EPILOGUE 2 — A GRIPPING TALE’S END

BRIELLE.

Her heart fluttered like a flower picked from a peaceful garden. Brielle searched for words to convey how she felt as Darius hoisted her up the floor.

Euphoria. Joy. Thrill. Delight. Excitement. Surprise. Yes. These words clearly defined the situation, but there was more going on. Something deeper. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps she didn't know what word to use, but it wasn't happiness. It was more than that.

"My love. Mine, all mine..." Darius repeated in her ears as he twirled her around.

After a few minutes, he dropped her back onto her feet.

Brielle remained still for a moment, attempting to regain her breath. Her mind buzzed with so many different thoughts, and she felt dizzy and possibly lightheaded from all the dancing, but that didn't stop her from stretching her toes and kissing Darius on the cheek.

"How are you feeling?" Darius asked, and she replied. “I feel on top of the world. Or maybe I'm already flying through it; I have no idea."

"Yeah." He stepped back, extended his right hand for her to accept, and bowed impressively. "Want to dance again, my queen? This time, on your feet. The music beckons us.”

And indeed, the music did beckon them. Her, most notably.

“Of course.”

A beautiful love ballad began to play, and Darius held her close as she laid her head against his chest and allowed his hands to glide softly over her skin, adoring every inch of her. His lips were near her neck, and she could feel his breath caressing her fragile skin. It made her shudder and hum gently in happiness.

While they danced, Brielle let her attention drift to the party. She looked around and saw that everyone was having a good time. It warmed her heart to see how happy they were to be celebrating the occasion.

Some guests waved and murmured inaudible remarks to Brielle, but she paid little attention. In reality, she was growing tired of dancing.

She wanted to escape the hall and steal Darius. She would take him to their room and spend the entire night making love to him.

The concept seemed appealing, but it could wait. For an additional hour or two as she had something important to tell him.

"Hey, Darius."

He hummed in answer.

"Could we step out for a moment?"

He arched his brow at her but immediately spoke. "Sure. Let's go.

She nodded and stepped away from him, heading for the exit door. He followed, and as they went, the eyes of everyone in the hall were on them again.

It made her cringe inside, but she knew she had to get used to this. The stares. The murmur. The gossips are even.

She was now their Luna Queen and the position included a great deal. But dammit, who would have guessed.

Her late father was an Alpha King; thus, she inherited the royalty gene. However, everything felt strange.

"What are you thinking of, my love?" Darius' voice interrupted her thoughts, causing her to jump slightly before turning to face him.

As they exited the hall, she felt a cool, wispy breeze on her face. It was enjoyable and refreshing. She breathed deeply, relaxing her shoulders and taking in the scenery around her. It was a spectacular view.

"Nothing."

"Sure about that?" He asked skeptically, lifting an eyebrow at her.

She giggled and shook her head. "Yes. I was having odd thoughts.

"What odd thoughts?"

Brielle shrugged and averted her gaze. "Just random stuff about my past, that's all." She shrugged again. "And I don't want to discuss it because it's unimportant. Everything from that period is no longer important. Now it's just you and me, with this lovely life ahead of us. That is what we should focus on, right?”

His lips gradually curved up, forming an almost mischievous smile. "Right?"

"Yeah." Brielle hummed and closed her eyes. When she opened them, Darius stared at her intently as if trying to figure out what she was thinking.

"Why are we here, Brielle?"

Her smile grew at the question. "All I wanted was some time alone with you. That is all."

"Is it?" His brows arched for the umpteenth time. "There is something else, Brielle. I know it, and so do you. So, talk to...”

Before he could finish, she seized his right hand, pressed it against her tummy, and blurted out. "I think I am pregnant."

Silence. Silence for a minute, two, or perhaps longer. She lost count.

Then he spoke but only in whispers. He mumbled the word ‘pregnant’ over and over again. He repeated it several times as if it were a strange term he didn't recognize. When he regained control of himself, he abruptly removed his hand from his stomach and lurched backward. His eyes were wide open, expressing shock and bewilderment.

"Y…you…" Darius inhaled, taking a minute to gather his thoughts. "You mean…you are pregnant?"

Brielle nodded slowly.

His expression altered again, quickly switching between emotions. Fear, perplexity, excitement, relief, and grief. Everything in a matter of seconds.

He shook his head with a faint chuckle. "I…h…how?"

