We were going to Jason's parents’ again today for another meal. Jason said his parents wanted to celebrate the baby and the launch of his new website. I didon't mind. Ever since the last time we shifted and ran on Jason's parents’ property, I'd been anxious to get back to their house and lose myself in the woods again.

Jason was driving this time, his hands on the wheel and his attention on the road as he took the curves of the winding driveway to his parents’ place. The trees were beginning to change, the leaves gold and burnished scarlet, but there was still a touch of warmth in the air. I was going to have a little winter puppy. Jason brought the car to a halt in front of his parents’ three-story home that now looked welcoming and warm to me instead of intimidating. Before I could open my door, Jason had run around to my side of the car and was helping me out and up the front steps.

His mother opened the door and rushed out, her arms wide, to pull us into hugs. I could hear commotion behind her in the house and I knew that all four of Jason's brothers were in their usual spots in the game room. We followed her in. And there were his brothers, loud and rambunctious as usual. Jasper and Slate paused in the middle of their mock fight with the pool cues. At least I thought it was mock, but who could tell with these two? Ollie rushed over and gave Jason a firm hug before standing back and taking a look at me.

“Wow, Rudy,” he said, “you're really starting to blossom there.”

“Blossom, hell,” Parker said, “he's fat.”

His mom reached over and smacked him on the back of the head. “Be nice,” she admonished. “Dinner will be ready soon. Please behave.” And then she shuffled quickly out of the room and headed to the kitchen.

I moved to the chair beside the fireplace and stretched out. Parker really wasn't that far off. I was getting pretty big. My belly stretched at my shirts now, and there was no hiding it with strategic layering. Jasper and Slate went back to their fighting and Parker started to flick through the sports channels on the television.

Jason and Ollie took the sofa opposite mine.

“You look great, though. Really. Don't pay any attention to Parker. He's just jealous because he doesn't have a mate of his own to knock up yet.”

“So how's it going at work?” Jason asked Ollie.

“It's great. I'm really surprised at how much Dad has let me take over. I've taken the lead on three separate deals now.”

“I'm glad to hear that,” Jason said. “I hope this means he's more amiable to the idea of you taking over the business instead of me.”

“For now, he is,” Ollie laughed. “How’s the website?”

“It’s great. Rudy is coming on board as app developer after the baby is born. He’s really looking forward to it.”

I closed my eyes and drifted off. The fire was warm and the sound of the brothers talking and laughing around me lulled me into a relaxed sleep.

Dinner was fantastic as usual. Despite her questionable decorating tastes, Vivian was a fantastic cook and her meals, no matter how elaborate or simple, were always impeccable. This time she served us Cornish hens dressed in an orange sauce laid over a bed of wild rice risotto. One thing I was getting more used to with Jason was types of food I'd never eaten before. He and his family had introduced me to such new things. I never would have tried sushi on my own and because of Jason I'd actually developed a taste for red velvet cheesecake ice cream.

After dinner, when everyone headed back to the game room to have coffee, Jason asked me if I would like to take a walk. I rubbed at my full belly and groaned a little. “Actually, a walk is probably a very good idea. I'm glad we don't eat like this all the time. I'd be as big as your parents’ house.”

Jason chuckled and gave me a swift kiss. “I don't care how fat you get, you will always be sexy to me.”

I smacked his hand as he tried to pinch my burgeoning bottom. “Hey pal, I think you promised me a walk,” I said. “This is no time to get distracted.”

“All right, have it your way.” Jason led me down the hallway and out of a side door I’d never noticed before. We were in the garden of his parents’ home. There was a small spot tucked up in the corner where the trees formed an overhang, and underneath there were what appeared to be a million candles set into the tree branches and all along the ground, sparkling and glimmering in the evening light.

I turned to look at Jason. “What's all this about?”

Jason led me over to the little branched arbor and underneath the trees. I looked around at the candles and thought that this was what it would look like to be surrounded by stars.

“What is this?” I asked and turned to look at Jason.

Jason was on his knee.

“What are you doing?” I asked, as I took a step back.

“Listen, Rudy, I know you said that it didn't matter—that it didn't have to happen now and that you’re in no rush, but I'm in a rush. I want you. I want to keep you by my side now and forever. I don't want there to be anything between us that could cause me to lose you. So, I'm asking you, will you please marry me? Will you be my husband?” He held out a small open box with a single gold ring nested inside a silk cushion.

My heart was pounding in my throat and my stomach was fluttering from more than just the baby that I carried inside of me. While I may have thought about marrying Jason, this was something I never really thought would happen.

But this was what I wanted.

I rushed to Jason and dropped to my knees in front of him. I took his hands in mine. I could feel the tears wetting my cheeks, but since they were tears of happiness, I didn’t bother brushing them away.

“Of course, I'll marry you. I'll be your husband.”

“Oh, thank gods,” Jason ground out. “I've been having nightmares about you saying no.” He took my wet cheeks in his hands and kissed my lips tenderly. “I'm your family now. You don't ever have to worry about not having a family anymore.”

“You got that right,” shouted Jasper from behind us.  

I turned just in time to see all four of Jason's brothers rushing down on top of us. They surrounded us, a big whooping pack of shifters. Jason's father and mother walked up arm and arm, smiles on their faces.

“Well, we have to start planning immediately,” Jason's mother said to me. “I think you should get married right here on the property. A white silk tent I think, maybe over on the south side so we can catch the sun.”

“Mom,” Ollie said as he took her arm and pulled her back, “calm down a little. We have time. They're not getting married tomorrow.

“Well, when are you getting married?” Slate said. “You might want to make it quick before that pup grows up.”

“I swear if you boys don't leave them alone, there's no dessert for you.” Vivian knew the trick to getting her boys to pay attention.

“Dessert?” Parkers ears perked up. “What kind of dessert?”

“Red velvet cheesecake, of course.” Jason's mother gave me a sly smile.

“All right, you lot, get out of here and leave me alone with my fiancé.” Jason smiled down at me. “And leave us some cheesecake.”

“I can't believe this is happening,” I said, as I fell into Jason's arms. “This is perfect. I can't tell you how much I love you. There aren't words. You've made me so happy. You've made dreams I didn't even know I had come true.”

“And that's what I'm going to try to do for the rest of my life. Now let's shift and go run.”

And ran we did, through the dips and hollows of the forest. The trees around us kept us safe from outside eyes, and Jason was beside me, keeping me safe from everything else. Like he’d do for the rest of our lives.

My alpha.