Epilogue
Nyx
Two Years Later
“Queen Luna?”
I look up, spotting Sawyer at the door. “Yes?”
“You have visitors. May I send them in?”
“Yes. But it’s okay,” I answer. “I’ll come with you instead.”
Before I can stand, he’s already disappeared from view, much to my frustration.
And the guys think I have a listening problem. Rude.
Determined to not stay put because I’m not fragile glass, I get up, heading toward the door when a familiar face walks in—complimentary scowl and all.
“For damn sake, Stevens, sit the hell down.”
My face deadpans as I cross my arms. “I’m pregnant, Alpha Daxton. Not injured or dead.”
He raises an eyebrow as Luna Grace appears beside him with her warm smile. “Nyx, it’s so good to see you,” she says, leaving her mate by the doorway to embrace me in a hug.
I manage to somehow at least get my arms around her shoulders. By the time we pull back, I’m pathetically panting.
“Sit,” Alpha Daxton orders to my dismay.
Reluctantly, I do as he suggests but with narrowed eyes. I won’t admit it out loud, but damn it feels good to sit. It feels like every tiny step I take, breathing is a challenge. Not to mention my ankles are swollen and I’m fairly certain my back might break again.
A sigh of relief leaves my lips and I motion for the two of them to sit.
“The guys shouldn’t be too long,” I tell them. “Last I heard they were fighting over the nursery furniture and who should put it together.”
Luna Grace laughs. “Surely a team effort would be the best answer.”
“You’d think so,” I agree. “But even with them having their own, it’s still a massive discussion that needs a seven point plan.”
They should have just listened to me when I said to do one crib each. After all, it makes the most sense.
Since I’m carrying frigging triplets.
I nearly fainted when Dr. Madison said there were three of them in there. At the time, my stomach was still flat so it was a little hard to believe. That didn’t last long though, and now I can confidently say I’m easily the size of a celestial body.
I wonder if that was payback for avoiding being pregnant for so long.
To this day, Dr. Madison still isn’t entirely sure how we didn’t conceive straight away once I found my mates.
I have a theory that it all came down to divine timing.
The world was in such chaos that I had the task of fixing the problems first. Then, when things settled and the monarchy was established and we had time to set procedures, the universe decided it was time to continue the bloodline.
“Any day now,” Alpha Daxton says. “They better get a move on.”
Nodding, I instinctively rub my stomach. “Dr. Madison thought they’d already be here by now. I’m surprised she was wrong.”
“I’m not surprised. Of course your children got your genes. They are already running late—just like their mother. Maverick’s punctuality genes didn’t stand a chance.”
“I tried my best,” comes Maverick’s voice as the three guys walk in. “I dare say it’s because his sisters are holding him hostage in there. That’s Lex and Cade’s fault.”
Cade claps a hand on his shoulder. “Our daughters will be strong and stubborn just like their mother. He will have his work cut out for him as the only boy. Many fun times ahead.”
Lex bypasses the two of them, shaking hands with Alpha Daxton and Luna Grace before placing a kiss on my cheek. “I asked the kitchen to bring up some pancakes for you. Extra cucumber.”
I groan. “Thank you. And you mentioned the—”
“Salt. Yes.”
Luna Grace’s eyes widen slightly. “That’s… an interesting combination.”
“It’s disgusting,” Alpha Daxton clarifies. “Though you weren’t any better, sweetheart. I remember you summoning me to bring hard-boiled eggs without yolks covered in peanut butter.”
“That actually sounds quite good,” I remark, looking at Lex. “Can you tell them to add that? Ouch!”
My hand rubs my stomach as the mini pups continue to kick the shit out of me.
I don’t blame them though. It has to be cramped in there.
Secretly, I’m ready for this to be over.
Every time I sneeze it’s a massive fight not to piss myself and don’t even get me started on my inability to sleep properly.
Oh, the things I would do to be able to lay on my stomach.
It’s okay though. Even though Dr. Madison’s guesstimate was off, Marie told me this morning that the triplets will be born tomorrow. I haven’t told the guys yet. I want to see them absolutely lose their shit and panic when I go into labor. My bet is on Maverick actually having a nervous breakdown.
Everyone is waiting eagerly for the news of our impending arrival. Even since we announced that we were expecting, the packs have been overjoyed.
There’s been a lot of movement in the central part of town, people travelling in for the hope of hearing the news first. Thankfully, it won't take too long.
After we joined the packs together and made the vacant land at the top of the star formation our permanent home, everyone just considers themselves as one pack.
