159. All Good Things

159. All Good Things
ALLISON.

Somehow, I was reminded again of the question our father asked us in that fateful day at the river…

“What are you willing to do for the person you love?”

As I stared at the stones and wooden cross that marked his grave, I found myself smiling because after everything, after the battles, the sacrifices, the loss, and the victories… I knew my answer had remained the same.

“I did everything I could for love, Dad,” I whispered, gently laying down a bouquet of yellow tulips, his favorite.

Beside me, Sullivan knelt and did the same, only his bouquet was of amaryllis flowers which was our mom’s favorite. He stayed silent for a moment, his fingers brushing against the wood of the cross, before he exhaled deeply.

It has been two years since the war ended. The bloody battle that tore through the Outworld, leaving scars on both the land and the people. It took time, so much time to rebuild everything that has been broken. Many people died, but a lot of them survived. Still, it didn’t mean that we have forgotten all about it. Everyone was still in the process of healing. It was far from easy.

For months, we worked tirelessly. We helped the wounded werewolves, vampires, witches, even ghouls, those who had been victims of the Hallowed Keep and Celestine’s Rogue Enclave. We also went back to the Drignis mansion where we destroyed every traces of Celestine’s experiments. We worked to mend broken alliances, to forge new ones, to create a future where Outworlders no longer had to live in fear of each other.

But perhaps the most difficult road of all was Sullivan’s. Celestine had shattered him in ways I couldn’t even begin to understand. The years of torment, of manipulation, had left deep wounds in my brother’s soul. Some of them, I feared, would never fully heal.

Even now, he still had nightmares. Quinn told me that during the first nights he stayed with her in the Evans Mansion, he would wake up screaming and it broke my heart hearing that.

But he was getting better. Slowly.

I was pulled away from my thoughts when Sullivan spoke. "Do you think they finally found their peace now?"

I turned to him, watching the way his eyes stayed on our parents' grave. There was something almost fragile in his expression, like the lost boy he had once been.

I smiled, reaching for his hand and squeezing it gently.

“Yes. I think all they ever wanted was for us to find our way back home, wherever that place may be,” I said, my voice filled with certainty.

Sullivan turned to look at me then, his lips tugging into the smallest of smiles.

"Well, you’ve perfectly found yours,” he said and turned to the people who were approaching us.

There they were, my five Alphas, and my princess, Amaris.

“Honestly, I still can’t believe you managed to wrap them around your finger,” Sullivan commented. “It’s not easy to tame an Alpha, much more five of them.”

I grinned. “I guess love just does the most unexpected thing.”

Liam, Mason, River, Daniel, and Wesley walked toward me and them was a small, bouncing figure with golden-amber eyes.

"Momma!" Amaris squealed, her tiny legs running full speed toward me.

I grinned, bending down to catch my daughter as she jumped into my arms.

“There’s my little troublemaker,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head.

“Hi, Uncie Sulli!” she greeted my brother.

Sullivan chuckled and playfully pinched Amaris’ cheek. “Hi, my favorite niece.”

Amaris smiled. Then, she turned in my arms and pouted.

"Mommy, Daddy Wes won’t let me eat chocies!" she complained with her cute voice. She was still having a hard time pronouncing some words but they sounded adorable nonetheless.

I arched a brow and looked at Wesley, who clutched his chest in mock betrayal.

“That’s not true, princess! I let you eat a whole bar of chocolate earlier. You’ve had enough,” Wesley said.

"Hmp!" Amaris crossed her arms. "Only one chocolate!"

River snorted.

I narrowed my eyes at my daughter, tapping the tip of her nose.

“Lying is bad, Ami. How many chocolates did you really have?”

Amaris pursed her lips before hesitantly lifting two small fingers.

Wesley’s eyes widened. "What? I only gave you one!"

Amaris giggled, then pointed a tiny finger at River. "Daddy Riv gave me one more!"

River muttered a soft curse under his breath, scratching the back of his neck. “Shit, I said that was our secret, Princess.”

I groaned. "River, seriously. You should stop spoiling her."

He held up his hands in defense.

“What? I can’t help it when she gives me the puppy eyes!"

I shook my head with a sigh, though I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

“Goodness, I hope she doesn’t grow up spoiled,” I said and kissed her cheek.

Amaris just grinned and hugged me tighter.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Quinn approaching. She was stroking her swelling belly. Sullivan came to her and wrapped his arms protectively around her.

My heart warmed at the sight.

It had taken so many years, so much pain and loss, but Sullivan had finally found his way back to his mate. They were finally building their own family. And I knew, in that moment, that he was finally at peace. This was his home.

“Are you gonna leave Missouri after the conference tonight, Allison?” Quinn asked.

“No, I think we’re gonna stay here for another,” I replied.

We’ve been staying in the Drignis mansion back in Pennsylvania for the last few months in an attempt to restore the place. Luckily, my mates were helping me clean up the mess that Celestine has left behind. I didn’t want to destroy the place because it was where my mother grew up. I just wanted to erase the evilness that Celestine has made in that place.

Meanwhile, the reason why we came back to Missouri now was because a conference between Outworlders will happen tonight. It was the very thing we had spent the past two years working toward.

“That sounds good.” Quinn smiled while stroking her belly. “You know what? I’m just glad that they agreed to conduct the conference here instead. I didn’t want to travel much.”
“Yeah. You should be resting more,” I agreed.

The conference later will be attended by various representatives and leaders from different Outworld factions—the vampires, werewolves, witches, and ghouls. Our goal was to talk about how we would be moving forward after the bloodshed two years ago. It was my idea to do this and Quinn thought that it was a great way to start building a peaceful relationship among our kind. My mates also helped communicating with the other Outworld factions. River and Mason were especially helpful because of their connection in the underworld.

“Well, I’ll see you later, then,” Quinn told me.



I was the Outworld’s First Councilor.

And as I looked at the faces of my five Alphas, the men who had stood by me through everything, I saw nothing but pride in their eyes.