Chapter 95 – Epilogue

SEBASTIAN.

After a year...

The air was cool and fresh as the rain fell lightly from the sky. Now there was another place where I found tranquility, my mother’s grave. I was looking at her resting place as an end to her story here with us and a beginning of a new one in the afterlife.

A cold gravestone could never mark her glorious life. She was my support throughout everything.

“Your mother is very proud of you, Bash,” Teresa said in a warm voice, placing fresh peonies on her grave. “Right, Dorothea? Grandma is very proud of us all.” She took the little girl in her arms. She giggled, caressing Teresa’s cheek. My little girl!

“Let’s go! I want to visit another grave…”

I braced myself for the avalanche of mixed feelings. We didn’t place her in the family’s tomb, but she deserved a proper burial. I walked lightly through the graves to the end of the line.

Teresa and our baby girl were quietly following me. And then I saw he was there too. He had no choice but still he was suffering.

“Noah?” I mumbled, his name approaching. His eyes widened, but when he saw little Thea, an enormous smile appeared on his stoney face.

“Bash, Teresa, little angel…” he said with joy and, stretching his arm, he struck my baby girl’s hand. She giggled again. “Everything would have been so different if she would have listened to me...:” he continued with sorrow this time.

A tear rolled down his white cheek. “Beloved mother... I wonder who really loved her, besides Edgar?”

Teresa bent down and placed some more fresh peonies on Lettice’s resting place, too.

“Oh well, she had done bad things, but she was family... just like you, Noah!”

He smiled a little, not believing my words. And then his eyes sparkled when I opened my arms wide to receive him. This embrace was a painful one, an absence that lasted through time to materialize now into something wonderful, belonging.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay? There is plenty of room,” I tried for the last time to make him change his mind.

“Don’t worry about me. I will be fine. My intention is to find my sister. She must have been terrified and upset with me when she left. "

“I see... But please stay in touch with us. You will always have a family waiting and willing to take you back when life gets harder!”

With a sigh, he looked again at his mother’s grave, and then at us, smiling. With a heavy heart, he left, hoping for a brighter future.

“He was so sad, Bash…” Teresa whispered in a low tone, leading him with her eyes until the road ahead made him disappear.

“He just lost his mother... but gained a family!” I said, returning to the car.

Our house was so empty without Mother. This silence was killing me. Just as we entered, Teresa went upstairs to change Thea, and I locked myself in my office.

My mother’s picture was still adorning the wall. I just poured myself some coffee when Liam and Amelia stepped in. I knew they wanted to go on a trip around the world after all these unfortunate events, and I sustained their decision.

Amelia was the most affected, seeing Liam so hurt, but all that passed and they thought not to take life for granted.

“Alpha, cousin, we came to say goodbye and see you soon!” he said with a wide smile on his face, turning to Amelia giving her a hug and a loving kiss.

I returned the smile, cherishing the love they had.

“Take care of yourself and bring us something from each country,” I said, my eyes flickering with joy at them.

They really deserved a break like this.

Once they left, the house remained even more empty. But it was a good time for me, Teresa, and our daughter. I watched them playing outside, trying to raise a kite, struggling not to get entangled in the trees in the yard. I caught myself smiling slightly and joined them.

“Having problems?”

I enjoyed watching little Thea smiling and chuckling at her mother, who was struggling to keep the kite straight, but the wind wasn’t of much help. “Here, let me help you, love!” and taking the kite from her, I raised it high in the sky to Thea’s great genuine joy.

Watching it floating there, I figured it would reach Mother. My heart filled with sorrow again, but I rejoiced right when Thea chuckled.

“Da-da…” she mumbled from her little mouth.

I could hardly contain my happiness at hearing her, and my heart leaped up with joy. I rewarded her with a sweet, fatherly embrace. Her tiny hands wrapped around my neck and squeezed with love.

My heart melted. Sunshine flooded my soul, and I felt like my feet barely touched the ground. Looking up, I thanked God for my family and my mother for giving me the chance to enjoy these moments.

It was as if we no longer had worries and there was no danger.

The Kielder Pack had accomplished their revenge.

***

“Bash, the time has come to say goodbye,” Erik uttered in a sad voice, approaching to squeeze my hand and then spread his arms wide, embracing me, patting me on my back.

He was really leaving this time.

“I wish you would think about it. You and Caroline will always have a special place here,” I said, looking at the two girls crying as their paths would separate, and maybe forever this time.

“We know, Bash, but it is for the better. And don’t worry, we will not forget you, ever!”

And then there was Erik’s and Teresa’s moment. They just found each other and now they have to go separate ways. A burst of pain enveloped them both.

They approached slowly and stopped in front of each other, contemplating each other, reading their thoughts.

“My brave daughter...”

Emotion overwhelmed Erik, and the words that in other circumstances came out easily now stubbornly remained unspoken.

“I know what you mean, even if you can’t say it. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you…” Teresa muttered, but also emotions were too high.

“You don’t have to apologize. I should have been there when you needed me. But I promise you this will not be the last time you see me, Teresa!”

And my Teresa drowned in sobs and tears, throwing her arms around her father. He squeezed her tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go again.

Eventually, we all gathered in front of the house. I hated separations, but I trained my heart to accept them. Erik and Caroline walked away slowly, turning for the last time, waving their hands. I embraced Teresa to ease her loss and her pain.

“Do you think we would see them again?”

“No doubt about it, my love, no doubt about it!”

***

ERIK.

My senses went wild, and it was not because of our departure. Something else was going on.

“Whatever you do, don’t look back, Caroline! We are being followed!”

The end?