time. Unfortunately, they still hadn’t been able to bring charges against the Updikes and the hyena clan. But at least her stepfather would never bother her again. She and Cyrus had had a legal wedding ceremony at the courthouse, just to make sure.

Daisy had been able to help bring down her stepfather’s entire organization. Rollo had told her they were one step closer to nabbing the Updikes. All Daisy had ever wanted was a normal life. And now she had everything she’d ever wanted.

Soon they would be joined by their own little bundle of joy.

Daisy turned at the sound of the front door opening, and Cyrus walked inside with a clutch of rabbits in his hand, completely naked with a bloodied handprint on his chest. She giggled and trotted across the floor to plant a kiss on his dirty cheek.

“What do you think?” she asked, sweeping her hand across their open living room.

She had been taking interior design classes at the Bright Institute for Shifters and had learned quite a lot. Now that she had her own house, she was putting her design instinct to good use. The living room was decorated with a mixture of dark brown leather, pink satin, and white lace. It was a bit shabby chic met meets rustic and she knew they would both love it.

“It looks gorgeous, babe,” Cyrus said, handing her the rabbits. “Why don’t you skin these while I take a shower?”

She lifted the rabbits and decided on a rabbit stew for dinner. While Cyrus went upstairs to take a shower in the master bathroom, she went to the kitchen and began skinning the rabbits in the sink they had built for just such a thing. Since old habits die hard, and Daisy was now a grizzly herself, she didn’t mind skinning rabbits or gutting fish.

By the time Cyrus came downstairs, Daisy had a rabbit and potato stew simmering on the stove. He kissed her cheek and ran his hand over her belly, feeling the baby kick inside.

“Our cub is strong and healthy,” Cyrus said.

“He’s kicking the heck out of my gut today,” Daisy said. “I can’t wait to get him out so I can watch him run around and play in the grass.”

“Hello, Fifi,” Cyrus said as the little dog ran into the kitchen and joined them.

Cyrus dipped the ladle into the rabbit stew and gave Fifi a piece of cooked meat. The dog greedily ate and then ran out the doggy door in the kitchen to chase squirrels. Daisy watched her out the window with a big smile on her face.

“I have a present for you,” Cyrus said.

“You’ve already given me so much.”

“This is better,” he said.

“Better than a diamond ring and a clutch of rabbits?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Well, tell me. The suspense is killing me.”

“I got you an account at the department store in the city,” he said, retrieving a credit card from his pocket. “You can buy whatever you want there. But you’ll still need to be able to get down there. And that’s why I bought you a new car.” He pulled car keys out of his pocket.

“You did not,” she said.

“You’ll want to see your friends too, I’m sure,” he said.

“Where is it?”

“It’s right outside.”

Daisy shrieked and ran outside, flinging the door open to find a red SUV sitting in the driveway. She squealed and ran to the driver’s side door, flinging it open.

“I can’t believe you got me this,” she said.

“Since the ranch hit gold, Leland has been pretty generous with the cash.”

“Remind me to kiss him the next time I see him.”

Cyrus got into the passenger side of the SUV and watched her as she gripped the steering wheel. She looked over at him with a huge smile plastered on her face and leaned in to give him a kiss on the lips.

“I don’t know how to thank you, Cyrus,” she said.

“You don’t have to, baby. Your happiness is all the thanks I need,” he said, running his warm, strong hand over her belly.

“And all I want is for you to be happy too,” she said, leaning in to kiss him.

As they sat together in the front seat of her new car, she could feel their connection running back and forth through their vibrating primal bond. Daisy knew that they would both spend the rest of their lives living for each other’s happiness.

And that was the best gift she could ever hope for.