Chapter 269: Epilogue (Damien and Amara)

Damien's POV

I arrived at Amara's restaurant, carrying a bouquet of freshly plucked roses. The staff stared at me as I walked in, mostly giggling or swooning. They were used to my presence here, as I regularly liked to surprise my beautiful mate. But it was not a surprise today. We planned on visiting a friend, and would I be a good mate if I didn't come to pick her up?

Amara had made magic of this place over the years. It had expanded beyond what she imagined. I'd always known that she could do it, even in moments when she doubted herself.

I moved deeper inside, the familiar hum of the place wrapping around me. It was no longer a single large space. It had been rebuilt, and now it unfolded into sections. Polished floors, chandeliers, linen-draped tables, plush chairs, low chatters and laughter, everything was elegant without being stiff. The sweet scent of meat, spice, pastries made my mouth water, but I pushed back my cravings, suddenly feeling too excited to see her.

Well, I was always excited to see her.

I walked past the hall downstairs, and walked my way up the spiral staircase.

"This way, Gamma Damien." Riley, one of her assistants said to me. She already knew what I was here for.

We passed the open kitchen, where chefs worked in seamless rhythm, flames leaping, steel gleaming. Every time I walked through here, I felt the same swell of pride tighten in my chest. She'd built this. From an idea I placed in her head without even realizing. She took a joke I'd said in passing, and made an empire out of it.

My steps slowed as I spotted her.

Amara stood near the center of it all, dressed in a green body con, hair up in a bun, tablet in hand, speaking to one of the managers. She wasn't rushing, wasn't flustered — just calm authority and quiet grace. The staff listened when she spoke. Respected her. Trusted her.

She laughed at something the manager said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and in that moment, everything else faded.

Mate. Mother. Businesswoman. Queen of her own empire.

And in that moment, her eyes rose to meet my own. And from where I was standing, I saw her pupils dilate. Goddess, Amara was exquisite.

I adjusted my grip on the roses and headed toward her, the world around us vanishing as I approached her.

"Hello, Soldier." She took the flowers from my hands, brought it to her nose and dragged in a long inhale, looking so adorable as she did so. "Smells lovely." She placed it carefully on the counter top.

I placed my hands on either side of her, effectively caging her with my body. Her workers had gotten the hint, and they had all walked out the moment I approached her.

"You're doing so good." I kissed her lips. "I'm so freaking proud." I kissed her again. "You're awesome." My hands found her hip, and I easily lifted her and made her sit on the counter top. "And you expect me not to fall down and worship the ground you walk on everyday?"

She giggled, the sound going straight to my heart. "Damien, you're being dramatic."

"No. I am just so happy to have you as my mate." I kissed her under her jaw this time, and a small sound slipped out."

"Damien, I'm sure you're not going to have sex with me right here." She said that, but her fingers were already trailing my neck the way she did whenever she was in need of me.

"I'm very tempted to." I peppered kisses down the column of her neck, then along her shoulder blade, before going down to the swell of her breasts. "But I respect you and your business."

She rolled her eyes. "As if you've not done it before."

I chuckled, pulling back. There was need flicking through her eyes now.

"It was only once."

I couldn't just resist her that day. She had initially placed her hair in a bun, and she released it in front of me and did that little shake of her head with her hair flying with her, making her look like a Goddess. How could I resist that?

I was responsible enough to lock the door and get rid of the footage. But I didn't regret it.

"Amanda texted me a few minutes ago. Said they will be meeting us in an hour."

"Oh, great."

The relationship between Amanda and Amara had transformed into something beautiful over the years. It went from hostility to awkward tension to a genuine friendship that was nothing short of admirable. Our kids even go over to visit sometimes, and she also send hers over. She and her Gamma had worked out like I suspected they would.

"How are the kids?" Amara asked, her eyes shining wide as she waited for me to fill her in.

"Well, you already know that I took them to my parents'."

Amanda and Manuel coming over meant that we were going to be spending some time away. They could stay with Valerie and Klaus, as well as the Beta couple, but Mom said she was bored, and she wanted me to bring them over. She loved those kids more than she did me when I was their age.

An hour later, Amanda and Manuel came in. The girls hugged each other, while Manuel and I shook hands. Amara led us to a VIP booth where we stayed to catch up.

"You look so amazing." Amanda said to Amara, and rightfully so. "How are the kids?"

My mate grinned at the mention of our little ones. "They're great when they're not being monsters."

"Hey! My children are not monsters."

Amara responded with a giggle, before continuing the conversation. "You look great too. You and Manuel."

"Of course, I look great. That's what happens when you're mated to an amazing woman." Manuel quipped.

Amanda shared a look with him for a fraction of a second, and they exchanged a dreamy smile. It was obvious that they were happy together. And it warmed me up somewhere.

Even though I didn't regret rejecting the bond I had with her, I did feel guilty. And seeing her find someone else who truly loved her and put her first made me happy.

At one point, she lifted her gaze and our eyes met. There was no longing or regret. Just quiet understanding and mutual respect.

"I'm glad," she said after some moments of casual conversation. "That everything worked out the way it did."

I raised my own glass, so did Amara and Manuel. He then wrapped his hand around her shoulders, and she leaned into him as their voices reduced to whispers.

I let my hand crawl under the table until I found Amara's, and my palm closed over hers perfectly like she was meant for me.

She was.

Once upon a time, this gathering would have been filled with tension, chaos and hurt.

But now?

It held peace.

It was a proof that love didn't always need to follow destiny. Sometimes we chose our own path.

I had only ever loved one woman. And she was now mine to love.