Chapter 84 Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
ZORA
We stood before Leah's grave, head bowed as we said our silent prayers.
Marissa was by my side as a free woman, no longer bound with being called my maid servant.
Wesley, Courtney, and Grace were standing not far away.
Tyler was on the floor, tears brimming in his eyes.
"Do you think she's happy?" He asked.
I shrugged, I had no idea too.
The woman that appeared to her apparently wasn't Semya. Maybe it was the deity. I can only hope she's okay.
" I hope so," I whispered.
Tyler kissed her grave and went to stand beside Ryker.
Yes, Ryker.
You read that right.
After I "unalived" him.
Wesley took his body inside to clean later.
Then, at night, when the chaos had settled down and I was still mourning her child, Wesley barged into my room to announce that somehow, Ryker was alive.
The beast was dead. He was healed, but my child was still gone.
It wasn't until Leah's body started decaying before I lost hope of her coming back to life.
Semya said it was because the deity pitied me. That's why she brought back Ryker.
While I'm grateful, I would have really loved my daughter back.
Ryker mostly kept himself for a few weeks, especially after learning of Leah's, but I think we've all made peace with her death now.
It's already been six months, but it still feels like yesterday.
Ryker pulled me to himself into a hug.
I welcomed it, rajing a huge sniff of his scent to calm my nerves.
We are getting married today!!
Ryker finally allowed himself more of technology.
The council, after learning of everything and Ryker being the beast, concluded that Ryker should step down as an Alpha King.
He almost did.
Until the pack members protested against it.
The council had no choice but to wash their hands off Shadow Pack.
"Can I talk to him?" Grace asked.
I raised my head, "How?" I mouthed to her.
"Let me possess you, please. Just for a moment, then I can finally go in peace with no regrets."
I frowned at her, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please?"
I sighed and disengaged from the hug.
She kept a distance between us and suddenly broke into a run.
I stumbled.
Ryker helped me balance on my feet, and suddenly, I'm at the back of my mind.
Grace, using my body, hugged Ryker really tight.
She must have really loved him.
Then she pulled back and smiled at him, "I don't blame you for my death or our pup's. So forgive yourself. "
"Meiga?" Ryker frowned.
"It's Grace. I borrowed her body for a second." Grace smiled, "It was nice watching over you, but I think it's time for me to go now."
"Grace?" Ryker called, looking confused.
Grace stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheeks.
How dare she!!?
"Bye..." She said softly to him and left my body.
I rolled my eyes at her, "If I knew you were going to kiss him, I'd have said no to you."
She laughed, "I'm going to miss you, Zora, and I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I really am."
I gave her a small smile, I wished I could hug her.
"It's fine," I assured her, "I'm going to miss you too."
"Me too!" Marissa piped in.
Wesley looked around, "Who are we missing?"
I chuckled and waved at Grace, "Good bye Grace"
"Goodbye, Zora." She smiled brightly, fading away with each second.
Ryker pulled me to himself again, "What's next?"
"The Luna and Wedding ceremony!!" Wesley answered like it was the most obvious thing.
I beamed happily, "That."
Ryker nodded and kissed my forehead, "Let's do it!"
I walked in slowly to the music, eyes on me.
Almost all the pack members are in attendance.
I felt shy and, most importantly, loved.
Wesley was our officiator.
Ryker welcomed me with a warm smile, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Say your vows, please," Wesley ordered.
Ryker held my hand in his, "I thought I didn't know what love is, but I guess I've always loved you even before I realized or could name it. And when I did, I was too scared to let you go. Zora Gwendolyn Hendrix, I, Ryker Sébastien Esmond, swear myself to you and be yours only, never take you for granted and spend the rest of my life loving you right. I accept you as my mate."
"I, Zora Gwendolyn Hendrix, accept you, Ryker Sébastien Esmond, as my mate and to be your Luna. To love you through all the hard times and never let go of you." I cried through my vows, "I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll always love you."
"Everyone!" Wesley yelled, "The Alpha and Luna of Shadow Pack."
I grinned.
Now, he's officially mine.
My wolf purred, the bond...
Well, the bond feels like it is asleep.
We were alone in the balcony of our room now, my head on Ryker's chest.
People were still partying outside.
"So, are you going to look for your mother?" Ryker asked
I shook my head, "No, she doesn't want to be found, I'll respect her wishes."
"Aren't you curious?"
"I am and I hope one day, she'll reach out to me. "
"Mm...mmh." He murmured.
