Epilogue
EPILOGUE
KALEN
“Is it time, Papa?” Lucian popped into the nursery for the forty-seven billionth time.
I understood why. He was excited. I was too, but that didn’t make his baby sister finish her feeding any faster. Luna liked to savor her meal, unlike Lucian when he was her age. He wanted to eat then go. The second he learned how to crawl, there was no stopping him.
There still wasn’t. He was the fastest runner in school, something he was proud of. He still had a few years until he could join the track team, but I had no doubt that he was going to rule his events. If I were to guess, his lion was going to be like mine in that way.
Arlo had been worried he might not have a beast, that he might take after him like that. No matter how much I reassured him it didn’t matter if Lucian was a shifter or not, that I’d love him just as much either way and I wouldn’t be at all disappointed, I didn’t think he ever fully believed me. You could see the relief on his face when Lucian mentioned his lion at only three. That wasn’t a common age for the communication to begin between beast and human, but not unheard of.
My brother was sure it meant he was going to be an alpha and one day a leader for our pride. I wasn’t sure about the alpha part, his omega father just as fierce as any alpha I’d ever met. But the pride part? Yeah, I doubted that. We’d visited the pride lands fairly often, and while Lucian liked seeing my family and playing with all the kids there, he loved being home more. I didn’t blame him. I did too.
“She’ll be done when she’s done.” The bottle her dad had pumped for her was over half finished, it wasn’t going to be terribly long. “And when she is, I promise to come get you.”
“Fine.” He dragged the word out. “I’m going to wait in the kitchen.”
“Don’t bother your papa.” He was finishing up the cake for the party. “It will take him twice as long if you do.”
“I know.” He was only five, but going on tween with his sighs and eye-rolling. If I were to guess, he was going to be an early shifter, and I kept an eye out for the signs.
He went in the direction of his room, singing about cake. I couldn’t really blame him for being excited. I was too. It was not only his birthday, but it was the day Princess was finally getting her forever home. To celebrate, we had friends and family coming for a party, including my brother who had fully adopted the role of cool uncle.
The last time we had this many people here was for our wedding. It had been small by most people’s standards, but the perfect size for us. We had all the people there who loved us most, sharing in our special day. My family didn’t understand the whole need for the wedding when they came, but the ceremony tugged at all of their heartstrings, and they left with a new found comprehension of the human union.
“Luna, it’s almost time to wow people with your cuteness.”
She didn’t pay attention, still happily drinking away.
“You don’t know this yet, but that tree we’re planting today… it’s special. If it weren’t for the tree she came from, I’d have never met you dad.”
“And he’d still be working too much, never fully living.” Arlo stood in the doorway, frosting in his hair and a smile on his face. “The cake is done. It’s not pretty, but it will probably taste good.”
“I’m sure it’s perfect.”
Luna pulled off the bottle and turned to her dad with a huge grin.
“Looks like someone is ready for Daddy time.”
“You mean she needs a diaper?” Arlo teased, already reaching for her.
“Nope. Changed her before she had her yums.”
“You really are the best mate in the world.” He brought her to his chest, and she let out a very loud burp. “Look at that. I don’t even need to burp you.”
I stood up and wiped the bit of frosting from his face. “They should be getting here soon, and you’ll be surprised by this, but Lucian is ready for them.”
“He’s been asking if it’s time since last night.” Arlo kissed the top of Luna’s head. “My cousin should be here in a few minutes. That should help.”
And as if right on cue, the doorbell rang.
“Lucian, wanna?—”
“I got it.” He bolted past the door and down the stairs.
When my mate and I got there, Arlo’s cousin and his wife were there holding a gift box nearly as large as his torso.
“Is that for me?” Lucian was bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“It is. Show me where the presents go?”
They followed Lucian out back while his dad and I took care of the guests that had just pulled up and made sure the last of the food was put on the table in the sun room we’d added.
It was great seeing our family and friends, eating, chatting, catching up on everything. But the sky was starting to turn gray, a storm rolling in.
“Should we plant Princess before the rain so she gets a nice soak?”
“She came into this world via a storm, it only seems right.” Arlo whistled to get everyone’s attention and then called them to the ring of dirt we’d prepared for her forever home.
Princess had grown a ton since that first day, and it wasn’t a one-man job to transplant her. Good thing we had all of our loved ones there to help. We really should’ve planted her a year ago, but my mate hadn’t been ready.
“Princess is my daily reminder of how what I thought was the worst thing to ever happen to me suddenly became the very best. If it weren’t for that storm and my favorite tree deciding to come into my house instead of staying where it belonged, then I never would’ve met the love of my life and had my beautiful family.” His voice cracked, his emotion thick.
I wrapped my arm around his waist. “Who would’ve thought a bad storm and a wrong number could lead to such a beautiful life.”
Lightning cracked in the distance. “And sappy-word time is over. Let’s go inside and have some cake.”
“And singing,” Lucian called behind him as he ran toward the door.
“And cake.” I took Luna from my brother, and we all walked inside, the rain starting just as I reached the steps.
We spent the afternoon inside celebrating the birthday boy with cake and presents, watching the rain nourish our tree, the lilies we planted in a circle around it, and laughing. So very much laughing.
“Thanks for such a beautiful day.” Arlo fell onto the couch beside me when the last of our guests had left and our children were asleep.
“Thank you, Mate, for my beautiful life. I love you with all that I am and all that I will ever be.”
He climbed onto my lap, facing me, his hands on my cheeks. “I love you, alpha mine. Let me show you how much.” He brought his lips to mine and kissed me until all that was left in this world were the two of us and our love.