Epilogue - 1
Epilogue - 1
Avery
Three years later, and I still can't believe this is my life.
I'm sitting on a soft blanket spread across the grassy clearing in front of the Alpha House, gentle sunlight washing over me like a warm embrace.
The weather is perfect today—not too hot, not too cold—just that sweet spot where everything feels right with the world.
The warmth seeps into my skin, making my whole body feel relaxed and content.
Around me, the sounds of family fill the air, and my heart feels so damn full it might burst.
"Daddy! Daddy! Razor took my bunny!"
I look up to see my daughter Tierra chasing her twin brother around the blanket, her little legs pumping as fast as they can carry her.
Her face is bright red from exertion and frustration, tears threatening to spill from those beautiful green eyes she inherited from me.
She's got Dominic's determination though—that stubborn set to her jaw that tells me she's not giving up anytime soon.
Razor, the little shit, is giggling as he runs with Tierra's stuffed rabbit clutched in his tiny fists. At barely three years old, he's already showing signs of being a troublemaker. But God, I love that about him.
The most incredible part?
Tierra is a wolf, and Razor is a lycan—just like Rachel and Julian were. When Rachel first told us, I nearly fainted from relief. My daughter won't have to face the same dangers I did.
She won't be hunted by those who want to use a female lycan for breeding. The thought of anyone trying to hurt my babies makes my wolf snarl, but I push the dark thoughts away.
They're safe. They're protected.
"Steaks, baby. Just how you like them."
Dominic's voice pulls me from my thoughts as he approaches with a plate of perfectly grilled meat. Even after all these years, the sight of him still makes my pulse quicken.
He's wearing a simple black t-shirt and jeans, but damn if he doesn't make casual look incredibly sexy.
He sets the plate down beside me and smoothly scoops Razor up with one arm, plucking the stuffed bunny from his grasp with the other hand.
"Here you go, princess," he says, kneeling down to tuck the rabbit back into Tierra's waiting arms.
Our daughter's whole face lights up. "Bad brother!" she declares, but her voice is filled with more affection than real anger. "Love you, Daddy! Love you too, Mommy!"
And just like that, both kids forget their argument and run off to play with something else. The resilience of children never fails to amaze me.
"You need to keep an eye on that son of yours," I tell Dominic, accepting a kiss as he settles beside me on the blanket. "He's going to be a handful when he's older."
"Our son," he corrects with a grin. "And if he keeps picking on Tierra, I'll make sure he learns some manners on the training grounds."
I lean into his warmth, feeling perfectly content. This is what happiness feels like, I realize. Not the desperate, grasping kind I used to chase, but this quiet, steady joy that fills up all the empty spaces inside me.
"Oh, what a lovely scene!"
We both look up to see Ethan and Lyra approaching from the direction of their house. Lyra is carrying what looks like a tray of some kind of pastry, while two little girls trail behind her, their hands already covered in flour.
"Mom, we helped!" one of the girls announces proudly, holding up her messy hands for inspection.
"Yes, I can see that," Lyra laughs, trying to balance the tray while Ethan moves to tie her blonde hair back with a hair tie. It's such a domestic, tender gesture that Dominic and I exchange a look.
"Look at that," I murmur to my mate. "Ethan being all domestic and sweet."
"Who would have thought our Beta had it in him?" Dominic replies with amusement.
We're both genuinely happy for them. After everything Ethan went through—losing Clara, the guilt, the grief—seeing him find love again with Lyra feels like a miracle.
And Lyra has been amazing with those two little girls. They're not biologically hers, but you'd never know it from the way she loves them.
The sound of footsteps on the path makes us all turn, and I see Rachel approaching with her trademark waddle.