Epilogue
CLYDE
“Daddy, hurry up! Evie and Papa are waiting for us!” Posy shouted, running out the back door with a book.
We were at the cabin the three of us had rented for that first weekend getaway together.
Only now, it was no longer a rental. Around Evie’s fourth birthday, we got a notification that the place we’d come back to multiple times was no longer going to be for rent.
The owner planned to retire and was going to sell.
It didn’t take long for Stephen and me to crunch the numbers and decide that it was meant to be.
And now we spent good chunks of time here in the summer when Posy, and now Evie, didn’t have school.
Some of the time, Stephen or I would commute, but most of the time we were able to get enough internet here to telework.
We loved it. It was our home away from home, and this week was going to be extra special because, if Stephen and I were sensing things correctly, Posy was about to go into her first shift.
I grabbed the bowl of fruit I’d been cutting and brought it outside.
Stephen had the bubble machine going, and both girls were running around and chasing after them.
When Posy set out to be the best big sister ever, she accomplished it, and that included doing what she’d normally have considered baby things, like chasing bubbles as a young teen.
“Look what I got,” I said, setting the bowl down.
Both girls came running, giving Stephen what I was sure was a much-needed break.
He was well into his third trimester with twins, and as much as he loved running around and playing with the kids, he was tired pretty much all the time.
The bubble machine had been a great find, letting him still actively play with them without wearing himself out.
I strongly suspected this would be our last week here until the babies came. I nearly said no to this trip. But the midwife had given the all-clear for this weekend, and we were only an hour away.
“Hello, mate.” Stephen set the bubble machine down and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for cutting up the fruit. I’ve been craving pineapple all day.”
He sat with the girls. We were talking about our plans for the rest of the afternoon when Posy stopped, picked her head up, and scented the air deeply. I’d never seen her do that before.
“Everything okay, honey?” I asked.
“Yeah, it was just… weird. All of a sudden, everything smelled… a lot.”
“Posy, honey,” Stephen called, getting her attention. “Does your skin feel tight? Like, when you move your fingers, does it feel like it’s being stretched?”
She picked her hand up and slowly made a fist. “It is.” She jumped up. “Do you think it’s time?”
“I think maybe.”
“Time for what?” Evie said, her face already a sticky mess from the strawberries. She might’ve been in kindergarten now, but she ate like a toddler.
“Big sis is going to let her wolf out.” Posy squeed.
Over the years, she’d talked a lot about what it would be like for her first shift, and the girl had a plan.
It was going to be Stephen and me shifting alongside her, and we’d run around and play with Evie.
That vision had never changed over the years, but with the twins on their way, it wasn’t possible.
“Can we watch you be fast?” Evie was bouncing on the balls of her feet, nearly as excited as Posy was.
“Of course. Stay here with Papa, and when you see me next time, I’m going to have four paws.” She growled and ran to the back porch.
I joined her and talked her through how to shift again. Then I took my clothes off, put them on the porch, and jumped off, shifting midair. I waited for her. Having my wolf here would encourage hers, or so the theory went.
For my first shift, my parents hadn’t been there for me. I hadn’t had what you would call involved parents, at least not involved with parenting.
Ready to shift, Posy closed her eyes and started to count. The counting was her own addition to the process. I’d have to ask later why she chose to do it. My guess was that it was to keep her from freaking out over what was about to happen.
My wolf went over and nudged her, and nudged her again, then picked up his head and howled. That was enough to draw her wolf up. Her first shift was long and painful, and it broke my heart to see her struggle. But then there her cub was, standing on all fours, tail wagging, proud as could be.
I took off. She chased after me. We ran in circles, letting her try out her new body before walking over to Stephen and Evie.
Evie loved my wolf, not as much as Stephen’s fox, but who could blame her. His beast was stunning and very playful.
I wasn’t surprised to see her fawning all over her sister, patting her fur with sticky fingers, rubbing noses, and then begging Stephen to blow more bubbles for them.
This time, it wasn’t forced fun for her sister to enjoy the activity.
Posy’s wolf was having a blast as she chased bubble after bubble after bubble.
When I first took Posy in, I’d assumed that it would be just her and me forever. I never dared dream of finding someone who would not only accept me but accept Posy and her role in my life. And then Stephen came, barrelling in to save the day when she needed him.
My mate, my best friend, and the most amazing father I could ever want for my children. I shifted back and watched as the kids played, leaning into my mate’s side just enough to feel his warmth, but not enough to topple him over, as he kept the bubble machine going.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Stephen asked.
“Because sometimes it’s hard to believe I could ever find someone I love as much as I love you.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I understand that feeling. I feel it too.”
Posy nipped at my leg. “Looks like her wolf wants me to chase bubbles too.”
I kissed my mate and then took my fur, joining the girls in bubble fun. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon.