Epilogue #2
People stopped us as we passed to say hello to the newest member of the pack.
All children were pack despite not taking the oath until much later.
We considered Angelica pack even with her being born in another pack, yet she wouldn’t join the Sweetwater link until she was eighteen.
The same went for Kade’s children and Hayden.
They had access to our family link with our blood connection.
My link to Jasper created one with Kade and Angelica, since technically they weren’t mine.
We didn’t use it often, sticking to our mating bond.
It was useful for emergencies and had helped Kade track Elliotte while Roan lay bleeding.
Never get between an omega and their baby.
Kade had nearly ripped the intruder apart before they could question him.
Our longest pause was at the omega area of the compound as the other omegas all came to welcome another baby. The pack had been so blessed, but still didn’t take any birth for granted. They gave Hayden multiple blessings and kisses until he got a little fussy about the attention.
Picking up speed and cutting off conversations felt rude, but necessary. Our little man was tired of people and wanted to eat.
“Oh, we should invite Dad and Papa and get family pictures! Do you think Axel and Chase will be there?” Jasper asked.
“That’s a great idea. I want to look back and remember this time.
All the babies meeting for the first time.
” Shifter babies grew quickly until they began to walk.
Something about not being vulnerable and having their shifter side match their human form.
Generally, shifter babies were saying words and walking by six months old.
I was already looking forward to Hayden sleeping through the night.
We’d pay for it in the teenage years with hormones and alters causing chaos.
Jasper made some calls as we approached the house and, by the sounds of it, the prospect of taking photos excited our extended family. “We need to get Roan in the pictures, too. He’s part of our family, especially after saving Elliotte.”
I adored Jasper’s forgiving heart. He never once spoke of feelings of recrimination towards the young man.
He’d understood that Roan was too young to carry such a burden and to go against his alpha.
Roan had done the right thing and likely saved all their lives.
“You’re right. He’s family.” His own had long since lost contact while he worked for the council to earn his pardon.
The mansion was in an uproar with furtive looks and whispered words when we entered. They stopped to say hello and look at Hayden, but he started crying for his milk, so we rushed to the family room to feed him.
“Wait!” a familiar voice called. “You can’t go in there.
” Dalton dashed after us. He was Axel’s assistant, another of the betas still recovering from the sickness.
Like Axel, he’d been down for a month. More than half of the pack betas had been down that long and all woke within hours of each other. The whole thing was utterly bizarre.
“We need to feed Hayden.” I said, heading for the slightly ajar door. I paused when I heard raised voices.
“They won’t be long, by the sounds of it. How about you head to your desk and feed him there? He’s a cutie, by the way.” Dalton looked dreamily at the wriggling baby in my arms.
Go. I’ll wait here . Jasper said.
Dalton led me back to where our desks stood in a large vestibule next to Blake and Kade’s offices.
He stood guard, holding Hayden for me as I cleaned my hands and made up the bottle.
“Would you like to feed him?” I asked. Dalton’s expression broke my heart.
There was a desperate longing and aching sadness that had me making the offer.
His eyes lit up. “Could I? I’ve not had a chance to feed the triplets yet. I love babies so much!”
My heart broke for him. Wordlessly, I handed over the bottle and a muslin cloth to prevent any spills from making a mess.
The beta sat at his desk carefully, adjusted his position and fed Hayden. His expression changed to one of wonder, though there was still a tinge of pain.
Goddess! Jasper exclaimed as I opened the bond for him to see. I just wish —
Yeah, me too .
Hayden guzzled his milk, and Dalton made a valiant effort to burp him, to no avail. “Here, let me try.”
“Go to Daddy, little cub.” Dalton kissed Hayden’s forehead and whispered a blessing. “Thank you,” he said, sounding wrecked as he handed my son back to me.
“Thanks for your help.” I placed Hayden on my shoulder and patted his back gently. He burped, the sound so loud in the quiet room. “One more.” I urged, feeling his body tight with the gas still inside him. His next burp was wet. Hayden spit up all down my back, covering us both. “Fuck!”
Dalton chuckled, and I felt Jasper’s laughter over the bond.
Jasper
I couldn’t help laughing at my mate as he was covered, yet again, by baby vomit. Fatherhood had come so naturally to him it was easy to forget that this was all new to him.
Leaving the bond open so he could complain to me as he cleaned the pair of them up, I tuned into the conversation going on in the large living room.
There weren’t any silencing wards, so it was easy to overhear the heated words.
Angelica stood stock still, intimidated by the angry voice emanating from the room.
“Ludicrous! You can’t expect the council to go along with this!” He barked.
Next to me, Angel flinched. Melody shot me a sympathetic look as she neared the hallway where we stood waiting, guiding Aldrin and James to me.
No visitors were supposed to wander the house without an escort.
“They’ve been arguing in there for the last thirty minutes.
Kade’s stuck in there with the babies, Axel and Chase, while Blake argues with the guy. ”
“Here, Angel, come with grandpa and Melody to find Daddy.” James held out a hand for her and she took it gratefully. I shot him a smile in thanks.
I wandered closer to the door to hear better. “So you support this, then?” I thought I recognized the voice.
Blake’s voice was flat and hard. A tone that I hadn’t heard from him before. “I support my friend and pack mate in a decision that makes sense after seeing them interact.”
The other man made a scoffing noise.
“More to the point.” Blake continued. “Our goddess endorses the union, too. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked.
” I could almost see the smug satisfaction on Blake’s face.
He wasn’t one to rub things in someone’s face.
He wasn’t petty, one of the many things I liked about him because he could have mistreated me after our initial meeting.
No, he was fair and kind, only until a point. The young alpha was no pushover.
“But—“ The man’s voice was filled with fury. “It isn’t done!”
