Eva POV

We finally make it back to Blackrose, and we are greeted by our group.

"Eva!!" Everyone hollers and starts coming towards us. Everyone is giving me and the girls hugs, but when it comes to the guys - Julian growls just a little.

"No need to be possessive, JD." I coo in his ear while stroking his hand.

"They're touching you." Julian protests.

"No more than they ever did Julian. They are my, well rather our friends, you know that. Now stop. Most already have found their mates so it isn't like I'm hugging a bunch of unmated males." I challenge.

"I know, but I just got you back." He pouts.

"And now I'm yours for the rest of time." I tease.

"And I won't ever let you go." He smiles and wraps an arm around my waist and kisses me on the forehead.

"Awe how cute." Ao chimes in.

"How cute do you think it will be when they start their pranks again?" Romain grumbles.

"Julian doesn't have to try hard to impress Eva anymore, Romain." Tyson chuckles. "He finally got his girl."

"Shut up Ty!" Julian warns, and the rest of our group bursts out laughing at the grumpy look on Julian's face.

"So the full moon party is in a few days, and I thought it would be fitting for us to have the Beta female ceremony on that day." Scarlett informs me from the doorway. I noticed she had been casually watching us leaning on the door frame.

"Yeah, shopping!" Juniper hollers, and the group joins in for another round of laughs - mostly at my expense I believe because I'm sure the sour look is now on my face - I hate shopping.

"Can I wear camo and boots to this ceremony?" I ask Scarlett, smiling.

"Absolutely not." Scarlett replies. "Dresses are mandatory." but I see the ghost of a smile but determination in her eyes. Dress shopping it is.

A few days later, Julian is more excited today that usual, like a boy waiting for his parents to wake up on Christmas morning.

"JD, what's got you so worked up today?"

"I've got something to show you, angel."

"You know I hate surprises."

"I think you'll like this surprise. Now turn around like a good girl and let me blindfold you." he demands.

Not wanting to ruin the look of happiness on his face, I turned around and complied with his request. It didn't take long before he stopped me.

"Are you ready?"

"Is that a trick question?"

Actually I was getting excited waiting for him to untie the blindfold, and when he did, I was shocked by what was in front of me.

"Is this...is this our house?"

"It is."

"Wow, it's lovely. This looks so familiar."

"It's a French Creole style house, designed after a local plantation I really enjoyed visiting."

"Can we go inside?"

"Of course."

Grabbing my hand, he almost drags me to the house. Going up the front steps, we reach the front porch that spanned the entire front of the house. It was equipped with a small table and a few chairs to the left of the front entrance.

Walking into the house into the foyer, the stairs were to the right and the entrance to the dining room was to the left. As you continued to the left through the dining room, you entered into a large kitchen with a laundry room and breakfast room off to the sides.

Walking to the right of the breakfast room you entered a large family room with an attached porch containing a fireplace.

"Over here is my favorite room of the house, other than the kitchen." he says cheekily, and I know exactly what room he was taking me to.

Through the next doors was a beautiful bedroom, the furniture black, and its walls covered in a light gray color.

"There is an attached master bathroom with a tub and a shower. Oh and I made this room soundproof." He grins.

"Expecting that much action?" I tease.

He pulls me close to his body, wrapping me in his arms before he leans down to whisper."Do you want to christen it and find out if it works later?"

Tapping my finger to my chin, "Hmmm...Let me think on that."

"Difficult."

"Insatiable." I state running my hands down his back before grabbing his backside.

"Tease."

"I'm only a tease if I don't plan on following through, but I want to see the rest of the house first." I tell him before squeezing again and bouncing off.

"Fine." He huffs. "Upstairs or down?"

Excitedly i run to the stairs. "Upstairs first." as I run up the stairs.

Upstairs there are two bedrooms and a bathroom.

"I thought this could be Devaney and Zoey's rooms. I left them undecorated hoping you could help me pick the colors and furniture and we could finish them while the girls are in school this week and bring them to their new home this weekend."

"That's a great idea. Although Devaney might get tired of sharing a bathroom eventually."

"There are solutions for every problem my dear. Follow me."

We head back down the stairs and then down to a lower floor.

"This is the lower level. Right now there is a recreation room, fourth bedroom, storage and a two car garage, but if we needed we could always renovate this space for additions. It didn't think Devaney was quite old enough to be on this lower level by herself, but it could always be an option."

"You plan on expanding?"

"Eventually. You want to try now?"

"Not sure if we're ready for expanding quite yet, but it might be fun to practice." I grin, giving him a quick peck on the lips and turning to run up the stairs - Julian and Takka always love a good chase.

I just made it to the top of the stairs before Julian caught up with me - picking me up and carrying me into our bedroom.

"Time for that christening." He whispers, pushing the door closed.

We almost didn't make it in time to pick up the girls.

====

We spent the next week painting and decorating the girls' rooms.

In Devaney's room we painted the walls a nice shade of green called Laurel Garland, as it matched the comforter I found nicely. We paired that with beige furniture and a small sized couch near the window.

Zoey's favorite color is purple, so we painted her walls with a color called, Soft Amethyst to accent the furniture I found in a pretty lavender shade - her name etched across the wall behind her bed.

Now it's my turn to be excited - I can't wait until the girls get out of school. Zoey is still in pre-school so she'll be out before Devaney, but I can keep her busy until then.

"Girls, Julian wants to take us somewhere today."

