Epilogue

Xavier

Two years later.

I looked over at Otsana who was lying on a lounger beside me on the grassy strip bordering the sand of Waikiki Beach. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined loving a woman as much as I did my bride.

We had begun dating after she had saved my life and although her brother and sister-in-law had accepted us easily, Otsana's parents and other members of the pack had been wary. I'd done everything I could to assure them I wasn't a threat and neither was my best friend.

Slowly, ever so slowly, they began to accept us both and their attitude had done a complete U-turn when a crazed gunman had broken into Otsana's home, the wrong home as it turned out. The man had bene looking for his ex-girlfriend who lived in a house two doors further down the street. Cillian and I had turned up with Zarina at the right time and disarmed the nutcase but not before I'd taken a bullet to the shoulder and Cillian had taken one to his hip. It proved to the pack we would go to great lengths to protect our women and the pack had considered us allies ever since.

I danced my fingers over Otsana's swollen belly. There were three months of her pregnancy to go and she glowed with good health. I'd been extremely happy when she'd given up work three months earlier, knowing she'd be safe for the rest of her pregnancy.

We'd found out a few months earlier we were expecting twins which was exciting for everyone involved as twins were apparently rare among wolves. The decision was made to wait until the babies were born to find out their sex, a decision that was respected but disappointed our families and close friends.

Otsana had insisted on decorating their nursery in mostly white as parents back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s had done, saying she would purchase items in blue or pink after their births. It wasn't as if I couldn't afford for Otsana to purchase whatever she preferred.

I smiled as I thought back to our conversation. After Otsana had told me of her preference, I'd asked why our children couldn't be dressed in bright colors, spots, stripes, and a combination of all. Cillian and Zarina had been with us at the time and listened intently since Zarina was in the late stage of her pregnancy and I knew the couple had been buying bright colors for their expected son.

Otsana had been tactful, keeping in mind Zarina's preferences, but firm when she answered. "They are babies, pure and innocent and deserve to be dressed in the purest of white, pale lemon, blue, or pink, at least for the first couple of months of their lives."

Zarina argued there were gorgeous clothes in bright colors now and there was no need to be so conservative. She believed dressing her son in bright colors would make others happy when she was out and about with him.

Otsana, always conservative in how she dressed, and old fashioned in her thinking had snapped back saying, "They are babies, not circus clowns to be dressed in a way they provide pleasure for ogling strangers."

Cillian and I weren't stupid, we stayed out of the conversation, and after the ladies agreed to respect each other's opinions, the discussion ended.

I knew nothing about babies and to be honest, could see both sides of the argument. I was proud of Otsana for standing up for her beliefs and values while respecting Zarina would do things differently. There was no doubt that the she-wolf, who was such a huge part of Otsana's identity, would be as fiercely protective of our children as she was of me and others she loved. I looked forward to learning if our children inherited the wolf gene and my beautiful wife's shifting ability.

Otsana struggled to sit up on the lounge , and my offer to help was met with a glare, and I had enough sense to remain put. After a lot of huffing and puffing, she managed to pull herself into position.

"I don't know why you wanted me to wear a bikini, I look and feel like a beached whale. I'll be so glad when this pair arrive." She caressed her stomach lovingly. "Ooh, they're feisty this afternoon."

Otsana reached for my hand and positioned it on her belly, keeping hers over the top to hold it in place. A strong kick had our hands bouncing and I laughed.

"That's a soccer player for sure," I announced.

"What makes you think it won't be a ballerina?" Otsana asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"One of each," I grinned. "And if they are a boy and a girl, it can be either way around."

We turned our attention to the sandy beach and watched as Cillian and Zarina made their way toward us with their son in Cillian's arms.

The change in the pair since meeting each other had been nothing short of miraculous. They were both much less prone to run wild. While Otsana and I had elected to wait almost a year before marrying, the impulsive pair had tied the knot after only six months.

Six weeks earlier, Zarina had given birth to their son who they had named Velatin Cillian Groves after Zarina's father and of course, Cillian. Assured all was well, they'd accepted our offer to holiday in Hawaii.

Zarina dropped onto the grass beside Otsana, and after handing their son into my wife's outstretched arms, Cillian sat beside his wife, pulling her close and kissing her cheek.

I watched Otsana fawning over our soon to be godson who seemed intent on understanding everything she was saying.

The baby was cute as a button having inherited his dark hair from his father, and ice blue eyes from his mother. A blood test a week after his birth revealed he had inherited the wolf gene.

Watching my wife, my heart swelled with love. My she-wolf bride was going to be an extraordinary mother to our children. Of that I had no doubt. And once again, I thanked the powers that be for the alignment of the stars that had brought us together.