My Secret, My Bully, My Mates.

He laced our fingers together and walked me to the double doors before opening to a massive open concept room. "What is this?"

"We will show you the plans later, we actually need your input on a couple things. What I have to show you is over here." Dakota keeps walking me through to the back. There isn't anything here to indicate what they want to use this space for, so I couldn't even guess, but the windows set in the back wall almost make me cry. They made sure to recapture the entrance to the patio. It was always my favorite thing about the kitchen in the packhouse. But, we don't stop here like I assumed. He keeps pulling me along, his grin getting wider as we go.

"What are you up to?"

"Me? Why would I be up to anything?" He just winks and takes a few more large steps. I'm starting to have to jog to keep up, he's so excited to show me whatever it is. "Okay, Skylar, close your eyes." Oh, damn. He is serious. I think he's used my given name less than a handful of times in my whole life. I don't even hesitate to shut them.

He steps behind me, placing a hand on each shoulder and starts to guide me forward. I hear a metal click, a whoosh, and then I'm hit with warm humid air. "There's no way!" I whisper again. It cannot be possible. Our entire home was completely flattened in the attack. He moves me forward a few more steps. I can hear water trickling not far from me and smell the damp earth freshly tilled and planted. I can smell roses and lavender, jasmine and eucalyptus. It is heavenly. We stop and he shifts me a few times and I have to laugh at him trying to get the angle right.

"Dakota! Can I open my eyes yet?" I whine at him, but with a smile.

He kisses me gently, laughing at his ability to get to me. Once he returns to my back and places both hands Con my shoulders, he whispers, "Take a look."

I open my eyes slowly and I am lost for words for the second time today. It is gorgeous. It's our garden, but so much more. The pool is still in the center with the zero depth walk in, but instead of being rectangular it is a circle in the center of the room. To one corner is a massive lounge area that was definitely made for all four of us to fit comfortably. In another corner a vining plant looks like it is being trained to climb the wall over a black iron dining table with four chairs. To my left the soft

riverstones line the floor and walls where a rain shower head is concealed in the ceiling. To my right raised planting beds house many different plants that I would take a guess pertain to magic somehow. There is a stone path that surrounds the pool and leads to all the corner pockets of the space and plants are everywhere. It is amazing. I turn to Dakota and bury my head in his shoulder and let my happy tears fall.

They did this for me.

"Welcome home, Sky." He whispers. I look up to thank them all, but it's just the two of us.

I pull back confused. "Where..."

"It's my turn. told you we would all have plenty of time in here together." He leans forward, asking for permission and I don't hesitate. This is so amazing. I can't wait to share it with them all, but I can give Kota his time.

UMS