25. THORNE
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER…
The late afternoon sun paints the meadow with a golden glow. I lean against the rough-hewn oak tree at the edge of our pack, the rhythmic click of my crutch blending with the chirping of birds and the distant laughter of pups playing.
Despite the ache in my leg, a phantom limb at times, a wide smile stretches across my face.
Elowen walks over to me, looking so beautiful it should be a crime. She sits beside me, her head resting on my shoulder. Her hair, now kissed with silver streaks, shimmers like spun moonlight.
Her hand cradles her belly, a gentle rise beneath the loose fabric of her dress. Our pup—a spark of hope and new beginnings.
I reach over and gently trace a circle on her swollen belly. A tiny kick responds, a jolt of pure joy that sends shivers down my spine. We haven't decided on a name yet, but it hardly matters. This pup, this miracle we created together, is a testament to our love and resilience.
The battle against the Dark Moon Pack feels like a lifetime ago. The scars, both physical and emotional, are constant reminders of the darkness we faced. But we emerged victorious, forging a fragile peace in the process.
The other packs, once rivals, now live alongside us, a tapestry woven from the threads of shared experience.
"Have you thought any more about names for her?" Elowen asks.
"A few," I admit, chuckling. "Though none seem to quite capture the feeling I get when I think about this little one. She's going to be a troublesome one. I can feel it. Just like her mother.”
Elowen punches my shoulder, and I gasp dramatically, making her eyes roll playfully. "Well, there's always Selene," she offers, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"A bit… obvious, wouldn't you say?" I tease, bumping my shoulder against hers playfully.
Elowen's smile fades, replaced by a mock frown. "For our pup bathed in moonlight? I think it's rather fitting."
A laugh escapes me. "Alright, alright," I concede, raising my hands in surrender. "Selene, it is. Though, if it's a boy…"
"It is a girl," Elowen interrupts, her voice firm.
My eyebrows shoot up. "Is it? How do you know?"
A smug smile spreads across her face. "Because I haven't had a single craving for sweets the entire pregnancy. It's a scientific fact, you know."
I shake my head, unable to stifle a chuckle. "Scientific fact, huh? Since when did you become such an expert?"
"Since I started carrying our pup," she retorts playfully.
Suddenly, a blur of brown fur barrels towards us, a joyous bark echoing across the meadow.
It’s Kai, my faithful pup companion, a little one I saved weeks ago. He’s a Dark Moon pup but somehow managed to survive the death of his pack.
I don’t think a pup should suffer for something he knows nothing about, so I saved him and brought him back into our fold.
Kai skids to a halt at my feet, tail wagging furiously. I reach down, scratching him behind the ears, a familiar warmth settling over me.
"Easy there, boy," Elowen scolds gently. "Remember, no roughhousing with your injured Alpha."
Kai scampers off to play with Finn and Viktar, who are busy training a new group of adolescent pups.
I roll my eyes playfully. "He's just excited, Elowen. Besides, I can handle a little playful wrestling."
"That's what you said about climbing that tree last week," she counters, her voice laced with a worry that tugs at my heart. "And look what happened."
I glance down at my leg. On cue, a sharp pain shoots through it. She's right, of course. Even months after the battle, I have to be careful not to push myself too hard.
But sometimes, I forget the limitations my injury has placed on me. Lately, I’m just lost in the simple joy of life returning to normal.
"I'm fine, truly," I assure her, squeezing her hand gently. "Besides, with a little wolf on the way, I have all the motivation I need to be extra careful."
Elowen's face softens, and she leans in, planting a tender kiss on my lips. "Just promise me you'll be careful," she murmurs. "For our pup and for me."
The depth of her love and her concern washes over me. At that moment, with the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I know I have everything I can ever ask for. A loving mate, a coming child, and a hard-won peace—a happily ever after that feels more precious than any victory on the battlefield.
THE END
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I have been at the bottom of the pack my entire life.When I received my wolf, I met my fated mate and protector.
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He shifts to human form.
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