Epilogue 1

Annette POV:

Grayson had insisted I buy a new dress for the victory celebration and I decided on a navy chiffon gown. My husband seemed to enjoy it as he was kneeling behind me kissing my shoulder and neck as I attempted to get ready.

“Enough!” I laughed trying to move away from him. “I have to get ready.

“How could you get any more beautiful, I’m your husband I’m entitled to showering you with love,” He insisted and continued his downpour of soft pechs along the top of my back. He wrapped his arms around me and held me against his lips.

I continued to slip on my golden bangles and apply what makeup I could. He didn’t stop his misbehavior and I decided this was as good as I’d get.

“Come on they’re waiting!” I pushed him away from me and my mate pouted slightly as we went off.

I chuckled as I left him on the ground and floated over to my son being held by his grandmother, my mother was savoring her last moments with my child. I barely had any time to hold him in the last 24 hours but I held my tongue.

Cea refused to leave Theo’s bedside so she wasn’t with us, and I didn’t blame her. I wanted my brother here to tease me, so he and Cea could dance all night. It felt wrong to celebrate while he lay there unconscious. Simon had put him into a coma so his brain could go down in swelling in his brain, but when we stopped the meds he didn't wake up. Simon insisted there was nothing to worry about, that he’d sustained a lot of damage and his brain was working to heal.

Still, the days have dragged on and he wasn’t here to make us all laugh, help me calm down, or be a shoulder to cry on. I held myself together so that when I sat beside my sister-in-law she had someone to hold her hand. I’d be undone if it was Grayson, the guilt that sloshed around in my stomach that my brother was on the edge of life when it was my husband and I in the center of the mess.

We walked out and down to the pavilion, we had spared no expense and spent all week preparing. Streamers on every house, banners flying overhead, the tables adorned with flowers, the pavilion adorned with tapestries. I had been impressed with my wedding and this was ten times that.

My family moved over to the head table I hugged Elizebeth, though she was unwelcoming to it. She looked elegant in a sage green dress it brought out the ring of green in her hazel eyes, I smiled to myself as I saw Simon give her a curt nod and stalk off. If I didn’t know any better I’d say he was blushing.

The two had found some common ground since our victory I think it had something more to do with working together to save my brother than anything else. I expressed to both of them how grateful I was but neither accepted any praise.

“I can hear what you’re thinking…Don’t she’ll break him like a twig,” Grayson grumbled to me and I pursed my lips to hide a smirk.

“Fine but I don’t think it’ll take any of our persuasion,” I insisted squinting at him.

“Oh, you’re on I’ve known her a lot longer there’s no way,” He shook my hand.

“What’s going on?” Elizabeth asked me.

“Nothing,”
“It’s alright,”

We looked between each other and tried to keep straight faces, She looked back and forth and gave us a withering look before taking her seat.

The pavilion filled and everybody gathered, I had been marinating the beef all week and it had been roasting as low as possible for the last 48 hours. There wasn’t a vegetable in sight tonight with only roasted chicken, and ribs to supplement the feast.

Grayson looked at the mountain of food brought out, beef ribs, tomahawk steaks, sirloin, strip loin, tenderloin, all seasoned and roasted to perfection. I took a glimmer of pride to see everybody drool over the food I had made to thank them for helping us fight our enemies, a small gift for a great deed.

“Thank you all for coming,” Grayson stood and addressed everyone. “I cannot begin this without stating that I am quite greatly in all of your debts, my wife was stolen from me, and my family ripped apart. You all helped me defend her, you brought her back to me, and when the time came we banded together to defend our land. I am beyond proud of the people who are part of my pack, my family,” He commenced them and I felt some tears prickling in my eyes. “Hopefully a night of drinking, dancing, and enjoying ourselves will start to make up for it,” He finished.

Still not one for a lot of words he broke into the meal and everyone followed suit I poured myself some wine and enjoyed the exuberance around me. I watched the children run around and play with food still in their hands, and the adults drinking.

This time there wasn’t any foreboding threat, no bittersweet final moments, just rejoicing. I found it hard to believe we had made it to the other side, many didn’t and I felt remorse they couldn’t be here to celebrate.

I sat by my husband and ate watching everyone break off and start dancing and chatting around the courtyard.

My mother took the seat beside me and I sighed slightly my joy diminishing for the argument coming.

‘Yes?" I asked her Grabbing my wine.

“Oh please look more sour that I want to speak to my daughter,” She snipped at me.

“Mom,” I groaned. “It’s a happy night I don’t want to fight with you, please,” I begged.

She sighed and shook the hair out of her face smiling at Christain as she held him up my son bouncing and smiling. “I’m not unaware of how difficult I have been, but I have worked so hard to protect my children, and to watch it all go to waste when you came here,”

“Mom nothing could have protected me my whole life, and my children will know the real world,” I felt my good mood disappear as my mother sidestepped in her miscalculations with her parenting.

“I prepared you for happiness I see nothing wrong with that,” She huffed turning to me her face pinched in frustration. “I know now I didn’t do everything right, but instead of living in fear you were happy and you had a childhood,”

“I-”

“I’ll let James stay here and live his life, but don’t be surprised if he spites you for it one day,”

I was about ready to erupt on her so angry and disappointed this is how she was choosing to leave it, when a large hand wrapped around mine.

“A chance she’ll take excuse me while I dance with my wife,” Grayson pulled me away.

We walked off and he spun me around then pulled me in as we started swaying. “She’s clinging to what she did right instead of facing the truth, she losing her life and not ready to accept it,” He kissed my cheek. “Let it go and enjoy yourself we’ve earned it,”

I placed my head on his chest and lost myself in the rhythm of our swaying and slight steps he led me with every once in a while, song after song we stayed there glued together and I felt at peace in his arms.

With every passing day, I found Seraphine more and more relaxed her anger and revenge leaving her. I trusted my steps again and didn’t hesitate in the gym, my alpha blood softly tempered by mundane tranquility.
In the morning my parents got back in their cars, Charlie and Ella behind them. I had no doubt eventually I’d be here with Theo too.

“Keep your head held high, they will think their comments are sweet enough to not stand but they will. Don’t give them an inch trust me, you are deserving in every way of my brother and he loves you. *Don’t* give up,” I ordered Ella and she seemed unsure but she gave me a brave face and nodded.

I saw my mother watching her from the side and I wanted to start another fight but I held my tongue. I gave my brother a long and tight hug and whispered to him. “Have her back you have to defend her or she’ll never forget it,”

“Of course,” He gave me a kiss on the cheek before he went back to Ella and held her close to him.

I could only imagine the shit storm they were about to enter but I had faith they could handle it, they wanted to be together all they had to do was choose to stay there.

“If need anything at all, ever I’ll be here overnight my darling,” My father came over and hugged me tightly I buried my face into his chest as if I was five. I know he wanted me to be happy and he and Grayson had settled their differences at this point. He held his hand out and gave my husband a nod of respect before pushing my mother towards us.

“I love you Annette, and I want you to know I did my best,” She sniffled.

“I know mama, I know,” I hugged her and gave her a quick squeeze but still all the heartache that had happened made me pull away sooner.

“Take care of my daughter,” SHe ordered to Grayson before turning on her heel and getting in the car.

Off they went back to Georgia I sent a prayer up to the Goddess for Ellas' sake. I smiled to myself happy that our home was once again our own.