Ch. 147: Epilogue

CHAPTER 147 -
Rachel~
I dreamed about the moon. Like I have a hundred times now. But this time it was full, and lit up everything around the forest. I recognized the area, it was our packlands. But parts were slightly different. We didn’t have a lake.
I ran over in wolf form to see a lovely lady by the lake. I recognized her right away. Selene.
“Rachel! Angeline!” She greeted us. “It’s been a while!”
We padded over and sat next to her.
“We’re all so proud of you and the pack. And I’m especially excited for your little one, she’s going to be a strong, strong wolf,” she said gleefully.
I let out a surprised sound.
“Yes! Sorry to spoil the surprise, I know it’s very early. But yes, it’s a girl. And you both are going to raise her to be tough and caring like her mom,” she said with pride.
I rested my head on her arm.
She got quiet for a while and I looked up at her after a few minutes, seeing an odd look on her face.
“I’m sorry - I wish I was just meeting you with some good news and for a fun visit. But… there’s some things happening and I wanted to let you know so you can prepare,” she said, turning to me with seriousness.
I turned my head to the side, ready and listening.
“There’s a few people starting to experiment with black magic again. People Callum came in contact with years ago and they’re starting to dig into old, dark things. We’re worried one of them is going to make some headway and start raising demons again,” she explained. “Nothing is going to happen right now, but it will soon, in just under a year. Hecate is having a similar conversation with Ally right now.”
I laid my head back down.
“I’ll let Jake and Aamon know when it’s about time. You’ll all have your hands full with the little one, but you’ve got this. You and Jake will need to be together to take these guys down. But I know you have plenty of family to help watch her while you’re away,” she added, reassuring me.
I nodded.
They had all given me so much. My mate, my family, my second chance at life, my - daughter - and I always knew this day would be coming. Jake and I have special wolves, and a special bond, more so than any others we know about. I knew we could be called on again to help restore balance to things.
“I’m sorry so much is resting on you. You’ve done more than enough. We shouldn’t call on you again,” Selene thinks aloud gently. “But there are no others we trust more than you all right now. One day it won’t fall to you or your family, I promise.”
I nuzzled in, letting her know I understood. I do understand.
A delicious scent rushed towards me and I pulled it in, snuggling deeply.
“Killer, watch it,” Jake mumbled next to me, his voice made louder with my ear pressed against his chest. “We could hurt the pup.”
I chuckled then. My Goddess, this guy was going to be such an overly sensitive dad.
“Love, she’s fine, trust me,” I mumbled, pulling him closer, enjoying the feel of the fresh bedsheets I’d changed the night before.
He stiffened.
“She?” his heart thundered.
It made me laugh again. Now I’m awake.
“Yes, Selene apologizes for ruining the surprise. She just told me,” I say, peeking at him with one eye closed.
He sucked in a breath. “A little girl?” his voice caught.
It made me open my eyes not quite believing what I was seeing and hearing. He’s always been soft with me, but ever since we got pregnant, he’s been doting and nearly emotional. Such a stark contrast with the broody teen he used to be. We hit our twenties and suddenly he was softer, this made it even more so.
“Yes, my love, a little girl. Apparently she’s going to be quite the wolf,” I add, sitting up on my side to look at him.
He laid down flat on his back, one hand on his forehead, as he stared up in disbelief at the ceiling.
“What?” I ask him, teasingly, poking at his arm.
“It’s just - all so real now, like before our pup was just an idea, but now it’s like - she’s got a face!” he said, dropping his hand.
“Yeah? I guess you’re right,” I said, dropping down from my elbow to pull him in again.
While he’s gotten mushy - I’ve gotten touchy. Angelina goes nuts now if I can’t reach out and touch Jake every few minutes.
“Hey,” he said suddenly, turning to me with a grin. “We can pick a name now!”
We had been playing around with names for a while but could never agree on anything. And since we didn’t know the sex of the baby… it didn’t seem so pressing. But now…
“I have an idea for her middle name. Now, it’s a little charged, but I think it’s important to our pack’s history…” I started.
“Well?” he pushed. “What is it?”
“Maxine,” I said, holding my breath right after, waiting for his reaction.
“I think that would suit her. I want her to be fierce like the Maxine you knew,” he says after a moment. “Then I’ve got a first name suggestion…”
I raised up on my elbow again to hear this. His past suggestions have been ridiculous. If I see one more ridiculously spelt name just to be ‘unique,’ I’ll lose it. Everleigh, Ryleigh, and the lot of them. Huge thumbs down.
