Epilogue

**Five Years Later**

Luci and Xavier chased after a five-year-old Zorina as she ran through the palace, trying to find her grandparents. They were outside setting up for her birthday party and weren't ready for her yet.

Even with their vampire and lycan speeds, they had a hard time catching their daughter, who moved like a lightning bolt. Zorina had long blonde hair like Luci and golden brown eyes like Xavier. She was the darling of the palace and spoiled by everyone.

They had been waiting to see if she was going to be a hybrid, but so far, no wolf had appeared. Dr. Findly said if she was going to have one, it could come at any time.

Waylan grabbed her from behind just as Zorina was about to go out the front door to her birthday party. The little girl burst into a fit of giggles at being caught.

"Uncle Way, you're not supposed to catch me. I was beating mommy and daddy." Zorina pretended to pout because she knew that was the best way to get the adults to do what she wanted, but Waylan didn't fall for it.

"Sorry, little one, but you can't go outside right now." Luci and Xavier looked at their daughter, shaking their heads.

"I don't know where you get your speed, but we're going to have to do something to slow you down." Xavier reached over and tickled her while Waylan held her. She laughed and tried to hide her belly so he couldn't get her.

"Daddy, you just have to get faster." Zorina said when he finally stopped tickling her. Before Xavier could respond, the palace doors opened, and Malik, Reina, and Alessandra walked in.

"Is someone ready to go outside?" Alessandra asked as she took her granddaughter from Waylan.

"Yes, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't let me, and Uncle Way stopped me when I was getting ready to go out the door. Are you rescuing me now so I can get some air? How can I get a wolf if I can't breathe?" Everyone laughed at her, still not believing how adult-like she sounded most of the time. They assumed it was because she had no other children around her for now.

Luci rubbed her belly, which was showing her baby bump; she was pregnant with a boy this time. Bexley walked in behind the grandparents, or more like waddled, as she was due any day now. Her mate Jordan walked in behind her. They met about three years ago when Bexley flew to Paris for a week to look for new fabrics.

"What's taking you so long?" Bexley asked as she smiled at her niece.

"These adults are keeping me from my freedom." Zorina pointed to everyone around her.

"Well, let me help you escape, okay? I need you to help me walk anyway." Zorina jumped out of Alessandra's arms, took Bexley's hand, and slowly walked her outside. Her aunt was the only one that could keep her from speeding around like a tornado.

"Mom, where's Ronaldo?" Luci asked Alessandra as they walked outside. Her mother met Ronaldo a little over a year ago when she was out shopping. He was a vampire, and they hit it off right away; both lost their fated mates for different reasons. Ronaldo now lived in the palace with Alessandra, and everyone loved him. Alessandra blushed a little, and Luci smiled.

"He's waiting outside. He's still nervous that people won't see him as part of the family even though he's lived here for a few months." Alessandra understood; she also felt that way at first; moving into a palace with a bunch of lycans can be overwhelming.

When the group went outside, they walked around the palace to the large garden where everything was set up. Zorina squealed with excitement when she saw the guests, decorations, and presents. She let go of Bexley's hand and ran to Ronaldo.

"Grampy Naldo, do you see all my presents?" She flung herself into his arms and giggled when he stumbled backward.

"Yes, I did see them. I'm so glad people brought me all those presents." Zorina laughed and shook her head.

"Those aren't for you, silly; they're for me. It's my birthday." Ronaldo, who loved Zorina as if she were his own granddaughter, laughed as he put her down.

"Oh, that's right, I almost forgot." Alessandra walked up to him, and Ronaldo put his arm around her shoulders as they all followed Zorina to the waiting guests. It was so crowded it looked like the entire kingdom had come.

The people loved Zorina; even those unsure of her mother warmed up to her after the little princess was born. Zorina was so engaging and loveable; everyone she met loved her instantly, she didn't have any enemies.

Balloons of different colors filled the garden, and streamers hung from the trees. There was a large banner that said Happy Birthday, Princess Zorina. Zorina went around to all the people, greeting them and talking with them as though they were her best friends before going back to her parents.

"Can I open my presents now? I said hi to everyone so they wouldn't think I was rude." Zorina looked at the mountain of presents in delight.

"Yes, honey, go ahead and open your presents." Luci took her hand, and they walked over to the presents.

Zorina wasted no time opening everything up and making sure to say thank you to each person. Her favorite gift was the dress her aunt Bexley made for her. It was dark blue with blue and white sequins sewn into it. Zorina said she would look like a real fairy princess.

Once all the presents were open and everyone had eaten, the kids were playing with the new toys when Zorina suddenly walked up to Luci and Xavier. She had a look of confusion on her face, and she put her hands over her ears. When she looked up at her parents, her eyes were wide.

"There's someone talking in my head. She said her name is Ulrika, but I can call her Ricky." Zorina told them in a whisper, and Luci looked at Xavier with a smile.

"Honey, it sounds like you have your wolf, so you're a hybrid." Zorina looked at her mom and then had a faraway look in her eyes.

"Ricky said I won't be able to change into a lycan for a while, but when it's time, she'll help me shift. She said that's the reason I'm so fast because I'm both vampire and lycan." Zorina left them and ran around, telling everyone she had her wolf and was now a hybrid. Luci felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up at Janie, holding her two-year-old son Conri.

"Did I hear Zorina telling people she's a hybrid?" Janie asked in disbelief. Her son wasn't a vampire, so they assumed he was a lycan.

"Yes, her wolf spoke to her and said her name is Ulrika. I'm glad Zorina has her wolf, so when she becomes queen, she will truly represent everyone." Luci watched her daughter running around happily while everyone congratulated her.

Xavier watched Zorina as well and then looked at Luci, rubbing her belly where their son rested. They had come a long way from the beginning when Luci had tried to run away from him and all the drama that ensued afterward . Xavier had never been happier and knew Luci felt the same way.

The king and queen looked around at all the people from their kingdom, who they treated like family. They had both taken their oath seriously and were more engaging with the kingdom's people than any other king and queen had ever been.

Luci looked at Xavier and smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. She knew that things would not always be this calm, but she was ready to face anything that came their way with her mate by her side. They had their family and, most importantly, their love for one another. That was stronger than any army.