Epilogue
RILEY.
“Zach, come here.” My firm voice echoed in the cemetery as Zach walked toward us with a solemn expression on his face. Just by the sound of my voice, he knew I was upset with him.
He sat down in front of Nadia and me, crossing his legs and sitting on them as he clasped his hands together before locking eyes with mine. That was one thing I taught my son—to look me in the eyes whenever I talked with him.
“Explain why you shouted at Amber earlier,” I asked him, my forehead creasing.
We just came from Caspian and Andrea’s twins’ 10th birthday party. The whole time, we saw Zach tease and taunt Amber, which was not his usual behavior. But we didn’t mind. Zach has always behaved, except whenever Amber was around.
And Caspian’s little princess never backed down and would always fight back whenever Zach attempted to annoy her. And all the time they would make a fuss. We just let it slide because, at the end of the day, they would make up and remain close friends.
But Zach crossed the line today. He didn’t calm down after Amber poured a bucket of water over his head. He began yelling at her. The little girl was taken aback before she ran away crying.
It was only then that my son realized what he had done, but it was too late. Amber refused to leave her bedroom until the moment we left.
Somehow, Zach reminded me of myself and my outburst. My son was the most behaved and responsible of the pups around us—a true mark of an Alpha. But he had the worst temper. He could snap in a moment, and anyone could be the victim.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. I just snapped. I didn’t have any extra clothes, and I was sopping wet.” He replied.
“Did it make you feel better after you shouted at her?”
He shook his head. His eyes shifted to his mom as if he was asking for help, but he didn’t convey anything. Zach had too much pride in himself to ask for help. Just like I was.
“Did you know you hurt her?”
He nodded his head. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Did it make you feel good to know you hurt her?”
“No. I already apologized. But she ignored me, Dad.”
“Do you think if you break a glass and whisper your apology to it, it will magically become whole again?”
He didn’t say anything, but he swallowed hard. I knew he wanted to drop his gaze away from me as his eyes watered, but he didn’t.
“Did you notice me yelling at your mother or disrespecting any females around us by shouting in their faces?”
“No, Dad.”
He was using ‘Dad’ instead of the usual ‘Alpha,’ and I knew he was more my son than the Alpha I was training him to be.
“Do you love your sisters, Zach?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“How would you feel if Cyrus shouted at them for being playful instead of talking to them nicely to behave?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I disappoint you again.” Tears fell from his eyes, but he wasn’t dropping his gaze on me. I could feel Nadia’s emotions surging in. I knew she wanted to hug Zach and console him, but she knew my stand on disciplining our pups. Especially Zach.
“Yes, my son. You disappointed me today, not because you’re a bad pup. I was disappointed because I think highly of you. I knew you could do better than that. And I know Amber has always been special to you and you would never want anyone to hurt her, right?”
He nodded his head, sniffing as he kept his gaze fixed on mine.
“It takes a strong man to control his outbursts and his anger, but it’s not too early to learn how to respect people. Treat the girls like you want others to treat Nikka and Ara. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Do you want to talk to Amber again?” I wanted him to do so, but I didn’t want to impose it on him.
“Yes, Dad. I want to apologize again but maybe she won’t speak with me again.”
“We can try. Tomorrow we will drive back to their territory and you can try talking with her again.”
“Do you think Uncle Caspian and Aunt Andrea hate me for what I did with Amber?”
“I think they were more disappointed.”
“Can I say sorry to them, too?”
I smiled as I nodded my head. My hand reached out to his head and ruffled his thick hair. “Yes, we can do that.”
I withdrew my hand and let out a deep breath before asking him another question. “Do you want a hug?”
He nodded his head and wiped his tears with the back of his hand as I motioned for him to come over. He scooted over and my arms wrapped around his body. I placed a soft kiss on the crown of his head before Nadia moved closer, wrapping us both in her warmth and her embrace.
Soon, our twins came running and jumping on us until we all ended up hugging each other.
My eyes darted to my sisters. Ellie and Bella were busy with their mates while the rest of the pups ran around us. The cemetery was empty except for us.
I closed my eyes, hugging my family tighter as my daughters giggled from being squeezed. I thought of Dad and Mom and how beautiful it would have been if they were here to see me have a family of my own. I was sure they would be proud of me.
