Chapter 133: Epilogue Part 2

Soon after, the night had fallen, painting the sky a canvas of inky blue dotted with a million shimmering stars. Dressed in a stylish, midnight-hued dress that clung to my curves in all the right places, I emerged from the bathroom. A gasp escaped Charlotte's lips, and even Sara, usually so composed, let out a surprised whistle.

"Wow, Lils," Charlotte breathed, her eyes wide with admiration. "You look incredible!"

Sara, her phone clutched in her hand, held it up to my face. On the screen, a video call connected me to the familiar faces of Percival, Quinn, and his husband.

"Hey guys!" I greeted them, my voice filled with a genuine smile.

"There she is!” Quinn exclaimed, his booming laugh filling the room.

“Hey, kiddo" boomed Percival's voice, "Our own famous artist"

Quinn chimed in, "You look stunning, honey! We can't wait to see you smash this exhibition!"

His husband, a kind-looking man with warm brown eyes, offered a shy smile and a wave. "Good luck," he mouthed silently.

"Thanks, everyone, but this is just a piece of cake" I replied, winking at them and blowing a goodbye kiss. “Call you guys later”

As Charlotte fussed over my hair, her nervousness bubbled to the surface. "Okay, deep breaths, Lily. Tonight's the big night. Are you ready for all the attention?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I admitted, forcing a smile.

The truth was, a knot of apprehension twisted in my stomach. It has been so long since I’ve been the spotlight of attention.

Charlotte patted my hand reassuringly. "They'll love it, Lily. Your art is incredible."

With a final smoothing of my dress and a quick check of my makeup, Charlotte reached for her purse. "Alright, Sara," she announced, "show time! Let's go make a grand entrance."

“On it” Sara who was wearing a dark green dress grabbed her bag and grabbed the held-out hand of Charlotte.

I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders, and followed them out of the back room. Stepping into the gallery, I was met with a low hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses. People milled about, admiring the photographs displayed on the white walls. A sense of accomplishment mingled with the anxiety in my chest.

“Okay, let’s get this done quickly,” I muttered to myself.

As Charlotte reached for the microphone, she announced to me in a voice dripping with pride. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the incredibly talented artist behind these captivating photographs – Lily Moran!"

A collective gasp echoed through the room as heads turned my way. The sudden attention was overwhelming, yet there was that buried instinct that made me hold my head high, and smile sweetly to the crowd. Charlotte extended me gently to the microphone.

“Thanks” I mouthed to her and she smiled at me.

Taking a deep breath, I raised the mic to my lips. My voice, though slightly shaky at first, resonated through the room. "Thank you all for coming tonight," I began, my gaze sweeping over the captivated faces. "As you can see, my work is predominantly in black and white. To me, this isn't a lack of color, but rather a representation of the raw emotions, the beauty that exists in the world, often unseen. "Tonight, I invite you to see the world through my lens, to appreciate the unfiltered expression of the human experience."

I slightly bowed to the crowd as a thunderous applause erupted.

Hours melted away like snowflakes on a warm day. By the time I retreated to a quiet corner at the back of the gallery, exhaustion hummed pleasantly through my limbs. The night had been a series of introductions, conversations, and most satisfyingly, sales. Almost every piece had found a new home, leaving a delightful emptiness on the pristine white walls – a testament to the success of the exhibition.

Only a few patrons remained inside. I leaned against the cool brick wall, gazing up at the night sky with my arms crossed. A contented sigh escaped my lips as a cool breeze blew.

The soft click of the front door opening pulled me from my daze. Charlotte's voice drifted towards me. "Well, Miss Lily, I must say, you've outdone yourself tonight"

I turned to see her holding a glass of red wine, its ruby liquid shimmering under the soft gallery lights. Taking the glass with a smile, I took a sip, the smooth, fruity notes warming my throat. “It’s all thanks to you”

She chuckled standing beside me, “I hardly be of help to you, be serious”

“You are a great help, Charlotte”

A comfortable silence stretched between us.

"Happy?" Charlotte asked, her gaze holding mine with concern.

"Always happy when my art finds a home," I replied, a genuine smile playing on my lips. But something in Charlotte's demeanor gave me pause.

"Don't lie to me, Lily," she chided gently, a sad smile gracing her lips. "You might be able to fool everyone else, but those eyes… they always betray you."

Surprise washed over me. I hadn't realized the mask I wore, the facade of constant contentment, had slipped. A pang of guilt pricked at my conscience. How could I have missed the concern in Charlotte's eyes?

“Is it that obvious?” I asked, looking down at the red liquid in my glass.

“Nah. it is enough to fool Sara, I guess but not me. The sadness you have in your eyes through the years might have faded a little but it is still there, Lily. It is still there” Charlotte softly said.

I sighed, taking a sip of my wine again, unable to say anything because she was right. My heart still aches for the mate I lost, for the chance I lost.

Just then, a young staff member rushed towards us, her face flushed with excitement.

"Ms. Lily, Ms. Charlotte," she panted, "we have a buyer for 'Memoir'!"

'Memoir', a black and white photograph capturing the silhouette of a lone tree against a fiery sunset – the very same photograph that had triggered a flood of memories earlier - was one of the few pieces remaining.

Placing the wine glass in Charlotte's hand, I straightened and headed towards the front door. Who could be the last-minute buyer for such a personal piece?

Charlotte, after handing the wine glass to the staff member, followed close behind. Together, we re-entered the brightly lit gallery, eager to meet the buyer for the piece.

We heard towards the corner where 'Memoir' hung bathed in a soft spotlight. As we rounded the corner, I froze. It’s like every nerve in my body could recognize the backside of the man standing in front with his back facing me.

