Chapter 205: Epilogue 2

Chapter 205: Epilogue 2
Meredith's POV

The night air felt alive, cold and wild, yet it was filled with a kind of Freedom that only came once the world was quiet and the moon took over. Two years after Alpha Alec's inauguration, two years after that wild night in my car with my mate under the moonlight. Two years since everything had settled into something steady, something real, and yet a moment like this still felt like the beginning of our happy ever after. "Ready?" I asked, glancing at Vida. Vida stood a few steps ahead of me in the clearing, her eyes already glowing with excitement, that familiar spark I had fallen in love with all over the years again and again. She nodded fearlessly, always ready. My chest tightened not with fear, but with deeper gratitude, happiness, and joy that I couldn't describe. Because she was still here, we were still here together and striving. I took a step back, giving her space, and waited because no matter how many times I had seen her wings emerge from behind her, they never lost their magic. I watch with excitement and anticipation as her wings emerge slowly from her back, unfolding like something sacred, something untouched by the world's cruelty.

It was Beautiful. Even the word beauty didn't come close, my breath caught, just like it always did. Twenty-two years and she still looked like the first time I saw her. Young, beautiful, and mine. My lips curved into a soft smile as I walked closer to her, reaching out gently, "You are beautiful," I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. She smiled back at me, but her eyes carried mischief, and a little danger. Before I could react, she pulled me in and kissed me hard, quick, bold, and full of life. I chuckled against her lips, ready to grab her when she pulled away, "Vida!" I called in frustration, and she giggled.

"Stop being a pervert." She winks at me, flipping her wings behind her, "Now," she says, her voice light and teasing, "it is time for us to meet Ruin." Her eyes sparkled, "I can't wait to jump on him while we run together, or should I say run and fly together?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head, "You never get tired of that, do you?"

"Never!" She said giggling, I move closer and peck her lips and then I let go, he came naturally and effortlessly, my body gave way to instinct, to control, to the part of me that had once been lost forever and within a blink, my wolf Ruin take control, and I shifted into him, the moment he landed, I felt him, he is stronger, alive and still here with us.

Vida's smile widened as she looked at my wolf, the selfless wolf that had given the first sacrifice so we could be here together. Twenty years ago, I thought I had lost him forever, thought I will never get to see him again but just like Vida and I, my wolf Ruin, had fought fate, fought death and found his way back to me, back to us, because I won't know if I would had been able to continue living till now, if Ruin didn't returned to me, if he didn't love Vida when I hurt her. My chest swelled with pride as I watched Vida run her hands around my wolf, Ruin, while he licked her face. After some time, she pulled off my wolf's growl in frustration, she giggled, and then took off into the sky. "Catch me if you can!"

Her voice echoed through the clearing while Ruin howled and ran after her on the ground, the ground flew beneath my feet as I chased her, her laughter ringing above me like music. She shared through the air, her wings cutting through the wind, graceful and untouchable, but I didn't slow down. I never would because chasing her, finding her, had always been my story, even now, even after everything, she was still the one I would be running towards; it was always her.

By the time we reached our place, the one no one else knew about, I was breathless, not from exhaustion but for everything this meant. We shifted back to our human form at the same time, and the quietness of the forest wrapped around us like a secret. I sat down against the old tree root, watching her as she tried to cover herself, her movements quick but unbothered. My lips curved into a smile, she looked at me, "Why are you smiling?" She asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"I was just wondering..." I leaned my head back slightly, studying her. "What I did to deserve you." Her expression softened instantly, but there was curiosity under her expression, "I didn't think the moon goddess loved me this much," I said quietly, "especially the day I found out the bond between us was one-sided." Her gaze dropped slightly, and I remembered it all over again, the pain, the confusion, the fear of loving someone who couldn't love you back, "I cursed that bond," I admitted, "wished my feelings would just fade on their own even without rejection because I didn't want to reject you." I let out a small breath, "I didn't want to hurt you because rejecting you would mean hurting you."

She looked back at me, her lips forming a mocking frown, "but you still rejected me."

