Epilogue 2 - 6 months later (2)

After our last class of the afternoon, Kelsi and I decide to walk downtown to grab a coffee, elsewhere than the University Campus; this will be our final year studying there, and neither of us want to stay more than anticipated. Without much of a surprise, my Spark appears at the corner of a street to greet us with a loud meow, and I happily lift my cat to carry him in my arm, the usual purring following.

"I just wish he'd be more... human, at times," sighs Kelsi. "And at the same time, I hate that I'm almost forcing him to be less of a werewolf! I feel like I'll never compare to the chicks in his pack..."

"What, Ben has girl... friends?"

Kelsi pouts, brushing her long black hair back. She does gather some attention now that she's not hiding in her oversized clothes nor behind those ugly glasses... She went from the typical invisible nerd to one of the prettiest girls on the campus, and our duo doesn't go unnoticed wherever we go.

"More or less," she sighs. "Well, he has two sisters so it can't be helped, I suppose. Plus, he is a Beta and super outgoing, too. I just feel like, if I have him out of my sight for more than ten minutes, some other werewolf girl is just going to jump in and mark him..."

I chuckle. It probably won't happen anytime soon. Is Kelsi thinking about how quickly Liam and I marked each other? It's very different though, we are both werewolves, and fated mates, too... I put my arm around her shoulders, glad I put my high-heels boots to match her size.

"Kelsi, relax. From what I can see, Ben is the one worrying about you dumping him. He was super worried about you being upset this morning, and plus, each time he makes a mistake, he tries hard to make it up. Don't worry, you guys are rock solid, and his furry butt is crazy for you. I promise."

She gives me a shy smile, and Spark meows, as if to agree, getting a smile from her too. We finally reach one of our favorite coffee shops, a chain one but with nice servers and an amazing selection. We quickly put our orders in and take a table right by the bay window so we can see the Silver City river and people passing by. Needless to say, a few guys stare back, but once they catch sight of my black nails, the black cat on my lap and golden eyes, they go on their way.

"How about you and Liam...?" She asks, a wry smile on now that this is about me instead of her.

"What about us?" I blush a bit.

The server comes to give us our drinks, sending an extra unnecessary glance towards Kelsi, and goes back.

"Come on," she smiles. "You guys are turning the heat on whenever you're in the same room together, and it's not from your magic! How was your weekend together?"

"It's... really nice," I confess, even redder. "You know, since we get to travel together, it's one surprise after the other, and we don't have time to get bored either. I just feel a bit sorry for him when I'm with another witch and he has to wait, but he always says he's fine as long as he can stay around."

"Well, it's almost your job now," she nods. "You've inherited a ton of responsibilities, it can't be helped... But it's getting better now, right? No more headaches?"

Oh, that's one thing I'm glad is over...

After I received so much knowledge, and worse, the ability to mindlink all the witches I wanted, it just became too much for me to handle. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't focus on the present at all. It was as if I had just... too much going on. Someone was talking to me from the other side of the country, and all of a sudden, I was living the same scene over and over again, unable to make a difference between my foreseeing, the present and remember if something had really happened or not. Each time I tried to control my foreseeing abilities, I ended up having a hard time remembering what had already happened, or if I had only foreseen it and it was about to.

It did become too much, after a while, to be the greatest witch or something like that; I just couldn't take anymore of all those voices calling me, controlling my magic, the werewolves, and all the knowledge in my head. At that time, Liam was once again the one who saved me. He took me to that little chapel we had our first kiss in, surprisingly still there, and we stayed there together in the silence, until I could overcome it. I know it's just an old abandoned building full of dust and spiders, but I love that place. Liam even asked his brothers to see if we could somehow save it, and now, his older brothers promised they'd try to keep it safe from destruction, at least.

"No, I'm a lot better at handling it now," I smile, making my ring turn around my finger. "Plus, most young witches who needed help already had the talk with me once, so it's not like they'll reach out this way unless there's a major emergency again..."

And there have been a few! I never realized how problematic it could be for a young witch to be completely unsupervised, but it did happen a few times, most young orphans with no idea about why they would suddenly provoke a flood in their village or provoke an earthquake on a whim...

