Wren Dove Doesn’t Stay Perfect! — Epilogue

Wren Dove Doesn’t Stay Perfect! — Epilogue

My hand is tucked in Rhys’s, his thumb drawing small circles against my skin, and though I should feel safe, there’s a jittery flutter in my belly that I can’t quite shake.
Rhys squeezes my hand. “You alright, little queen?”
I nod, but it’s barely convincing. “What if they think badly of me? For everything with Stephen. For being so… naïve.”
My cheeks are already warm.
My family are going to look at me and see everything. Stephen. The mistakes. The bond I didn’t wait for. The things I allowed. The girl who tried so hard to be perfect and ended up… ruined.
He tugs me closer, leaning down, his lips brushing my temple. “Then they’re fools, and I’ll personally let them know that. But I don’t think they will, sweetheart. You underestimate how bloody lovely you are.”
That makes my blush worse.
The scent of cinnamon and roasted coffee greets me before we even reach the kitchen. Christmas decorations sparkle across the packhouse walls—garlands draped around doorways, a tree twinkling in the main living room, and soft instrumental carols weaving their way through the air like a lullaby. I spot one of Poppy’s handmade ornaments hanging crookedly from a doorknob.
We walk down the hall slowly.
I hear Lily before I see her.
“...and then he started choking, right? Except he wasn’t choking. He was absolutely fine! Just pretending like a drama king.”
My older sister’s voice is as unmistakable as ever. Confident. Amused. Filling the space with ease. I freeze just shy of the kitchen door, stomach twisting.
Rhys squeezes my hand again. 
But when we step into the kitchen, *it happens*.
Nothing.
No judgment. No silence. No side-glances.
Just warmth.
Lily, with a wicked grin, doesn’t even pause her story. Poppy waves. Uncle Ethan is buttering a toast. Aunt Allie looks up from her seat and smiles as she bounces little Peter on her lap. Then she pats the seat beside her. The scent of breakfast—eggs, buttery toast, sweet rolls—is overwhelming in the best way. And it smells like… belonging.
Home.
I exhale. Rhys guides me gently to the seat beside Aunt Allie, who murmurs a soft hello and squeezes my arm affectionately. Peter leans over from her lap and stares at me with sleepy eyes.
“Hi, Pete,” I whisper, stroking his wild curls.
He waves shyly.
Rhys grins and pulls out a chair for me. Then he sits close, our thighs touching, his arm stretched casually behind me on the bench. I nestle into him, instinctively, and let myself smile.
“Rhys,” Lily says, grinning wickedly, “you need to hear this story. It’s a King family classic.”
The irony of the last name isn’t lost in me.
“I’m listening,” Rhys says, one brow lifted. “Something embarrassing, I hope.”
Az groans.
Rhys’s fingers brush against my shoulder like he knows how fast my heart is pounding.
Lily leans in dramatically. “Az was ten,” she begins, clearly relishing this, “and back then, Az was allergic to *everything*. Lactose, peanuts. You name it. But then, he got turned into a werewolf—and suddenly, poof, all those allergies are gone, his immune system’s like a bloody fortress.”
I inwardly groan at her over-the-top British accent when she says the word *bloody*.
Lily goes on with her index finger up. “But did Aunt Allie know that? Of course not.”
Aunt Allie groans, laughing. “I was panicking! I nearly fainted.”
“So what happens?” Rhys prompts, already chuckling.
“Well,” Lily says, stretching out the moment, “she didn’t know Az wasn’t human anymore. She thought her dear little son was going to die when he ate something he wasn’t supposed to eat,” my sister continues, wide-eyed with exaggerated drama. “So we all had to fake it. *Az* had to fake it. He was lying on the floor with a hand on his forehead and everything. I was eleven and I cried for hours, saying—and I quote—*I can’t be a widow before I even got to marry him*.”
The entire kitchen erupts in laughter.
Even Az chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “I remember. I hated lying to my mom.”
“What did you do after that?” Rhys asks, clearly enthralled.
Uncle Ethan snorts. “What else? Hauled the little pest off to the doctor and demanded an EpiPen.”
More laughter. Even I giggle, my shoulders relaxing bit by bit.
Peter frowns in thought and looks up at his grandma, tugging on her sleeve. “Daddy was naughtier than me.”
Laughter explodes around the kitchen again and Peter’s cute frown deeper.
Uncle Ethan shares a mischievous glance with his son. And I swear that Az’s cheeks blushed.
The door swings open, and Mum enters the kitchen with Dad. She is radiant as always, her dark hair swept back, lips stained red. My dad, towering beside her. His eyepatch is a stark contrast against his smile. Dad holds Mom’s hand like he’s never let it go. They’re always holding hands. That always makes my heart ache a little, in a good way.
Mum smirks, catching the tail end of the story and looking at Uncle Ethan. “At least Az wasn’t *shot* when Allie found out the truth about our world, right Ian?”
Rhys blinks. “Sorry, did you say *shot*?”
Uncle Ethan raises a mug and nods solemnly. “True story. Five shots.” Rhys gapes as Uncle Ethan looks down at Aunt Allie with a smirk. “My Little Dove said there weren’t six bullets left.”
Oh, my.
Everyone laughs as my face burns. Of course. This is what Rhys’s going to think of us now. Not royal as his family. Not polished. Just... chaos.
Rhys leans into me with a low whistle. “Bloody hell. Your lot’s completely mad. I love it.”
My chest warms. He means it. I can feel it. I smile.
My father catches my gaze from across the room, just as everyone launches into another story. Ava has arrived, her mate trailing behind, both of them greeted with grins and casual affection.
In my mind, Dad’s voice cuts through the noise, low and certain. ‘See? Don’t be sad, baby girl. We all make mistakes on our journey. We regret things, sure. But what matters is who we are after we realize our mistakes, and you are our blessing. We love you, Wrenny.’ 
My throat closes.
I try to smile.
Judging by my mom’s glassy eyes, she heard it too.
Rhys slips his fingers between mine. He lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles. I squeeze his fingers. 
I feel the Moon Goddess’s presence more vividly than ever before—like she’s right here, wrapped around me, whispering to my soul.
Because it hits me.
Like a snowflake on the tip of my nose—gentle, unassuming, but utterly transforming.
For so long, I spiraled, thinking I had to choose something. That love was something to be bought with good behavior, with trying not to take up space. 
But I see it now.
I just took the long way here.
Love doesn’t flinch from mistakes.
It roots itself deeper, even when you fall.
I used to be the one who never got it wrong. 
But now?
Now I’m the one who got it *really* wrong... and ended up exactly where I was meant to be.
I glance at Rhys, just as he lifts his teacup, and his dark blue eyes meet mine—soft and brimming with love.
Maybe I was never broken.
Just blooming.

