Chapter 154

***JAXON***

“Welcome home, Alpha, Welcome home, Luna,” the pack members chanted as we entered the pack house. They had been preparing ever since I sent a message to them.

“Oh my God she's alive!”

“She looks different. Healthier and her hair.”

“Look at her body!”

The whispers were a lot and the questions too but Kara looked tired. Too tired. She could barely answer questions but she greeted everyone politely with smiles. And when they asked about the human world she simply smiled. I knew that smile.

She couldn't remember what had happened. It would take a long time before she knew she lived different lives and she was torn between two worlds.

“Welcome home Kara,” a sweet voice whispered. “Welcome home Kara.”

“Isabella,” Kara screamed in excitement and flung herself on Isabella who hugged her tightly.

“It's so good to see you again. You do look like you have a lot of tales, but we would save that for later,” she said as she pulled away. “Someone's here to see you too.”

“Who?” Kara asked as she looked around.

Isabella moved away and Nana was holding our son by his hand. I was engulfed in different emotions to see that my little baby was now a little boy, standing on his two feet. My total replica.

Kara crouched down, tears slipping down her cheek as she stooped to lift her son but Riley looked away and clung to Nana’s skirt.

“Awww,” Isabella said. “He’s shy.”

Kara shook her head, disappointment clouding her demeanor as she choked on her words. “How long have I gone? He doesn't know me anymore.”

“Hey hey sweetie,” I said as I helped her up and kissed her on the forehead. “Our baby is two years old now, Kara. He missed you okay and it will take him a little while to remember your face, sweetie. It's only natural.”

Kara sighed deeply and watched as I lifted Riley in my arms. He jumped for joy, kicked his feet and latched his mouth on mine the whole time. She and Nana shared a tight and long hug while Nana whispered words that made her giggle into her ears.

“Alpha, we have a little surprise for you,” Imefin said as he stepped out from behind the crowd, clutching a tiny bundle in his arms.

Isabella stood beside him as they neared us, “Meet Jasmine, our baby girl, Alpha.”

“Wow. How long have I gone again?” I asked and smiled, “She’s so beautiful.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

“We already mated Alpha, and we started our family,” Time explained.

I patted him on the back, “You've done well.”

Kara took the baby in her arms and beamed as she cooed at her. “Congratulations to you both. I'm happy for you.”

***

Later that night, I could barely sleep. I wanted to stay up watching Kara the whole time. I was scared that Braden would come in the dead of the night and take her away again. She nuzzled against me while I played with her hair.

“Kara,” I started.

She moaned and slowly opened her eyes. “Yes, Jaxon?”

“You’re not asleep?” I asked.

She shook her head and then smiled gratefully at me, “Thank you for taking care of Riley when I was away.”

“He's my son too,” I said, squeezing her back.

“You’re my mate. You've always been,” I said.

She smiled at me, “You received the confirmation today again. Remember the first time we met? I felt the mating bond but you thought I was nuts.”

“I didn't feel it,” I said, slowly looking into her eyes. “Until today.”

She smiled at me, “I'm exhausted. So why are you still up?”

I sat up, looking at her sternly. “I know but there's something else I want to talk about. That's what is keeping me up.”

She sat up and stared into my eyes, “What's that, Alpha? What's wrong?”

“Today when I was feeding Riley, he bit me.”

“He's two,” she said and smiled. “He has teeth, don't you know?”

I swallowed and took her hands in mine, “He bit me and it bled.”

She arched a brow, “Bled? It's that deep?”

I showed her my pinky and the spot where he had bit. “Kara, Riley has fangs.”

“What? How? How is that possible?” she asked and sat up.

“Let's take the test Kara,” I offered.

Kara looked away sadly and retreated from me. “What if it comes out negative?”

“I love Riley okay. Biological or not, he's my son,” I assured her, “But please let me confirm.”

She swallowed, “Fine, whatever you say then.”

***

Kara held Riley nervously. It had been three weeks since she returned and was trying to adjust to her wolf life. In those weeks she had tried bonding with Riley and he was slowly accepting them into his life.

“Slow down, whatever it is, it is,” I said and squeezed her lap, trying to comfort her.

She nodded. “I don't know. I'm just really terrified. What if it goes wrong?”

“I'll always be here Kara, please don't get worried we’ll be okay.”

The genetic counselor came out with a stern look on his face. A look that wasn't promising. A look that made my heart pound loudly in my chest.

“Alpha, these are the results from the genetic testing,” he said and handed the papers to me.

I took it shakily and glanced at Kara, “Ready?”

