Chapter 72 - A look at the future.
Lilith
I LOOKED UP FROM what I was doing and smiled at Ezra and our son Eli. I had planned on weeding our honorary garden this morning while my two boys played on the green lawn in our square. I sat back and just enjoyed the moment as my thoughts drifted.
Ezra and I dated for a couple of weeks before he finally invited me to meet his pack. Blanca and Carlo were there as well that night and everyone seemed to be happy about meeting me, but I later found out Ezra killed three of his pack members after I left. They apparently didn’t want to accept me as his Luna. So much has happened in the past couple of years that I can’t even remember all of it.
I did, however, remember the day Ezra marked me and the first time I shifted. I also remembered the day our son was born, as though it was yesterday! I could never have imagined that I would have such an incredible life!
“Hey, momma. Eli and I want to know if you and the baby are thirsty.” Ezra’s voice drifted into my thoughts and I smiled up at my boys. I was pregnant with our second child and had been ordered to take things slow this time. We nearly lost Eli because I wouldn’t listen to the doctor’s orders. Things were different this time. Easier.
“We are very thirsty!” I grinned at them and when I looked at the time, I gasped. “Oh, my goodness! Look at the time! Aunty Blanca and Uncle Carlo will be here any minute with the new baby!” I was so excited to see them that I just rolled my eyes at my two boys pulling faces. We might not all be one pack, but the four of us have become close friends.
Our kids would grow up together the same way Blanca and I did, with one distinct difference. There will be no secrets this time around. Blanca and Carlo also had two children. After Ezra and I were mated and the pack accepted me as their Luna, the council finally granted our pack our freedom. Ezra and our people no longer had to live in fear every day.
We had just finished drinking our juice when I heard the trucks in the distance and a huge smile literally covered my entire face. We had been planning this surprise party for Blanca for a while now. She thought she was coming here to show us the baby, but a couple of months ago, I got the two guys together. I wanted to thank Blanca in some way for this very incredible life she has given me.
If Blanca didn’t push the way she did, I would never have given Ezra a chance. If she wasn’t so damn stubborn, none of us would have the incredible lives we have right now. Ezra would still be a rogue wolf running from the kingpin and the kingpin’s people would still be living horrific lives if I think about it.
Her pack came through the forest just as we walked out onto the porch and I grinned at my best friend while she climbed out of their truck with her baby in her arms. Little Emily changed the last little bits of Carlo. Ever since Emily arrived on the scene, Carlo became softer. The last remnants of the guy I didn’t like fell away and I had to admit that they were an amazing family.
I greeted my dear friend who looked stunned about everything happening around us as I invited them over to where our pack had set up for the party. All around us, people were having fun. Laughing, talking, eating and drinking. Blanca cried when we called everyone together to tell her why we were really there together and a little while later we were sitting at one of the tables watching our kids play when I realized we might no longer be human, but this was the life we talked about having.
Okay, so neither of us went to college and neither one of us had a career, but ever since I can remember, we have talked about our homes and having children and having barbecues together. I watched Ezra and Carlo laughing about something while they fought over who was burning the meat, while our kids were slowly growing their bond through their love of Lego.
My baby kicked and I hiccupped, drawing Blanca’s attention as she lovingly placed her hand on my stomach. The baby calmed down and we laughed. It felt as if we just blinked and half of our lives had flown by. I wanted to drink in that very moment. Burn it into my mind for all eternity and never forget how happy we were right now, right this very instant. Life was perfect. We had family, we had love … We had food!
Blanca
I can’t believe that Lilith convinced our men to have this party in my honour. I would have expected their egos to be too big to admit that all of this, according to Lilith, was my doing, but she was a true miracle worker! I had to agree with her that this was our perfect life. I thought of the day I found out Carlo was my mate and how much it hurt when he rejected me. Now, years later, I only saw love in his eyes when he looked at me. He was an incredible father and an amazing mate and I wouldn’t trade my life for anything!
My eyes drifted over to Lil as she hiccupped and I softly placed my hand over her belly, laughing as the little one instantly calmed down. Mine did the exact same thing each time she touched me. I believed it was because we were soulmates, me and Lil. Not romantically or anything weird. No, we were two special souls that needed each other in our lives. My eyes scanned the packs and I breathed in deeply feeling content and happy.