Chapter 476 - Fated To The Alpha (Complete Fated Series collection)

Epilogue

Temperance

Watching Eziah play with Corina and Lucas, constructing a makeshift fort from a table and sheets and two chairs, fills me with a warmth I've rarely felt. We are watching the kids while Dominic went to grab dinner, and Rose and Casen went to grab some things from the store. Tomorrow we leave to head back to Eziah's parents’ pack so Eziah can take over.

As they giggle and create, my heart swells with love for this man who will soon lead his pack as Alpha. Despite the nervous flutter in my stomach, I'm eager for our new life, our home.

Reflecting on my past, I realize I wouldn't change a thing. Each horrid thing, each heartbreak, led me to Eziah, to this moment of peace. Liora's voice echoes in my mind.

"He'd be a good father." I smile, agreeing silently, but not ready to share him just yet. For now, I'll cherish having him to myself.

"But I think I'll be selfish and keep him as just mine for a while longer," I tell her.

Eziah emerges from the fort, Corina clinging to his back, and he settles beside me while Lucas assesses the fort structure they built.

"Go get your dolls," Eziah tells Corina when Jonah comes rushing out of the room up the hall. Eziah sits up alert, his fear hitting me. "She's awake! Mara is awake!" Jonah says, and I look at Eziah.

Lucas jumps to his feet and rushes down the hall when a knock sounds on the door. "We’ll let you guys have your moment, I will get the door," Eziah tells Jonah, who nods thankfully.

Rose, Casen, and Casey arrive. "You guys heading off?" Eziah inquires. Rose confirms with a nod, and Casey, eager to play, darts past them.

"She is in seeing her mother, she'll be out in a minute," Eziah tells Casey.

"Marabella is awake?!" Rose asks hopefully. Eziah smiles and nods. "Literally just woke up," Eziah tells her.

"Casey, stay out here. Let Lucas and Corina see Aunty Mara first," Rose tells Casey who wanders over to the couch with her dolly, and so does Casen.

Moving back to the couch, Eziah turns to look at Casen. "Are you coming tomorrow?" Casen asks him.

"Of course!" Eziah answers.

"What's happening tomorrow?" I ask.

"Uncle Andrei hands the pack down," Eziah explains, and I nod smiling at Rose.

"You nervous about being Alpha?" I ask her, and she shrugs.

"Not really," she says and Casen brushes his fingers through her hair.

"What about you Casey? Are you excited to be going home?" Before she can answer, Lucas and Corina come out with Kyan. Kyan approaches, his tired eyes betraying his worry for Marabella.

Kyan looks at Eziah and nods toward the room. "Everything alright?" Eziah asks. Kyan steps closer to Eziah and I get up when Eziah motions for me to. Stopping at his side. Kyan is a mess, his eyes glassy like he never slept last night. He peers down the hall.

"What is it?!" Eziah asks worry lacing his tone.

"She lost Kora," he informs us, his voice laden with grief. Eziah sighs heavily, shaking his head.

"Marabella?" I ask him and Kyan looks at me.

"Relieved to be back, but grieving her wolf,” Eziah nods sadly and I know how that feels. But saying that I never truly lost mine, they just turned out to be something else entirely, they were vessels for their true identity, Liora.

"You go see her, she asked for you," Kyan tells him.

I turn to sit back on the couch when Kyan stops me. "You too Temperance. You're family, you can see her too," He tells me and I look at Eziah, he inclines his head to follow him when Casey speaks up.

"Can I see her Uncle Kye?" Kyan chuckles.

"Go on rugrat, quick before she falls asleep, she’s tired," Kyan tells her and I hold out my hand for Casey. She grabs it bouncing on her feet excitedly as we follow Eziah.

The moment we step into the room, Marabella sits up higher. Jonah sits next to her watching her. Eziah moves to her instantly and hugs her. Marabella squeezes him tight. "You had us worried," Eziah tells her.

Pulling back, he smiles sadly. "Kyan told me about Kora," Eziah tells her and her lip quivers, eyes turning glassy.

"Always a sacrifice, right?" she murmurs.

"Damn wolf is such a martyr!" Eziah says exaggeratedly with a roll of his eyes. Marabella snickers, but her sadness is evident, and Eziah grips her hand.

"So I guess you're like mom now, no wolf?" She shrugs.

"We'll find out eventually. Or maybe I’m human," Marabella states.

"You're not human, your aura still holds the shadows," he tells her.

"Kyan said the same thing," she says looking at Kyan over his shoulder.

Noticing me, Marabella smiles. "You look better," she tells me.

"I'm glad you're awake," I tell her, not knowing what else to say.

Thankfully, Casey's impatience causes distraction and Marabella smiles. "My turn! My turn!" Casey says, climbing up on the bed, Kyan grabs her helping lift her on the bed.

"Yes, your turn munchkin," Marabella says, reaching out for her.

"Gentle Casey," Jonah tells her. Marabella raises an eyebrow at him.

