Epilogue Iris

"So, when will he start, you know… walking?"

I roll my eyes at Thorne. "Charlie is three months old, Thorne. He won't walk until he's around eleven months."

Thorne smiles. "Good."

"Good?"

"I like him like this. Small. Portable. Cute."

The ermine hisses at Thorne, and Thorne snarls back. "Easy, little beast."

Ever since Charlie was born, the ermine has appointed himself the full-time guardian of our baby. It's pretty cute, if you're me.

If you're Thorne, it comes with a pretty constant stream of ermine bites.

Seeing Thorne and Charlie together, as always, makes my heart squeeze. There's something about seeing a hulking man holding a tiny baby that just really makes one's lady parts squeeze.

I can't wait to have another.

We definitely will. Someday soon.

After Thorne gets over the shock and trauma of me giving birth.

I thought it went fine. Apparently at some point after delivering Charlie, I passed out for one tiny microsecond.

In that time, Thorne freaked out and threatened to eat Coral if she didn't fix me. Coral, whose capable hands saw me through the whole birth experience with zero issue, hadn't liked that.

She made Thorne's coffee taste like salt for weeks after.

Still, everything turned out fine. Charlie is a perfectly healthy baby boy, and I can't wait for him to turn fifteen so we can see what color wolf he is.

Personally, I hope he's a sandy brown like his father, but there are some thoughts that he'll be a stark, arctic white.

Like an ermine.

Thorne hands Charlie back to me, and I cradle him, placing a kiss on his head. "What time is everyone going to be here?"

"In about ten minutes," Thorne responds.

I nod. "Are you ready? Grill on? Veggies chopped?"

He smiles. "Yes, sweetheart. Steaks are seasoned and veggie kabobs are ready for the grill."

"Good choice. Maybe I can get some more veggies in you?—"

"Not a chance," Thorne cuts me off with a laugh, swooping in for another kiss.

I give him one, then pull back. "I love you, Thorne."

"I love you too, Iris. More than you'll ever know."

"Time to get our hosting hats on," I say with a grimace.

We're having a barbeque today for Evander's birthday. He's turning twenty-eight today, and while it's happy, it kind of feels a little… dark too.

Two years left before Evander needs to find his own mate.

I know it's been bothering him. He comes over daily to play with Charlie or hang out with Thorne, and I can see that every day he gets closer to thirty, his face gets a little more…

Well.

Sad.

Thorne keeps trying to cheer him up by saying that he never knows where his mate will be, but I don't think it helps Evander at all. Sometimes I catch him watching us with more than just sadness.

Sometimes it's just sorrow.

"I know you hate stuff like this," Thorne murmurs.

I shrug. "Part of the pack duties. Rescuing teenage werewolves. Hosting parties for the beta. All in a day's work."

"Coral's coming, right?"

"I literally wouldn't have a party without her," I say.

Thorne laughs.

The party goes well. There's plenty of howling and laughing, some young wolves who get into a tussle. Charlie is held by all of the pack who want to see him, and he cuddles and coos with all his adorable baby charm.

At some point, I just lean back and let everyone flow around me.

I haven't really changed. I feel like myself, still. I'm taking time off from the center, having given most of my work to Jenni while I'm out with Charlie, but there have been a few veterinary emergencies that have popped up recently, and I've been on hand to handle them.

Someday, I'll get back to the clinic. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, now that I have an inside view on how to treat certain types of animals.

And, since I have Coral's additional magical expertise.

As I lean back in my chair, a familiar hand drops on my shoulder. Thorne's lips press to my head, and I tilt my face up to kiss him.

He sits next to me. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"You did."

"I'm serious, Iris," he says.

I turn to look at him. "What's wrong."

Thorne gestures to the party. "I never thought this would have been possible when we first came here. The pack… we weren't like this. Not until we settled here in Oakwood. Not until I found you," he whispers.

My heart squeezes slightly. "Thorne…"

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Iris," he whispers.

I reach out and squeeze his hand. "Same, baby."

"You know, I guess I should probably thank that kid for getting drunk and passing out that day."

I bite my lip. "I don't really think that's a good idea."

"No. Definitely gives the wrong impression, doesn't it."

"Yeah," I laugh. "I think so."

"Still. Without him, I never would have found you."

I shake my head. "I don't think so, Thorne. I think that we would have always found each other. Teenage werewolf or no, there isn't a world where I wouldn't have found you eventually."

His smile is wide. "Still. Who would have ever thought I'd be thankful for a teenage werewolf?"

"Who would have ever thought I'd be married to a werewolf?"

He laughs and leans forward, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Oh, we're more than married, Iris. We're mates. Fated mates. You are forever mine?—"

"And you're mine," I whisper.

I seal the words with a kiss again.

Somehow, through everything, we found each other.

Fate has a funny way of doing that, I guess. It had a roundabout way of going about it, but in the end, everything worked out for both of us.

My heart feels at peace. I let myself bask in the moment, thanking the universe and all my lucky stars for this moment. Because with Thorne, I found the one thing I always really was looking for.

With Thorne, I finally belong.

Want to follow Evander's story? Continue reading the Wolves of Oakwood

Fated Enemy

We've been enemies for as long as I can remember. But time is running out.