Chapter 164

Chapter 164
Sarah PoV

I lifted Amelia into my arms, spinning a little smiling wildly, there’s nothing like the pure joy of knowing you saved your little girl from a life of misery and pain. If I hadn’t have killed Alpha Tris, he would have marked me, he would have claimed my daughter as his own, and goddess knows how he would have treated us. We wouldn’t have been people to him, we would have been weapons, things that he could use to get what he wanted.

My mates have never once treated my power as their own, and they never will, but it would have been different with Tris. He would have broken me down, the same way my step father once had.

When Jacob and I left our old home all those years ago, I swore that I would never let anyone treat me or him the same way again, and I have kept that promise to myself. But more importantly, Jacob doesn’t remember the pain of our past. He only knows the life I have given him, and I like to think it’s a good one. A good life.

He deserves nothing but the best.

Amelia giggles in my arms, clinging to me as she always does when I’ve been away for a while. “I’ll never have to leave again.” I promise her.

It’s a promise I intend to keep.

Drake comes towards me, smiling at both me and his daughter, “she’s always happy when you’re holding her.” He says, his eyes bright with pride.

“Where’s Dylan?” I ask, I had expected him to be home by now.

Perhaps he’s still helping clean up the bodies, a lot of people died today, on both sides.

It feels a little early to celebrate, but I’m just grateful that my family is safe.

And those that will never come home, they will be remembered fondly for what they sacrificed.

“He’s helping burn the bodies.” Drake says, eyes darkening slightly. “He thinks we should hold a mass funeral for all those that died, on both sides.”

“And you don’t agree with it?” I ask, bouncing my daughter on my hip.

“I’m not saying that I don’t agree with it.” Drake sighs, leaning against the wall. “I just think there’s a time and a place for us to mourn and today is not it.”

“I disagree.” I say carefully, “I think we should openly mourn all the death we have faced today, it’s important for us all to be able to move forward.” I pat his arm, “not even the enemy deserve to be forgotten.”

“Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it.” Drake says, watching me. “My father told me that once when I was younger.”

“You’re father is right.” I place Amelia into her crib, watching as she rubs her eyes. “We shouldn’t ignore what’s happened just because it makes us uncomfortable. We need to remember today, and all the other days we have fought to keep our home and our family safe.”

Drake pulls me into his arms, “you’ve come a long way from the young woman who was afraid of her own shadow.”

I nod, “I have.”

“I’m proud of you.” He whispers in my ear. “If I ever forget to tell you that, remember this moment. Remember how my body feels on yours and remember how much I love you.”

“I love you too.” I whisper into his shoulder.

This is a moment I craved, a moment I prayed for. It is moment I have earned through blood, sweat and tears. I deserve peace. We all do, and we might finally have succeeded in finding it.

Jeremy limps through the front door, the young girl walking in beside him, holding his hand.

I slowly let go of Drake and walk towards them, holding out my hand for Sophie to take. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I tell her with a smile.

She stares at my hand, but she doesn’t take it. “Are you going to be my mum? Jeremy says so.”

I nod my head, kneeling down to her level, “if you want to call me mum, I won’t stop you.” I say carefully, “but you don’t have to call me anything you don’t want to, not until you are ready.”

“I’m not ready for a mum.” She admits in a tiny voice.

If it wasn’t for my sensitive hearing, I wouldn’t have known she said anything at all.

This little girl has been through so much, too much for her age. She has been used and beaten by Alpha Tris multiple times. He made her hurt people, he made her kill and he made her so afraid of her own shadow that she doesn’t sleep.

I’m going to change that; I’m going to help her heal one step at a time. Even if it takes years. Even if it takes the rest of my life.

Because she deserves to have someone fighting for her, on her side, by her side.

“Then I won’t be a mum.” I say, trying to smile without showing any signs of my own emotions, “I’ll be a friend, you can call me Sarah.”

It breaks my heart to see her like this, but she won’t be like this forever, eventually she’ll heal, but for now, what she needs is gentleness. Love. A safe place to live.

I can give her that.

I turn to Jeremy, “I had the room opposite ours prepared for her, it isn’t perfect but until she can pick what she wants it’s all I could think of.” I pause, rising back to my feet. “Why don’t you get her showered and changed and then bring her down for dinner?”

He turns to Sophie, “how about a nice long bath?”

Sophie’s eyes widen, panic and fear written all over her face, “you won’t push my head under the water?”

Jeremy shakes his head, “never.”

Sophie nods, but the fear is still there in her eyes as she follows him up the stairs. She trusts him, anyone can see it. We need to keep that trust alive, even if it is only with Jeremy.

We have to take this slowly.

“Do you think she’ll settle here?” Drake asks me, coming to stand next to me at the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m not sure.” I say slowly, “but she deserve a chance to have a normal life.”

We all deserve the chance to have a normal life, away from conflict and pain.

And we might just be starting to get it, one step at a time.

One day at a time.

We can rebuild our lives now the war is over, and I won't let anyone else take a single moment of peace from any of us.