"I have one question burning at the tip of my tongue," I told him.
"Ask away."
"Were really going to let me go if I had met up with my end of the deal?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation, "and brought you back"
I frowned, "Make that make sense,"
"I said I'd let you go, didn't say I wouldn't bring you back," He smirked, "I wanted to be free. I didn't want to kill anyone again. It was the only way to ask for your help and how you'd help. If it worked, I'd have come back for you."
The corner of my lips curled up in a smile o couldn't stop.
"Although the second time, when I insisted on you leaving, I was just looking out for you then. I didn't want to hurt you or the children."
"I know." I whispered softly again his chest.
"I love you Zora Gwendolyn Hendrix. Now and forever,"
"I love you, Ryker Sébastien Esmond. Till death do us apart."
BONUS CHAPTER OF WESLEY AND COURTNEY
The library wasn’t the place to fall in love. At least, that’s what Courtney told herself when she caught him looking at her again.
Wesley.
They’d barely spoken over the course of months she'd been here but she was always catching him looking at her.
And now, like usually, she could feel his gaze on her across the room and it made her aware of everything concerning her.
She tried to focus on the book she was reading, her eyes dragging over the same sentence again and again times without taking in a single word.
Finally, she lifted her head, and as expected, he was staring like she was the only page worth reading.
Her heart skipped.
Say something, her mind screamed, but her body was co-operating.
All she managed was a tilt of her head and raising her brow in question.
That was enough. He stood, walking towards her.
"Courtney." His voice was deep and rich.
She swallowed, her throat dry. "Wesley."
He leaned on the edge of her table, close enough that she could catch the faint trace of cedar on him, You’ve been avoiding me."
She arched a brow. "We’ve only really spoken once."
"Exactly." A smirk played at his lips. "Once isn’t enough.”?"
She wanted to roll her eyes, to laugh off the sudden boldness, but instead she found herself staring at him and her traitorous heart beating really fast.
She closed her book with a loudly, trying to hide how she was feeling inside, "And if once was all I wanted?'
His smirk deepened, "Then we wouldn’t be stealing glances at each other."
Courtney's breath caught.
He knew???
She wasn't sure if she wanted to run or lean into him.
She took a deep breath, she shouldn’t be trembling.
Gods, it was ridiculous, one wolf guy, and she was suddenly forgetting how to breathe.
Courtney tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, meeting his gaze, "You’re awfully sure of yourself."
"Not sure. Certain."
"You don’t even know me," she whispered.
"Yet." He leaned in just enough, "But I will."
"What now? Taking lessons from Ryker?"
Wesley scoffed, dismissing the notion like itbwas outrageous.
"And what makes you think I want to be known? Especially by you."
"Because you would have stopped me since."
Courtney pressed her lips together and left.
She didn’t turn back, though she could feel the intensity of his stare on her back.
And there's dinner that can't be avoided.
She'd see him again.
Seven months ago, she was all over him, but now? She wasn't sure what was stopping her, what she's so afraid of.
It was dinner time just with him, Marissa and Tyler.
Courtney gripped her fork too tightly, her knuckles pale against the silver.
She couldn't focus, not with him watching her Luke she's his entire world.
She didn’t look up though, she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of meeting his eyes.
"Not hungry?" He asked her.
Her fork clattered on the plate from her nerves.
"I'm okay," she murmured.
He leaned back against his chair, "You don't get to lie to me."
"Why?"
"Because you're mine."
Courtney scoffed and stood up, "Oh great, you're delusional too and imagining things."
"No," He said simply, "I don't imagine when it comes to you."
Courtney heart was racing a hundred beat per second.
She let out a shuddering breath and went to the garden to clear her head.
Why was Wesley choosing to mess with her now.
"Do you want to be left alone?" Wesley asked, blending with the shadows.
She stunned around, making out his silhouette, "Yes."
"Then why is your heart racing now?" He questioned, "Your mouth and your heart are saying two different things."
Her chest constricted.
Dang his hearing!!
"Maybe because I deem you a dangerous wolf. "
He came out of the shadows, "Do you? Really?
"No.." She whispered softly.
"Then stop lying to yourself."
He had his hands in his pockets, staring at her, then he took a step back. "Go inside, Courtney, before I lose control and decide not to let you."
Her breath hitched in her throat.
Her legs obeyed him before her mind could even counter.
She walked past him, refusing to glance back knowing fully well if he asked to ruin her, she'd gladly let him.