Epilogue

Cedar

P anic filters through our mate bond. I drop my tools, and sprint out of my garden, moving north until I reach the trailer that has been our home for the last few weeks. Hazel and Slate granted us land to build a cabin on, close to my garden, but it will take months to build.

Aurora isn’t in the living room or kitchen when I enter. “Love?” I call out.

A startled little noise comes from the bedroom. I waste no time striding across our small home and pulling the bedroom door open. Aurora sits cross legged on our bed, holding one hand behind her back.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, squatting in front of her and looking up into her eyes. Moisture wells in the corners, piercing my heart. Gently, I wipe the tears away. “I’ll fix whatever it is.”

She lets out a shaky laugh. “I don’t think this is something that needs fixing. Or I hope not.” Her chin wobbles.

“What is it?” My voice drops low.

“Please don’t be mad.”

Frowning, I go to my knees and lean against the bed, placing my hands on the side of her thighs. “Never.”

“Okay.” With a shaky breath, she moves the hand behind her back and holds out a white, plastic stick. It takes a moment for my brain to process what I’m looking at.

“We’re pregnant?” I ask, finally looking up at her face.

Hope shines there in her small smile and the way her eyes crinkle. She nods and sniffles.

“That’s amazing!” I say, rising and framing her face with my hands while I kiss her. She answers with passion, parting her lips and swiping her tongue into my mouth. The test falls to the floor, forgotten, as I show her how excited I am.

She breaks off our kiss and peers at me. “Are you sure it isn’t too soon? I mean, it’s been like no time at all.”

Chuckling, I lean forward to kiss her shoulder. “We get a few months to adjust before it’s born, you know.”

“I just don’t know how this could have happened,” she says suddenly.

“Really?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

“Not that,” she says, slapping my bicep. “But I’m on the pill.”

“You also have magic that makes plants grow, heals wounds, and makes fruit grow. And you used magic on yourself, remember? We should have seen this coming.”

“Oh,” she says, eyes wide as she thinks it through. “We’re gonna have to figure out some other birth control then, because I don’t want to pop that many babies out. Three or four is probably more than enough.”

“Sure. We’ll figure it out. In eight months,” I promise, lowering my mouth back to her skin.

“How are we going to tell everyone?” she says, clearly distracted. Sighing, I flop onto the bed beside her. She turns onto her side, the wheels turning behind her eyes. “What about the cabin? Will it be ready in time?”

“I’ll make sure it is,” I say, rubbing my hand down her arm to soothe her.

“There’s so much to figure out,” she says. “Baby names, birth plans, and how do you feel about having a gender reveal party? Or do you want to keep it a surprise?”

Smiling, I fall back onto my back and fold my hands behind my head as she spirals into endless baby thoughts and plans. I’ll be happy with whatever she decides.

Aurora

“Almost ready to go?” Cedar asks, placing a kiss on the top of my head. “You’ll be late if we don’t leave soon.”

“I’m ready!” I stand, resting a hand on my belly. Some shirts don’t quite reach the top of my pants now, but at least I can still fit into those pants. Hazel already gave me a stack of maternity clothes, so I’m ready for when I get too big for my current wardrobe.

Cedar is overly attentive as we walk down the steps and out of the little trailer. “I can stay home if you want,” he offers.

“Go see your brother. Otherwise Ember won’t come to girls’ night.”

“Okay.” He insists on walking me to Hazel’s cabin, and I don’t mind. The plants may move out of my way, but my eyesight is still terrible.

He waits at the steps as I knock on Hazel’s door. Marigold throws it open and flings her arms around me, bumping against my belly as we hug. When she releases me, I look back and blow a kiss at my mate. Only then does Cedar shed his clothes and shift into his wolf. I watch from the doorway, enjoying the sight of his reddish-gold form trotting into the trees.

“Come on,” Marigold says, grabbing my hand and tugging me inside.

Baby Timber is on the rug, sitting up and chewing on a little rubber wolf teether. “Did you like your half-birthday present from your auntie?” I ask, squatting down to greet my little niece.

I almost lose my balance when I rise, grabbing the arm of the sofa to balance. Hazel watches from the kitchen and laughs.

“Enjoy seeing me struggle?”

