Lily King Would Rather Howl Alone! Epilogue - Part III

Lily King Would Rather Howl Alone! Epilogue - Part III

***Lily***

I step over a toy sword someone left in the hallway and give it a satisfying kick under the nearest cabinet. 
I used to think that if I gave my kids all the attention my mother never gave me, they’d turn out sweet and well-behaved. Obedient little angels. Just like my sister Wren. 
Ha. Ha.
Joke’s on me.
I couldn’t be more wrong.
The universe heard that thought and gave me Peter as punishment. Every time I look at that boy, all I can think is, *well played, Moon Goddess. Well played.*
The Moon’s high and smug, flooding silver light across the nursery. The air smells like lavender lotion and kid sweat. Blankets are everywhere. Nico’s kicking his off for the fifth time, Daisy’s upside down, and Dahlia’s drooling into her plush wolf stuffie like she’s planning to drown it.
It’s bedtime.
Correction—it was bedtime thirty minutes ago.
I’m standing at the door, arms crossed, ready to do my signature mom move—flip off the lights and walk away without looking back—but then it happens.
The ambush.
“Mama,” Nico whines. “Tell us a story.”
The only thing I want is my mates and a glass of red wine. Or something stronger.
But the Goddess has other plans.
I blink. “You had a story already.”
“But not that one,” Daisy whines from the bottom bunk, her tangled curls haloing her face like a tiny woodland demon. “We want the favorite story,” she says, her meadow green eyes wide and sparkly. “How you and Mommy and Daddy met!”
“Oh no,” I mutter. “That story is too long.”
“It’s the best story,” Nico insists, kicking off his blanket like it personally offended him. “Please, Mama. Please please please.”
Dahlia is already curled up like a baby in Daisy’s old wolf plushie, thumb in her mouth. Her big meadow green eyes are staring at me like I hung the Moon.
I’m doomed.
Goddess, I love my kids so fucking much.
I sigh. “Fine. But you’re getting the version without too much sappy junk, alright?”
Daisy claps. Nico cheers. Dahlia blinks.
“Scoot over. I’m not telling it standing up.” I sit at the edge of the bed, tugging the blanket over Nico again because I’m not letting him freeze out of sheer rebellion.
“Alright,” I begin, my voice low and dramatic, “once upon a time, there was a girl who didn’t believe in peace.”
Daisy gasps like it’s the first time hearing it, even though they’ve begged for this story a hundred times.
“She was angry all the time,” I continue. “A bit mean, too. She had knives in her mouth and a heart like a locked box no one was allowed to touch.”
“Was that you?” Nico asks, already grinning.
I wink. “Maybe.”
“And then what?” Daisy whispers.
“Well… then, the universe decided to screw with her.”
They giggle.
“First, she found that she had a fated mate. Some meadow greeny-eyed, bossy, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Alpha.”
“Daddy!” Dahlia mumbles through her thumb.
“Exactly,” I say, leaning back on my elbows. “And she loved him. Even though sometimes she wants to punch him and kiss him at the same time.”
“Ew,” Nico mutters, but he’s smiling.
“But he didn’t give up. He was patient. Stubborn. Territorial. And he didn’t try to change her, not once. That girl had never felt safe a day in her life before him, and he gave her that, just by standing beside her. They were soulmates. And one day, she realized she didn’t have to run anymore.”
I sniff, feeling a lump in my throat.
Az is loyal as hell. I don’t think there’s anything I can do that would make my mate abandon me. And that knowledge is both reassuring and fucking infuriating. 
He’s just so goddessdamn good—so reliable. 
I don’t know if I ever deserved that kind of dedication. 
*I am loved and I deserve love.* I repeat in my mind the stupid mantra he tells me to do every time I have this kind of thought. And suddenly, I feel lighter.
A wave of deep relief washes over me as I remind me of accepting myself and remember that some situations are what they are—beyond my control.
I let it go. 
And it soothes me. 
“And then they got married?” Daisy asks, her eyes wide.
“Eventually. But this isn’t just about me and your father.” I shift, pulling the blanket over my lap. “There was another girl. Softer. Sweeter. The kind of soul that makes you feel like you’ve been walking barefoot on the cold ground your whole life, and suddenly you’ve stepped into the sunlight.”
“Mommy,” Nico says, his voice softer now.
“Yeah.” I smile, remembering. “Mommy came into our lives like the gentlest sunshine. We didn’t see her coming, and suddenly, everything was changed. She was scared, too. Hurt in ways we couldn’t understand at first. She had secrets. Big ones.”
I can hear again that voice in my head telling me I don’t deserve my angel. 
Her loyalty and dedication feel… uncomfortable. 
Intensely personal. 
Once more, I remember Az’s words, and I feel better.
*I am loved and I deserve love.*
Dahlia pulls me out of my thoughts this time. “Like what, Mama?” 
I pause. “Secrets that made her think she didn’t deserve us. But she was wrong. We both saw it—your Daddy and I. We saw how kind she was, how brave she was. And then the angry she-wolf girl decided…”
I look at them each in turn.
“She decided she’d rather not howl alone anymore.”
Daisy clutches her pillow. Nico tucks his arms under the blanket. Dahlia is still sucking her thumb.
I continue, softer now.
“It wasn’t easy at first. Your Daddy and I had to learn how to let love change shape. I had to open doors in myself, which I’d kept locked for years. But your Mommy made us better. She reminded us of all the things that were worth fighting for—gentleness, forgiveness, hope.”
“And then you kissed,” Nico mumbles, rolling his eyes.
“Yes, we kissed. A lot. And we fought. And we forgave. Because we became a family.”
I lean down, kissing Dahlia’s forehead. She’s already blinking slower.
Now we have this packhouse full of chaos and muddy footprints and cookie crumbs in the couch cushions because of them. And somehow, it’s perfect.
There’s a long silence.
Then Daisy whispers, “I want a love story like that.”
“You will,” I say, smoothing back her curls. “But only if you don’t settle for anything less than people who see you for who you are and love you anyway.”
“Even if I’m mean like you?” she teases.
“Especially then.” I wink.
Nico yawns. “Was it scary, Mama?”
I brush a hand over his hair. “Terrifying,” I say honestly. “But the best kind of scary.”
He nods once, like that’s enough.
Dahlia’s asleep first, thumb sliding from her mouth. Nico follows a few minutes later, his breathing evening out.
Daisy takes the longest. She always does.
Just before she drifts off, Daisy whispers, “Mama?”
“Yeah, baby?” 
“I’m glad you chose to stop howling alone.” 
I pause. That lands deeper than I expected.
Softly, I whisper, “Me too.”