I signed softly, running a hand through my hair, "I got scared." That was the truth, raw and simple, because if I hadn't found her lying lifeless in that hospital bed, I would never have rejected her, "seeing you lifeless..." My voice dropped, "That was something I don't think I would survive twice." My eyes met hers again, "if rejecting you meant taking the pain myself just to keep you safe..." I shrugged slightly, "Then why wouldn't I?"

Her body went still, as realization hit her that she didn't even feel the pain, not just because the bond was one-sided, but because I don't want her to get hurt. "You took the pain?"

I nodded, "Yes!" I swallowed hard, "I asked the moon goddess to give it all to me."

Tears filled her eyes almost instantly, and something inside me twisted at the sight. I hate to see her cry for the past few years. I had been trying not to make her cry, to atone for all the pain I had put her through. "You were always looking out for me." She whispered, "while I kept hurting you." Her voice broke slightly, "All I did was make you lose things." I reached for her immediately, cupping her face gently.

"No!" My tone was firm, "You didn't make me lose anything." I shook my head slightly, "You gave me everything that I had ever dreamed of." My thumb brushed against her chest, "It's all because of you. I know what it means to have a fated mate." I smiled faintly, "beautiful adorable pups." I exhaled softly as I remembered our kids, "my legs, and my beta title, those are the things that mattered most in my life," Our eyes met, "even if I didn't have my legs or my title back, I would still be grateful because I had you and the kids. You and the kids meant more than those things."

She looked at me like she didn't believe it, "You are just being nice." She said quietly, "Didn't you say I was bad luck? The worst thing that ever happened to you." Her voice held a teasing edge, but I know the memories behind that weren't nice ones. "That every time we cross paths, you lose something?" She counted softly, "first, it was your wolf, your title, and your legs"

I smiled because now I couldn't answer that, "I eat my words," I said honestly, her brows lifted slightly, "you are the best thing that ever happened to me."

She laughed, really laughed, leaning closer, "You are such a sweet talker."

I raise a brow, "Really?"

"Of course,"

Her smile widened while she rested against my chest, her voice dropping to a softer tone, "Your sweet words are what made me crave the beast I used to hate."

I let out a quiet knowing laugh, "Was it the sweet words or the terrible ones?"

She tilted her head slightly, thinking, then she smiled, "I don't know," her fingers traced lightly against my chest, "but I do know one thing..." Her voice softened even more, "I'm craving the beast I hate."

I leaned closer, my forehead brushing hers, "Do you hate me?"

She shook her head slowly, a small smile forming on her lips, "Maybe I should change that," her eyes met mine. "Craving the beast I love."

My chest tightened in the best way ever, "I love you, and I will always love you now and till my afterlife." I whisper wrapping my arms around her, pressing a soft kiss on the crown of her head, my head tilted upward while my gaze fixed on the moon above us, it was smiling at us, like the goddess was watching us, tears of joy find their way to my eyes as they dropped to Vida's hair. "I will always want this life."

THE END: Craving The Beast I Hate. #Meredith&VidaSigningoff.



Author's note

Another character of The Beast series just finds their happy ever after, and I couldn't be more grateful and happy for the time, comment, and money you all spend on this book. Although there are times I don't update, sometimes it goes for days, but you stay patient waiting for me to update.

A few weeks ago, I said just two chapters left, and we will have the epilogue, but on second thought, I thought of adding a few more chapters. I thought it wouldn't be all bad if Vida got one parent, if not the two.

The journey hadn't always been easy, because it wasn't a smooth one; there were so many tears, pain, and separation. I won't lie when I started this story, I had no intention of making the beta get everything back but one of my readers, had commented that she wanted Meredith to have everything he lost, so I thought for once let me make my readers happy and in the end, I'm glad we finally got our aim, which is happy ever after. Meredith and Vida's story stops here, but the rollercoaster isn't over. If you have added this book to your library, I will plead with you not to remove it from your library in order to get notifications for the next story in the series.

As always, I would want to say a big thank you to all who support these books, from Shuga Crush, Billie J Marr, Michelle Carrington, Cynthia Lopez, Kistea Larsen, @toosweet, Julie Lynn Lockridge, Julie Rollins, Luana, and to those that I couldn't mention here. We love you and hope to see you when the next adventure starts, but until then, I invite you to leave a comment on this book and try one of my other books on the app.

Thank you once more for the journey.

#Sylviasylvester.