“Well?’ I prodded.

It was winter and while we were all staying on packlands due to Jake’s overprotective feelings about the pregnancy, instead of going out to Tahoe like we’ve been doing the last few years, everyone did what they could to make it feel normal.
Amber and Ally actually made it snow, and once I sent them a little extra oomph, the snow continued to fall in this fifty foot radius for a few hours without their supervision. This way Amber and Ally could focus on what mattered, like being present around Lucy, Evan and Amber’s three year old daughter.
She may be the cutest. She just might. She got Evan’s coloring but Amber’s remarkably bright eyes. And her personality is all Evan. Jake started calling her “head-first” and it’s taken off. She dives right into things. Unabashed and unafraid. She’s going to be one heck of a warrior someday.
“Hey, hey!” Kyle’s voice reached me from the parking lot. “It’s my favorite growing balloon!”
“Hey Lucy! Uncle Kyle is here!” I called. “Better get him!”
She takes off running after him. How the girl is faster than an adult Fae-Wolf, I’ll never know.
Lana antagonizes Lucy to run faster and Mitchell watches her joy with deep admiration, going over to her and wordlessly pulling her into his arms.
Everyone gathers at the firepit Evan and Nick put together - besides Kyle and Lucy who are off running around, and I take a minute to look around at our family. Hugs, jokes, teasing, catching up - sometimes it just takes my breath away. Our family is stunning. Strong, loving and always there for each other.
“You’ve got a secret,” Ally says to me, searching my face for an answer.
“Don’t we all have secrets Al?” I ask her with wit in my voice.
She scrutinizes me for a moment. “Did Selene talk with you last night?”
I nod. “Yes, I know you’re in the loop too. I know it’s coming - but we’ve got this. We are stronger now, and smarter.”
“Plus, we have more to fight for,” she says smiling.
Something in what she says makes me pause and I hone in on her aura a moment.
“Secret!” I say loudly pointing at her.
Everyone turns to us and I see Nick look over at Ally with a curious look. It seems he doesn’t know what her secret could be either.
“Well?” Kyle says, holding Lucy on his shoulders. “I mean, you have to tell us now. The drama is all built up. Don’t let your fans down.”
“Well, uh,” Ally looks directly at Nick. She sucks in a breath, “I mean it’s early but Hecate- she told me-” She chuckles awkwardly, glances at the ground, then back at Nick. She marches up to him and we all hold a collective breath until she says, “You’re going to be a dad.”
Everyone burst out at once.
Nick picked Ally up and yelled loud enough for the whole packhouse, “I’m going to be a dad! We’re having a pup!” He spun her around and around while she laughed.
“Holy Goddess!” Elise squealed.
“Oh my god!” Lana yelled, jumping up and down, Mitchell laughing because he couldn’t hold onto her.
“Congratulations!” Jake exclaimed, his arms shot up like his team scored a touchdown.
“Yay!! Lucy! You’re going to get a ton of playmates soon!” Evan yelled while pulling Lucy into his arms.
“That’s the best!” Kyle hollered.
Amber wordlessly ran and hugged Evan and Lucy.
I just squealed, I had no words. I was just about two months along, our kids would be so close in age - and not behind Lucy by much. I could see it all in an instant.
Packmembers started coming out of the doors and from the training field. Everyone ran over to congratulate the lovely Beta couple and share their best wishes.
People hugged and cried, and the crowd got bigger and bigger. My mom must have heard all the commotion from the cottage and came out with Meg, and she too got excited and teary eyed. More hugs and tears. The older generations talked about what good fortune this meant for our pack and for the werewolf species. With children being more rare over the years, the older folks said this further proved the blessings the Goddess bestowed on us and on cross-species mates.
Then I’m not sure who started it, but someone let out a howl. And another person joined in. A second later the air was permeated with a loud howl that shook my bones. This group moment, one entirely different from the group howl Jake described to me that took place the day of the mass funeral pyre. No, this one radiated promise. The promise of family and strength. Of unity.
Jake squeezed my hand as he joined in, and I held my hand to my heart as I sent out a silent prayer to the Archangel and Goddesses above in that moment. One of thanks and of promise, that we would never take moments like this for granted. That we would never forget these amazing gifts we've been given. That our kids be raised in this amazing family. Including our daughter - Aurora Maxine.