***The End!***

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*Author’s note:*
*Hello, my little wolves!*
*I absolutely fell head over heels for these three, and I hope you enjoyed Az, Poppy, and Lily’s love story.*
*Stories have the power to heal, connect, and shine a light into dark places. If you’re reading this and have ever felt like Lily that you had to change who you are to be loved or accepted, I want you to know—you are perfect exactly as you are.* 
*No one should ever feel pressured to hide their truth.* 
*These bonus chapters were written with love, but more importantly, they’re a reminder that you are not alone.*
*And now, surprise, surprise—I just couldn’t help myself.*
*I sat down thinking I’d write one more little scene for this world… and well, you know how that usually ends with me.*
*So yes, there’s another set of bonus chapters coming your way—and this time, we’re shifting the spotlight to Wren*. *Her arc is called “****Wren Dove Doesn’t Stay Perfect!****”, and let’s just say she’s got a few things to say and a few things to face. It’s tender, short, a little messy, a little fierce—and I hope you love every second of it.*
*Can’t wait to hear what you think. Don’t be shy—drop a comment after reading!*
*I hope you liked “*Lily King Would Rather Howl Alone!*” as much as "*Violet King Doesn’t Trust!*" and "*Alpha Ethan Can't Love!*"*
*Also, don’t forget to join my newsletter on my website if you haven’t yet.*
*It’s all FREE—no memberships needed! Just fun extras for readers who want them! Subscribers get exclusive bonus chapters, and early access to all the good stuff.*
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*With all my love,*
*Sadie*
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