Epilogue 1 Silas

Twelve months later…

The rumble of my Harley fades as I pull into the driveway of our new home. It"s a modest place on the outskirts of town, close enough to the Pack for convenience but far enough away to give Mika the space she sometimes needs. As I cut the engine, I can"t help but smile. A year ago, I never would have imagined this life for myself.

I swing my leg over the bike and head inside, the scent of Mika"s cooking hitting me before I even open the door. My stomach growls in anticipation.

"Honey, I"m home," I call out, unable to keep the grin off my face. Who would have thought I"d become the type of guy to use cheesy lines like that?

Mika appears in the doorway of the kitchen, flour dusting her cheeks and blonde hair—her natural color—pulled back in a messy bun. She"s wearing my old Devil"s Pack t-shirt, and damn if she doesn"t look better in it than I ever did.

"About time," she says, rolling her eyes but smiling. "I was beginning to think you"d gotten lost on your way back from the garage."

I cross the room in three strides and pull her into my arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Never. I"ve got too much waiting for me here."

She leans into me, and I breathe in her scent. Even after a year, it still intoxicates me. "How was work?" she asks.

"Same old," I reply, following her back into the kitchen. "Fixed up a couple of bikes, dealt with some Pack business. Nothing too exciting."

Mika nods, turning back to whatever she"s cooking on the stove. I lean against the counter, watching her move around the kitchen with the same determined focus she applies to everything in life.

"You know," I say. "When I met you a year ago, I never would have pegged you for the domestic type."

She shoots me a look over her shoulder. "I"m full of surprises, O"Hagan. You should know that by now."

I chuckle, thinking about how true that is. In the past year, Mika has continually amazed me with her resilience and adaptability. She"s taken to Pack life like a fish to water, charming even the most skeptical members with her quick wit and unwavering loyalty.

"Speaking of surprises," I say, remembering the news I got today. "Kade called. Seems like there"s a new threat moving in on our territory."

Mika tenses for a moment before relaxing. "And?" she asks, her voice steady.

"And nothing," I reply. "We"re handling it. You don"t need to worry."

She turns to face me, her expression serious. "Silas, we"re in this together, remember? Your problems are my problems."

I can"t help but feel a surge of pride at her words. A year ago, she was running from her problems. Now, she"s facing them head-on, standing beside me.

"I know, sweetheart," I say, pulling her close again. "And I promise, if things get serious, you"ll be the first to know. But for now, let"s just enjoy our evening, all right?"

She nods, stretching up to plant a quick kiss on my lips before turning back to the stove. "Dinner"s almost ready. Why don"t you go get cleaned up?"

As I head to the bathroom, I catch sight of our reflection in the hallway mirror. Me, the rough-around-the-edges biker with more tattoos than I can count, and Mika, the woman who"s brought light back into my life. We"re an odd pair, but somehow, we fit.

Under the spray of the shower, I let my mind wander over the past year. It hasn"t all been smooth sailing. Mika still has nightmares sometimes, jolting awake in the middle of the night, her heart racing. But now, instead of running, she turns to me, letting me hold her until the fear subsides.

And me? I"m learning too. Learning to open up, to let someone in after years of keeping everyone at arm"s length. It"s not easy, but with Mika, it feels right and that old sting of rejection is now a thing of the past.

As I dry off and change, I hear Mika call out that dinner"s ready. I head back to the kitchen, pausing in the doorway to take in the sight before me. Mika"s setting the table, humming softly to herself. The room is filled with the aroma of home-cooked food and the warmth of belonging.

This is my life now. A life I never thought I"d have, with a woman I never thought I"d find. It"s not perfect—we still have our challenges, our fears to overcome. But it"s ours.

You just gonna stand there and stare?Mika asks through our bond, breaking me out of my reverie.

I grin, moving to take my seat at the table. "Just admiring the view."

She rolls her eyes, but I can see the blush creeping up her cheeks. "Smooth talker," she mutters.

As we sit down to eat, I reach across the table and take her hand in mine. She looks up, eyes shining, and I"m struck once again by how lucky I am.

"I love you," I say, the words coming easily now after a year of practice.

She squeezes my hand, her smile soft and genuine. "I love you too, you big furball."

And just like that, I know. Whatever challenges we face, whatever threats come our way, we"ll handle them. Together. Because that"s what mates do. And Mika? She"s the best damn mate a wolf could ask for.