Chapter 63: Finally

*Julia*

I watch as Nick strides toward me. I have enjoyed watching him sitting and talking with the Alpha Prince and Zac. It’s obvious that for him this is home and they are family. They share a very special bond, and I’m extremely glad that he has it. I think he might need them in the coming months, especially if being without me is going to be as difficult for him as being without him would be for me.

“Take a walk with me,” he says when he reaches me.

I hand the sleeping Noa off to her Nanny, intertwine my arm with his, and let him lead the way through what I assume had once been a beautiful garden, but now consists only of weeds and overgrowth. Weather and years of neglect have taken their toll on trellises and benches, leaving behind only rotting wood.

“A she-wolf with a great deal of stamina and creativity might have fun putting this place to rights,” I say.

He sighs, “The challenge for her would be convincing Marsden to let her change anything at all. Every decaying inch of the place is a memorial to his mate.”

“How can he stand to see everything deteriorating?” I ask.

“I don’t believe he does. I think he sees it exactly as it was when she was alive. By never letting anyone touch it, he ensures that he never sees it any differently.”

I look back at the elderly man, “He must have loved her immeasurably.”

“To him, she was everything. I’m not certain if that is a good or bad thing.”

I don’t want to even try to provide an answer to that question. “Is she buried here?”

Nick points off to his left. “In a small cemetery over that hill.”

“I suppose you explored there.”

“We explored everywhere.”

He helps me step over a low bit of brush and onto what has once been a path. The boughs of the trees provide shade. I suppose he’s worried about the sunshine causing me to have freckles, though I have never had a single one in my entire life. Or maybe he wants to escort me farther into the trees so he can kiss me.

But if that’s the case, he’s taking his sweet time, as he has yet to do anything more than face me and hold my gaze.

“Noah knew,” he says quietly. “He knew I had feelings for you, that I am your mate too.”

I blink, shake my head, and try to make sense of what he has just said. “How do you know?”

“Because he told me to take you to the northern lands.”

“I don’t understand. As I told you before, I have never considered traveling there. He and I never talked about it. Why would he say that?” I ask.

He smiles softly, “Because I can marry you there.”

While my heart hammers, everything else within me goes still, quiet. I have heard the words, but they make no sense.

“Marsden knows people, in our situation, who went to The northern lands to marry. Why would Noah tell me to take you there unless he knew I would want to marry you?” He asks.

“Perhaps he simply wanted you to watch out for me, and he thought it would be easier if we were married. He trusted you, Nick, and he hadn’t left a will.”

He sighs, “Maybe.”

“But you don’t think so.”

He shakes his head. “I think he knew. I think he always knew. He was always encouraging me to spend more time with him, with you. I think he was aware of what it was costing me to keep my distance. Costing him, me, maybe even you. He understood that my love for him would ensure that I never did anything untoward where you were concerned. He was trying to give me permission to be more myself.”

Possibly. I remember the final entry in his journal, how I read silently instead of sharing it with Nick. “In his journal, he wrote that he had yet to write his will because he had been struggling with whom to name as guardian of his child. During your time together in the dark lands, he came to the conclusion there was no one better than you to care for those he loved.”

“I have to admit, Julia, that while we have been together, I have not been clear of conscience. A small part of me nagged that I was betraying my brother.” He admits.

“I must be honest that I have not been completely clear of conscience either,” I say. “Perhaps that’s the reason the Capital was able to open my eyes so clearly to the myriad ways that what we were doing was wrong.”

“But if I am judging Noah’s words correctly, he would approve of our being together.” Taking my hand, he drops to one knee. “So will you, Julia, Luna of Greystorm, honor me by becoming my wife, my mate and my Luna? Our marriage will be legal. Our children legitimate.”

As tears burn my eyes, I cover my mouth with the hand he isn’t holding.

“Not everyone will approve,” he continues. “There may yet be some scandal, some gossip.”

“I don’t care. Yes, I will marry you. I love you, Nick. I have been so miserable thinking of you leaving me behind at Evermore.”

“I promised not to leave you.” Standing, he pulls me nearer, cupping my face. “I love you, Julia. I believe I have since that night I kissed you in the garden.”

His mouth is on mine before I take my next breath, his arms closing around me as though he will never let me go. I don’t want him to let me go, don’t want to let go of him. Ever.

We will live at Evermore together. We will have children together. We will be happy together. Maybe he is right. Maybe Noah has known. Maybe he does approve. All that matters is that he and Marsden have given us a way to be together.

When Nick pulls back, his eyes contain no more sadness, no more sorrow.

“When do you want to get married?” he asks.

“As soon as possible.”

Taking my hand, he begins leading me back toward the house. “I’ll start making the arrangements as soon as we return to Evermore.”

“You must know, Nick, that I am marrying you because I love you.”

He smiles down at me. “I don’t doubt that in the least.”

“Good, because I’m also with child.”

That stops him in his tracks. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I had only figured it out the afternoon that you made your announcement in the House of Alphas. There was nothing to be done at that point except to make you worry.”

He drags me into his arms. “Dear Goddess, Julia.”

“I would have kept her. I would have loved her. I would have done everything in my power to protect her.”

He leans away from me, arching a brow. “Her?”

“We’re going to have a daughter. I feel it in my bones.”

Laughing, he picks me up and swings me around in a circle.

“Nick!”

Finally, he puts me down, but he is still smiling brightly. “I’m going to make a huge wager in the betting book at my club that we are having a son.”

“But I have told you. It’s a girl. A she-wolf knows these things.”

*****

Seven and a half months later, Noah Greystorm, heir apparent to the Greystorm Pack, makes his entrance into the world.