BK 3 - Epilogue
**Five Years Later**
"Mom, where is everyone? Tristen doesn't turn five every day, and he's not getting any younger." Lisa said as she walked into the kitchen.
"They'll be here within the next thirty minutes," Melanie answered her sassy-as-ever daughter. She was proud of how she and Alex had blossomed over the last five years.
When Melanie gave birth to Tristen, the cubs were so in love with him that they slept on the floor of the nursery just to make sure he didn't need anything for the first few weeks. The little lion had just turned five and still had his older siblings wrapped around his finger. They were just as protective when they had their little vampire Carlita last year. Alex was with her in the living room while she took a nap.
"I'm going to go outside and make sure everything is right," Lisa said, going out the back door to where Saxon was finishing setting up.
"Knock, knock," Wesley said as he and Mindy walked through the front door with their little pup Jamila. She would be five in a couple of months. Melanie went over and gave them all hugs. She and Mindy had become as close as sisters. Especially working at the shifter group homes that had been completed three years ago. There were four now, in addition to the two human group homes.
"I'm so glad you could make it. How are you feeling?" Melanie asked, rubbing Mindy's large belly. She was due any day with their second pup.
"I feel incredible. Is there anything we can help with?" She asked.
"Nope. You can go out back with Saxon and Lisa. They're finishing up out there." Melanie answered as Jamila ran to the back door. She loved Lisa just as much as all the cubs did. Lisa had turned into quite the mother hen of everyone's children.
Melanie heard another car pull up, and when she looked outside, she smiled. It was Nina and Darian with their three-year-old pup Justin. Behind them were Mario and Irina with their cub Kailea.
Melanie hugged them all before sending them out back with the others. Their family had grown so much from the rescues they had done, and she loved each and every one of them.
When Melanie carried the last of the food outside, she saw that others had shown up and went straight to the backyard. Janel and Thatcher were there with Jade, who was now six. She was a beautiful, shy little girl.
Melanie's parents were there with Grant, his mate Holly, Jelena, and her mate Garrett. Funnily enough, Holly and Garett were also fraternal werelion twins. Both Jelena and Holly were expecting twins, but the sex of the cubs was still unknown.
"Mom, she doesn't want to sleep anymore. I changed her diaper and fed her." Alex said, coming up behind Melanie. He was still quiet, but he was coming into his own. When he'd asked Saxon about leaving a white wall in his room to draw, they expected him to draw like a child. They were wrong. He could draw elaborate pictures with so much detail it made Kitty jealous. Melanie took Carlita from him and kissed his forehead.
"That's okay. Why don't you go play with the others?" She said. He hesitated but then walked over to where everyone else was. Tristen was hanging onto Lisa, trying to keep the other cubs away from her. He looked like Melanie, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Carlita had Saxon's black hair and blue eyes.
Once everyone arrived, Lisa took over to make sure the party went on without a hitch. Tristen's lion, Enzo, decided to make his appearance while they were eating cake and ice cream. Tristen was so excited he ran all over, introducing him to everyone in the family.
"I think it went well," Lisa said, walking over and putting her head on Melanie's shoulder as the party was winding down.
"You did a great job, honey," Melanie answered, kissing her head.
"I know I have about seven years until college, but I would like to get into law. I heard Wesley talking to Grandpa Trey about the new division he opened five years ago with INTERPOL to monitor shifter trafficking and how it's grown. I think there's more we can do." Lisa said, looking across the lawn at the shifters that had been rescued at the same time she and Alex were. Melanie still couldn't believe how mature the cubs were at only ten.
"That's a great idea. I know you'll be excellent at anything you want to do." Melanie said honestly.
"I just hope I don't meet my mate too soon. I don't want him to think he will control me and tell me what I can and can't do." Lisa said, looking at all the couples around the yard. She wouldn't find her mate until she was at least eighteen, but that didn't stop her from thinking about what he'd be like. She was fascinated with the whole mate bond thing. To know that one person was meant for her and her alone was incredible to Lisa. That was also what scared her. What if her fated mate didn't want her?
"You've thought about your mate?" Melanie asked, turning to look at Lisa, who shrugged.
"A little. I think about what he'll look like and what species he'll be." She answered, looking down at her feet. Melanie knew a part of Lisa, and Alex still feared being unwanted, and she was sure that was why Lisa was thinking of her mate. She was scared he would reject her. Melanie lifted Lisa's face to look up at her.
"Sweetheart, if your mate doesn't love the incredible young woman I can already see you're going to be, that's his loss. You can reject him and find a chosen mate who will love and cherish you just the way you are. Let's not toss your fated mate aside until you actually meet him. He may be the best man in the world, so we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, I don't want you mating with anyone for at least another twenty years." Lisa giggled as she hugged her mom.
"I love you, Mom," She said, feeling better after their little talk.
"I love you too, now go be a kid, and don't grow up too fast," Melanie said with a smile.
"Okay, I told Tristen I would bring Harry out in his ball." Lisa ran into the house to get her gerbil. After they had moved into the house, she was adamant about getting a pet, so they allowed her to. Lisa took care of it like it was her baby. Saxon walked over to Melanie and wrapped his arms around her.
"What were you and Lisa so deep in discussion about over here?" He asked, kissing her forehead.
"She was talking about her mate," Melanie said, biting her lip to hold back her laugh when she felt Saxon freeze.
"What, mate? Why was she talking about her mate?" He started looking around the yard like someone had come to take his daughter away. Melanie laughed at his overprotectiveness.
"Relax. She's nervous that he may reject her. She's in no hurry to meet him, so we're good for now." Melanie said, kissing his cheek before turning around to look at their family.
"We've come a long way. Every day I think about how lucky I am to have you, the kids, and everyone else in our family. Some people don't have this, and I never want to take it for granted. I love you, Lanie," Saxon said against her neck.
"I love you too, Sax," She said with a smile. He was right; they were lucky. Melanie couldn't wait to see what the next generation accomplished in the future. Whatever they do, she knew it would be incredible.
Their family was made up of multiple species. Lions, vampires, panthers, bears, tigers, wolves, witches, and humans. They didn't turn anyone away based on their species because they believed everyone was equal. In many ways, they were more advanced than humans. There was less discrimination in the supernatural world. If humans could learn to live together without judging someone by race, religion, political beliefs, or gender, the world would be a much better place.
Everyone needs light when they're in the darkness, no matter what their background. Don't turn your back on someone just because you disagree with them. Learn from Melanie and Saxon's family and be the light for someone else.
