Epilogue

Elara

"Come on, Jace, you have to put your clothes on. It's time for breakfast, remember?"

I heard Rhys plead with our two-year-old son, and I fought the urge to laugh when Jace shook his head stubbornly. It became even funnier when Rhys attempted to fight with him to get his arms through the armhole and it proved futile. My toddler was now in the phase where he had a beef with his clothes, and it was always a battle to get him to wear some.

"Please? Can you just put it on for me?" Rhys tried again.

"No, daddy, noooooo," My son insisted, and I knew it was time to step in.

"Thank the Goddess you're here. We've been doing this for the last twenty minutes," Rhys said, stepping aside so I could step in.

"Stand up baby," I said to Jacerys, who straightened up and stood.

"No, mama," Jace whined when I attempted to put the shirt over his head.

"You have to put it on. Hold still," I told him, and he did as I asked.

"I don't get it. What's the difference between what you did and what I did?" Rhys asked with confusion written all over his face and I laughed.

I pulled on Jace's clothes, and once I was done, Rhys picked him up, peppering kisses all over his face and causing him to laugh loudly.

"Well, the difference is, the twins know that they can get away with stuff when it's you."

Rhys looked like our son in his arms, and he began tickling him. "Is that true, bud? You're taking advantage of me?" Jace wiggled and giggled, and I had to remind Rhys that he'd just eaten breakfast and was likely to throw up if he continued.

Rhys pulled me into a hug, holding our son in one arm while wrapping his other arm around me. The hug felt safe and warm, and I completely relaxed into it. "We're not whole without you," he mumbled against my cheek, pulling out of the hug to press a firm kiss against my lips.

"You're the ones who complete me," I whispered back to him, taking his hands so I could lead him out of the room.

I heard laughter coming from the home office. "Rowan is waiting downstairs at the table. Go join him. I'll fetch Kai and Ailith."

The door to the home office had been left open, and Kai was sitting at the head of the table surrounded by a sea of papers. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his lips moving silently as he read. He had a look of utter seriousness on his face, but across from him was our daughter. She was a whirlwind of energy, and she kept trying to pull on the papers that her father was working with, but Kai had a hold of her that kept her in place.

"You said you only wanted to pick something up, and now there's a ton of paperwork in front of you," I called to Kai. He raised his head from the paper he'd been reading, laughing when his distraction caused him to loosen his hold on Ailith, and she reached out to grab a paper.

"Well, I figured Rhys would spend a lot of time dressing Jace," he confessed, extricating the papers away from Ailith's fingers with a chuckle.

"This came for you, love," he said, pulling an envelope out of the stack of papers he had in front of him before handing it to me.

"What's this?" I asked, and he only offered me a small smile, pulling me over to drop a kiss on my head, before walking out of the room with our daughter.

I pulled out the piece of paper that was tucked into the envelope and I immediately knew who it was from the moment I opened it.

Dear Elara,

It has taken me two years to be able to find the courage to write to you. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I hope you can find it in your heart to grant it. I betrayed your trust, and for that, I am truly sorry. I never meant for things to turn out the way they did, but I need to tell you that I'm safe.

Smith found me. He rescued me from the darkness, and now we are finding respite in a small town where we will be protected from danger. It's a simple life, but it's filled with peace.

I hear that you have found your happiness, and I am so happy for you. I will always cherish the memories we shared, and I will carry your friendship with me always.

With Love,

Naya

Tears welled up in my eyes as I finished reading the letter. Naya was asking for forgiveness, and with it, she was offering closure. The weight of the past that I had carried felt like it had been lifted.

I moved out of the room with a smile on my face, knowing that my best friend was safe and that one day, we could reconnect again.

In the dining room, Rowan and Rhys had begun playing who could fit the most berries in their mouth and Jace was cheering them on loudly when we walked into the room. I smiled when Kai quickly joined in their game.

The last two years with my family had been the most blissful and happiest years of my life. The twins were growing older, and their personalities were beginning to emerge.

There were days when fear of Silas would run through my mind. But those moments were becoming fewer and farther between. With my mates by my side, my children safe and loved, and my pack thriving, the wounds of the past were healing.

I was at peace.

The future was uncertain, but for now, all was right with the world.

THE END