“This can’t be…..” I whispered, stunned.

Standing before the photograph, his back to me, was a tall, broad-shouldered figure dressed in a tailored suit. A familiar scent, a musky scent of cedar and sandalwood that sent a jolt through my senses, filled the air.

"Florence?" Charlotte's voice, laced with confusion, echoed in my ears but I couldn't pull my gaze away from the man.

My attention was consumed by the man before me. Nasya, long dormant in the recesses of my mind, stirred awake, a low growl rumbling in my chest. With a trembling hand, I reached out and touched Charlotte's arm, a silent plea for grounding.

Then, the man turned.

The breath caught in my throat. Time seemed to stand still as I took in the sight before me. Nicholas stood before, his face etched still the same but a stubble grew on his handsome face. He still has that sharp angle of his jawline and a chiseled handsomeness. His midnight dark hair is still in a messy style. But his eyes, those captivating irises that had haunted my dreams for years, remained intense, intelligent, and filled with that unsaid emotion that mirrored my own.

His eyes widened as he stared at me. Then a long second passed as a hesitant smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he took a step forward.

"Is that really you?" he echoed, his voice a deep rumble that sent pleasant shudders down my spine.

That voice. That voice I can never forget even though years have already passed. I finally heard his voice after 6 years. His cold, deep voice that I hoped for years to hear again. I hold back myself from crying

Charlotte gasped, a sound that broke the tense silence. Nicholas, his gaze locked on mine, walked towards me maybe after realizing that I was embarrassingly rooted frozen to my place just with the loud beating of my heart.

He extended a hand towards me.

"Nicholas Gavner Acworth," he said, his voice warm and polite.

A small smile played on my lips as I met his gaze. The world may have changed us physically, but the recognition in his eyes, the way they seemed to see right through me, the way my heart skipped at his presence it's still the same.

Taking a deep breath, I placed my hand in his. The familiar warmth sent that spark on my skin, a current that raced up my arm and straight to my heart.

“Lily Moran. It's a pleasure to meet you” I replied, staring at his mesmerizing eyes. Those eyes that usually held coldness now sparkle with so much emotion.

For a moment, we stood there, hands clasped, just staring at each other as if memorizing each other’s faces.

We both pulled our hands away. I bit my lips to hold back my smile as Nicholas cleared his throat, clenching and unclenching his fist.

"Actually," Nicholas finally said, "I was hoping to purchase this particular piece." He gestured towards 'Memoir'.

"The memoir?"

"Yes, It… it resonated with me."

A bittersweet smile touched my lips. "Are you sure, Mr. Acworth?" I asked, testing the familiar name on my tongue.

He chuckled a deep, rich sound. "Please, call me Nicholas. And yes, I'm quite sure."

His words sent a blush creeping up my neck. A laugh escaped my lips, a light, carefree sound that surprised even me.

“That is a $40,000 piece”

He nodded, “I’ll send the money—”

"In that case," I cut him off, a playful glint in my eyes, "how about forty bucks and a cup of coffee?"

This was like what happened on their first meeting. He bought me for 40 million and now he is buying something from me. Truly, fate can be quite funny at times.

He looked shocked for a second before his laugh boomed across the gallery, echoing off the white walls. His gaze fixed on me.

"Forty bucks? I was planning on offering you much more than that for the piece, and the coffee was definitely on the agenda."

But before I could speak, a familiar voice grabbed my attention.

"Am I seeing reality?"

We both spun around, my breath catching in my throat. Standing there, a mixture of shock and disbelief etched on his face was Clifford. He is still the same Clifford with his kind and serious demeanor.

His gaze, however, bypassed me entirely, landing on a frozen Charlotte. They stared at each other, an unspoken conversation passing between them.

Nicholas and I exchanged a surprised look. A silent confirmation that we both knew what was happening between the two. That Clifford and Charlotte. Are mates.

Clifford, his initial shock fading, cleared his throat awkwardly. "Charlotte," he stammered, a hesitant smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Charlotte, as if awakening from a dream, reached out a trembling hand making me laugh heartily. It was in Charlotte’s character to do it. I was happy for Charlotte, the search for her mate was finally over.

Turning back to Nicholas, she caught him watching her with a gentle smile on his face. "They'll be a wonderful couple, don't you think?"

"Absolutely," I replied, smiling at him.

Nicholas held out his hand, palm open. The simple gesture sent my heart fluttering against my chest. Nasya, a soft growl rumbling in her chest. But this time, it wasn't a growl of warning, but one of encouragement.

With a trembling smile, Florence met his gaze and placed her hand in his. There was that spark on their joined hands and jolted on her skin as soon their skin came in contact with each other. It was like before that never faded from the start.

"But how?" I whispered in confusion, her voice barely audible.

Nasya's voice echoed in her mind, soft and clear. ‘It was never truly severed’

Then Nicholas confirmed what my inner wolf said.

A relief and a satisfied smile crossed her face, “I never truly accepted your rejection. I never will even eons passed"

I stared at Nicholas, tears gathered in my eyes. I rejected him so he could be free from me but hearing him say that he would never accept my rejection made my heart filled with warmth, love, and acceptance.

Pressing my lips in a thin line and clenching my fist, I made up my mind. Meeting again after 6 years, maybe it is the Moon Goddess’s will for us to finally and truly start over again.

“You fool” I mumbled and using my other hand, grabbed his necktie and pulled him towards me as I pressed my lips on him.

I felt him smile against my lips and the next thing I knew, he was kissing me like a promise that we would never be apart again.