Chapter 131: Epilogue

**Enid**

**800 Years Later**

I stared down at the cup as the leaves seeped into the boiling water. I could feel it now in my bones that the time had finally come.

I used my magic to pick up the spoon and stir the tea, the gnarled bones of my hands too fraught with arthritis now to be much good for anything.

*‘It is time?’* Skadi asked excitedly.

It surprised me to hear her. She had been mostly quiet for many, many years. Her light and mine had died the day that we held our mate’s hand and he left this world.

*‘Yes,’* I answered.

I was ready to go. They were all gone now, too long ago. As long as Eris had been alive, she’d kept the others here, too. But, when she went at three hundred and fifty-two years old, everyone else had followed—Gideon that same day. And then Finn and Kat. Leo had held on the longest, but had finally been called home as well.

I had lived much longer than the average wolf, but I had still aged faster than most witches. And even though I’d never dabbled in the dark arts, time had taken its physical toll. I was a hunched back old crone now, the beauty of my youth a distant memory.

Yes, I’d outlived them all, even my own children. Ceres, my niece, still lived, her story as incredible as my own. But she lived in the stars.

Everyone else had gone, except for the little black dragon. Cass still looked almost exactly like the handsome young man that had landed on Gideon’s balcony all those years ago. He came to me once or twice a week and we talked about the old days. He listened to me talk about Leo, and we shared the same stories over and over again because there were no new memories to be made in this lifetime.

My mentors, River and Rhia, I didn’t know. They had gone a long time ago and just never returned.

Thinking of Cass, he would probably be by in the next couple of days and I was sorry for him to have to find me. I went to the wall and pulled out several sketchbooks. I used my magic to flip through them until I found the picture I wanted.

It was that young, blonde, green-eyed girl I used to be. I was standing on the back of his black dragon in that red dress, eyes blazing, with Dragonsbane in my hand. Leo had drawn it hundreds of years ago.

I picked up a pen and used my magic to write on the back of it.

*Cass,*

*The void calls me now, old friend.*

*Don’t weep for me. As you know, I have been ready to go for a long time. I’ll tell the little lion you said hello.*

*Your companionship throughout these years has been a shining light in a dark world. Thank you so much for keeping an old woman company.*

*With love,*

*TLW*

He’d never stopped calling me The Little Witch. Even all these years later, I didn’t know if he’d ever used my real name.

I looked around the old cabin one last time. I’d come back here many years ago when everyone I’d loved was gone and the pack no longer held a place in my heart. The walls were covered with my plants, and with sketches and paintings Leo had done. Dragonsbane hung above the fireplace, a reminder of the woman I had once been.

For many years, when I first came back here, people came to me. They wanted spells and potions made by me. My magic had been legendary at one time, but now everyone had long forgotten about the old woman in the woods. And I was okay with that, too.

I looked at the bed, which was in the same place it had always been. The memory played in my mind—Gideon ripping the door from its hinges and coming in to find his one true love, and unknowingly take me to mine.

I sighed. The memory was fuzzy now. It had been lived a lifetime ago.

I glanced down once more at the sketchbook that now lay open. It was another sketch of me, the girl that had been me. She was kneeling on the sidewalk in front of an orange rose with no shoes on. The rose was blooming in her hand. I stared at it, trying to remember the moment but not able to recall it.

I shuffled outside, using my magic to bring my cup of tea and the note for Cass. Groaning in pain, I sat on the hard garden bench. It was our bench, mine and Leo’s, and I had brought it with me when I left the pack.

I settled myself, looking to my left. I’d brought the guitar out earlier today and set it here, so it was with me, too. This guitar and his sketchbooks kept my mate here with me. I was sure without them I would’ve gone mad many years ago.

I heard a weak meow at my feet and looked to find Hades. I bent with significant effort and lifted him into my lap. He was far too old himself now, and his bones showed through his black fur.

“Are you ready?” I asked him.

He settled himself and purred softly as I moved my stiff hand across his back the best I could.

I sipped my tea and watched my garden, so attuned to the plants that I could hear them and feel them growing. I was slightly sad to be leaving them, but maybe another witch would come along and take this place as their own.

An icy wind rustled around me and I pulled my robes tighter. Cass’ note threatened to blow away from the table next to me, so I set my teacup on it. Odd, to feel such a cold wind on a summer night.

I woke up sometime later, gasping as I lifted my head.

He was here, standing in front of me in a soft white glow.

“Leo,” I whispered.

He was so handsome. He was young again compared to the last time I’d seen him—looking like the boy I’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

He held his hand out to me and I reached for it, stunned to see that my old gnarled hand was no longer. My skin was soft and smooth, the beauty of youth returned to it, and I stood easily without aching bones. He pulled me to him, holding me to his chest.

I sighed in relief at the contact. Impatient, I pushed up on my toes. We kissed, and I smiled against his lips. Oh, how I’d missed it.

When we finally broke apart, I looked up at him and said, “I’ve waited a long time for that.”

He grinned and answered, “I would’ve waited forever.”

He ran his thumb down my cheek, and we stared into each other’s eyes. The love between us was unending, unyielding, and unaffected by the time we had been apart.

“Are you ready to go?” he finally asked.

He indicated behind him, and I gasped again in wonder when I looked past him. The first face I found was Eris, smiling and waving to me.

On her left stood Gideon, Finn, and Kat, with all of my nieces and nephews. On her right stood two people I hadn’t seen in so long I didn’t know if I could believe my eyes. My mother and father were there, standing patiently with my own children.

Everyone was smiling, calling out to me and waving to me to come with them.

I looked at Leo and nodded. I was more than ready.

“Wait,” I said suddenly and looked back.

“Come on,” I called.

Hades jumped from the bench and ran to me—a spry, beautiful young cat once again himself.

I knelt down and picked him up, helping him wrap around my shoulders. He purred softly against me as I scratched his head. I glanced at the bench and realized our earthly bodies had just disintegrated to dust and were blowing away in the summer breeze.

I looked once more at the guitar propped there and said goodbye to it, for it had become like a companion to me.

But I was already forgetting the pain of the life I had been living. Only pure, bright joy filled my soul now.

I turned back to Leo and grabbed his outstretched hand. He squeezed it softly and smiled. Feeling at peace, I walked beside him as he led me towards the real forever.

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Author’s Note:

•Wow, guys. I would be a big liar if I said I didn’t cry writing that epilogue. Not only because it was an emotional chapter to write, but because it marks the end of my first series that I’ve ever written. When I posted The Alpha and The Maiden, I didn’t know what I expected, but I am so happy and blessed that it has been received how it has and I have all of you amazing readers! Thank you so much! <3

•First off, as some of you have already guessed, there will be a spin-off book coming next! That’s right people, everyone’s favorite loveable dragon is getting his love story! Cass’ book “Dragon Keep Me” will come out next!

DRAGON KEEP ME IS COMPLETED! CLICK ON MY AUTHOR’S PROFILE TO READ IT NEXT.

KEEP SCROLLING FOR A FUN BONUS CHAPTER.