"So, hum... Can I expect to be a bridesmaid soon?" She chuckled, her eyes on my ring.

"I don't know..." I admit. "I know Liam would marry me anytime if he could, but you know I'm not fond of ceremonies or crowds. I think we might do something simple this summer, just with close friends and family. I'm pretty sure Nora is just waiting for me to say the word to get on it."

"That's for sure," chuckled Kelsi. "Her hints last time weren't very subtle..."

I chuckle. Nora suggested we borrow their garden, and did mention a few ways we could hold a quiet but still very nice wedding, at least before I get pregnant or something. I think they are all expecting that me and Liam will have a child soon, but we agreed to wait at least until I graduate and he passes the exams to become a cop, so...

"I'm fine with how things are for now," I say, sipping on my coffee.

"Me too... I love having you guys for flatmates!"

"We are the best flatmates ever," I laugh. "We're away almost all week-ends and we bring you guys breakfast on Monday!"

"Don't say it like that," she pouts. "You know I'd rather stick with you all the time... To be honest, sometimes I miss when it was just you and I; Between Ben's snoring and having two young and energetic couples under the same roof, I don't know what is worse..."

I can't agree more. Our bedrooms are right next to each other, and as we have all noticed, not fully sound-proof...

"Oh, Kelsi, would you come with me to the cemetery later?" I ask. "I want to take care of the graves..."

"Sure. We can even go now if you want. It'll be a little walk, and I'll bring some flowers for Ben's brother too..."

I agree, and we take our coffees to leave, Spark leading the way as always. I'm rarely cold anymore, but from Kelsi half-opening her jacket, it's probably a bit warmer in the sun. It's almost mid-November already... Now that I think about it, I have been in Silver City for a while now, although I always come and go. Liam and I have gone to almost all neighborhoods, and tried tons of restaurants and places. It's like coming home to this City gives us an excuse each time for a new date elsewhere... I smile helplessly as we walk by another sandwich shop where I know my mate's favorite pick. We certainly have been glued together for about six months now...

"I thought about introducing Ben to my brother," Kelsi drops suddenly, as we keep walking.

"Seriously?"

I'm surprised. She almost ran away from her family so barely has any contact with her parents anymore, but I know her brother and her have gotten closer as of late. For Kelsi, this would be a potential first step to making things a bit more official with Ben... She nods, looking a bit nervous.

"Just... you know. I've mentioned a couple of times I was seeing a guy, so my brother said he'd come around next month, and since I'll most likely spend Christmas with Ben's family..."

I can't stop smiling, happy for her. They don't look like it, but those two are definitely taking their own baby steps towards each other... Kelsi doesn't add anything after that, her cheeks a bit pink, and I don't get more inquisitive either. I know they need to take things at their own rhythm, and after what my poor Liam endured with my sister, I really can't blame them. I was lucky that Nate and Damian were rather blunt in their attitude towards me since the beginning. Of course, it's a lot better now, and we are regularly invited to the family brunches. Nate loves to complain that instead of taming Liam, I made him twice wilder... and I accept the compliment each time, of course.

We reach the cemetery, buying some flowers outside before going in. It's a bit strange how I feel fine going into that kind of space, but I think death is... somehow part of me. I may have lost my earth and water magic, but I can still feel the soil beneath us, the quiet and calm atmosphere floating between the tombstones. We quietly part, Kelsi naturally going towards Levi Lewis' grave. Meanwhile, I walk to the pair of white tombstones a bit further. As expected of a former Alpha and Beta pair, they are well taken care of. I smile at Lysandra and her lover, and put down the purple flowers I chose. The truth is, their bodies were cremated with everyone else's after the battle. After what we had witnessed, it felt like a much better solution, and something that would appease both werewolves and humans, too... Still, we raised many tombstones here, so we could have a place to pray. I didn't cry at the funeral, and I never cried while coming here either. I can't really explain why... perhaps I had already grieved enough at the hospital. I apologized to Boyan, over and over, but he was the one who comforted me instead... That big guy hugged me despite his own state, telling me that, at least, his sister was gone with her mate, defending the pack like a Beta. His words in my mind make me choke up more than the sight of their names on the white stones... Lysandra was a part of my family too, and I'm grateful for what I learned from her. I mutter a silent prayer, and once I feel a bit better, I move on to the next place.

