Epilogue
Iwalked up to the library building, standing beneath the overhang and looking out over Walton University’s campus. Autumn was in full swing, the leaves changing to beautiful shades of red and orange. The air was crisp. I hugged my textbooks against my front, glad I’d worn a cardigan.
My phone chimed and I wrestled it from my pocket. It was from Bastian.
Bastian
Hope class went okay? I’m about ten minutes away.
I smiled and sent him a quick text in response.
A cluster of leaves blew across the cement in front of me, rustling my pink hair against my skin. I could have dyed it back to my natural color, but I’d grown fond of it. I didn’t bother with tinted contacts anymore, either.
As a surprise, Bastian had enlisted the skills of a couple WBI friends to dig up my hidden records from the university database.
Turned out I only had twelve units left to complete my master’s degree, along with a thesis paper.
Given my involvement in returning the library’s missing artifacts, for which Bastian had insisted I receive all the credit, the university was practically begging to have me here.
They had no problem making an exception for my late enrollment at the end of the summer, giving me back my position in the program. They’d even noted on my records that I’d taken a two-year leave of absence for personal reasons. Normally, only a single semester was permitted.
I wasn’t certain, but I had a mind to go for my Ph.D afterward.
Possibly even take up Professor Miller’s work here at the university.
Bastian had already given me his full support on the matter, encouraging me to do exactly that.
He’d admitted that it would be ‘cool’ if his mate was an ‘artifact hunter.’
Of course, I’d snorted.
“Has a good ring to it,” he’d claimed, a gleam in his eyes.
So, here I was, my first semester back at WU and already four weeks in.
I was doing it—I was going after my dreams. I was reclaiming the life Luke Portman had stolen from me.
And this time, I had someone so much better supporting me along the way.
Bastian had shown me what a healthy relationship looked like, and now I couldn’t believe I’d ever fallen for Luke’s bullshit.
But that’s how destructive relationships worked.
Sometimes, after getting stuck in a pot of water, it was impossible to sense the temperature rising around you.
I was just glad I had people in my life to pull me from the pot if things got too bad. Not that they would. Not this time.
I walked toward parking lot when I spotted Bastian’s sleek sports car pulling into a spot.
I studied his muscled body as he emerged, broad shoulders, trim hips, gorgeous face.
He walked over to one of the permit boxes and punched in a few numbers, grabbing the temporary permit to avoid another ticket.
It was hard not to drool over the sight of him.
He slipped the pass into the windshield of his car before slamming the door and heading my way.
A couple girls passing by, their arms laden with books, paused to watch him. Sorry ladies, I wanted to say. He’s taken.
My eyes locked on Bastian’s as he walked toward me. Heat simmered between us. Even four months later, and not an ounce of desire had disappeared. In fact, it was the opposite. Everything just kept getting better.
That’s not to say it was always easy, moving through our lives together. We argued. Bickered. Sometimes fought.
A month after the incident with Marsh Thadur, he convinced me to move in.
It wasn’t a difficult decision, considering I spent most of my nights with him anyway.
Plus, Tara and Vivi had turned into a serious thing and they were eager to move in together, too.
That had definitely been an adjustment for us, growing pains and all.
Vivi and I shared custody of Teddy, alternating each week. Teddy didn’t mind, and neither did Bastian, considering he cuddled Teddy more than I did. Yeah, the cat had definitely grown on him.
“Hey, baby girl.” Bastian hooked an elbow around my neck, leaning in to plant a sloppy kiss on my lips. Didn’t matter that we were standing in public in broad daylight. Then he took my books from my arms and made them disappear. “You ready?”
“I think so.” I had to swallow against my suddenly dry throat.
We walked across campus to the health and wellness building. I checked in and he sat with me in the waiting room. A few minutes later, an attendant appeared with a clipboard. “Eleanor Kennedy? Dr. Rosmond will see you now.”
I stood, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans. Bastian stood too, taking my hand and kissing my palm. “I’ll be right here, waiting. You’ll do fine.”
I nodded, not sure I trusted my voice, then followed the attendant into the hallway. She asked for my date of birth, checking a couple things off her clipboard for admin purposes, then stopped outside an office door, knocking.
