Epilogue

When I was a child, I used to believe that life was like a canvas, waiting to be painted with the colors of our experiences. I would paint the good days blue and the bad days grey. When it is a great day, I'll add the color yellow and add rainbows, to symbolize hope. I always kept the grey paintings away because I loved to think of my world as colorful.

Now as I'm older and I walk through the midst of the pack members, it all makes sense. Life is so much more than just a canvas waiting to be painted. It is a journey filled with twists and turns, highs and lows, moments of triumph and moments of despair. No one wants the grey days but you can't have the sun, the blue sky and the rainbows without the grey days.

I glance down at the once elegant black dress that draped over my frame— burnt and a bit torn. Yet its weight was a comforting embrace. It was a stark disparity to the colorful costumes I once adored in my youth but it symbolized something far greater than mere fashion. It was a reminder of the trials and tribulations I had overcome, the battles I had fought and the scars I had earned along the way.

And as I took each step forward, my heart swelled with gratitude for the days it wasn't sunny. And for the shades of grey that led me to this moment.

The eyes of the pack members followed me with awe as I made my way towards him with tears in my eyes, their whispers like a soft breeze rustling through the trees. I could feel the pressure of their expectations pressing down on me but in this moment, none of it mattered. As he stood before me, resplendent in his role as Alpha, a smile tugged at his lips and I was reminded of the day when our paths first crossed.

It was a day much like any other when the world was grey and the whole paintings were in black and white. The sky was heavy with clouds and the world was cloaked with shadows. But amidst the confusion, I found solace in his presence. And as our eyes met for the first time, I knew that my life would never be the same again.

Now as I stood before him on the threshold of our future together, tears shimmered in my eyes like diamonds, I was overwhelmed by gratitude and marvel. For every trial we had faced, every hindrance we had overcome, had only served to strengthen the bond that bound us together. He reached out to take my hands in his, and a silent promise passed between us, we knew that our love was unyielding and eternal.

“You're very beautiful Kara,” Jaxon said to me and I saw tears in his eyes.

My heartstrings were tugged and I couldn't imagine wanting to love any other male. Except for my son, of course.

Her eyes fixed on me and tears, Isabella asked with a smile, “Do you accept Jaxon as your Alpha and your Mate? The one you spend the rest of your days with, in bliss and trials?”

“Yes, yes I do. Till the day we return to the moon goddess,” I said hastily.

We giggled and exchanged vows and rings under the watchful gaze of our pack.

“I now present to you Alpha and Luna of Shadow Pack,” Isabella announced.

The pack howled in excitement and cheered as party poppers went everywhere. I clung to Jaxon who had his arms wrapped around me and his lips crashed against mine. I kissed him back with a source of urgency. I knew that our journey was far from over and that there were still challenges ahead. As I pulled back and gazed into his eyes I was filled with a sense of determination because together we couldn't be tamed.

“What? Can't get your eyes off me now?” Jaxon asked as he bit his bottom lip and pushed back his hair, “You're so obsessed with me, aren't you?”

I rolled my eyes at him, “You wish huh?”

“Can't even look into my eyes when she says that,” he pointed out with a smirk.

“Leave me alone,” I said and blinked shyly as a blush crept up my neck.

His eyes raked over my body, “I could kiss you right now, but damn you still reek of smoke.”

“You fucker,” I yelled out a little bit too loud, “Oh fuck.”

“Fuck? I want that too,” he said with a broad grin spreading across his face.

“You’re such a perv,” I whispered, my breath hitching in my throat as he closes the gap between us.

“Coming from the woman tugging my hand, leading me on, is impressive,” he whispered against my lips.

I silenced him with my lips, kissing and exploring the corners of his lips. Great! Now I felt more horny than I did yesternight.

“Huh, just so you know, you could get a room,” Isabella said as she walked past us, “You're still in the public eye.”

“Does someone wanna leave this room?” Jaxon asked as he adjusted himself.

“Get me out of here and out of this dress,” I whisper then glance around. “How are we going to get out of here?”

“Don’t look back when I count and we take off. The celebration is still on,” Jaxon whispered.

I nodded eagerly as he grabbed my hand and we took off, never looking back regardless of the noises around us. We ran to the pack house, kissing and undressing all the way up to our bedroom. We wanted this, we needed this.

“Careful not to wake up the baby,” I whispered as he leaned over me.

He glanced at Riley who was sleeping peacefully and returned his attention to me, “Then you have to be gentle with the noises.”

Body to body, skin to skin, we moved in synchrony, my nails clawing at his back as he stroked my insides gently and then persistently. He pounded harder, my back arched as sounds of pleasure escaped my mouth. He licked the sides of my neck and without warning, sunk his fangs into my neck. I gasped out in pain, tears slipping from my eyes as I met his eyes. They were a bright red now. He beamed at me and I chuckled through the pain.

“You’re mine now,” he whispered.

“Finally,” I said.

We finally let go and went to join the rest of the members who were still celebrating. Braden’s death signified one thing. The end of Rivalry and the birth of a new pack.

As we danced beneath the stars and the glow of the moon, surrounded by the ones we hold dear, I was filled with contentment and peace.

For the people I've met and for the ones who have stayed, on this chapter of our lives and as we embarked on the next, I clung to the promise of tomorrow, knowing that whatever may come, I and my people and my beloved Mate will face it together, hand in hand, heart to heart.