Mason (Iron Reapers MC #1)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

CARLIE

Five months later

I sit down and sink my feet into the hot bubbly water. God, I’ve needed this so bad! School finished a couple of days ago and Mason, as well as some of his MC brothers helped pack up my classroom. Mason suggested I take the year off and focus on us. Really, I think he saw how draining the job was and was giving me an out. An out that I took a few days to consider but ultimately decided was in the best interest for me. I love teaching, but now that I’m married and have other obligations, I’m not willing to give all of my free time to a job that is never ending.

The buzz of the pedicure spa's jets is nearly drowned out by the pounding of my heart. The party tonight at the compound's got everyone revving up, and I can't help but feel the itch for a wild time.

"Can you believe it, Carlie? Tonight's gonna be amazing!" Jenny practically vibrates in the chair next to me, her voice loud enough to turn heads.

I laugh, dipping my toes back into the warm water. "Yeah, it's going to be something else."

"Come on, girl. The school year is finally over and you’re taking a year off to just be you and Mason. You deserve to go a little crazy." Jenny's dark eyes dance with mischief, her tone goading.

I hesitate, biting my lip as I glance at my reflection in the mirror. Blonde curls, rosy cheeks – innocent looking. But there's a secret bubbling inside me, fierce and protective. "I can't get too crazy for a while," I finally say, my hand drifting to my stomach.

Jenny's eyebrows shoot up. "Whaaaat?”

"I have a little rider on board," I admit, the words feeling like a promise of a new beginning.

Jenny's mouth drops open, and she leans closer, her excitement shifting into awe. "You're pregnant?"

"Shh!" I hiss, glancing around to make sure no one else has overheard. "Yes, but I haven't told anyone yet. Not even Mason."

"Damn, Carlie, that's huge!" Jenny's voice is a whisper now, but it's laced with joy. "Tonight's going to be epic in more ways than one."

"Let's hope so," I murmur, my own excitement growing. There's fear, sure, but underneath it all is a current of strength I never knew I had. This little life inside me, it's mine – ours – and I'll do whatever it takes to protect it.

"Girl, this is going to change everything." Jenny reaches over, squeezing my hand. "And I'm here for it, every step of the way."

"Thanks, Jenny." My voice is soft, but steady. "That means the world to me."

We sit in silence for a moment, the reality of the situation sinking in. But it’s not long before Jenny is laughing about some crazy thing that happened at the club. She loves being there as much as I do. Probably more. She was born to be an old lady, too bad none of the MC guys are what she’s looking for.

Jenny gets up and reaches her hands out to help me up. "Come on Lil Momma, let's get outta here. We've got a party to prep for, and you've got some big news to drop." She winks at me, and I can't help but smile.

"Lead the way," I say, and together we walk out of the salon, ready to face whatever comes next.

The thump of bass vibrates through the compound, a rhythm that's got everyone's blood pumping. I weave through a sea of leather and denim. The Iron Reapers sure know how to throw down.

"Hey!" I call out, my voice barely cutting through the roar. Heads start to turn, curious faces emerging from the haze of cigarette smoke.

"Listen up!" My heart hammers against my ribs. This is it, no going back now. Slowly, the chatter dies down, all eyes on me.

"Mason," I begin, my gaze seeking him out. He's leaning against the bar, that permanent scowl etched onto his rugged face. "I've got something to say."

He straightens up, that fierce attention locking onto me. It feels like an eternity passes before I find the courage to continue.

"I'm pregnant." The words echo in the sudden silence. For a moment, nobody moves. Then, like a dam breaking, cheers erupt around us.

"Damn, girl!" someone shouts, and laughter ripples through the crowd.

"Congrats, Carlie!" another yells, raising their beer in salute.

But all I see is Mason – his dark eyes wide, shock carving deep lines into his tattooed face. He's always been this immovable force, but right now, he looks like I've just hit him with a freight train.

"Pres?" My voice trembles, a mix of hope and fear. "Say something."

He doesn't speak, though. Instead, Mason pushes off from the bar, his heavy boots thudding across the floor. The room holds its breath as he closes the space between us. His hands cup my face, those dark eyes searching mine for a truth that only I can give.

"My baby is having my baby?" It's barely audible, a raw whisper filled with a vulnerability I've never seen in him before.

"Our baby," I reply, my own voice matching his intensity.

And then he's kissing me, a kiss that's all fire and need and future promises. It's a kiss that speaks louder than any words could, telling me everything I need to know about this man, this president of the Iron Reapers, who has my heart and now a piece of my soul growing inside me.

Around us, the party roars back to life, but we're in our own world—just Mason, just me, just this love that's stronger than steel and wilder than the open road.