Chapter Fifty-Three
F L O R E N C E
Days pass. Then weeks. Before I know it, a whole month passes, and when I wake up with this realization, I just feel like a gigantic weight has been lifted off my chest.
Life goes on, I realize. No matter how bad the situation is, my life still goes on. And so do the lives of others. The past month proved that.
Since the war between Blood Moon Pack and Ombra Nera ended, so many things changed in the state.
The leaders all apologized to us, not knowing the full extent of what Alpha Isaac had done. Because of that, they volunteered to help with the repairs and reform the ones that have fought on Alpha Isaac’s side. Luna Vera and their son James have changed their names under my protection, and they are now living quiet lives in another state.
As for Blood Moon Pack and Ombra Nera, they are now one— Ombra Sangria.
Niccolo is the Alpha and I’m the Luna. Still unofficial after a month, but we’re taking one step at a time.
I open my eyes and look at the ceiling of my old bedroom in the packhouse before getting up. From outside the window, I can already see the shrine of the heroes in the courtyard, a ten foot tall marble obelisk with all the names of the fallen. It’s still being finished, and I don’t know if the names of Alpha Isaac’s allies will be included.
One thing is for sure, though— Dad's name is on there, big and clear, side by side with the others.
Speaking of my father, I am set to visit his resting place today, which is just beside my mother’s grave. I know it’s a bit overdue, but with all the things happening in the packs, not only the projects and the preparation for trials, I found that I had to put my duty first. And I really wanted to be mentally and emotionally prepared to see where they’re resting, in order for me to truly accept and heal.
I stretch and start to walk toward the bathroom when I notice a note in the mirror. It has Niccolo’s messy writing, and it says, ‘I’ll meet you at the carriage.’
I smile and pocket the note. For the past month, he has been the busiest, going around and taking charge of whatever he can lay his hands on. So far, he and I make a good team of leaders, but of course we always involve the ones that know the process best as well as the opinion of the people before we make big decisions, just like merging the two packs.
Today he will take the day off with me and go with me to the gravesite, which I’m really grateful for.
I take a quick bath and get dressed in a simple linen suit, topping it with a thick coat, since winter is fast approaching. When I exit the packhouse, the slight blue hue of the environment signals that it is indeed coming. I pull my coat closer to me and make my way to the stables, where a carriage is already ready.
“Good morning,” I greet the driver, and he tips his hat to me with a smile. I enter the carriage and sure enough, Niccolo is already there, cradling two bouquets of white lilies. I stare at them in awe. “Oh, Niccolo, where did you get those?”
“Good morning to you too,” he says dryly, but there is a small smile on his face. “I had Hardy help me keep the flowers alive in the greenhouses. Apparently, a lot of them have been dying in the cold because of the unkempt environment.” He clears his throat and fiddles with the petals. “And I really wanted to do something for your father and mother. I think they deserve something nice.”
My heart melts with those words. “Thank you, Niccolo.”
He smiles and hands me the flowers. “The big one is for your mother, though. Make no mistake, I’m still going to win her over so I can finally ask you to marry me.”
That makes me laugh, which breaks some of the nervousness that’s starting to build inside my chest. As the carriage moves and we approach the barrier, some of my initial worries are coming back, but stronger than that is the bond I feel with Niccolo as he clasps my hand in his and gives me the warmest, softest smile.
For nearly an hour, the carriage moves past trees and fields, mountains, and little houses that are now being rebuilt. I look out the window as the carriage moves progressively faster, feeling better and better with the scenes of progress I’m seeing. But my heart drops when I see the familiar garden where my parents are laid to rest.
Niccolo gets out of the carriage before opening the door for me. When he catches the sad expression on my face, he kisses my forehead. “They would be happy to know that you’re here, Florence.”
A single tear flows down my cheek. I wipe it and kiss him back, but on his soft lips. “Thank you for doing this with me, Niccolo.”
Together we walk along the well-trodden path in the garden and, as we get deeper and deeper into the place, I sink lower and lower into the realm of memories.
He was, until his dying breath, a wonderful father and the greatest protector.
I kneel down, touching the ground like I would have loved to touch their hands.
“Thank you, Dad, Mom,” I whisper, kissing the petals of the flowers before setting them on the gravesite. “Till we meet again.”
Niccolo kneels beside me and touches the flowers too. “Thank you, Alpha Amos, Luna Miriana. For everything.”
We stay there for a while, kneeling down looking at the sky, both lost in our thoughts. After what seems like an hour, we get up and head back to the carriage, and I know that he will tell the driver to come back to the pack.
But I don’t want to go yet.
The thing is, I’ve been keeping a secret from Niccolo. Something I just discovered a week ago. I still have to tell him, and I don’t want the background place to be the busy pack that we’re trying to rebuild and basically rebrand.
And of course, I want to tell him with my parents present, even though not in the way that I would have wanted.
I take his hand as he starts to walk, making him turn around to face me. “Niccolo?”
“Yes, my love?” He stands before me and takes my face in his hands, trying to peer into my eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?”
“Yes,” I whisper, resting my forehead against his shoulder before looking up at him again. “I just... I’ve been keeping something from you for a week now, something pretty important.”
He frowns. “And what’s that?” When I don’t say anything, he caresses my cheeks softly. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I’m not mad at you for keeping this, whatever this is, as long as you’re being honest with me now.”
“I know.” I bite my lip and take a deep breath. “Promise me you won’t be angry, though.”
“What?” Niccolo lets out a disbelieving laugh. “Florence, I love you with all my heart. I love you more than I love life itself. I would do anything for you. I would take care of you forever.” He touches the tattoo on my neck. “We are forever bonded. There’s nothing you can do or say that would drive me away, and I want you to remember that. Now please tell me before you give me a heart attack in front of your parents.”
That elicits a laugh from me, and as I look at him I can’t help but tear up a little. This man is the best. We may have met under the strangest, darkest circumstances but he’s the only light that pushed me forward in my worst times. He will forever be my other half, just as the Moon Goddess intended.
I take a deep breath and look into his eyes, knowing that the best days of our lives are ahead. “Niccolo... I’m pregnant.”
His eyes go wide, and at that moment I knew that everything will be perfect. He lifts me in his arms and kisses me. "I love you so much. Oh god, I'm going to be a father!"
Tears of happiness stream down my cheeks. "You're going to be the most wonderful one."
THE END.