I smiled despite myself. I was never a boastful man, but if there was something I was proud of, it was the life I made with Nadia and the pups we nurtured together.
Our life wasn’t perfect, and I was definitely far from one, but I tried. I wanted to be better for my family and for my pack. Especially for the most precious gift the Goddess bestowed upon me—my lovely mate.
NADIA.
I scooted my back and rested it against my mate’s hard chest. We were seated on a spread-out blanket in the cemetery, watching all the pups run around and play. We came from Cyrus and Amber’s birthday party—Caspian and Andrea’s twins.
After the party, we left earlier than the rest to come here.
It was Zahra and Leandro’s 12th death anniversary.
Although it had been more than a decade, the pain was still there every time we remembered the fateful day that they were taken away from us.
The memory was painful, but we lived each day grateful that we still had each other.
That we all came out strong from their demise.
Riley told me earlier how different it would be if Zahra and Leandro were here to see all their grandchildren. They would surely be drowning in happiness and sweat looking after them.
Riley and I were blessed with three pups: Zachary Vernon, Thea Veronika, and Sarah Melina. We doted on our three kids while loving their cousins who grew up around them.
Ellie and Dawson had two, Drake and Dustin, their blue-eyed twins, who were the same age as Nikka and Ara. While Bella and Trent had one, Bellatrix, the eldest female pup. Caleb and Anya were blessed with two boys, Cameron and Curt. While Alba and Paul had Patrick and Abegail.
And then there was my sister, Nadine. She was almost 12, and she looked exactly like Laura, with my father’s hazel brown eyes—the same as mine.
I had always adored my pups, but with Nadine, it was different. She was the one thing I had always wanted growing up, so the moment that I held her in my arms, I cried. She had completed not just Dad and Laura’s dream, but mine as well.
And I never failed to show her that the love she gave me back was enough to heal the brokenness I felt from growing up alone.
I felt Riley’s arms around me as he pressed our bodies closer. His chin rested on my shoulder as his hands lovingly caressed the bump in my stomach.
We wanted another baby for a long time, but it didn’t come, so we stopped trying. But two months ago, I felt a slight cramp, and it was then that I realized I had been delayed for more than a month.
Riley and I tried another pregnancy test, and when it came out positive, we were overjoyed. Our pup was a pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting any more, but gladly welcomed it with pure gratitude.
“Did I tell you today that I love you?” His deep baritone voice sent tingles all over my body. Despite the years, Riley never failed to give me the sparks and shivers of pleasure with his touch and his words.
“Yes, you did. But I won’t mind hearing it again.” I teased him, biting my lower lip because I knew what would happen next.
“I love you.” He kissed my neck before moving his lips to my cheek, kissing it as well. “I love you…. And I love you… And I love you.” He kept murmuring as he kissed every part of my face down to my shoulder blades, as I giggled softly, enjoying the sparks exploding everywhere he kissed me.
“I love you too, Alpha...” I took his hand from my stomach and pressed it against my lips, kissing his knuckles.
Day after day, my love for him just kept getting stronger.
Gone was the Alpha with too many insecurities. Instead, I wake up each day with an Alpha who knew his worth but was willing to bow down to serve and protect the people he loved—his family and our pack.
Riley and I didn’t have a good start. We were two broken souls, created out of a mistake. We always thought we were not good for anything. Not worthy of being loved. Not worthy of being happy.
But somehow, along the way in life, our paths crossed and defied everything we believed in.
Loving Riley made me realize that we might be born out of a mistake, but we were created out of love. The world might have broken us individually, but together, it made us stronger. It made us better humans.
My name is Nadia Morrison Montrell Adams. Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.
Twelve years ago, I was running away from life because it had been cruel to me. But today, I wake up grateful for my Alpha, for the life and love we shared. For the family we created and nurtured together.
Riley made me believe in a world where love is greater than my insecurities. A world where the sun shines whenever he looks at me. A world where mistakes are accepted, and forgiveness is a possibility. A world far better than my dreams.
Yes, life indeed is beautiful, because I see the world differently now as I look at it through the eyes of my Alpha.
THE END.