Epilogue
Roxy
Two years later
Holding the door frame, I swung into the common room. “Anyone know where Lothar is?” Was I talking too loudly? I felt like I was talking way too loud. Gods, my heart was racing so fast.
“Check the pit,” Rome called from the alcove where he had all his tattoo equipment set up.
“Thanks!” I rushed off, then broke into a run, because I couldn’t hold this in another moment. The smile on my face probably made me look maniacal, but I didn’t care.
The sounds of fists meeting flesh reached me before I rounded the corner and ran into the huge cavern.
War, Jag, and Relic stood to the side, watching on while Lothar worked with Brick in the fighting pit. Brick was still young, a pup as far as I was concerned, but he was a good fighter, quick, and like all young hounds, a complete hussy.
“Rox, hey,” Relic called, a huge, affectionate smile on his face.
“Hey, Scrappy,” I said, grinning, using the name I’d given him when he was a tiny pup.
He was chuckling as he strode over, then slung his arm around my shoulders. “You look happy with yourself.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” I said as I turned to face him and reached up so I could hold his precious face in my hands. “You know Mommy loves you, don’t you, Scrappy?” I said. It was a running joke we all had, but for some reason, my eyes started stinging. I was pretty sure I was going to cry.
Relic laughed, then his smile slipped a little when he noticed. “Rox? Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“And no one can ever replace you,” I said, still trying to carry on the joke and failing miserably because another tear streaked down my face. “And that you’ll always hold a special place in my heart.”
“Why are you talking like that?” Relic said, alarm in his voice. “Are you hurt? Fuck, are you sick?”
“I’m okay, I promise.” Though I’m not sure I was very convincing, since a sob broke free, taking me by surprise.
Relic's eyes widened in alarm, and his gaze sliced down to the pit at the same time as I heard boots thud behind me. A moment later, Lothar spun me to face him, his gaze was wild as he took me in.
They both crowded me, concern sharply etched on their faces.
“What the fuck is going on?” Lothar demanded.
“She just started crying,” Relic said. “And she’s saying a bunch of stuff that—”
“I’m o-okay,” I stuttered, then hiccuped, and then I was crying and laughing, and I couldn’t get the words out.
“Something’s wrong with her,” Lothar said, taking my face in his big hands. “Kitten, talk to me. Did Lucifer do something?”
I’d been hanging with my sisters, and it was the first time I’d spent any real time, quality time with Lucifer.
He’d been walking on eggshells, and I hated that I felt bad, that I wanted to make this better for him.
It was ingrained in me to put him first, but as much as I still loved him, he didn’t hold that position anymore.
My mate did, and he currently looked as if he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
I quickly shook my head, and another sob-laugh fell from me. “N-nothing’s wrong,” I managed.
Lucifer had shared some information with me, though, right before I left, and he was never wrong about these things. Still, I’d confirmed it myself, just to be sure.
His expression turned to one of disbelief. “Bullshit. You’re fucking hysterical. Tell me what happened? Are you in pain?”
I shook my head.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head again.
“Are you sad after seeing Lucifer?”
I shook my head a third time.
His face fell. “Fuck, it’s the 10th isn’t it? Fuck, baby, I’m sorry I should have been with you—”
I pressed my fingers to his lips, stopping him. It wasn’t that. I didn’t need to mourn another year without Lothar, because he was mine.
His gaze went to Relic, and Relic shook his head, looking confounded.
“So it’s not the date? You’re not sad?” Loth said.
“I-I’m happy,” I managed between sobs.
Lothar’s head jerked back, his frown deepening. “Then, baby, why the fuck are you crying?”
I was too emotional to get the words out, and honestly, too afraid to say them out loud as if the universe or fate would snatch it away if I did.
So I did the only thing I could—I took one of Lothar’s big, rough, beautiful hands in mine and placed it on my belly then beamed up at him like the sun was shining through me. Gods, I felt as if it was.
Relic broke out into a huge grin, instantly working it out, then slugged Lothar in the shoulder.
Lothar looked at his firstborn, then back at me, still frowning. He blinked, then his brows shot up. I nodded, and another watery laugh burst from me when his head jerked back again, and his eyes widened.
His fingers spasmed against my belly, and the other shot up, locking around the side of my throat. “You’re…are you saying… are you pregnant?”
“Yes!” I said and laugh-sobbed again.
Lothar hauled me off the ground, wrapping me in his huge arms, holding me to him. “You’re truly having our pup?”
I pressed my mouth to his ear. “Yes, my love. Finally. Oh gods, Lothar. I’m so happy I can’t stand it.”
Lothar
My kitten was trembling against me as I strode from the cavern and along the cave towards our den.
My sweet mate had wanted a pup so badly.
We’d been trying for almost two years without success.
She tried to stay upbeat about it. Roxy was always gifting everyone with her smiles, but I saw the longing, the pain in her eyes.
I’d wanted so badly to give her this. I’d wanted us both to have this, to experience this together, but I’d started to believe it wouldn’t happen for us. It kept me awake at night, wondering how I could make this okay for her.
“Are you happy?” she said against my throat, because her arms were wrapped so tight around me.
“Happy doesn’t cover it, kitten.”
She trembled harder. “For me to find out this news today, of all days…I kind of feel like we’re getting back some of what was taken from us.” She lifted her head and planted a sweet kiss on me. “We can never get back the time we lost—”
“But no one will ever take away one fucking moment, not one, of the eternity we have laid out before us, never again.”
She trembled harder against me, as I strode into our den and closed the door behind us.
Laying her on the bed, I came down on top of her and wrapped her in my arms, tight, the way she loved it.
“You’re going to be the best mom.” My throat went fucking tight.
“Our pup is going to be so fucking lucky to have you to love and protect them. Talk about mama bear,” I said and chuckled roughly.
Her smile was soft as she brushed fingers over my beard. “And you’re going to be the best papa a pup could have.”
I’d only known Roxy was pregnant for a matter of minutes, but I already knew that I’d protect the tiny pup she was carrying with my life. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
“Me either,” she whispered.
Her black hair was fanned out around her gorgeous face, her cheeks pink, her eyes puffy from crying.
I’d never seen a more beautiful sight in my life.
I held the side of her face and swiped away the tears dampening her cheek.
“I fucking love you, Roxy, but you are stubborn as fuck, so warning, I’m going to be on the over-protective side, and I’m gonna need you to let me. ”
She laughed, sweet and musical. “You crack me up.”
“I’m not joking, Rox.”
“Right,” she said, still laughing, then pounced, getting me in some insane hold, and flipped me to my back, reversing our positions, then grinned down at me. “Good luck with that, big guy. Now take off your pants.”
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close, while we both laughed.
THANK YOU!
I hope you loved Lothar and Roxy’s story!