Epilogue
HEIDI
Two Years Later
T heo grips his father’s hands with less strength than I’d like. It’s a grazing of fingers, really. His tiny legs wobble and he’s out of balance, vacillating from one side to the other. I press a hand to my chest, gritting my teeth in a perfect mask of terror.
“Hold him tighter, baby,” I squeal to Scott.
As every other time, he laughs me off. “Relax, honey. He’s fine.”
As proof, Theo grins his toothless smile and laughs my way. He lets go of one of his dad’s hands, reaching his cute fingers for me. My baby, my sweet, sweet baby. I have no experience in motherly matters, so everything is new and scary for me. He’s so small. A tiny and brave little thing, wanting to explore the world. Sometimes I just wish he would never have left my womb. That way I could protect him better.
But through stumbles and trips, Theo keeps coming, one hand holding to his dad, the other reaching for me. In a move that makes me lose my breath, Scott releases him.
Theo wobbles but stands on his two legs. With a giggle, he darts to me, step by staggering step. By himself.
My heart explodes and I cry out, tears running down my face as I extend my arms to him. “Come to mama!”
He starts to fall mid-step, and I watch in slow-motion as his expression of joy turns to hesitation. He’s dropping. He’s falling. My heart plummets to my stomach and I prepare to jump to protect him.
Scott picks him up just in time, bringing him up to his arms as if that’s the most usual thing in the world. He laughs, throwing our baby up in the air and collecting him again to a symphony of laughter.
I slap his arm. “God, I almost died of fear. Let’s never do this again.”
Grinning, Scott drapes an arm around my shoulders, holding Theo to his chest. “Baby, chill. Kids trip, they fall and they get hurt. And they’re fine just like that. They have to learn.”
“I know.” I grit my teeth. “But I don’t like it.”
Stealing Theo from his arms, I bring him to mine, kissing the curls atop his head. My son ropes his fingers through my hair, mumbling unintelligible sounds as he does so.
Scott reaches a hand to my lower belly, my bump starting to show. “Baby, look. Kids have to have their experiences. Besides, they’re shifters. They’re even harder to break than human kids.”
I jut out my lower lip. “Still... I’m always so frightened of something happening to one of them. One of you.”
Scott kisses me softly, burying a hand into my hair. “Nothing will happen. We’re safe here. The shifters around us will also keep us safe. Besides, your mate will make sure no one even thinks about touching you.”
I smile into the kiss, nudging myself closer. Scott draws circles on my lower belly, where our second son grows, and Theo digs his hand in his father’s beard. I watch the scene for a couple of heartbeats, my heart so full of love and affection it makes me cry.
“You all right?” He asks immediately. Always worried. Always paying attention.
I nod. “Just... Happy. Really happy.”
Scott smiles. “Good. Let’s get inside and I’ll make you even giddier,” he promises with a lopsided grin that makes my girl parts squeal.
Grinning, I rub myself against his already-hardening cock. “I love this idea.” I kiss him harder, tasting his lips and committing this moment to memory.
“I love you,” he says into my mouth, sweet in opposition to the hand snaking inside my pants. He never tires of me. His hunger is always here, always burning white-hot.
As does our love. Fierce and permanent. Unmoving. “I love you too.”
Meeting him could have happened earlier. But with his shifter nature, things are harder. There’s a secret to keep. Sometimes I wish we could have met earlier. But life has brought us together, anyway.
He takes me inside, and he makes love to me. And with every brush of his lips, he promises me we’re never parting. He’s never leaving me. His love won’t ever dwindle, won’t ever disappear. His presence will forever be the starkest, stable thing in my life.
Scott’s my mate. And being mates means this is a forever business. Made for one another. Meant to be. Something out of fairy tales, but in real life. A dream coming true.
And this is just how I like it.
THE END