"How?" This time, Brielle was the one who laughed.

Was he asking that? She wondered, and her cheeks flushed as she reminisced.

They’d gone on a sex spree when the Royal doctor certified her fit and her scars mostly healed.

They had spent every night and morning making love in every way possible. In every location. Darius left their imprint on the bedroom, gardens, flooring, chairs, balcony, and everywhere else. The previous days had been a crazy ride, and it was even during one of these sexcapades that he fully marked her. Making her his entirely, claiming her forever.

That fateful night, their bodies connected in a way never before seen but far superior to anything.

Their lovemaking got increasingly intense and heated. Everything about them improved.

And now Darius was wondering how he had gotten her pregnant. It was pretty humorous, so much so, and Brielle continued to laugh.

"W…what?"

"Nothing." She held back the giggles, placing her hand to her mouth. "It's only your question. How? Seriously, Darius. We both know how I became pregnant if I even am.”

"If you even are?"

"Yes." She bit her lower lip. "I'm not sure if I'm truly pregnant yet. I've been seeing signs and feeling things, but I have not been tested. Tomorrow I’ll send for the the…”

"Oh goodness, Brielle, I can feel it too. You are pregnant!" Darius exclaimed, his eyes bright and wide as they darted wildly, looking everywhere but her. He also began clapping. "We're having a child, Brielle—a pup. We are already becoming a family. We…" He paused as if comprehending something.

He blinked twice, slowly. Then he suddenly grabbed Brielle and pressed her closely against him. His hands grasped her waist, and his breathing quickened. He buried his face in her hair and squeezed his eyes shut.

This made Brielle stiffen. She couldn't help it. Something about Darius' quick reaction struck her as unusual. She could tell something was amiss, and as if on cue, she felt his body tremble slightly.

His entire body shook and shuddered like he was crying. Or rather, attempting to hold back tears.

"We are having a baby." The words sounded muffled as if he were speaking through thick cotton.

Brielle turned her head to the side, perplexed, wondering why he was crying. "Darius, what's happening? Are you okay? Why are you acting like this?"

He pulled back. Only enough to stare at her. And she saw tears streaming down his face.

"I'm happy. These are tears of joy.”

He whispered. "But I'm also scared."

"Of?"

"Of me? Will I be a good dad? I've done so many awful things, and I'm afraid it will have a detrimental impact on our children. They might hate me when they hear about all that I..."

"Shhhh…" She hushed him gently. "None of this. Not now. Not ever. You don't have to worry about it because you'll be an excellent father. The best, even."

"But?"

"No buts, Darius." Her hands cupped his face. "While you have your faults, so do I. We all do. Everybody does. And everything you've done in the past, whether positive or negative, wasn’t without due cause. You had your reasons."

"Bri—"

"Don't." She interrupted again. "Everything will be okay. You'll make an excellent father and husband. I'm sure of it.

"Oh, Brielle." He whispered, burying his face once more in her neck.

She chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his torso, bringing his body closer to her own. "I never thought there'd be a day where I'll be doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Comforting you like this. I never pictured the powerful Lord Darius, whose name sent shivers down my and every maiden's spine, being this way in someone's arms. Mine, especially."

A laugh emerged from his throat. A genuine laugh. One full of joy and relief. He raised his face and gazed deeply into her eyes. "God. I love you. And I'll never thank you enough for giving me another shot."

“I love you too."

Darius pulled back and gave her a crooked smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Yeah…right."

When they ran out of things to say, they remained silent once more. Their grip tightened as they allowed themselves to fall deeper into the safety of each other's company. Their foreheads pressed together, and their noses gently brushed against each other. Their hearts were pounding in unison, creating a perfect harmony.

And it wasn't long before Darius' anxieties and uncertainties dissipated. He was very grateful, as he had no idea such joy could exist in this realm.

And he was grateful for the miracle Brielle had brought into his life - this, he told her, murmured in her ears.

The cool breeze wafted through, the celebration proceeded inside the castle halls, and laughter echoed. However, Darius and Brielle, in their world, were completely oblivious to everything. Only each other. And so it continued for days, months, years, and decades.

This was the perfect ending for the ruthless and broken Lycan King, Darius Havix, who met the beautiful, passionate woman who instilled love in him. This was also the perfect ending for the lonely, damaged, and wounded Brielle Warrens, who finally got the love she deserved.

THE END.