Chapter 57: Life Goes On

I finally have the last piece of the puzzle. My mom revealed that the moonstone necklace my father gave was tied to his challenge. While she was away, she read through Dad's notes and came upon his discovery. He wrote about the mythical stone and its many powers. Not only does it lend the moonlight's magic to the wearer, increasing the strength of the werewolf who possessed it, but it is also a token of truth.

The moonstone glows when the person who possesses it is in the presence of their true mate. It's meant to shine as a blessing of the Moon Goddess, revealing the entwined destinies of two wolves. The stronger their love, the more it lights up.

The second mom and I were done crying and catching up, I headed for Dorian's house. His dad opens the door. He rubs his eyes groggily at being woken at such an ungodly hour of the morning. He tells me that Dorian never came home.

I don't have to wonder as to where he might be. The invisible string tied to my heart is pulling me right back to the lake. I guess he didn't sleep last night either. He must have stayed there after I left to think. I can imagine him pacing and sulking as clearly as if he were standing right in front of me. I picture the small crease over his furrowed brow and the perfect pout of his lower lip. My mind traces the image of his tensed muscles, every line and curve of his sculpted body. If I close my eyes, I see his own staring back at me, peaceful and piercing at the same time.

Honestly, I feel stupid for not realizing it sooner. And I don't just mean the glowing rock that's been hanging around my neck for months; I mean my own feelings. The magic of the gemstone only revealed what I already knew deep down. I just didn't dare to see it. I was so caught up in the loss of my father and Anthony Ernouf's schemes that I buried my own truth. I ignored my feelings to try and do the right thing. It's what I've always done. But doing the right thing was never meant to feel so wrong. If only I'd trusted myself sooner rather than rely on everything else around me.

But there's no point in berating myself now. All I can do is move forward, so I keep running. I run across the town and through the path in the forest.

When I reach the lake, the early light of sunrise is reflected on the smooth surface of the water. It's glistening and pure and so unbelievably bright. It takes me a minute to find Dorian. Actually, I find his shirt. It's tossed haphazardly over the bench by the edge of the water.

"Valerie?"

I whip around, turning like a sunflower towards the sound of his voice. My eyes scan my surrounding until they land on that familiar figure, half sticking out of the water.

I should have known.

"Dorian!" I cry out with a smile.

I don't even bother to strip down to my underwear. Instead, I jump right in and wade across the lake until my clothes and soaked and heavy.

"What on earth are you doing?" Dorian asks, looking at me with a combination of curiosity and amusement. As I get closer to him, I'm relieved to see no trace of anger or resentment in his expression. How is he so damn patient with me?

"I'm sorry!" I yell, even though we're definitely close enough that he can hear me. Dorian just shakes his head.

"Don't be. Valerie, I get it. You made your choice. Even though I don't agree with it, I know you just want to do right by your pack. You're always thinking of others and trying to do the right thing. It's one of the things I…" he trails off.

"One of the things you love about me?" I finish the sentence, finally reaching him. I come to a stop about a foot away from him, with water up to my waist and sunlight drenching us both.

"Yes."

"Do you know what I love about you?" I ask, but I don't wait for him to answer. "You respect my choices even when they're stupid. You apologize when you're wrong, and you don't make me feel bad about it when I am. You're the kindest, bravest man I've ever known, and you're so strong it's contagious, and I don't just mean physically, cause anyone can see that you kick ass. You're resilient without being pushy. You're wise and sincere and loyal. You're so incredibly awkward, and you brood like you're a cover model on a cheesy romance novel. You never fail to make me smile, and when I'm around you, I don't just feel invincible, I feel infinite. Like together we can have everything."

"Valerie…"

"I'm not done yet," I say, and he laughs. It's my favorite sound in the world. "I love so many things about you that it would take a lifetime to list them. I was so focused on rules and expectations I didn't want to admit that's what I want. I want a lifetime with you, whether it's as your girlfriend or as your Luna, I don't care. I just want to be with you."

"What about our mates?" he asks, like what I'm saying is almost too good to believe.

"I was wrong. Anthony manipulated Angelica. Marcel is not my true mate. I can't believe I was blind enough to believe it. Life may not always be fair, but fate is not cruel. It's you, Dorian. You're my Alpha… my mate."

He steps forward, closing some of the distance between us until he's so close that all it would take is the slightest tilt of my chin to kiss.

"Are you sure, princess? Is this what you really want?" he asks, his breath soft against my lips.

"You are what I really want. I love you."

He pulls me in, and I fall into him, losing myself in his kiss. Or rather, finding myself.

As the years passed, I would always look back at this moment with so much fondness. That morning at the lake is forever engrained in my memory and in my heart. It was not a happy ending. There are no endings, not really. Life is a whole lot of middle that goes on and on without rest. My own beginning was just a chapter halfway through my father's story. My life did not start the day he died, and it will not end the day Dorian and I have children of our own. Our love will outlive us both.

And honestly? I have no regrets.

In this story, we all made mistakes, some worse than others. My parents, the Ernoufs, my friends, my pack, even… my mate. None of us are perfect. We've tripped and tumbled and fucked things up over and over again. But still, the world keeps on turning, spinning our lives into a messy, wonderful, horrifying, extraordinary, beautifully flawed tapestry. I want to wrap myself in it, full of warmth and gratitude. I know that things won't always be as they are now, and that's okay. I know I will never be alone, and I know what and who I'm fighting for. Mistake or not, I'm pleased with my choice. Because it's mine.

And I'm his.