Epilogue
Five years later
My fingers trail over the wet petals of my favorite foxglove plant.
A month after my kidnapping, I became lost in the what comes next portion of my life. I had never been given the opportunity to wonder what comes next. My life had been a consistent state of fight or flight.
Being with my pack provides me with a stability where I could explore my options.
I knew that one way or another, I wanted to be an asset to the family business.
I had mulled over the idea of nursing but quickly decided against that when my stomach rolled over the sight of blood.
Kennedy is much stronger than me in that department.
While I am a half decent shot with a gun, weapons weren’t necessarily my calling. It did take me down the track of a different style of weapon: poison.
I began to do research on the different varieties of plants, quickly falling in love with the research and soon thereafter, the plants themselves.
When I first took the idea to Vic, I was nervous that he would just laugh at me. That he would think my idea was childish or naive but when it came to presenting my idea of using a much more subtle style of fighting, he was eager to hear me out.
A few days later, he led me outside and to a greenhouse he had set up for me to begin growing my own poisonous sanctuary.
It became my savior as I processed my pain and my new reality.
Makari struggled a little bit more than I did in finding his place in the family. It took him a long time to accept that he needed therapy for what he went through.
It was hard watching him having to relieve his trauma. It hurt even more watching his anger take hold.
After four years of hard work, he finally is in a place where he isn’t overcome by the memories of his childhood.
Makari ended up taking an interest in becoming a soldier. There was a lot of hesitation at first, being that he is an Omega, but when Makari all but saved the family during an altercation with an up and coming rival family, he easily solidified his position under Ledger.
The two quickly hit it off, becoming a dangerous combo.
On the day of our one year anniversary, Vic finally handed the reins over to Theo who slid into place as the new Don with ease.
It gave Vic a chance to become a stay at home dad which may have been an oversight on my behalf. My Alpha became obsessed with the idea of seeing me pregnant with his child.
I rub my hand over my swollen belly, cursing his strong will. It may have taken a few years thanks to the damage the suppressants did on my body, but nine months ago after a bit of help from Dr. Maddox, I was able to fall pregnant.
Hands worm their way around my stomach and I groan in relief as Cal lifts my baby bump, taking the weight of nine months of growth off me.
“How is my baby momma feeling this morning?” he whispers, nuzzling my neck and taking in a lung-full of my cherry scent that has blossomed this pregnancy.
“Sore, tired, desperate for this baby to evict herself from my womb.”
Comparing my two pregnancies side by side, my current one puts Amity’s to shame. From the get-go, I have had consistent morning sickness. Pelvic girdle pain has nearly crippled me at the back end of this pregnancy.
I couldn't have asked for better baby daddies than my three Alphas though. Not once have I had to ask for anything. It's almost as though they knew what I needed before I did.
Amity has been beside herself with excitement about finally getting a baby sibling. My now almost nine-year-old took her role as aunt to Koa and Enid—Kennedy, Theo, Jax and Ledger’s children—very seriously.
Her new and rapidly emerging Alpha traits have been a completely different ball game. I don’t know if I would have been able to survive these years without my pack. Especially now that she is hitting her pre-teen years.
Cal rocks me back and forth, slowly walking along with me as I check on my plants. I point out new growths, and talk about the plans I have to grow from here.
Poison has become an incredibly effective tool in the years since I first started in the greenhouse. Theo’s running nickname for me, the Poison Omega, making my name just as deadly along with those of my pack.
We nod at Jasper, my assistant who has taken more control of the greenhouse since I found out the news. Even though being in here and working with the plants is completely safe, my Alphas wanted me to have someone that I could fall back on.
Taking another step, I pause abruptly, looking down at my pants that begin to soak through.
“Hey Cal,” I whisper.
“Yes, Little Devil?”
“It’s time.”
I hold our daughter Peyton Jean to my chest. Her little face is peaceful in sleep, looking so much like her biological father.
I don’t know how I can tell, but I just know that she is Cal’s daughter.
Fresh out of the womb and she already has an attitude that easily matches him.
“She is so perfect. Thank you, baby,” Olis murmurs as we both admire her. His big hand cradles her face, making her seem so much smaller.
The opening of the door has my attention drawing to Amity and Makari who are both the picture of excitement. Cal and Vic follow in behind them with large bouquets of flowers.
Olis moves out of the road, making room for Makari who clambers onto the bed beside me.
“Oh, Mom. Just look at her,” he cooes at his baby sister. Amity’s face lights up as she too hops up on the bed on my other side. Tears form in her eyes, taking in her baby sister. Peyton takes that chance to yawn, making both Makari and Amity fuss over her.
I turn to Makari, nudging him with my elbow to get his attention.
“Do you want to hold her?” I ask, giving him a small reassuring smile. He immediately nods, readjusting himself and holding his hands out. Carefully, I place Peyton in his arms.
“Hi, baby sister. You are so beautiful. No matter what, I will protect you and your big sister for the rest of my life.”
Tears begin to stream down my cheeks as I watch my Alphas come over to our adoptive son. Vic places a hand on his shoulder, giving him a half-hug. Cal picks Amity up, putting her on his lap and scooting in behind me. Olis comes to sit in front of Makari.
Moments later, Kennedy, Jax, Theo and Ledger walk through the door holding a large bouquet of chrysanthemums. I beam, even more so as my best friend Lulu walks through the door with her new partner. Mrs. Perry isn’t too far behind, the older woman fussing over her grandmotherly duties.
I look around at each member of my new family allowing myself to soak in the happiness having them in my life brings me.
After years of fighting, convinced that I would never find happiness, here surrounded by my pack, I finally am free.
Free to love. To live. To make mistakes and learn from them. To heal and process the trauma that broke me for so long.
Because this is my family.
My life.
And no one can take that from me.
Not ever again.