Chapter 265: Epilogue (Klaus and Valerie)

Niklaus' POV

The pack house was different now. My brothers had all moved out after finding their mates. Dante had opened up to the family about his affair with Zina. We all knew that he had something for the Omega, but we thought it wasn't something serious, and just him being a flirt. Poor Zina had been nervous to come out, thinking that I'd be angry at her.

Truthfully, I was. I had always prioritized work ethics and professional boundaries. An affair by a worker in the pack house was a violation. But it only lasted for a minute, and every anger dissipated when I found out that they were actually in love. They'd gone the 'chosen mate direction'.

David on the other hand ran into his fated mate by accident. He met her one time when he was traveling, and it happened to be someone we knew.

Aria Sterling—Amara's younger sister. They live in the pack, but they mostly spend their time out of it, travelling the world. Last time I asked, they said they were not ready to start a family. They might never be, as long as they were happy.

So the big pack house was only now contained by my family, the Beta's and Gamma's. But it was fine. We had kids now, and there was never a dull moment.

Right now, Valerie and I were packing our children's bags. We were taking them to Marcel and Solana's pack for their daughter's birthday party, and they would be staying there for a week. Jamie and Damien's children would still be attending.

"A week without kids in the house," Valerie whispered as she folded Vanessa's skirt. "Heaven."

I chuckled.

As much as we loved our children, they were a pain in the ass sometimes. They hardly let me get any alone time with their mother. That's why I made it a rule to travel with Valerie twice every year. More if we had free time.

We've visited almost all the continents and so many countries. Antarctica was the only one left, as Valerie said she was not looking forward to freezing to death.

"You're gonna miss them."

She sighed. "I know. But at least, I will get a break and spend time with you."

I was grinning so wide now, I was certain if a person was standing behind me, they would see it.

"When you get tired of them again, we can easily ship them off to stay with Aunt Judy and Uncle Luke."

We didn't have parents, so our children were without grandparents. But Damien and Carrie's parent's made up for it. All the children go visit them sometimes.

The sudden buzz of Valerie's phone drew her attention, and she went to check who it was. I was watching her, so I noticed the moment her shoulders tensed up.

I frowned. "Who is it, Love?"

She let out a breath. "It's Tania. She's asking to see me."

I walked over to her and wrapped my hands around her from behind. "Are you going to see her?" I asked softly.

She shook her head. "No."

Because Valerie had a heart that was just too kind for her own good, she had forgiven her sister and let her go two years ago. But she said she made it clear: Tania would never get close to her or our children ever.

Admittedly, Tania seemed to have improved, and was working towards becoming a better person. But that didn't mean Valerie had to trust her again, or forget everything she put her through.

"That's good," I murmured against the shell of her neck. "I'll be worried if you are within ten feet radius of her."

She giggled, shoulders shaking in my arms. "I'm sure she can't harm me now."

Valerie had grown to be such an epitome of strength and resilience. I watch her everyday, carry on her role as Luna and manage her foundation with so much passion, and I could not be more proud of a person.

There was never a day she failed to make my heart swell from happiness. Even after all these years, the love I felt for her didn't diminish a single bit. Hell, it felt bigger any time I look at her. And I was always looking at her when she was near me.

"What are you thinking, Nik?" She asked when she noticed me staring at her.

"How much I fucking love you."

Her eyes widened for a second, before her lips curled into a smile that could bring the toughest of men to his knees even on a bad day. It should be illegal for anyone to look this beautiful.

I crossed the room in two strides and cupped her face, thumbs brushing over those cheekbones that still made my chest ache. Eight years, two children, various ups and downs, and she still looked at me like I was the only man in the world.

"I like it when you tell me that," she whispered, eyes shining in delight.

"And that is why I always say it to you, I can't even stop if I try." I pressed my forehead to hers. "I think I've loved you since the moment we danced together at that ball. And I've loved you every moment after. I love you in your moments of weakness. And I love you when you're strong. I love you as my Luna, and I love you as just my mate and the mother of my children. I love you when you cry and I love you when you laugh. I loved you when you were screaming at me in the delivery room and threatening to rip my throat out if I ever touched you again."

She laughed through the tears gathering in her lashes.

"And I love you now, folding tiny skirts and planning to ship our monsters off so I can have you naked for seven straight days."

"Goddess, it's your tongue I fell for," she murmured, before getting on her toes and wrapping her hands around my neck. "And I love you too."

Then she kissed me—soft at first, then deeper, hungrier, until my hands were fisted in her hair and her back was against the dresser.

Clothes, Tania and all rational thoughts forgotten. Only Valerie. The woman I wouldn't hesitate to lay my life for.

Three hours later, we were all packed and ready to go.

The children were already inside the bus. Including the Beta and Gamma's kids. For some reason, Kameron and Cami ended up sitting together in the second row, while Daniel—Amara and Damien's six year old son, Enzo—Fredrick's and Muna's five year old son, and Vanessa stayed at the back. Damien and Amara had twins girls, but they were still very little, and they were not comfortable letting them out of their sights for that long.

"I thought you said you hated her," I heard Daniel's voice, and I was certain he was referring to Kameron. "Yet, you're the first to sit with her."

"He's in love." Vanessa teased, and I could already picture Kameron gagging. But I knew that he had a crush on her. Valerie knew it too, but he refused to admit it even to himself.

Valerie and I finally joined in, and the kids quietened as I started the bus. The pack house faded in the rear-view mirror, and Valerie slipped her hand into mine over the console.

She squeezed once. "Seven whole nights," she said, voice low so little ears wouldn't catch it.

I brought her knuckles to my lips. "I'm not letting you sleep, Love."

She grinned, wicked and radiant. "Good. I wasn't planning on letting you either."

The sun was setting gold and rose over the trees, the road stretching wide and open ahead of us, and I felt it settle in my bones: the certainty that every mile of this life—every fight, every tear, every laugh—had led us exactly here.

To family.

To peace.

To her.

Forever wasn't long enough, but it was ours.

And that was everything.