While we gave the packs the choice as to where they wanted to live, most people chose to stay on their respective land but move freely about.
Beau and Lena live near the border of Summer Valley, but as we get closer to the pups being born, Beau has been spending more time on the royal grounds to fulfil his Beta duties. They should pretty much just make the cottage their home really, especially since Beau will be stepping up with duties.
The guys are going to take some time away from their active roles to be with the children, so Beau, Sawyer and Darius are filling in. While they will commute back and forth to their main territories, I can’t see the guys being eager to return straight away.
They will always be alphas—leaders. But as I said to them, it’s time for them to be leaders to their children.
After watching all the stress Luna Grace went through during Orson’s mission to wipe out wolves, I want the guys to enjoy being dads—to spend as much time with them as possible.
The world is at peace now, and with the packs joined, there’s little reason to travel or be handling tasks.
Of course, we still oversee and govern all the wolf packs. That itself entails a lot of meetings and procedures. But for the most part, aside from little issues here and there, packs are happy to resolve issues themselves.
Alphas and betas just talk now, negotiating and discussing plans cordially. Everything is signed off by us, but there’s a feeling of security for everyone. Knowing someone like Orson can’t repeat what he did, packs are free to just exist.
It feels weird being in charge of not only our own packs, but the wolf world too. Having to approve requests from Alpha Daxton for matters expanding outside of Shadow Creek is still strange to me. To be fair, it will never not be bizarre.
He will always be my alpha, my leader.
The upside of this is seeing the growing relationships between packs.
Even Alpha Kingston mellowed out. Darius is able to see Delilah all the time, and when he’s in a good mood, allows visitors to stay.
And of course, we’ve seen a record number of fated mate bonds establishing.
Packs are becoming bound together all the time.
Cade even told me of how someone in the New Moon Pack recently found their mate finally after twenty-eight years. It’s heart-warming to know we helped do that.
After Alpha Daxton and Luna Grace leave, I summon the guys to watch a movie with me. Lex went out of his way to build us a giant bed—big enough for all four of us to sleep on. Someone I still manage to be squished all the time, though that has nothing to do with the sizing.
I swear being pregnant has made them even more territorial. It’s as if one of them needs to be touching me every second of every day. Like now for instance.
Three hands are resting on me from various directions.
“I got you a present,” Cade says, reaching under the bed to pull out a black and white box. “For when the babies are born.”
I smile brightly at him. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“But I wanted to.”
Opening the box, I let out a giggle at the coffee mug. On one side it says World’s Best Wolf Mum while the other says Do not throw.
Groaning, I lean over and kiss him. “I can’t wait to have coffee again.”
“You’re probably going to need it,” Lex laughs. “You’ll have your hands full. But Mom will be back to come help as well.”
Maverick rubs my stomach. “She’ll be fine. The children also have us. Personally, I have no issue with being awake all night.”
“You say that now,” I argue. “But just wait until it’s three in the morning and you’re running on thirty minutes of sleep over four days. You might end up drinking coffee.”
He wrinkles his face in disgust. “Unlikely. Besides, I’ll get second hand high from all the caffeine you end up digesting.”
There’s a sharp stab and cramp in my stomach at his words. At first, I think it’s my body’s way of saying ‘Yes. Give me all the fucking coffee’. But when the pressure doesn’t ease up straight away, I sneak a peek at the time.
It’s nearly midnight.
I try to hide the grin on my face, but Maverick straightens up, staring down at my stomach. “Your abdomen is tightening and spasming under my hand.”
“Ahmm,” I answer, trying to keep my face expressionless.
As excited as I am that it’s go time, I have to admit I’m also downright fucking terrified.
Goddess—please protect my vagina. No concepts of thoughts and prayers, just actual support and assistance for my nether regions, please.
“What do you mean?” Cade asks urgently, putting his hand next to Maverick’s. “Oh, that’s really tight. Braxton Hicks?”
Slowly, I shake my head, watching their faces with amusement.
Lex catches on first, eyes lighting up in excitement. Cade still looks a little confused before sheer panic appears for a split second before vanishing.
“Okay,” he mutters. “Right. We got this.”
“Nyx,” Maverick says in a warning tone. “Are you going into labor?”
I shrug. “Who knows? It is a full moon.”
My expression easily gives away the truth, a wide grin spreading across my face.
Oh, it’s go time, guys. Get ready to meet the alpha prince and princesses. Time to fill up on that coffee.