“Clearly times are changing.” Blake said calmly.
“Times are heading into the shitter, you mean! This absurd mating my son has entered into is just the tip of the iceberg! This sickness and then that abomination was born!” He spat. I swore I knew that voice.
“Sir, you better not be talking about my daughter. The elves and the council both agree that she is a return to the old ways.” Ice filled my veins at the deadly quiet tone Blake used. He was the calm before the storm. One wrong move from his guest and there would be blood.
“Where is the proof?”
“Look, old man, you don’t get to come here and talk about my family like that.” Uh-oh. Kade was wading in.
What’s going on, Jasper?
Keep Hayden back and listen.
I opened the bond wider so Dakota could listen through me.
“My daughter is not an abomination. She is a sign that The Luna is sick of domineering alphas like you and wants a return of a fairer shifter society. One where omegas aren’t treated as just brood mares.” Both the pack link and our family bond bristled with Kade’s fury.
“Alpha Stewart, I think it’s time for you to leave before you create irreparable damage between our packs.
As it is, you’ve insulted your son, my mate, and my daughter.
I suggest you apologize and get the hell out of my territory.
We will report this to the council, and you are already on a watch list. I’m willing to put this down to an excess of emotions at being reunited with your son after so long. ” Blake cut in.
There was a long pause, and I felt Dakota’s tension. “You’re right, of course, Alpha. I apologize for my remark about your child. That was out of line. Any child born is a blessing and I cannot guess The Luna’s plan for shifters.”
“We will accept your apology. I will still note your remarks after the attack on my child. I hope you understand.”
“Of course, Alpha Sweetwater. My apologies to you too, Alpha Mate. I was out of line. Can we just put this down to shock? I came here to trace my son. It’s been six years since I’ve seen or heard from him. Then I find him changed and mated. Then you, Ryder. Sorry, Kade.”
I should have recognised the name Stewart. This was Roan’s father. Shock rippled along the bond even as Kade accepted the alpha’s words. I couldn’t imagine how he was feeling coming face to face with the man that would have been his father-in-law.
“For what it’s worth, Kade. I’m happy to see you in a fated match. Thank you for being so kind to my boy. You were always better than your father deserved in a son.”
There was some murmuring, but I tuned them out. Are you okay? We are on our way. Dakota sent.
I’ll be better when you are here.
The door opened as Dakota put an arm around my waist. Hayden was in James’s arms. Both looking happy and content.
“Oh, Jasper.” Xavier Stewart hadn’t aged a day physically. His skin was dark and unlined. No grays peppered his dark locs. Though there was a tiredness in his striking green eyes that hadn’t been there before. He looked Dakota over. “Your fated?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Xavier, this is my mate, Dakota. You won’t remember Angelica, I’m sure. These are Dakota’s parents and our son, Hayden.” Turning to Dakota and our family, I explained. “This is Roan’s alpha father. I believe he is running what remains of the Hayes pack under council guidance.”
Xavier flinched. “We disbanded after Rincoln died. Good riddance.” His eyes widened. “I’m sorry.”
Reaching out, I laid a hand on his arm. “Yes. The world is better off without his delusions of grandeur. I’m just glad you can see it, too.”
“Might be too little too late, I’m afraid. I messed things up with Roan. He won’t even be in the same room with me. I just don’t get it!”
“Get what?”
“His mating!”
“Who is his mate?” What was going on? Why was there an issue?
“I’m sorry, I need to go!” With that bombshell, Xavier left.
We all stared after the man until I heard Kade shout, “my brother is here!” He found us all standing in the hallway and ushered us into the room.
I wanted to ask questions, but there was no chance to, with Kade sweeping us up like a tornado and stealing Hayden from James.
The look as Kade sat with Hayden in his arms was priceless.
Who knew that months ago when my former mate died that I would get all this?
Ryder was gone with a stronger, fiercer Kade in his place.
A man that I was honored to call my son.
A son-in-law who was so generous with his love that he healed a damaged heart and body.
They’d given me my mate.
My children had a father they could be proud of. A man that renewed my faith in our goddess.
Dakota was everything that I’d never known to want. Gorgeous, sweet, faithful, and so loving. His ready acceptance of my children only strengthened my love for him.
Even after rejecting my mate, the Sweetwater pack gave me a family again.
The photos that we took that day were perfect and would decorate our sitting room, especially a shot with our precious grandbabies looking at each other with too much knowledge in their eyes.
The one with just our kids, including Blake, Chase and Axel, because they belonged to us now too, would sit pride of place on my bedside table alongside the one of just me and Dakota.
“Kade?”
“Yeah Dad?” He replied distractedly as he tried to change a squirming Felix.
“Would you be my best man?” Dakota asked.
“Sure thing.” He continued changing his baby.
“Blake?”
He looked amused as I directed my words to him. “Would you be my best man, son?” It felt strange to stick son in there, but he needed to know how I felt. Our relationship may have started out rocky; it wasn’t how it was now. We were long past that.
“Yes… Papa.” Blake blurred as my eyes filled with tears. I went to Blake and hugged him. “Thanks, Papa,” he said against my hair.
“You’re welcome, son.” It was getting easier to say.
“Wait! You’re getting married?” Kade screeched. He launched himself at his dad.
“We are, and I’m adopting Angelica legally, if that’s okay with you?” Dakota shared a smile with me.
“It is!” Kade beamed.
“I’m getting my dream!” yelled Angelica. She tilted her head back and laughed and I saw then a trace of the vision I had before, of her older and happy.
Seeing the family all together made me brim over with joy. The only dark spot was that Roan was missing. He was a part of his family and I only hoped that he knew we’d support him no matter where The Luna took him next.
The end
The Sweetwater Pack will return in Roan’s book.