Epilogue
Five Years Later
Alexander woke up and reached for Melanie, only to find her side of the bed was cold. I frowned, because I’d really thought my wife would still be asleep. Melanie had just finished her heat and we’d both fallen asleep at the same time.
I linked my mate, “I thought we’d gotten over this hurdle of you waking up without me. Particularly right after your heat ends.” Melanie replied, “Umm…. so you… need to focus.” I snorted, “I am focused on the right thing, my mate.”
Melanie said, “Your hunting game is today. So… you do need to focus.” I smirked knowing that I was hunting Trevor, his friends, Ezra, Edward, and Jean with my family today.
The fake Ajax would be hunted as well. He’d ended up evading us for a while, but we finally got him and we learned his real name.
We were going to blood eagle them if I felt so led after this ended. My Hackura family had told them this was the end because they could lie. I wasn’t sure they deserved to go to hell just yet. I linked my mate, “I can’t focus if I don’t see you.”
Melanie answered, “Your mom is going to take me to the Hackura realm. I’ll be there.
” I frowned. Someone knocked on my door before coming inside.
I greeted, “Hello, big brother.” EJ urged, “Let’s go.
We gotta go to the feast before the hunt.
Plus, someone is going to have to air out this room. Jesus, that’s a smell.”
I snorted, “I don’t know how mom came up with these rules for this hunt.” EJ smiled, “I don’t know either, but it’s fun. Let’s go.” I asked, “Have you seen my mate?” EJ stopped then groaned, “No. Dear god please tell me you have. Ladybug didn’t run off into some big mess again, did she?”
I shrugged saying, “I don’t think so. How much trouble could she possibly get in? We went to sleep three hours ago.” EJ snorted, “We are talking about the same person, right?” I groaned then linked my wife, “Are you in trouble or going off somewhere where I need to be?”
Melanie’s annoyance and hurt hit me when she answered, “No, I’ve gotten better at telling you when I do that…. and you know it.” She wasn’t wrong. I apologized, “You’re right, you have. I’m sorry.” Melanie sniffled, “Ok.” I felt utter horror.
I looked at EJ in shock. My big brother asked, “What? I said, “I think my wife is crying because I asked if she ran off.” EJ raised an eyebrow. I asked, “Oden?” Oden said, “Freya is saying they are tired. Hell, mate feels tired in the bond. Melanie is crying though.”
I linked my mate, “Lovebug, I’m sorry. You really have gotten better at telling me. I know you have worked really hard on that.” Melanie replied, “Ok… yeah… umm… I’ll see you soon.” I groaned, “Great. Thanks a lot, EJ.” My brother laughed and popped me to the Hackura realm.
The party had already started here. The whole realm was keyed up.
I spotted Kayda flying in the sky with Hastein riding on her back.
I snorted, “Dylan will die that he missed that.” Dylan shouted, “Dylan did not miss that. I’ve been here for hours!
I can’t believe you actually said Dylan will die that he missed that.
It’s like you all do not know me. I am offended. ” I snorted.
Tristan came over saying, “This is going to be fun.” The row of people we were hunting were tied to posts watching us.
I walked over to Trevor. I said, “I hope you feel every second of terror everyone you hunted felt. You preyed on them because they were weaker than you. Now you’ll be hunted by people so much stronger than you.
I don’t think you’ll last five minutes.”
Trevor looked away from me. Eventually he said, “Melanie was never scared of the hunt. Hell, she was excited.” I grabbed him by the throat warning, “Don’t you dare say her name.” I squeezed harder than I needed to, before walking away.
My nephew, Nicholas, ran up to me greeting, “Hi, Uncle Xander.” I laughed because Melanie had gotten all my nieces and nephews calling me that. I answered, “Hi, Nic.” My Nephew announced, “Aunt Ladybug sent me to get you.”
I asked, “Why?” Nicholas said, “I dunno. Aunt Ladybug asked me to tell you she’s in your treehouse here waiting for you. Now you have to give me a cookie because she said you would.” I laughed and conjured him a cookie. He took it and ran off.
Cassie huffed at me. I reasoned, “My mate promised him a cookie. What was I supposed to do?” Cassie grumbled, “He needs to eat his lunch before he has a cookie. Nicholas, come back here!” I laughed and popped to my treehouse.
I climbed the steps calling, “Lovebug, where are you?” My wife answered, “In the bedroom.” I walked in and said, “Well there’s my….” I trailed off and my jaw dropped as I took her in. Oden purred in my head.
Melanie whispered, “Surprise.” She was glowing.
My mind was completely blank. Oden was humming with satisfaction.
I could sense four lights within my mate.
She was pregnant with quadruplets. Melanie started talking, “Oh god… please don’t be mad.
It’s a good surprise… right? I mean…we talked about…
we said we’d try this heat… but you’re not saying anything.
You were serious right? You did want to try… .”
I crossed the room and kissed my wife hard.
When I pulled back, I assured her, “I’m very happy.
Is this why you ran off this morning?” Melanie nodded, “I wanted to tell you…. here. Well, mostly somewhere that… well, didn’t reek of sweat and sex.
” I smiled and picked my mate up and twirled her around.
EJ linked me, “So I have been nominated to ask if you are ok.” I replied, “I’m perfectly fine.” I asked my wife, “Do you know it’s quads?” Melanie nodded, “Yes… because Freya told me. She also told me it’s three boys and a girl.” I spun her around again.
I told my wife, “You make me so happy.” Melanie added, “I only saw your mom. I was trying to avoid the rest of your siblings until you knew. That seemed fair… and…” I kissed her again. I said, “Let’s go tell everyone. Then you get to paint me for the hunt.”
My mate nodded, “Ok.” I knew Melanie was nervous. I popped us back to the larger group. All my siblings hollered and howled happily. Dad asked, “What?” I announced, “I’m going to be a dad.” The McAlister’s shrieked with delight.
The whole realm collectively lost it. I continued, “Three boys and a girl.” Jason yelled, “FOUR? Jesus, man! She’s so tiny.” Melanie started crying. Jason asked, “Uhh, what the hell? What did I say? I said she was tiny!”
Mom commented, “Hormones are a bitch, Jason McAlister. Especially when you are carrying more than one.” Jason groaned, “Great.” Everyone hugged us and Hastein slapped me on the back. I gave him a hug. Kingsley engulfed Melanie in a hug with Angelique.
After about twenty minutes my mom said, “Ok, let’s get this hunt started.” I grabbed Melanie’s hand and led her to the stage with my cousins, siblings, uncles, grandpas, and my dad. All of us were getting our war paint done. This was a family hunting affair.
The drums started to play. I winked at Melanie.
My wife was my whole world, and in three months we would be a family of six.
God, I loved my life. I couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing her.
I told her, “I love you, Melanie Jane McAlister Conners.” My wife replied in kind, “I love you, Alexander Marcus Nathan Conners and I always have.” I held her tightly to me.
She was my world and I’d never let her go.