Little Mara's. It has been cleaned, and now, I take care of it whenever I can. I had Clarissa's name added to it, so they can be together in death once more... And that's my own way to not forget them either. I left them a big crown of flowers, and spent a few minutes in silence, going to what I call my mindspace to share my latest memories with them. I still feel as if a little part of them is with me. I don't want to ever forget how I came to be, my strange history and our unique bond together. They will always be in my heart... I chose to not tell the whole truth to Clarissa's older sister, and I'm sure this is what she would have wanted. Perhaps Amy knows, too, that her little sister has changed into... someone different, but she won't ask. It's perhaps better left that way.

*...Babe?*

I smile, and walk back to the cemetary's entrance, letting Liam feel my position. I hear his bike a couple of streets away from the cemetery, and wait until he parks it right in front of me. He takes off his helmet, his hair sexily untamed, and I lean in to kiss him.

"Hi there," I chuckled against his lips.

"The cemetery, of course; Where else could my witch girlfriend be..."

"Don't mock me," I chuckle. "I know you're not fond of it, but I still need to come from time to time."

"Yeah, yeah... I know."

We playfully exchange a couple more kisses, and I'm grateful I at least walked a block away from the cemetery, because this is really not the place to act like we are... Liam already plays with the bottom of my skirt, making me shiver despite the clothing covering my skin like a barrier under his fingers. I love the smell of leather on him... it gives me naughty ideas. I think again about Kelsi's observations. I don't think we are over the honeymoon period yet. Moon Goddess, what will it be when we actually have a wedding, and a honeymoon? I can't imagine!

"You two really can't part for more than five minutes!" Sighs Kelsi's voice behind us.

Liam and I exchange a complicent glance, and he wraps his arms around me, his head on my shoulder as we both turn to her.

"Sorry not sorry," I chuckle. "What now? Any news from Benny?"

"He's still working, but I'll go and meet him," says Kelsi with a smile. "I love a nice walk in the hispanic neighborhood with him! Plus, I can't stay around you two, I don't want to be the third wheel... We will see you tonight at Nora's, okay?"

"Okay. Bring an extra jacket though, I think it might snow..." I say, glancing at the sky.

"Snow?" Kelsi repeats, surprised. "The sky is clear blue!"

I shrug, but she knows I'm rarely wrong. After a while, she sighs.

"Alright! But we have to go party after, right? We have classes late tomorrow, and I miss going dancing with you guys!"

I exchange a glance with Liam, and he nods excitedly. It's true we haven't gone partying in a while, and if we go to one of Nate's clubs, we get free drinks too.

"Deal," I smile. "Don't be late you guys!"

"We won't! Don't get naughty!"

She walks away with a smile, taking out her phone, probably to call Ben or Bonnie and meet up with them. I chuckle as we watch her walk away, but Liam is restless. His lips are all over my shoulder already... After a while, I can't take it anymore, I turn around and kiss him.

"So naughty," he smiles.

"You started it."

"Shall we go back to your place? We would be alone..."

I hesitate, but eventually bite the tip of his nose playfully, making him grimace.

"We just came back. Let's spend time with the family instead. I want to see Rose! I'm sure Nora will be happy to have us over sooner, so we can play with the kids too."

"You mean play the nanny," he laughs. "But alright. I love those brats too. Oh, shall we bring them snacks? How about some warm churros, or donuts?"

"...Babe, are you hungry again?"

He smiles playfully, and puts a quick kiss on my lips.

"Hungry for food, most of the time. For you? Always..."

I blush. Oh, this wolf... I slap his butt, a bit excited.

"Come on, let's get going before we both get arrested for indecency..."

"I'll get as indecent as you want with you anytime."

"Save it for the club tonight!"

"...You'll let me rip your tights?"

"No!" I laugh.

Well, he always ends up ripping them anyway...