Chapter 164: Epilogue - Halley's POV

Early morning light filters gently through the window beside the bed, spilling over the wooden floors and casting a warm glow in our home. I stir beneath the weight of Sam’s arm. His breathing is steady against the back of my neck. Our child lies nestled in front of me, curled up under my chin. Tiny fingers curl around my hand.

I shift slightly, careful not to wake Sam or our toddler as I press a soft kiss to the crown of their head.

Our son looks up at me with bright blue eyes.

“Good morning, little one.”

He grins and I can’t help but smile. I know he’s been awake for a little while, yet he’s tried so hard to be still. His face scrunches up, his lips curling up in a smirk that looks so much like his father’s smile that it makes my heart melt.

Years ago, I never imagined mornings like this. Sam stirs besides me, his hand brushing my side as he props himself up on one elbow. “Morning, love. Are you two up already?” He asks in a murmur, his voice still husky with sleep and tenderness.

I shake my head, laughing quietly. “Barely,” I reply. “It’s too early for my liking, but apparently not for him.” My hand curls into Sam’s, fingers entwining with his, and I let myself savor the simple, grounding connection. He leans over, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple, then a soft, lingering one to our child’s forehead.

The cabin smells of pine and lingering firewood from the night before, mingling with the faint sweetness of breakfast simmering in the pot Sam started before dawn before he laid back down with us. I glance around, taking in the quiet coziness. We have our  small bed nestled near the corner, our blankets tossed in a comfortable chaos, and a few scattered toys already marking the child’s territory. Years ago, this space was just his, but now, it’s a sanctuary for three, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Our boy stirs, stretching his arms and legs. I lift him gently in my arms as I sit up and cradle his small body against my chest. Sam sits up beside me.

“He’s perfect, you know,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “Exactly what I never knew I needed until I saw him.”

I laugh softly, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. “We did this together,” I remind him, my voice steady, though my heart hums. “He’s our little joy,” I whisper, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head again.

He giggles, and I can feel my heart expanding with every breath he takes. There’s something miraculous in this moment. Maybe it’s the soft warmth of the morning or the quiet peace of our home, but there’s just something about it that makes me feel like I’m floating away on a cloud.

Sam wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling us both close. “He’s strong, like his father,” he whispers, and I feel him nuzzle the top of my hair.  “And smart. He’s already been testing his limits, which is probably why he slept so hard last night.”

His grin is mischievous, the same one he wore the night we fled from our own wedding to get away.

“At least he gets it honestly. Now we’ll see when he starts shifting. It’s been a while since a beta and alpha have had a child. Well, like us.”

Sam watches me for a long moment. His wolf is pushing near the surface again. “You’ve given me more than I ever could have imagined, Halley. This life of ours is… amazing. And our boy is the best part.”

I tilt my head back and smile, tracing the curve of his cheek with a fingertip. “He’s perfect because he’s ours.”

Our son wiggles slightly, reaching up with chubby hands to grasp my necklace, tugging it gently. He giggles again, a delighted little sound that makes my heart stutter. “Careful, little one,” I murmur, laughing softly. “That’s Mom’s favorite, but I suppose it’s time you start learning about treasures and keeping them safe. This is what your daddy gave to me on our first mating anniversary.”

Sam chuckles beside me. “I think he already knows, in his little way,” he says, his voice soft and filled with awe. “He knows what matters and he knows who protects him.”

I lean my head against his shoulder, breathing in the moment. So much had changed in two years. Not only did we have our son, but the packs were finally at peace. Reed led our home pack with my father beside him. The other packs left about two months after everything was over, hoping to take back peace with them. After that, we had meetings every three months to arrange a new council where rules could be established that helped all packs.

I had our child not long after and then, we settled firmly into Sam’s cabin, right next to my family. It’s not been an easy life and sometimes I still wonder what happened to my uncle. He never came back, so I wonder if something happened to him once he left. Maybe he was the reason so many packs came to help us and the council was finally extinguished. I’ll never be certain, but I’m thankful if he did.

“So, do you have to go hunt for more mates today or are we staying home for a while?”

“Sam, I promised them I’d try. I’ve been talking to a few for Tyler.”

Sam rolls his eyes. “For him? I still want to punch that guy.”

“Pun..ch…” Our son says and we both laugh.

“Stop it. He’s learning that from you. He’ll want to punch things if you don’t quit.”

“Well, sometimes men just want to punch things,” he says sheepishly.

It is my turn to roll my eyes, but I can’t stop myself from laughing. “Only you would think that. We have some time, though. I think he’s coming by today.”

Sam wraps his arms around both of us and grins. “Fine, I’ll behave myself, but only for you.”