Chapter 39 39
Epilogue
7 Years Later
“I’m the oldest, so I should get to hold the new baby first,” Thea insisted.
Today is Thea’s twelfth birthday and the family has gathered to celebrate the occasion. In a pack house full of mostly boy pups, Thea reigned over all the children just as she reigned over all of our hearts. Even though Thea was adopted by my sister and Ninos, making her a Papadopoulou, she is still ours. All of ours.
“Mikri polemistria, it’s your birthday today, of course, you can have anything you want.” Alpha Dimitri smiled at Thea, calling her little warrior.
Thea quickly assumed the sitting position on the sofa and eagerly waited for my sister-in-law, Raven, to pass her the newest pup who was born just six weeks ago.
“Here you go, meet your new cousin, Lukas.” Raven gently placed the new pup in Thea’s hands. She had spent a lot of time holding all of our pups and being a good big sister.
We watched Thea’s face beam with joy, and she placed a kiss on top of the baby’s thick black hair. Unlike Dimitri’s first two sons, Kyros and Damien who looked like their father, baby Lukas had the strong LaRue genes. He looked just like his mother and older twin sisters, Alice and Anabeth.
There was something special about the new pup I couldn’t put my finger on. With both of his parents being elemental, Haze could sense something
different about him. I wondered if the little boy would be elemental and which element he might inherit from either of his parents.
Odessa had come from a long line of elemental wolves. While she didn’t have an element, it was still possible for her to pass it on to one or all of our pups. Leonidas was our first born and the Alpha heir to the pack. Lykos came two years later and Leandros the following year. After having three boys, my mate was glowing with our fourth pup. Our little girl was due in four more weeks.
Odessa has been floating on cloud nine since we found out the gender of our baby last month. She had been hoping for a little girl and I was already imagining how I would skin her mate alive the day he tried to take my baby girl away from me. Little Leona wasn’t even here yet and Haze was already in full protection mode.
“You’ve got that look in your eyes,” Dimitri said to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“What look?” I asked.
“That possessive Alpha-hole look we all get thinking about someone taking what is ours,” he chuckled.
“I only get my baby girl for eighteen years. Then some bastard will try and take her from me. Claim she is his mate or some bullshit,” I grumbled.
“My poor niece,” he chuckled and shook his head. “What? Eighteen years isn't a lot of time,” I replied.
“She may not find her mate until she’s much older. Though, I know the feeling. I remember when some bastard took my only sister away from me,” he grinned.
“You’re the closest pack to the Moon Warriors, it’s not like I took your sister far away,” I huffed.
“She’s not even here yet and you’re worked up already,” he shook his head.
“The twins are three already, you mean to tell me that you’re going to be ready in fifteen years when they turn eighteen?” I asked and he let out a low growl.
“My poor nieces,” I laughed.
Anabeth turned her head and walked over to me with her arms outstretched. I lifted the three-year-old beauty up to my lap and she demanded my attention. She was a mini version of her mother, the bossy little one of the bunch. Her twin was quieter and shyer, but Anabeth… there was something about Anabeth that told you she was the product of two strong Alphas.
“Aunty Dessa, did you make loukoumi?” Damien asked in his sweet five-year-old voice. He had his aunt wrapped around his little finger and she always spoiled him with sweets.
“You know I did,” she smiled and rubbed her swollen belly. “I’ll go get
it.”
“Where’s Kyros?” I asked Damien, who was usually inseparable from
his older brother.
“He’s with Anya, they’re looking for Kronos,” Damien said. “He always wants to play with Anya alone,” he added.
“Well, they’re the same age,” I tried to cheer him up.
“So is Leonidas, but Kyros and Anya are always running off together. They won’t let us play with them,” Damien replied with a pout and Kazimir went in search of his little girl.
Anya was Kazimir’s first born, and she was followed by two younger brothers, all three had golden hair. My sister and Ninos also had two boys, along with Thea. Between our litter of nine and Dimitri’s five, we were
seriously outnumbered by the pups and this birthday party was sure to get out of hand once they got their paws on some sugar.
We had converted and remodeled the old servant’s quarters in the basement into a large clubhouse and game room for the pups. This worked out great when they had large sleepovers or playtime together. Tonight, they would all be enjoying a big sleepover downstairs and I was looking forward to spending alone time with my mate.
Pregnancy always seemed to make my mate insatiable, and I was happy to try and quench her thirst. Last night was date night for us, and I had taken her out in the city. We visited Tassos’ rooftop for dinner before we spent the evening at the Adonis. I had even turned the old office on the third level into a private playroom for us.
The Adonis was one of the businesses I had inherited from my father, and though I had sold most of the others, I kept the Adonis. It was a cash cow, not that I needed it. My investment in SiberianOil had made me a billionaire and the Adonis was pocket change in comparison. I had held on to the Adonis because of the sentimental value it held for me with my mate.
After dinner and birthday cake, Thea opened up her gifts. She seemed most excited about the boxing gloves Kazimir had given her and couldn’t wait to start training with him. Twelve was the age we started training pups, but we had allowed Thea to start early last year.
Once the pups were in their pajamas and tucked into their sleeping bags, Ninos and my sister started story time. Dimitri and Raven left for the guest room with baby Lukas, and Alina retreated to her room. Kazimir had decided to stay with the pups, no doubt sleeping with one eye open, watching Kyros and Anya.
“Are you ready?” I asked my mate. “Ready for what?”
“I owe you five from earlier today,” I whispered in her ear.
“Five what?”
“Six.” I gave her a raised eyebrow and she flushed with excitement