Chapter 177 Full Circle

Chapter 177 Full Circle
Gabriel POV

Six years later

I knelt beside my daughter Sophianna, watching as her small hands carefully selected wildflowers for the bouquet we were creating.

"Do you think these white ones look pretty with the purple, Daddy?" Sophie asked.

"They're perfect, sweetheart. Mom will love them."

Today was the anniversary of Lyra marking me. I had made a promise after that first disastrous proposal. Each year, I would ask her to be my wife, and each year she would find some gentle way to decline. Yet I persisted, preparing some special ceremony or gift every year.

A splash and shout from the nearby creek drew my attention. My twin sons, Stephen and Sebastian, were engaged in what appeared to be a water battle, their laughter echoing through the trees.

They're growing so fast. At five years old, the boys were already showing signs of the strong wolves they would become. Steve, the more dominant of the twins, had inherited my strategic mind, while Seb possessed Lyra's gentler nature and empathy.

As Alpha, my mind was never completely at rest. Though there had been no attacks on my territory in the past six years, I remained certain that somewhere, hidden within the council, conspirators still plotted to harness the power of the white wolf—my mate, Lyra.

"Daddy, do you think Mommy will really like these?" Sophia asked again, holding up a particularly vibrant bunch of wildflowers.

"She'll love anything you give her, Sophie."

Of my three children, Sophie concerned me most. The white wolf bloodline passed only through females, and a white coat signified the activation of that heritage. I didn't know if Sophie would naturally shift into a white wolf or if she would need to undergo the rebirth ritual as her mother had. Either way, I was determined my daughter would never experience the trauma of rebirth that Lyra had endured.

But all that's for a future day. When she experiences her first shift.

A cry from the creek interrupted my thoughts. Seb came running toward us, cradling his arm, tears streaming down his face.

"Steve pushed me against the rocks!" he sobbed, showing me a scrape along his forearm.

I sighed. Boys will be boys. "Come here," I said, pulling my son into a gentle embrace.

"Alpha, Frost Crown Alpha Callum and Luna Eliza have just arrived at our gates," Jensen's voice announced through our pack bond. He'd beaten Raiden by his outstanding performance in the Blood Moon Games a year ago and earned his position as my new beta.

"Have them wait at the Alpha house. We'll be right there," I replied, wondering about the timing of their visit. Could they be here to celebrate our mating ceremony anniversary too? I recalled how one year, Eliza had helped create an enormous multi-tiered cake for the occasion, only for it to be toppled by my rambunctious children, turning the elegant dessert service into an impromptu food fight.

"Sophie, Seb, we need to head back," I announced. "We have visitors."

"Is it Aunt Eliza?" Sophie asked excitedly. "And Uncle Callum? And Daisy?"

"Yes, they've just arrived," I confirmed, then called out, "Steve! Time to go home!"

After a moment, my eldest son emerged from the bushes, looking slightly guilty but defiant.

"You need to be gentler with your brother," I admonished, though my tone held more affection than anger. "Pack means family, and family protects each other."

"He was splashing me," Steve muttered.

"I have something that can help," Sophie announced importantly, reaching into her backpack and pulling out a handful of crushed leaves.

I watched with pride as my daughter carefully applied the chewed herbs to her brother's injury. Her interest in healing and her compassionate nature remind me so much of Lyra.

"There! All better now," she declared.

"Thank you, Sophie," Seb sniffled.

With my children gathered, I led them back through the forest toward the Alpha house, Sophie's wildflower bouquet clutched carefully in my hand.

When we emerged from the tree line, I spotted Lyra waiting on the porch of our home. She stood with her arms crossed, eyeing the flowers in my hand with a raised eyebrow.

"Will you marry me, Lyra?" I asked before she could say anything.

"Is that my anniversary gift this year?" she called out, deflecting as always. "Some forest weeds and another proposal?"

"Mom!" Sophie rushed forward indignantly. "Daddy and I picked these together! They're not weeds!"

Lyra's expression immediately softened as she knelt to embrace our daughter. "Of course they're not, sweetheart. They're beautiful," she said, accepting the bouquet and inhaling their fragrance. "Thank you both."

She's dodging my proposal again. I gave her a look that clearly said, "You'll pay for that later," and was rewarded with the mischievous smile I loved so much. The smile that said "ask me again next year."

As we entered the Alpha house, the children immediately spotted Daisy, Callum and Eliza's four-year-old daughter, playing in the living room. With excited shouts, our three children rushed to greet their friend, their earlier disputes forgotten.

"Olivia, would you mind watching the children for a bit?" Lyra asked the older woman who had emerged from the kitchen.

"Of course not, Luna," Olivia replied with a warm smile.

With the children happily distracted, Lyra and I made our way to my office where Callum and Eliza waited. As we entered, Eliza rose from her seat and embraced Lyra warmly.

"It's so good to see you," Eliza said, her eyes bright with excitement.

"What brings you here?" I asked, clasping Callum's forearm in greeting. "Not that you need a reason. just curious if you're also here for our annual mating ceremony."

Eliza exchanged a glance with her mate. "Well, we do have some news," she said. "I'm not sure if it counts as a gift, but..."

"What is it?" My curiosity spiked.

"I'm pregnant," Eliza announced, her face glowing with happiness as Callum placed a proud hand on her shoulder.

Lyra squealed in delight, jumping up from my lap where she'd settled. "That's wonderful news!" she exclaimed, pulling Eliza into another embrace.

"Congratulations to you both," I said sincerely, clapping Callum on the shoulder. The Frost Crown Alpha had proven himself a worthy ally and friend over the years, and I was genuinely happy for them.

"Let's celebrate," Lyra suggested, leading us back to the living room where we found the children engaged in animated conversation.

"Daisy just told us she's going to be a big sister!" Steve announced as we entered.

"That's right," Eliza confirmed, accepting a glass of champagne from Lyra, who had retrieved a bottle from our special cabinet. "In about seven months."

We toasted to the news while the children chattered excitedly about the prospect of a new playmate.

As the evening progressed with laughter and conversation, I found a quiet moment to pull Lyra close. "Happy?" I murmured against her hair.

"Completely," she replied, leaning into my embrace.

We stood together, watching our children play, surrounded by friends who had become family. I knew with absolute certainty that every struggle had been worth it, for this moment, for this life, for her.

The End.