Extra Chapter 2
Extra Chapter 2
MATT
I never imagined I’d find such peace after everything. The setting sun painted Pamyel’s sky with hues of orange and purple, casting a warm glow over the sprawling estate we now called home. The sound of children’s laughter echoed through the garden, mingling with the songs of birds nesting in the trees. I sat on the porch, a mug of coffee in hand, watching Devon chase after our five adopted children: three boys and two girls who had transformed our lives in ways I never thought possible. Five kids I now called my own, my adopted children, survivors of an accident that took their parents. Somehow, their pain became my responsibility, my joy, and my strength.
Two years ago, a car accident on the road cutting through the Pack’s territory claimed their parents. I still remembered the day we found them, huddled and scared, in a makeshift shelter. Devon didn’t hesitate; he opened his arms and his heart, and I followed, as I always did. Now, Lysa, Theo, Mira, Kael, and Finn ran across the lawn, their voices filling the void left by tragedy.
"Dada Matt, look!" Mira, the youngest, shouted, clutching a handful of wildflowers she’d eagerly picked. Her brown eyes sparkled, and I smiled, reaching out to ruffle her curls.
"They’re beautiful, little one. Shall we put them on the table tonight?" I asked, and she nodded, running off to show Devon.
Devon, with Kael hanging onto his back like a little monkey, laughed loudly as he tried to keep his balance. He was the heart of our family, always finding ways to make the kids smile, even on the toughest days. He turned to me, his face sweaty but with a smile that still made my heart race.
"I think we need more space, Matt," he said, panting. "These five are getting impossible to keep up with!"
I laughed, shaking my head. "You’re the one who wanted to adopt them all at once, remember?"
He shrugged, unrepentant. "And I’d do it again. Look at them." He pointed to Theo and Finn, now sparring with wooden sticks, pretending to be Pack warriors, while Lysa tried to mediate the “battle” with the seriousness of an older sister.
As I watched them, I felt a peace I didn’t know existed. Life in the Pack wasn’t always easy, but these moments made it all worthwhile.
The rumble of an engine interrupted my thoughts. A car pulled into the driveway, and I immediately recognized the couple stepping out. Seraphine, her red hair glowing under the setting sun, and Kenny, with his slightly awkward demeanor but a smile that showed how happy he was. They were headed to Aladia, finally, after months of traveling to tie up the last details of Seraphine’s life outside the kingdom.
"Matt! Devon!" Seraphine waved, running toward us, while Kenny followed, carrying a worn backpack.
I stood, hugging her tightly. "Welcome back, Sera. How was the trip?"
"Long," she replied, laughing, but her eyes shone with a new lightness. "But worth it. We’re ready to stay."
Kenny stepped forward, shaking my hand firmly. "And I’m ready to finally meet the famous Aladian king." He looked at Seraphine with such affection it was impossible not to smile. "She talks so much about her dad that I’m starting to think he’s better than the legend."
Seraphine playfully swatted his shoulder. "He’s… intense. But he’ll like you, Kenny. Just don’t get intimidated when he tries to grill you."
"Grill me?" Kenny’s eyes widened, feigning terror, and we all laughed.
Devon approached, wiping his hands on his pants before hugging Seraphine and greeting Kenny. "You picked a good day to come back. The kids are preparing a feast of flowers and sticks for tonight."
"Sounds perfect," Seraphine said, looking at the children with a tender smile. "You’ve built something amazing here."
"It wasn’t easy," I admitted, glancing at Devon. "But it’s ours."
He met my gaze, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. Then he turned to Seraphine and Kenny, changing the subject with that effortless charm only he had.
"By the way, Sera, I’m visiting Margot in the vampire kingdom soon. She’s insisting I bring the kids to meet their ‘nocturnal cousins,’ as she calls them." He laughed, shaking his head. "I think she just wants to prove she’s the coolest aunt."
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "Good luck with that. Margot’s a hurricane. And the vampires… well, you know how they are."
"I know, I know," Devon said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But if she thinks she can outdo our chaos, she’s sorely mistaken."
As the kids ran up to Seraphine and Kenny, demanding hugs and showing off their garden “treasures,” I sat back down, taking in the scene. The sun finished setting, and the first stars appeared in the sky. Finn, the quietest of the five, climbed into my lap, pointing at the sky. "Daddy Matt, is that the star of Mommy and Daddy who went to heaven?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat, stroking his head. "Yeah, little one. They’re up there, watching over you. And we’re here, always."
He smiled, content, and nestled against me. Devon sat beside me, and together we looked at our family; complete, chaotic, and perfect. The future was uncertain, but at that moment, we were home.
THE END