Epilogue -Part One

Heather's POV

Kayden stepped out of the cozy wooden house, carrying dishes of food in both hands. He placed them carefully on the gazebo table, which was already beautifully set. My breath caught as I whispered, “Wow, you went to such lengths to prepare all this.”

“I just want to impress you,” he muttered, his voice soft but sincere.

I couldn’t help but smile as I glanced at the smoked, grilled salmon. My stomach growled in anticipation. Without waiting,I took a bite. The taste melted on my tongue.

“Damn, you’ve really outdone yourself. It’s delicious! Are you secretly taking cooking lessons or something?” I teased, though my words were muffled by another bite.

He remained quiet, a soft smile playing on his lips as he ate.

“Really?” I pressed, surprised by his silence.

“What?” He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth lifting in amusement. “I can’t cook for my mate?”

“There’s no need to go through so much trouble for me,” I said, dropping my gaze. “I’m not special…” The words tumbled out before I could stop them, a reflection of my lingering insecurities. Kayden was breathtakingly handsome, the kind of man who could have anyone he wanted. The thought haunted me—if it weren’t for the mate bond, would he still choose me?

His expression softened, and he reached across the table to take my hand. “You are special to me, Heather. So special that I’ll spend every day proving it to you until those doubts in your head fade away.”

I smiled, unsure how to respond to such an earnest declaration. We finished our dinner, and hand in hand, we strolled into the nearby forest. After walking a little further, we came across an open space where a blanket was spread on the ground, surrounded by glowing fairy lamps and the silvery light of the moon and stars. A small basket sat nearby.

I looked at him with a raised brow. “What’s your plan, Mr. Romantic?” I asked, my tone playful and teasing.

He smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Oh, to ravish you right here in the forest,” he teased, making me blush as I quickly looked away.

Kayden knelt down to help me take off my heels. Once I was barefoot, I sank onto the soft blanket. The warm glow of the lamps and the peaceful night sky made everything feel so magical.

“Will you tell me what the occasion is?” I asked softly, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“It’s your birthday,” he whispered, his voice full of affection. “And not just that—it’s also our six-month wedding anniversary.”

“My… birthday?” I blinked in surprise. “But my birthday isn’t today. I mean, the day I celebrate as my birthday is—”

“I know,” he interrupted gently. “That’s the day you were adopted. But while going through some old records, I found your birth certificate. The Raven elders kept it hidden all this time, but now…” His voice trailed off as he reached out, his fingertips brushing my cheek in a tender caress.

Tears pricked my eyes as I processed his words. “So… today is my birthday?”

He nodded, smiling softly. “I wanted to celebrate your real birthday, Heather.”

I smiled, feeling overwhelmed by emotion. “Kayden, you’re incredible. But… I thought you were going to tell me about the reports?”

“I was wondering how long it’d take you to bring that up,” he chuckled. He handed me a stack of papers but held one envelope back.

As I skimmed the reports, my stomach flipped. “It says I’m due in seven months…” I whispered, worry creeping into my voice.

Kayden took my hand, his touch steady and reassuring. “Doctor Rachel assured me everything will be fine. Medicine and magic have advanced so much—there’s no risk to you during childbirth. Trust me, Heather.”

I exhaled in relief but noticed the envelope he was still holding. “What’s that?” I asked curiously.

“This,” he said with a grin, “is a surprise for both of us.”

My brow furrowed. “What kind of surprise?”

“It’s the baby’s gender,” he revealed. “Doctor Rachel figured it out, but I told her to write it down and seal it. I thought we could decide together—do you want to find out now? Or we could save it for a baby shower and have a gender reveal then.”

“Isn’t it too early to know?” I asked, skeptical.

“Doctor Rachel’s magic and psychic energy are unmatched,” he assured me. “She’s never wrong, and we’re lucky to have her back in the pack.”

I hesitated for only a moment. “I want to know right now. Just us. No baby shower please”

Kayden’s smile widened as he handed me the envelope. My hands trembled slightly as I opened it.

“A boy,” I whispered, the words barely audible. “We’re going to have a boy.”

Kayden pulled me into his arms, his embrace warm and full of joy. “We’re going to have a son,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Tears filled my eyes, but this time they were tears of happiness. “I didn’t know I could feel this way,” I murmured against his chest.

He pressed a kiss to my temple. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, my Hea,” he said, his voice full of love. “And I’ll spend my life making sure you feel it.”

As I looked up at him, he leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss so full of warmth and passion that my heart fluttered. When we finally broke apart, he grinned.

“I have one more surprise,” he said, snapping his fingers.

I gasped as fireworks lit up the night sky, bursting in brilliant colors that reflected in my tear-filled eyes.

“Happy Birthday, Hea,” he whispered in my ear. “My woman, my love, my wife, my soulmate.”

In that moment, all my fears melted away. I realized that just because my past was filled with pain didn’t mean my future would be the same. My mate loved me, and I was going to be a mother. This was the beginning of a new chapter—one where I could finally heal and embrace the happiness that waited for me with open arms.