“It’s only fair,” she says with a cheeky smile. “Besides, it’s just beginning. Get ready for all kinds of awkward, unbalanced, uncomfortable…”

Holding up a hand, I stop her. “I know. I’m ready.”

Marigold slouches on the sofa, her hand going to her own smaller bump. “Aren’t we just a bucket of fun?” She giggles. “Hazel, when are you having another one?”

“Ugh, hopefully not anytime soon.” She scoops up Timber and bounces the chubby baby on her hip. “We can only handle so many babies at once. Especially with Miss Fertile over here.” She jerks her thumb at me.

“Not my fault I’ve got magic,” I say, wiggling my fingers at Timber. She rewards me with a sloppy, wet smile.

“Did you get ultrasound pictures?” Marigold asks, leaning toward me excitedly.

Sinking down beside her, I dig them out of my pocket. She snatches them and the row of black and white photos unravels, hitting her knee.

“Okay, I don’t know what I’m looking at. Mine don’t look like this. Our last set looked like a jelly bean.”

“Well, you only have one baby, don’t you,” I grumble, pointing as I count out all three little blobs and point out where you can see arms and legs.

“You poor thing,” she says, rolling her lips inwards to stop her smile.

Taking my ultrasound scans back from her, I look over the images fondly. A few more months, and I will have my hands full.

“We’ll help you, don’t worry.” Marigold says, rubbing her hand over my thigh and knee.

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “Cedar is so excited for daddy duty, I don’t think any of us will get a chance to do anything. He’ll make Slate look like a slouch.”

Hazel huffs a laugh. We all know Slate’s attempts to handle every single diaper change and baby task possible, though Timber only wants Hazel right now.

Marigold sighs. “Jasper too. He found those baby dolls from the shower and was practicing diapering and swaddling.” She covers her mouth, eyes crinkling as giggles escape her.

“He’s ridiculous,” I say.

“But so hot,” Marigold says dreamily.

Ember sinks onto the last spot on the sofa, between Marigold and Hazel’s spot in her armchair. “Ugh, you guys are so mushy.”

“Get used to it,” Hazel teases.

“I’m happy being an aunt. Thank you very much.” Ember reiterates, eyeing Timber from where she sprawls across Hazel’s lap. She grabs her mother’s shirt and lets out a whine.

“You just ate!” Hazel says, frowning. Timber reaches again, pinching Hazel’s breast. “Oh fine.” She settles Timber against her to feed.

“So how was the Alpha Counsel yesterday?” I ask, looking between Hazel and Ember. My understanding is limited, and Cedar doesn’t care for politics, but the annual meeting of all the local packs’ Alphas seems to be a serious event.

“It was fine until Zephyr started simping over my mom in front of everyone.” Ember sticks her tongue out and pretends to gag.

Hazel barks out a laugh. “I’m sorry you have to deal with her, but you have to admit she’s far more tame than before.”

Cedar has told me about Ember fighting to become Alpha after her mother was deposed in a mutiny. It sounded like a bloody affair.

“I can’t believe her,” Ember says, crossing her arms and slouching back into the sofa cushion.

“Alright, that’s enough politics for girls’ night!” The room relaxes as the stressful topic is dismissed.

“So what kind of trouble should we get into tonight?” I ask, grinning.

“I have a few ideas,” Marigold says, her own smile widening.

An hour later, we’re breaking into Crickett’s kitchen to steal snacks. Well, we use Hazel’s key, so it’s not exactly breaking and entering. Marigold keeps laughing uncontrollably, but Hazel wears Timber in a carrier over her chest so her hands are free to grab Marigold and cover her mouth.

Ember pushes the door open and slips inside. I’m right behind her, leveraging the door wider to fit my curves. Hazel and Marigold follow, but we all stop right inside the door.

The front of the diner might be dark, but we failed to notice the kitchen light on.

“What the hell are you guys doing?” Crickett asks. She stands with her hands on her hips, her apron smudged with red.

“What are you doing?” Hazel asks. Marigold breaks into a round of giggles.

“Making my red sauce,” she says, scowling as she turns back into the kitchen.

“Sorry, can we help?” Marigold chokes out.

Crickett turns back and narrows her eyes. “Alright, get in here.”

