37. Epilogue The Next Chapter
Epilogue: The Next Chapter
Fifty Years Later
Fifty years used to be such a long time in my head, but now, it's gone by in a blink of an eye. So much has happened, changed. Change used to scare me, but now, it is an inevitable fact of life. Change will happen, what you do with that change is all that matters.
“Come on, Red. We’ll be late to Annabelle’s party.” Hutch storms into the bathroom and I toss the plastic stick I’m holding beside the sink, hiding it before he can ruin the surprise.
“Yeah, I’m almost ready, just give me a second longer, then we can go.”
Hutch tilts his head, studying my face to try to figure out what I’m hiding.
Before, he would have seen the answer all over my face, but being the Shifter Representative has taught me to keep a blank face all the time so I don’t give away stuff that the public or humans don’t need to know yet.
A few times, I’ve had to hide my feelings while dealing out a punishment, but it is a necessary evil I have to deal with.
“Are you okay, Red?” He sounds a bit hesitant, curious, and worried.
Leaning forward I kiss him on the lips, distracting him like I knew it would. He always falls for it. Just a simple touch or kiss and I can derail his entire thought process. It may be a bit manipulative, but with five mates, I have to use every trick I can.
“I’m perfect, Hutch. I just need to put on some lip gloss and we can go. Wrangle the rest of them into the car please.”
He kisses me one more time before leaving the bathroom.
I wait until I hear his steps on the stairs from the Den before I lean down and snatch the positive test off the floor, looking at the two pink lines again.
I knew that it would happen eventually, but most Supernaturals don’t have children until much, much later in life.
Even if it seems too soon, I’m so excited.
I can’t wait to tell my mates that we will have pups, or Faelings if Cagu is the biological father.
I put on some lip gloss and hide the test, rushing out to get to the car.
Hutch was being honest when he said we’d be late if we don’t get going.
My baby cousin, Annabelle, is having a graduation party tonight, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
I guess, technically, it is hers and Trixie’s graduation party, the two girls only being a few days apart in age, but Annabelle is the one that asked us to go.
Trixie said she already knew we would be there. Cheeky Vampire.
Both of them will be manifesting their designation in about a week and they are nervous, even if Trixie refuses to admit it.
Antoni, Trixie’s older brother, keeps teasing her about manifesting as an Omega and I think all the teasing has put a bad taste in her mouth about being an Omega, so I’m a bit worried about what will happen if she is an Omega.
Annabelle is the opposite, she is nervous about what will happen if she isn’t an Omega.
As her parents’ only child, she tries hard to be perfect.
As we drive over to the Lancaster mansion, I wonder who all will be there.
I’m sure that Shelby will bring Tristan, her nephew that came to live with her when he manifested as an Alpha, especially seeing as he is friends with Antoni.
Samuel and his brother Sylvester will probably be there as well.
I know that Samuel just manifested as an Alpha, so the other boys have kind of taken him under their wing, and Antoni, Samuel, and Tristan are rarely far from each other.
None of them have found their mate or bond mates yet, so they all take comfort from each other.
One of my favorite things to see is how close this generation is.
They don’t think about things like separate races or designation.
They support each other and I think it is beautiful.
The older generation really came around to the new world order quickly as well.
The disputes between races are almost completely nonexistent now, which makes my job much easier.
Pulling up to the house brings me out of my thoughts. I can’t help but smile when I see all the people. Multiple races all gathered together for an event, smiling and laughing. This is what I saw for the future of Supernaturals and I love that it is coming together so wonderfully.
As we get to the back yard, I see Anna and Trixie huddled together, whispering as they watch Antoni and the boys throw a football.
There are a few younger kids running around and the other Omegas of the council are huddled together in the corner.
I turn my body to head that way, but my vision goes completely white, something I’m used to now. I’m getting a vision.
When the white fades from my eyes, I’m standing in one of the Omega rooms at Alpha Falls OA Academy.
The school is my baby, a place to bring all Alphas and Omegas together.
We teach them what it means to be an Alpha and an Omega, lay out all the expectations, teach them about how their bodies and needs differ from other Designations, and prepare them to lead various communities around the world.
Standing in the living room are five girls.
Trixie and Annabelle are there, along with another girl who looks a bit like Anna, there is clearly a Fae there, and a Siren as well.
They are all holding hands, staring at each other.
As one, they lift their left arms and stare at the mark on their wrists.
It is a Star, one that looks like the one on my left wrist. The Goddess mark of the High Council.
Holy shit. This is the new Council, the ones that will take over for us when the time comes.
My vision turns white when the girls share a smile between the five of them.
I blink, trying to clear the fog. When I can see clearly again, my mates are surrounding me.
The council is standing behind them, looking at me as they patiently wait to hear what I saw.
By now, my mates have stopped freaking out every time I get a vision, but when the tears start to fall, they do start to panic.
Cagu is rubbing my face while Erik rushes to get a cup of water.
Skylar is snarling at random people as if that will cure what ails me, and Hutch and CJ wrap their arms around my waist, crushing me between them.
“I’m fine, these are happy tears. I saw the next council." The words are meant for my mates, but I keep eye contact with Kahmil as I say it.
She looks over her shoulder, following the way my eyes move on their own accord.
Trixie and Annabelle are still sitting there, their gazes bouncing between the boys still playing football and the group of people surrounding me.
Clearly, they want to know what is going on, but they are attempting to be subtle about their curiosity.
“Both of them?” Charlotte asks, her gaze following mine and Kahmil’s.
“Yes, and three more.” I don’t give them any more details.
I learned the hard way that sometimes, it is better to just let it play out how it will.
Knowing the future can be a burden and if we try to change it or manipulate it in any way, the consequences could be dire.
For now, I’m just happy that the girls I think of as nieces are destined for great things.
That and, knowing that I will be done with the council so I can get as much time with my little one as possible. That is enough for me. This happily ever after is everything I’ve always dreamed of, and it’s real.