A soft voice called for us from within, and I was ushered inside.
“Ahh. Elle, welcome.”
“Hi Dr. Rosmond.” I tried to keep my voice from wavering as I shook her hand.
“Oh, please, call me Kelly.” I nodded. “Have a seat and tell me what I can help you with.”
I sat down across from her. Her desk was littered with papers, a laptop, and several family photos. I cleared my throat. “I saw online that there were several open positions for mentors? For the domestic abuse prevention and rehabilitation programs offered through health services?”
“Ah. Yes. Of course.”
“I’d… I’d like to speak with you about becoming a mentor. Like, what it might entail? And see if I would be a good fit.” My heart pounded in my chest. When I’d come across the listings on the health and wellness site, I’d shown Bastian and he’d encouraged me to seek it out.
“Fantastic,” Dr. Rosmond said, her soft expression melting into a smile.
I liked her voice, it was calming. “We are looking to help those who are currently suffering or have suffered various forms of abuse—both mental and physical. It’s one of the new programs we’re getting off the ground, but as you can imagine, there haven’t been many people eager to come out and volunteer for the positions. So our need is rather dire.”
“Right. I can see that as being a challenge.”
“Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself and why you feel you’d be a good fit for this position.
As you can imagine, personal experience will play a large role in fitment.
However, if there is anything you are uncomfortable sharing, do not force yourself outside your comfort zone.
We take those things very seriously and would never ask you to talk about something you don’t wish to share. ”
I nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, then launched into my tale.
Something about Dr. Rosmond put me at ease.
There were very few people in my life who knew all the details of what I’d suffered at Luke’s hand, but I wanted her to be one of them.
We spent the next hour in a deep discussion before she dismissed me from her office.
I felt so light, and there was an added spring in my step.
I found Bastian in the waiting room, his ankle propped up on his knee, scrolling on his phone.
For a moment, I just stared at him. All I could think was how damn lucky I was to have him.
How thankful I was that we’d been brought together under unfortunate circumstances.
I hated that Professor Miller’s death had done it, but I sent a silent prayer to her, wherever she was, for being the reason we’d discovered each other.
Sensing my entry, Bastian looked up. Our eyes connected and I grinned. A smile tugged at his lips. He stood, coming over, wrapping his arm around my waist as he pulled me against his side.
“Well?” He guided me from the building, back out into the cool autumn air. Feeling the chill, he tugged the corner of my cardigan more tightly over my chest, as if he worried I might be cold. “Looks like things went okay?”
"I got it!" I breathed, excitement billowing out of me. My heart hadn't stopped hammering and my cheeks hurt. "Dr. Rosmond said that she's got a number of candidates looking for mentorship, that depending on what my schedule allows, she's got two or three she can team me up with."
"Baby girl…" Bastian's low growl sent warmth bursting through my chest. "That's fucking fantastic.
I'm so proud of you for doing this, for being brave like this, for facing your fears, for being so selfless and giving.
You're going to make a difference in these peoples' lives in a big way.
" My throat tightened and I nodded, blinking back tears.
He was right. That was exactly what I wanted.
“When do you start?" There was genuine curiosity in his voice.
"She said she'll call me next week to set up the first meeting.” I sucked in a breath.
"I… I really want to help, you know? Not everyone has someone like Vivi.
Not everyone is lucky like that. I don't know what I would have done without her.
I… I might have done something…drastic." He went rigid against me.
"I guess I'm just hoping my experiences might help other people. "
He blew out a breath, relaxing. "They will. I know they will." Then he bent down and kissed my forehead, his lips lingering. I wrapped my arms around his middle as we made the walk back to the library parking lot.
Months ago, I never imagined that spilling this goblin’s coffee down the front of my shirt would bring us here, to this moment.
I never imagined that someone could so thoroughly disrupt my life in the best way.
That someone could give me a reason to work past my wounds, to stitch them up, let them heal, and be okay with seeing the scars.
That was Bastian. He didn’t mind a few scars.
After all, he had some himself. He was okay with me in any form.
My mate was…everything. And for that, I felt like the luckiest girl alive.