Chapter 84

Anthony lingered at the doorway, his soaked shirt clinging uncomfortably to his skin, droplets still trailing down his arms. He drew in a slow, heavy breath, the chill of the fabric making him shiver as he tried to steady himself. With a quiet sigh, he finally pushed himself away from the door and descended the stairs, where the expectant faces of Miles and Sarah awaited him in the dim light below.

Anthony paused at the bottom of the stairs, avoiding their gazes for a moment. “How is Kathy?” asked Sarah, her voice soft but edged with concern. Anthony swallowed, searching for the right words as he glanced between them, uncertain how much to reveal just yet.

He finally cleared his throat. "She is sleeping, so are the babies. Sarah, can you stay with her until we return?" Anthony asked, his tone gentle but resolute. "In a couple of days, we have to pack our things and head back to our pack," he added, glancing at both Miles and Sarah to make sure they understood the urgency.

Sarah walked past Anthony to head upstairs to stay with Kathy. Miles and Anthony used the kitchen back door where they could let their wolf out and just go for a run. Everyone in the palace is in their room for the night with everything just happening, The guards are paroling as they see Miles and Anthony are running in the wood but not past the boardline. Once Sarah knocked on the door first before entering the room, to see Kathy sitting up reading something wearing an over-sized shirt.

Sarah hesitated just inside the doorway, offering a small, reassuring smile. “Kathy, Anthony told me to come up here to keep you company,” she said gently, closing the door softly behind her before crossing the room to sit nearby.

Sarah sat down, concern flickering across her face as she noticed the subtle change in Kathy's demeanor. Kathy gave a faint smile, tugging at the sleeves of her oversized shirt. “Sarah, it’s okay, it’s still me—I just feel different, that’s all,” she said quietly, her gaze dropping to the book in her lap.

“I know, it just we thought we were going to lose you. And went Noah kidnap you that put us even on a hot alert, we wouldn’t found you plus Alpha Anthony was in rut which Miles was trying to keep away from him.

“Sarah, when you do become Luna, you always will be my Beta female,” said Kathy, her voice steady but warm. She reached over, giving Sarah’s hand a gentle squeeze for reassurance, her eyes reflecting sincerity and trust.

Sarah’s words trembled with uncertainty, her eyes darting between Kathy and the window. “You really want me to be a Luna, of a pack? You two will be here running this palace as queen and king and probably forget about us,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, betraying the doubt and worry she tried to mask.

“Listen, I will never look down at you two, plus you help us. I think you two will run just fine, and maybe you two will have children so our little ones will play together,” said Kathy, her voice comforting but earnest. She offered a warm smile, hoping to ease Sarah's worries. “We'll always be here for each other, no matter where life takes us,” she added, squeezing Sarah’s hand once more as reassurance passed between them.

After their heartfelt conversation, Kathy and Sarah settled onto the bed together, flipping through the channels before settling on a movie to pass the time. Laughter bubbled between them as they watched a so-called scary film that turned out to be more silly than frightening, both careful to keep the volume low so the babies wouldn’t stir. Eventually, lulled by the flickering images and the comfort of each other's presence, the two drifted off to sleep with the TV playing softly in the background.

Out by the tranquil lake, Miles and Anthony sat side by side, the moonlight shimmering across the water. They exchanged a thoughtful silence before connecting through their mind link, sharing unspoken worries and reassurance. Both understood that running a pack on their own, just Anthony and Kathy would be a challenge neither took lightly. Still, Anthony’s confidence lingered in their bond; he was certain they could handle anything as long as they supported each other, and if they ever needed guidance, a simple phone call would bring advice from those who cared.

As their thoughts drifted toward the future, Anthony quietly reminded himself of the next steps on their journey: he needed to start planning Kathy’s wedding and prepare for their coronation ceremony, which would be officiated by King France and Queen Vanessa. News of the event would reveal to everyone that Queen Vanessa and Anthony had returned to King Frances, a kingdom where rumors had long claimed they were dead—but in reality, they had been alive all along. With these thoughts, Miles and Anthony rose and began their walk back to the palace, the weight of leadership balanced by hope and determination. The wind blows into their though their fur, they transform back into their human form and grab some shorts from inside a tree in a bag.

“Alpha I know it not my place. Kathy will be okay with Maria's power flowing through her body even she is a mermaid?”

“To be honest, it seems that she is okay with that, but she knows that deep down it’s hurting her since she’s not a witch—she’s just a mermaid, like her mother. Once our daughter Melody grows up, she’ll want to know everything, even if we try to keep her parents’ secrets,” Anthony replied, his voice tinged with concern as he glanced at Miles. He knew that protecting their family’s truth was becoming harder with each passing day.

“Well, get back into the house, our mates are waiting for us,”

Anthony and Miles slipped into the kitchen through the back door and locked it behind them, the click echoing in the otherwise silent palace as they headed upstairs. Anthony opened the door and saw Sarah and Kathy asleep in front of the flickering TV, and Miles, mirroring Anthony's gaze, approached Sarah. Anthony closes the door, and the click echoes as he plans for a quick shower before cuddling with Kathy in bed. After a quick shower, Anthony dried off his body and reached into his bag for some soft sweatpants, pulling them on before snuggling under the covers with Kathy, who nestled against his chest, as the vast, star-filled sky loomed above them.