She puts us to work chopping tomatoes, mincing garlic, and washing fresh herbs. Hazel stands in the corner and sways to keep Timber sleeping.

We’re still cooking when the boys find us. Jasper comes in first, a charming smile softening his features when he sees his partner with tomato guts on the apron that hangs over her belly. Slate is next, and he goes to Hazel silently, kissing her soundly before peering down at his daughter.

“We’re going to bed. Good night!” Hazel calls, following her mate out.

“Good, clear out my kitchen,” Crickett says, shooing us out.

“Can I stay?” Ember asks, crossing her arms defiantly.

Crickett softens. “Of course. Here, check on the caramelizing onions, will you?”

We leave them to cook, following Jasper and Marigold out of the diner’s kitchen and down the metal steps.

“How did you guys end up cooking in the diner during girls’ night?” Cedar asks quietly.

Shrugging, I wrap my hand around his arm. “No clue. We were trying to pilfer snacks. You know how I get without enough snacks.”

He looks down at me, his expression analytical. Without warning, he scoops me up.

“I can walk!”

“But I like holding you,” he says.

We pass the skeletal structure of our new cabin and head into the trailer we still occupy. “Did you check the art show?” he asks, setting me on our bed.

My mouth falls open. How could I overlook my show tonight? It’s my third one since moving, and each one was bigger than the last. Nerves churn in my stomach until I’m nauseous. “I can’t believe I forgot.”

He hands me our shared laptop and I log into the online bidding system. Scrolling through, I pause when we reach my pieces. “Holy shit!”

Cedar peers over my shoulder. “Your work is the best thing in that gallery. I bet the price gets even higher.”

“Either way, this is incredible.” I blink at the screen. Jarrod wasn’t kidding when he said he could sell my work for triple, but this is way more than triple.

“You deserve it,” Cedar says, his hand lingering on the top of the laptop screen. Taking my hands off the keyboard, I allow him to close it. He sets it aside before leaning over me and placing a kiss on my cheek, and then one on the corner of my mouth. I turn, seeking his lips with my own.

“My beautiful mate,” he growls, moving his mouth to my throat and licking over the claim mark. My hand goes to his jaw, tilting his head so I can get a good look at the magical tattoo I accidentally manifested across his skin. It’s grown over the last few months, the vine dripping down over his collarbone. I don’t mean to push any magic into him, but it tends to happen when we are intimate.

Hungry to see more, I tug his shirt off. My fingers trail over the mark, and then down over his newest tattoos. Splashes of watercolor cover his pec, swirling down to connect with the botanicals inked across his ribs.

His hand goes to my hip, his thumb rubbing over the tattoo of his paw print that Slate applied a week after we moved in together.

“I love you,” I say, smiling at his glowing dusty blue eyes.

“Me too,” he says, lifting the edge of my shirt. I raise my arms, allowing him to strip it off.

“Show me.”

His touch ignites a burning low in my stomach, stoking the buzz of my magic. The forest around the trailer is growing out of control, but I can’t help it. As he lays me back and strips me bare, I release some of it through the trailer and into the grass and brush around us, spreading it as wide as I can to temper the results.

“That feels good,” he murmurs, reacting to the sensation of my magic through our bond. The last of the excess magic drains out of me, leaving gaping desire. Feeling my need through our bond as strongly as my magic, Cedar’s movements become frenzied as we come together. His utter devotion leaves me breathless.

When we both are satiated and exhausted, he curls his arm around my belly protectively. Sleep tugs at me, but his profile is beautiful bathed in moonlight, I can’t help but sit up and grab the little sketchbook I keep in my bedside table.

Portraits have never been my thing, but drawing Cedar is different. The line of his jaw, the slope of his nose, the curve of his lips are as fascinating to me as any landscape.

He stirs, those beautiful gray-blue eyes opening and focusing on me. “You need sleep too,” he murmurs, slipping his arm around my hips and pulling me down the bed and against him.

“Fine. But you’re sitting for another painting soon.”

His laugh is hoarse. “Sure.”

Satisfied, I tuck the sketchbook and pencil back into my drawer and cuddle up against him. His heat soaks into me, relaxing my body and mind. The soft sounds of nature mingle with his steady breaths until I’m lulled into deep sleep.

The End