Chapter One Hundred Two: This Is Home
922 Words
-----Helen's POV-----
Oh my God.
She stared at the ring on her finger like it was a hallucination. Like if she blinked too hard, it might vanish.
But it didn’t.
The diamond was delicate, not too big. The band was thin and vintage-style—white gold with intricate vine-like carvings curling around the sides. Just enough sparkle to catch the light without screaming for attention. It was… perfect.
Exactly her style.
She blinked again.
Still there.
Still real.
Her chest felt too tight with how full it was.
How the hell had he known?
Then she laughed. “Stalker,” she whispered to herself, fondly. Of course he knew.
She was going to marry Axton Creed.
The same man who once terrified her. Who’d watched her for years. Who’d torn her ex apart for laying a hand on her. Who’d bared his soul beneath her touch and begged her to own him.
She was going to marry the man who loved her the way storms love the sea—fiercely, violently, and without apology.
And God help her, she was happy.
Still sitting on the kitchen counter, legs trembling and heart pounding from everything that had just happened, Helen reached for her phone resting nearby.
“Sarah,” she muttered, clicking the contact and hitting call.
The phone rang once. Twice.
“Hey!” Sarah answered, wind in the background and laughter—kids.
“Hey,” Helen said, voice already cracking from her grin. “I, uh… I have news.”
“Oh my god—what? Are you okay?”
“I’m engaged.”
Silence.
Then a squeal so loud Helen winced.
“WHAT?!”
“I’m engaged,” Helen said again, giggling. “Axton proposed. Tonight.”
“Oh my god, Helen, oh my GOD. What?!”
“I know!”
“But wow. I didn’t even know you were dating seriously.” said Sarah.
Helen let her head drop back to the pillow, warmth blooming all over again.
“Where are the girls?”
“At the park. I let them run wild before bedtime.”
Helen smiled. “Thanks, Sarah. I needed this night.”
Sarah hesitated. “So… not to be off-topic, but… I met someone.”
“Oh?”
“At the park. He’s uh… tall. Quiet. Looks like he could break someone in half.”
Helen raised a brow. “Did he follow you home?”
“No!” Sarah laughed. “It’s Price. He said he’s a friend of Axton’s. Just watching out.”
Helen’s grin widened. “He stayed with you?”
“Not… exactly. But he sat next to me on the bench and talked. He even smiled once.”
Helen gasped. “He smiled?”
“I think so. It might’ve been a grimace. But it was cute.”
Helen’s chest warmed. “You like him.”
“Shut up.”
“I’m engaged. You can’t touch me. I will tease you to death.”
Sarah laughed. “Fine. I’ll head back with the girls soon.”
Helen ended the call and rolled to her side, facing the empty space where Axton had been. She heard the shower running.
Still stunned.
Still glowing.
She walked out into the hall just as the front door opened. The girls ran in, all messy hair and flushed cheeks.
“Mommy!” Emma squealed.
Lily threw her arms around Helen’s waist. “Did you miss us?”
“So much,” she said, kneeling down to kiss them both.
Sarah stepped in behind them, followed by the hulking shadow of Price. His eyes met Helen’s and he gave her a nod.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
He nodded again, almost shyly.
Sarah looked anywhere but at him, clearly flustered.
Helen grinned.
She waited until the girls were settled with a snack before calling them over.
“Girls, Axton and I have something to tell you.”
Lily tilted her head. “Are we moving again?”
“No,” Helen laughed. “Something happy.”
Axton stepped into the room, freshly showered, towel slung low. He walked over to Helen and slid an arm around her waist.
“We’re getting married,” she said, holding up her hand.
The girls blinked.
Then Emma clapped. “Like a princess?”
“Exactly like a princess.”
Lily leaned against Helen’s leg. “Will Axton be our daddy?”
Helen’s breath caught. She looked up at Axton.
His smile softened. “If you want me to be.”
Lily nodded once, solemn. “Okay.”
Emma giggled. “Can I wear a sparkly dress?”
“You can wear three.”
Later that night, after stories and snuggles and giggles too loud to be legal, the girls finally passed out in their beds.
Helen tiptoed through the hall, still feeling the aftershocks of what had just happened in the kitchen.
Axton had put her on the counter, spread her open, and kissed her like the world was ending—and her body still hummed from it. Her legs had barely held her as he carried her back upstairs afterward, kissing her shoulder, her temple, whispering that she was his forever.
Now, he was waiting for her in bed.
Shirtless. Barefoot. That same fire in his eyes.
She crawled into his arms like it was instinct.
And when his hand slid protectively over her belly, when his lips found the crown of her head and held her close...
She exhaled, eyes fluttering shut.
This is home.
- Writer
