Chapter 37: Epilogue

The long grass was soaked with the mist that drizzled miserably from the dark grey clouds that loomed overhead. I pulled up the collar of my coat to keep in the warmth and tightened my grip around a little hand, nestled safely in mine. Thoughtfully, I looked down at the tombstone standing in front of me, and I felt a whoosh of different emotions.

What are you even doing here? My wolf asked incredulously.

It’s something I need to do. To be able to move on, I told her. I need to do this.

You have moved on. You are a Mum now, and you are a wife!

I may have moved on physically, but not mentally. I need to do this, I pressed on, blanking out my wolf once more and concentrating on the task at hand.

Clearly, no one had been here for a while, if at all, as the grass was long and unkempt while leaves covered the base of the tombstone, and there were no flowers. I carefully eyed over the simple description that was inscribed on the shiny black granite:

Here lies the body of Thomas Blackett.

Once more reunited with his parents.

RIP.

May you forever be at peace with your demons.

“Mummy, are you sad?” a little voice piped up curiously, bringing me back into reality with a little jolt.

I looked down at the sweet angelic four year old looking back up at me. Long brown hair framed her little face, and big innocent brown eye stared back at me. Willow was the perfect likeness to me when I was a child, but she had her Father’s twinkle in her eyes, but my mischievous streak. She had a long black woollen coat and flowery wellie boots on over red tights. She was gorgeous and looked quite sophisticated for such a young age.

“No, darling. I’m just thinking that’s all,” I replied, smiling softly at my daughter, squeezing her hand gently.

“About what Mummy? Who was this person, and why are we here if you aren’t sad then?” Willow continued, innocently looking at the tombstone in interest.

She reached forward and let her fingers gently trace over the words.

“This person was someone I used to love before I loved your Father. This person didn’t know how to love people, and he became nasty and did some horrible things to lots of people. He got sick in the head, and the Moon Goddess decided that he should go and live with her up in paradise,” I explained quickly.

“Is he sick now?” Willow asked, looking back up at me.

“No sweety. He is at peace now, and he is happy. You don’t get sick in paradise. Paradise makes you better,” I explained, choosing my words carefully.

Bending down, I gently placed a single red rose of the bottom of the headstone, letting it lie on the damp leaves before standing back and gazing down once more.

See, I had come here for closure. Like my wolf had said, I had moved on physically. I was in love with a great husband who had given me the greatest gift he could in the form of my daughter, who I’d move heaven and hell for if I could. But mentally and emotionally, there was still one thing I had to do, to help me let go of the past. I didn’t want to continue life, with what Tom did to me, hanging over me like an unpleasant smell. I knew I had to take back control from Tom once again.

A car beeped noisily in the distance, and I glanced up to where I parked the car, with its headlights still on, glowing in the mist. I told Xavier that I wouldn’t be long, and I had been here already for ten minutes, just looking down on what remained of Tom.

“Go on darling, run back to the car with Daddy before you get much wetter. And put your seatbelt on please!” I called after her, as I watched her skip towards the car happily.

I looked down once more and began thinking. If it weren’t for Tom doing what he did, I wouldn’t have the life I had now. If he had turned out sweet and loving, then I’d be an Omega with nothing, not allowed to have children of my own, forced to live in the basement and living out the rest of my days helping care for the higher pack member’s children in the nursery. But because of him, I was now a Luna and helping to run my very own pack. I bent down once more and placed two fingers against my lips before gently planting them on the Tombstone.

Taking back control, which is what I’ve always longed to do, I whispered “You are forgiven!” before standing up and turning away forever, making my way back to my awaiting family.

The End!