Epilogue - 1 #2
It was now converted to our personal Den, fully equipped with the comfiest couch, a fully functioning kitchen, a large dining table with fifteen seats, indoor swings, a dedicated play area for Shadow, and a large bed where the five of us could sleep comfortably.
This time around, the Den was a space completely dedicated to relaxing and comfort.
We’d made it a rule to have Sunday lunches at the Den together.
Last week, I’d invited my family for Sunday lunch with the girls and Dominic’s family.
Dominic’s family officially met mine, and it was nothing short of miraculous.
I’d feared that our different cultural backgrounds would be an obstacle.
However, our parents found common ground in the similarities between Korean and Indian cultures and traditions.
Both our cultures value the importance of family, passing down traditions to younger generations, spicy foods, and a love for one's country of origin.
To think about the time before I’d met Dominic, my girls were my only family.
To think I had closed myself off to the world so much that I’d refused to love others and let others love me.
And now, Dominic had not only gifted me the love of his family but also opened my heart and given me the strength to let my own family back into my world.
As awful as the circumstances were under which he’d entered my life, the life we were building with the love of so many people around us was something I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams.
Dominic and I walked into the foyer of Wildcats HQ and were welcomed by all the people we loved and cherished. In another time, in a world without Dominic by my side, that would’ve been just four of my girls.
But as the five of us cut the ribbon at the double doors to our brand-new headquarters, we were surrounded by my family, Dominic’s family, and Lena’s parents.
My mom pulled me into a hug after we entered the new space, her blessings like a warm, protective blanket over my soul.
Her eyes shone with tears as she held my cheeks, the feel of her soft fingers taking me back in time.
“I’m so proud of you, beta. You’re so strong.
So brave. I know why you stayed away from us.
But never again. I never want you to worry about our safety while you’re avenging those who are suffering.
You fight like a soldier. You must give us the honor of being the parents of a soldier.
They don’t cower. They aren’t afraid for their life.
Let us do the same. We love you. And we would die for you, beta . Just never push us away again.”
Tears dripped down my face as I nodded and pulled Maa into my arms. “I promise, Maa. No more running. And I’m never going to let anything happen to you. We have a lot to catch up on. You need to move into this building quickly now so you can feed me all your food all the time. I miss your cooking.”
I pouted at her, trying to convince her to move into this building already. But as proud parents of their daughter, their pride wouldn’t allow them to move into a million-dollar apartment gifted to them by their daughter’s life partner.
We kept trying to convince them, but my dad’s pride wouldn’t be swayed.
With Maa by my side, I looked around to find Arya deep in conversation with Tara.
Apparently, they quickly formed a friendship when they came for Sunday brunch, as they share a common interest in computer science and are close in age.
It was the first time I’d seen Tara in an animated discussion with someone other than the four of us, and it made my heart unreasonably happy.
She still kept her mask on. But one day, I knew she would claim all parts of herself and live her life without any mask.
Sloane, Naomi, and Lena stood with Dominic, making him laugh as they all drank the champagne and ate the delicious appetizers being carried around by the servers.
Despite this being a small, private event, Dominic had arranged for catering services with an extensive dinner spread.
We had Korean food, Indian food, and a full bar with a bartender mixing up cocktails like a pro.
Starting tomorrow, Tara would send out mass alerts to all our contacts, all the ladies who used to come to Thunder Claw for training, with the new information on our location. Now that we had a bigger space, it was time for the Wildcats to grow. We were all ready.
And when I walked to Dominic, he pulled me into his chest as his smile touched my heart. The love shining in his eyes was so bright it made my heart glow. He looked at me like I was all he saw. He was the shore to my storm, he was the sun to my darkness. His love was his utter dedication to me.
It was in the way he laid his entire world at my feet.
It was in his commitment to the purpose of my life.
It was in the way he fought me for dominance but never disrespected my boundaries.
It was in the way he made me feel safe in a world full of darkness and danger.
His love was my strength, and I would demolish any danger that came his way, destroy any soul that dared to harm him, and raze the ground that his enemies tried to step on.
He was mine. To keep. To protect. To cherish. To love.
Forever.