"Where mommy?" Zoey asks.

"You'll just have to see."

We park and go into the pack house and up to Julian's office. Walking inside, I smile brightly at my mate and he is finishing up a phone call.

"Are my girls ready to go?" He smiles.

Both girls nod and he gets up, takes my hand and we walk out of the pack house. It isn't far so we decide to walk to the house - which is near where the other houses of the ranked members are behind the pack house.

It doesn't take long before we are standing in front of the house - our house.

"What are we doing here mom?" Devaney asks suspiciously.

Smiling over at my mate, I ask, "Do you want to tell her Julian?"

Grinning widely he looks down at the girls, "This is our house now. This is where we're going to live."

"Do I have my own room? Not sleep with Dev?"

"Hey I'm not so bad."

"No sissy, you're not." She whispers, "but it's such a big house."

Bending down so Julian can look her in the face, "Yes sweetheart, you have your own room." he smiles.

"Thank you." as he hugs him tightly. "Let's go."

I can't help but chuckle as she grabs Julian's hand and drags him up to the steps and in the front door. Deja vu.

Zoey is the first to glance around and ask, "Where's my room?"

"Upstairs..." but before I can finish my sentence, both girls run up the stairs, ignoring anything that might be on the first floor.

"Ok, that's..." Again cut off this time by squeals.

"It's so pretty." They both yell almost simultaneously.

Slipping in behind them, I see the proud look on Julian's face at the girls' reaction.

"It's so perfect. I love the color. Thank you, Mom, I love the color green."

"Don't just thank me, who else do you think painted and helped move the furniture up here."

She looks over to Julian, and before I can blink, she is running over and giving him the biggest hug.

Looking up with those beautiful eyes, she smiles up at him. "Thank you Julian. It's wonderful. You're so good to us."

Now it's my turn to get choked up as I look at my mate's eyes full of astonishment. It's amazing how so little can mean so much to a person. These last few weeks have taught me that.

==

Tonight Julian cooks Lasagna Bolognese to celebrate us eating together as a family for the first time in our new house.

"They are going to miss you being at the pack house all of the time, Chef Le Tourneau." I joke lovingly.

"They'll get used to it. This is my time with my family." He smiles at all of us.

"I wouldn't want it any other way."

We finish our meal with light conversation and lots of laughter. After we're done we finish cleaning the kitchen and watch a movie as a family - our family.

"Can I go play in my room?"

"Yes Zoey. Drago's coming over tomorrow to play."

"Really mom." She replies but I'm not sure if there isn't a bit of sarcasm even from a little girl soon to be four.

"Really sweetheart. Now go play."

Zoey runs up the stairs with Devaney close behind.

"Drago really doesn't want her out of his sight - does he?" Julian questions.

Sighing, I reply, "Not really. We haven't been here that long either. What if they're mates? That's like at least 12 years, if not more. Can we put up with this for that long?"

"I don't suppose we have much of a choice. It isn't common for mates to find each other this young - but not impossible. Everything will work out. Zoey will get used to Drago's presence and they will probably be the best of friends. It will be fine." He tries to reassure me.

"I have no choice but to trust that."

Days later after the house was finished, you'd think the hard work was over, but NO not Julian and I. The other day we were trying to hang a simple picture in the living room. Hanging a stupid picture!

"Just pound the nail into the wall!" He hollers at me.

"I'll pound you against the wall!" I retorted.

"Please." He teases with a smirk on his face.

"Really, Julian?"

It's been a week or so since officially moving into the house, and I think we've all settled in quite well. The girls love their rooms, and I can tell that Drago is starting to grow on Zoey a little bit...even if she says otherwise.

Julian and I are settling in as well, though we have discovered some new things about each other from living together, Julian is a bit of a neat freak - he likes everything in its place - where I tend to set things down wherever I'm at. He's not happy about it and I'm usually on a hunt to find my things, but we've started working on a routine to keep from driving each other too crazy.

It's really wonderful to have Julian as a mate-he's great with the girls, when he isn't busy with work he helps me around the house, and my goddess it's nice not to be the one who always cooks...and at the rate he's going he might actually make me fat, especially if he keeps making those desserts I love so much.

Making me happy seems to be his specialty these days, so let's say I've had no trouble with returning the favor in a way we both enjoy.

Outside of that, my family is relieved to see how much happier I've become since moving on, and have made plans to come visit Blackrose to see me and the girls. But before they come down, there someone else we have to tell the good news to.

Julian's Dad.

So when Oliver gets back from his mini-vacation, Julian and I go to tell him the news.

"So Julian, you finally decided to seal the deal." Oliver teases.

"Dad." Julian whines, while I just chuckle to the side since Julian's face turns a shade of red.

"there's nothing to be embarrassed about, JD. It isn't like your dad hasn't had sex before." I joke.

"Evangeline." Julian warns but still has a light shade of pink on his cheeks.

"there's nothing wrong talking about sex among adults." Oliver chuckles.

"Dad." Julian warns again but this time I think the coloring on his cheeks is from frustration rather than embarrassment.

"Fine Julian. What would you like to talk about instead? Kids? You planning on having any of those anytime soon, or can we not talk about that due to sex being involved?"

By now I can't hold back my laughter, unfortunately it is at Julian's expense - so he leaves the room in a huff.

"Who knew he was so sensitive?" I snicker, and we both start laughing once again.