***The End!***

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*Author’s note:*
Phew!
This is it! We made it! How are you doing? Are you good? 
What started as “just a few bonus chapters” somehow turned into a bit more than I planned! But I really hope you’ve been loving every minute of it! Let me know in the comments what you think after you read them!
I hope you liked “*Wren Dove Doesn’t Stay Perfect!*” as much as “*Alpha Ethan Can’t Love!*”, “*Violet King Doesn’t Trust!*”, and “*Lily King Would Rather Howl Alone!*”.
If you’ve made it here, my heart is full—thank you for falling into this world and running wild with my werewolves and witches.  
If you’re not quite ready to leave the world of supernatural love, I’ve got more stories that might steal your sleep. *“Falling in love with my Ex’s Alpha!”* is a completed book—just a full emotional ride from start to finish. And if you’re in the mood for tangled hearts, *“Put Your Fangs In Me!”* is my brand-new vampire romance and also a completed book now.
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*mwah,*
*Sadie*
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P.S.: Something wicked—and wildly—is coming. A brand new world. Bound to ruin you in all the best ways. You’re not ready for this book. But I’m giving it to you anyway.
And it’s only the beginning of the series. 
But here’s the thing—it won’t be shared here. So if you don’t want to miss it, join my newsletter on my website to stay updated.  
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P.P.S.: The very first scene to be illustrated will be the moment Allie discovers the truth about the world of werewolves—and oh, what a moment it is. Join my newsletter and it will be sent right to your email. I can’t wait for you to see it come to life. I hope you love it!