Epilogue
Three months later
Baylin
Our omega is fucking glowing. That’s the only word for it. Hilda is sitting in the gardens, one hand resting on her swollen belly, the afternoon sun making her dark skin practically shimmer. She’s wearing a flowy dress, her hair falling around her shoulders.
Pregnant and so fucking beautiful, my balls ache just staring at her.
I’m in wolf form, lying at her feet, keeping guard. Callum is sitting next to her on the bench, his hand covering hers on her stomach. Arkan is nearby, supposedly reading reports but mostly just watching our omega.
We can’t help it. She’s carrying our pups…twins, the healer confirmed it…and every instinct we have screams to protect, provide, fucking guard.
And she’s been handling our constant hovering pretty well. Mostly.
“I can feel you staring,” Hilda grumbles between her teeth without looking at me.
I huff. Not staring. Guarding.
“He’s watching, omega,” Callum corrects, stealing a quick kiss from her full lips. “There’s a difference.”
“There really isn’t.” Smiling, she reaches down to scratch behind my ears. “My overprotective wolves.”
The sound of approaching footsteps makes me lift my head, a low growl rumbling in my chest.
“It must be Snow,” Hilda says calmly, “she said she’d stop by,” but I don’t relax until I see for myself.
Snow White appears around the hedge, and she’s not alone. Prince Caspian is with her, and there’s a new scent on her…
“Hello, stepmother,” Snow says warmly. She’s gotten comfortable calling Hilda that again, now that there’s no evil between them. “I hope we’re not intruding.”
“Not at all.” Hilda gestures to the nearby bench, smiling warmly. “Please sit.”
Snow and her prince settle.
“You’re glowing,” she observes, looking at our mate’s bump. “How much longer?”
“A month, maybe less,” Hilda replies with a soft smile, her hand stroking over the swell of her belly.
“Do you know how many pups?” Caspian asks warmly.
“Yes. A boy and a girl, the healer thinks.”
I can’t wait. Can’t wait to meet our pups. To teach them. Protect them. Watch them grow.
My wolf is already planning. Hunting lessons. How to track. How to fight. How to protect the pack. Play with them, watch them feed and sleep, and grow…
“You look happy,” Snow says.
“I am.” Hilda’s expression is radiant. “Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I’m glad.” Snow reaches across, squeezing Hilda’s hand. “You deserve this. After everything.”
“So do you.” Hilda glances at the bite mark on Snow’s throat with a twinkle in her eye. “I see congratulations are in order?”
Snow’s cheeks flush. “We bonded last week.”
Caspian looks at his mate, grinning.
“I’m happy for you both,” Hilda says. And through the bond, I can feel she means it. No jealousy. No bitterness. Just genuine joy for Snow’s happiness.
She really has changed. Our omega. That mirror tried to destroy everything.
It tried to take our mate, kill our pups, ruin Snow’s happiness.
But we hunted it and killed it. And now our omega sits here, round with our young, genuinely happy for the girl the fucking parasite wanted her to hate.
We won. The evil spirit lost. And it’s never coming back.
They talk for a while…about Snow’s upcoming wedding, about the twins, about kingdom business. Through it all, I stay vigilant, watching for threats.
Can’t help it. Pregnant omega. Must protect.
Eventually Snow and Caspian take their leave. As soon as they’re gone, Hilda laughs.
“Baylin, you need to relax.”
I shift to my human form, moving to her side. “Just making sure.”
“Of what?” She touches my face, smiling tenderly, eyes lost in mine.
“You’re pregnant,” I reply simply. “I protect what’s mine.”
“Ours,” Callum corrects, and I know it’s to piss me off.
“Ours,” I amend gruffly, flipping him off.
“And I love you for it. All of you. My overprotective, possessive wolves.”
“Damn right,” Arkan says, finally putting down his reports and coming to join us. “And we’re about to get worse. Wait until the pups are born.”
“I can only imagine.” Hilda rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.
She tries to stand, and both Callum and I immediately move to assist her.
“I can stand on my own,” she protests.
“Humor us,” Callum rumbles.
She sighs but accepts our help.
We walk slowly back to the castle, surrounding our omega. People move out of the way, smiling. They’ve gotten used to us. To the Queen’s wolves. To her happiness.
When we reach our chambers, Hilda settles on the bed with a sigh.
“My back hurts,” she complains.
Arkan’s already moving behind her to massage her shoulders.
I settle at her feet, rubbing them. Callum sits next to her and rests a hand on her belly.
“They’re active today,” he observes as the pups kick.
“Very.” Hilda winces as a particularly strong one hits her ribs. “I think at least one of them is going to be a fighter.”
“Takes after his fathers,” I nod with pride. “They’ll be strong and fierce.”
“Even our daughter?” Hilda asks teasingly.
Arkan chuckles. “Especially her! But also beautiful, sharp-tongued, able to bring alphas to their knees.” He winks.
Hilda laughs. “I like that.”
We spend the afternoon caring for our omega. Massaging her sore muscles and making sure she’s comfortable.
Later, when the sun is setting, and she’s drowsy and content, she says quietly, “Sometimes I still can’t believe this is real.”
“What?”
“All of this.” She gestures at us, at her belly. “I went from being the hated Evil Queen, alone and bitter, to… having a pack, mates who love me, pups on the way. Happiness.”
“It’s real, little one,” I tell her, leaning to press a quick, hard kiss on her lips.
Her eyes flutter, expression softening even more. “I know. But sometimes it still feels like a dream.” She squeezes my hand. “The best dream I’ve ever had.”
“Not a dream,” Arkan shakes his head. “This is your life now. Our life.”
“Hungry?” Callum asks.
“Always,” Hilda admits with a laugh. “These pups make me ravenous.”
“I’ll get food,” Arkan says, heading for the door.
While he’s gone, Callum and I settle around Hilda on the bed. She’s so round now, swollen with our young. Fucking beautiful.
“You’re staring again,” she says.
“Can’t help it.” I place my hand on her belly, feeling the pups move. “You’re carrying our young. Our future. Of course I’m staring.”
“We all are,” Callum adds, his hand joining mine.
Arkan returns with food, and we feed her…bringing each bite to her lips, making sure she eats enough for her and the pups.
When she’s finally full, we settle in for the night.
“Love you,” she murmurs, half-asleep.
“Love you too, omega,” Callum says.
“Always,” Arkan adds.
“Forever,” I finish.
And surrounded by her pack, heavy with our pups, claimed and cherished and completely ours, our omega drifts off to sleep.
THE END