"She's fine! Come here sweetie," Marabella tells her, hugging her tight. Casey pulls away, showing Marabella her doll. "Lucas saved me, Aunty Mara. I can't swim, but he saved me!" Marabella smiles sadly.

"Yes, Uncle Jonah told me, said he portalled?" Marabella looks at us. Kyan nods.

"He still won't tell us how he reached her and opened a portal in midair," Kyan sighs.

"We fell in the mensymney place, the water was really cold, and sticky," Casey says, patting Mara's face with her hands. Marabella looks at Jonah and Kyan before pulling away to look at Casey.

"Fell where?" Casey tries to pronounce the word when Kyan speaks up.

"Mnesoymne?!" he questions.

"Yep! That place, the water was sticky and so dark,"

"He took you to the underworld?!" Marabella asks horrified. Casey pulls a funny face.

"No, he took me home," Casey states.

"Sweetie the manor doesn't exist at the moment," Eziah tells Casey.

"No, his real home! He said one day he'd be the Obsidian King! I can't wait!" she squeals. "His castle is so cool!” Casey claps her hands excitedly while we all stare at her bewildered when Kyan moves closer to her and kneels next to the bed.

"Did he tell you anything else?" Kyan asks her.

Casey appears to think for a second. "Just that he has to set things right. That once he finds her he can go back home." Marabella gasps and the tension in the room ripples. Casey, oblivious to it continues.

"He also said I could visit whenever I wanted, but he has to find his mate first," Casey babbles.

"His mate?!" Jonah questions and Casey nods.

"Yes."

"Lucas doesn't have a mate Casey, he is too little," Marabella laughs nervously. Yet, my mind is reeling along with everyone else as we all watch Casey.

"Not yet silly! He said Celeste isn’t even born yet. Lucas told me the fates cursed him for breaking the laws …. Will he go to jail?" Casey asks, looking at Jonah.

"I don't want him to go to jail! How will we go to his castle?" Casey asks.

Marabella looks at Kyan and I can see the fear in her eyes. "He won't go to jail, he hasn't done anything wrong," Jonah tells Casey.

"That's not what Lucas said. He said in his first life he cursed ....." Casey looks at Kyan. "You!” she points at Kyan.

"Me?!" he asks, pointing to himself and Casey nods.

"Lucas said he was cursed to become the abomination he helped create, that was his punishment from the fates." Casey says, mispronouncing abomination.

"Casey, did Lucas ever mention anyone by the name of Hades?" Kyan asks her, and my heart races faster. She nods, leaning closer, and we all lean in too.

"He IS Hades," she whispers. "But he prefers Luca," she whispers before holding her finger to her lips. Everyone's shock is evident when she continues. "When Kaif’s curse breaks, he was to return to the bloodline he cursed to set things right," Casey states.

"Can I go play with Corina now? I brought an extra dolly?!" Casey says.

Marabella nods her head and Casey rushes off screaming out for Corina. We all stand in stunned silence when Dominic walks in, his arrival breaks the tense silence, but his confusion only amplifies our own.

"Mara, you're awake!” Dominic says, rushing over to hug her. She hugs him back, but her eyes are on Kyan. Dominic steps back, looking at everyone. "Did I miss something?" Dominic asks, and I can only stare.

Dominic looks around at all of our stunned faces. "Well now we know why we couldn't find Hades!" Eziah murmurs, looking at Kyan. Dominic's brows furrow and he looks at Marabella.

She shakes her head. "No! Casey must be wrong!” Marabella says in denial.

"Wrong about what?!" Dominic asks, looking at his son. Everyone turns their attention to Kyan.

"She's not wrong, it makes sense why he can open the portal to the underworld," Kyan says, seeming thoughtful.

"Ah, is someone going to tell me because you all suck at charades?!" Dominic says. Kyan's gaze lifts to his father's.

"So, where is Hades?" Dominic asks.

"He's been here the entire time," Jonah says, standing up. Dominic looks at him when Kyan speaks.

"Lucas doesn't have Hades magic like we thought," he tells his father, who seems confused.

"Lucas IS Hades," Kyan states and Dominic staggers back in shock just as we hear footsteps rushing up the hall.

Lucas stops at the door, peering in. "Dad, can we have popcorn and watch the new Marvel movie?" Lucas asks, we all stare at him like he is an alien, but Jonah is quick to come out of his shock and recover.

"Yes," he answers, and Lucas beams and is about to rush off. "Ah, Luca?" Jonah asks, using the name Casey just told us.

"Yeah, Dad?" Lucas says, coming back to look into the room, not seeming to notice his name change, or maybe he was just reflexively answering it as he returns.

"Ask Aunty Rose to make it, though. I don't want you to burn yourself." Jonah tells him. Lucas nods and rushes off.

"My son is the King of the Underworld?" Marabella gasps, and we all look at her to see her eyes roll into her head as she faints.

"It appears so," Kyan says, sitting beside her and brushing her hair from her face as he stares out the door.

"Hades is back?” Dominic gasps, and I hear Eziah suck in a breath.

The End