Chapter 31 （Epilogue）

Bowen

Ten years later…

“I got you,” I roared, snatching River—our third son—off the ground.

“Help me!” River called, reaching a hand toward Jax, one of Brielle and her unit’s twins.

Jax and Jarrick—his brother—attacked me, climbing my legs and fighting for River’s release.

Dramatically falling to my knees, I yelled in defeat as they ran.

The field was filled with children who squealed and laughed as they played. Bishop kept an eye on the older pups at the end of the clearing. At ten and nine, they were on the cusp of adolescence and already trying to assert their independence.

Izan had his arm around Chelle, our oldest and only daughter. They leaned their heads together as they whispered, undoubtedly starting trouble.

Their younger siblings naturally grouped themselves by age. The elders had taken on the role of babysitters, sitting in a loose circle around the play area.

The pack had welcomed Silver Fang for a celebration honoring the first Beta pregnancy since the Black War. The white witches had finally found a cure—a counterspell that canceled the effects of the original curse—and Winnie, the Alpha’s sister, was proof.

Shiloh had decided to join our pack as Ivan’s mate, and they were currently arguing over her unwillingness to stop working. It was hard to take a break when your primary focus was helping care for the cured Alpha and Beta females, even if she was pregnant with their pup.

“You’re ridiculous,” Silas said, helping me up.

“I’m the cool dad,” I replied, dusting off my legs.

We walked to the food table, where a pregnant Myla chatted with Isolde.

“The uninhibited dad is more like it.”

I shrugged. “I’ll take it.”

Silas looked over his shoulder, then did a double take. “Shit.”

“What?” I followed his line of sight and smirked.

Our eldest son, Dane, was collecting flowers for Zari—Alpha Declan and Blythe’s daughter. He was slipping the thin stems between her braids as she laughed.

Declan was going to lose his mind.

As if on cue, he materialized next to us. “Keep your little heathen away from my princess,” he growled.

“Ignore him,” Blythe said, taking her mate by the hand and redirecting him toward the food.

“He’s under the delusion she’ll live with us forever,” Jed said, walking between them.

Declan glared at Jed. “You expect me to walk away and let it happen?”

“That’s exactly what we expect,” Jed said.

“They’re seven, and they’re friends,” Blythe chastised. “It’s not a proposal.”

“It’s only ten years until they are seventeen.” His voice faded as Blythe dragged him away.

“He’s as bad as Theron,” I said.

“Looks like Dane has his work cut out for him,” Silas said.

“Not everyone can be like Marcus,” I said.

Our second son was a scholar. He always had his nose in a book and gave us the least amount of trouble.

We sidled up to our mate, the smell of barbecued meat drifting through the air.

Gentry stood behind Myla and cupped her stomach, lifting it for her as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her brown eyes looked so soft and pleased that I felt my blood rushing south.

The sight of Myla swollen with our child did something to me.

Gentry looked our way and whispered in Myla’s ear. She turned toward us with a devious smirk on her face.

“You need to behave yourself,” Myla purred. “There are children around.”

I gave her a cheeky smile. “Maybe you should teach me to behave.”

“Now there’s a good idea,” Silas said.

Myla playfully slapped his chest. “Don’t encourage him.”

“Who are we encouraging?” Theron asked as he leaned down to kiss Myla before saying hello to Isolde.

“Your horny unit mate,” Isolde said with mock admonishment.

Theron got a wicked look in his eye. “Isolde, would you mind watching the pups for about an hour?”

She waggled her eyebrows at Myla. “You bet, but you have my wildling this weekend.”

“Deal,” I said.

I jumped over the table and scooped her into my arms, making a beeline for the den. She laughed, wrapping her arm around my neck as Theron, Gentry, and Silas chased after us.

Myla had given us more than we ever could have imagined, and we planned to spend every free moment showing her just how much we appreciated her.

The end.