Epilogue: Zara

Zara's POV

Years after our Kiera becomes Queen

"Growing old so fast." I murmured as I let go of my grandchild who had been tugging me to play with him for the longest time since I arrived in the pack."

My words weren't directed to one specific person, but rather my entire friends and family that had their pup and some grand pup like mine. Some were a year old while others were older.

Mine was the oldest of all with some of our kids not yet found their mate. My eyes strayed to my mate. The beacon that has never for all these years failed to lead me to the light through my darkest time.

His lips quirked at the side as his eyes roved my face, his mere stare was enough to make those ladybirds in my tummy giggle and I always loved the way he looked at me, those eyes that I couldn't forget all my life, "I wish I could say so but I don't think wolves growl old, do they?"

Kimball let out a cheerful snort, "They never grow old, because they are not horses. Even if we do, Queen Zara is here to make it happen."

Clair peeked her head from behind the massive shoulder Harris, "Why do we need the queen? You could work magic with your fingers."

"Probably, I could make everyone forget I exist while I take a nap from being the grandfather of a stubborn female pup." A genuine chuckle left my lips watching my family and friends bantering each other.

"Maybe, I could be that bird that whispered to the little pup that her grandfather is tired of her," Lila said as her hand wrapped around her mate. Kimball smiled at her and pulled her into a hug.

"Don't let his cuddling make you change your mind," Serena commented as she approached us with a tray of cookies.

"Just the Luna, who knows how to fill our stomachs and always have our strength renewed at the back of her mind," Diamond said as he was the first to grab cookies from the tray.

"I thought wolves don't eat pastries that they prefer raw meat," Mia said grabbing her hand on her mate's forearm.

"This wolf does," Harris said tapping the shoulder of Diamond, while his free hand went to the tray and grabbed cookies.

"Like he is the only one," Clair said rolling her eyes at her mate.

"Come on honey, don't rattle me out to these beasts," Harris said pushing the cookies, to Clair while she took a bite from them. Shutting her eyes, basking in the yummy taste.

These two never cease to amaze me, always at each other tail but their love was unwavering, always and forever.

"I guess, it was you he got it for not himself," Lucian said.

"Or maybe, it's a form of bribery." The gorgeous Sara was in her forties but looked like a girl in her teens. Wolf genes look good on her. I murmured to myself before my mate walked towards me after dropping the last bunch of wood that he had fetched from the forest since we would be having one of our night camps.

Every year, we all come together to have this night camp, it's our way of bonding and seeing each other even after most of us have retired from our positions.

Although Kiera and her mate are now the new rulers of our pack that didn't stop the leadership spirit in Keith, he was every step guiding his daughter and so far, Kiera and her mate had proven to be a good ruler

Not that creatures like us need those lights to keep us warm or to see in the dark but Keith is so accustomed to it. Always wanting the light.

Keith looks as stunning as ever, he was just like the first time, I saw him. He is aging backward. He was wearing those casual attires like the rest of us. He walked close to me as he wrapped his hand around my waist, while his chin rested on the nook of my neck. "Did I miss anything?" He asked as his eyes roared at everyone.

"You missed the part when we have to get your queen, a new king." Kane's voice came up.

"And who could want to take a trip to the land of the dead." Everyone giggles as he presses soft kisses on my sass.

"You know, looking at you, reminded me of Blake, one would have thought he is your son with the way he is acting towards his mate just like you do to Queen Zara." Lucian's voice was filled with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, that kid got his lovey-dovey from the king of romance," Sara said and all eyes fell on her, it's only Sara who could playfully banter with Keith. And he wouldn't batter or throw a glare at her.

For some reason, Keith had a soft spot for my cousin and will always look out for her. Probably because of all the years that Sara had suffered because of us, Clair and I, and even Lucian.

"When did I shift from being the king of the beast, the alpha king to that of the king of romance?" He asked with a playful smile around his lips.

"Since when you know the meaning of the word love." Kane teased him and he smiled.

"My queen, what should we do to these wolves bantering your mate."

"Have them lock up in the pack for the next year." He smirked pulling my nose.

"Smooth move, I know you want to spend time with them."

"Will you do it for me?" I pouted looking at him

"Anything for my Luna."

"Does it mean they are staying?"

"A trip to Australia, we don't want to crowd the young one pack, do we?" Everyone yelled in excitement as I jumped on my mate and kissed him.

"You are the..."

"Best..." The rest of my friends and family growled and I laughed hitting the chest of Keith, he smirked cupping my face before he pressed a kiss on my forehead.

"Don't let their teasing get to you, we could make good memories in Australia, there are a lot of beautiful places we could go."

"Don't you think I am too old for a bucket list?" He looks at me, shaking his head.

"Nah... Forty look good on you and in my eyes, you are still that little fourteen-year-old girl that I couldn't stop thinking about when I hurt her."

"Were you thinking about me when I was fourteen or when I was sixteen?" I asked.

"Even when you were ten," my eyes bulge. "Yes, I didn't tell you, I first started crushing on you when I found your picture at the doctor's office and one of the reasons, I went after Clair, was that she looks like you." My lips dropped before he pulled out his wallet and brought an old picture, I don't think I was up to ten there.

"Hey, you got this." He nodded. "My daddy gave it to you?"

"Nah... I stole it." My eyes bulge.

"My alpha king is a kleptomaniac," I murmured and his eyes bulged.

"No, I am not?"

"Yes, you are, who goes around stealing things that are of no importance." I tease him.

'Who told you it's not important to me?"

"What's the value of them?" He scratched his hair. "You see, you are a kleptomaniac." I teased him more wanting to get away from him and he was fast to hold me before I could escape, he took hold of my waist and pulled me closer to himself. "You will get punished." I giggled while I heard the clear of throats

"Ahem...Hey, you two we are still here." Clair's giggles grabbed our attention.

"We know, now be a good boy, and let's entertain our guests." I tapped his shoulder, wiping out an invisible dirt. "Remember every good boy gets a reward."

"Can't wait to grab the rewards." Everyone giggled hearing how excited Keith seemed to be about the rewards.