She nodded hastily. “Yes. Just tear it open, let's see what we have there.”

As I ripped open the paper, Kara hugged Riley tight, so well it almost seemed suffocating. She bathed his head with kisses.

I reluctantly opened the paper and scanned through it. My eyes widened as I scanned again. “What?”

“What's there? Let me see,” Kara begged as she glanced through.

“He’s mine?” I called excitedly. “Riley is mine.”

Kara turned to the counselor who beamed at us, “Are you sure about this result? Is it accurate?”

“Yes ma’am. I tried it five times. It was the same result,” he said.

I pulled Kara in for a warm hug. She was still in shock the same way I was but it was confirmed. Riley was mine. I was his father. I finally pro-created. I had an heir. I was a dad!

Kara and I went home and told Nana the good news. She was super excited. Everything was the same but the confirmation only made it better.

“I still don't know how,” Kara whispered to me in bed that night.

“Were you pregnant at the time you ran away? And that thing with Axel made you think it was his baby?”

She blinked away shyly, “I don't know.”

As we undressed and we made love, my mind was made up. I wanted to get married to Kara. She was my mate and I wanted to make it official. Marriage wasn't a werewolf thing but I loved her way too much and we had been through so much.

I reached for the red velvet box under my pillow and opened it.

Kara sat up, excitement and confusion clouding her demeanor as she stared at the emerald diamond ring.

“Jaxon…?”

“Be my mate, Kara,” I said and took out the ring, “Be my woman.”

“Don't you look so cute just asking me to marry you?” she teased. “I should take a picture but yes Alpha Jaxon, I will marry you.”

I slipped the wrong one into her finger, where it should be. It looked pretty.

She beamed at me, “Now you don't have to die a lonely vampire.”

***

SIX MONTHS LATER.

***KARA***

I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, adorned in my black wedding dress that molded my body and sculpted my swollen belly. In three months, I and Jaxon’s second baby will be here.

“You do look stunning Kara,” Isabella said as she fixed the veil in my hair. 'Would you be comfortable walking down with this belly?’

I smiled, “I'm alright. Although she feels heavy, I can manage.”

She smiled at me, “I'll be there to help anyway and I will walk you down the aisle.”

I smiled, “Bella thank you for everything. I really can't thank you enough but you've been the best. From defending me to protecting me, saving my son and watching him grow. Thank you.”

Isabella hugged me. “Don't cry, sweetie. You'll ruin your makeup. You've been thanking me ever since you came back. It's more than enough now. Let's go, everyone is waiting for their Luna.”

I smiled and glanced at my reflection once more, clutching my black roses tightly in my hand but careful enough not to ruin it.

The life I had always wanted was finally becoming mine. The omega who was once bullied was going to become the Luna of Shadow Pack. The one who led and guided. I wished my father was alive so I could tell him, “I told you I would do it.”

I descended the stairs with the assistance of Isabella. The pack members were gathered in the hall. The black and white decoration made it unique and I was pleased. Isabella stood on the side with her mate and their baby and I beamed at everyone I knew as I walked down the aisle. The pack members watched me with awe, pouring petals along the way.

Jaxon was in front. His eyes were on mine the whole time, never blinking. His lips curved into a smile and I was assured I had made the right decision. When I was eighteen, this was all I wanted. To be gazed upon with love, to be respected and loved. For my father to look at me and be proud but fuck that! I was proud of myself. I deserved this, I didn't owe this to anyone.

I finally reached Jaxon and he supported me with his hands. “You are beautiful today Kara,” he said.

“Today? I'm not pretty every other day?”

He chuckled, “You're pretty every day sweetie. Is she heavy?”

I nodded, “She does feel heavy but I'm okay.”

Our attention was stolen away by Riley. He looked cute like his father in his grey suit and with his hair perfectly slicked back with gel. He was our ring bearer. Isabella placed the ring on the pouch and pointed towards our direction then whispered to him.

But my boy, he took the ring and put it in his mouth and we began laughing.

“No, it's not candy,” Isabella said and took it from his mouth.

He clapped his hands and laughed, seemingly pleased with himself.

Isabella took the ring and came up with it, “I guess our ring bearer is engrossed in his world.”

She turned to Jaxon and me as she asked, “Jaxon, do you take Kara to be your Luna and woman? In trials and bliss?”

Jaxon smiled at me, “Yes I do.”

After he slipped the ring on my finger, Isabella turned to me. I could see tears in her eyes but she hastily blinked them away.

“Kara, do you accept Jaxon as your Alpha and Mate? In trials and bliss?” She asked.

I opened my mouth, about to respond when I heard a gunshot.