•Epilogue• /part one/

"True happiness can not be bought, it's found in the people, who surround you."

[K A T O]
~Nine years later~

A couple of past years have been crazy, not to say least.
Lukas has been busy with running packs since he gave up on his title in the Vampire community and took over his father's position. Up until this day, he keeps reminding me that I never affected his decision at any cost, but I beg for differ. I know how tough it was for him and I'm not exactly thrilled for him to chose the path he is going now. He did it for me.

It's been rough times for our relationship lately since I had to take over the responsibility for a pack. I didn't want to, I never intended to step close to my father's rank, but since Eli has been facing difficulties to tame his wolf, I had to go against my beliefs. For my pack.
Lukas, on the other hand, has been busy with responsibilities in the Kingdom and sadly because of that we have to be away from each other a lot.
We started arguing more.
Sometimes we don't talk for days until one of us breaks and gives up.
As I said, it's been rough.

My parents moved out of the packhouse and built themselves a little house not so far away from our borders. They're still madly in love with each other, cherishing moments spent together. Sometimes I feel jealous of them, sometimes I feel the need to drop everything and leave it behind. I might sound selfish, maybe it's the time I want to be selfish. It's been nine years and we haven't got married yet. Yes, Lukas did mark me again and so did I marked him. We just haven't found a proper moment to get married or start a family.

Needless to say that people are starting to judge us. They think I am fertile since we still don't have an heir. We're trying our best to keep rumors out of our relationship, but that's difficult, as much as we try, sooner or later the things people say start to affect you, no matter how emotionally strong you are.

I'm sitting in my father's old office, blankly staring at the piles of paperwork o should be working on, but I can't. I haven't heard his voice in a month and it has kept me and my wolf on the edge. We need him as much as he needs us.

To recap things, about a month and a half ago, we got into an argument. Lukas caught an unfamiliar scent on me and accused me of cheating. I would never... It's not that I'm trying to protect him or his actions now, but I do understand why is he acting in such a weird way. Having to deal with being constantly apart from your mate is one thing, but having to listen to people who keep questioning you about why you still don't have a child is a completely different scenario.

Long story short- we shouted at each other, said thing none of us felt or thought about each other. The anger got the best of us both. I left in tears, he trashed the whole palace.

It hasn't been easy.

I took a deep breath and placed my palm on a slight baby bump showing. That's the scent he caught, it's our child. None of us thought about the possibility of me being pregnant, but apparently, miracles do happen. Since I am clean bloodline Alpha and he is a hybrid, our baby is growing extremely fast and strong. I let myself to get lost in the thoughts of what gender would our baby be, would he look like me or Lukas, would he or she be healthy and happy? A slight knock brought me back to reality.

"Come in," I encouraged the person, standing on the other side of the door, my voice raspy. I didn't notice how I started crying. Damn those pregnancy hormones, they're messing me up.

"Hey honey," my mom greeted me with the biggest grin on her face. She and dad have been running around me and trying to protect me from anything since the day I found out I was pregnant.

"Hey, mom," I smiled and stood up.

Her eyes instantly fell on my belly, tears forming in her eyes, the smile growing almost creepily wide.

"You've gotten bigger," she cheered.

"Don't remind me, I feel like an elephant today, imagine how I'll feel and look like when my due date will get closer." I giggled childishly and looked down at tiny tummy.
"But it's all worth it!" I added almost too fast, my voice dreamy. For the first time in a long time, I did believe myself when I said that I'm happy. This baby is the reason I wake up each day with a smile on my face. This baby has given me a new reason to live, without being born yet. The feeling of having tiny being growing in me is overwhelming.

"Ah, I remember how I felt when your nan told me that I'm pregnant with you. I thought that I've caught the flu, can you believe how naive I was back then? But it was a wonderful time, for both me and your father. Up till this day, we don't regret a thing we did to build our little family," She approached me and wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me rather gently.

"Does he knows?" she whispered against my neck.

"No. He hasn't tried to call me or meet me. He hasn't tried anything. He hasn't sent anyone to check up on me. I don't know what's going on. Truthfully, I don't think that I care anymore. All I care about is the little life growing under my heart, I can't let myself to give in to stress, it's bad for the baby," I tried to sound careless, yet serious. All I just said is the truth. I love Lukas, but since that damned argument, he has been acting like he doesn't care. I did too, at first. It was my pride, my ego telling me to ignore it. Then, after I found out, I got scared. He was already thinking that I was cheating on him, so breaking the news of having a bun in the oven doesn't seem to be the right thing to do. The state he is in right now isn't good. He might try to reject me, I can't take a risk that big. Not for me, but our unborn child. Being rejected, especially after being marked and fully mated is dangerous, for the baby it might be fatal. I will do whatever it takes to keep our baby safe, even if it means that I'll have to hide from him till the end of our days.

"I came here to talk to you about something important. Thought that it's better if you find out from family rather than rumors," she sat down, avoiding making eye contact with me.

"I'm listening," I sat back in the old office chair, letting my body sink in it.

"How far along are you, sweetie?" she suddenly asked, sounding distressed.

"About 6 weeks, why?" now I'm getting curious. She did know for how long I was pregnant, something is not adding up. She never looks this distressed or worried.

"So we're past the first four weeks, that's good. Your pregnancy could be steady now. I have to tell you something, but I didn't know how to break things down since I was afraid of letting you under too much stress. Not good for the baby, remember?" she finally landed her eyes on mine, her voice serious, yet sad. What has gotten her off so badly?

Instead of saying anything, I nodded my head, deciding that sometimes I should keep quiet. That's the way I avoid letting myself sink in any assumptions.

"It's hard to break this off, but the council members have been talking about something. They suspect that Lukas has found himself a mistress," she mumbled under her breath, looking down to her feet.

I think all the colors from my face just drained in one second. I opened my mouth to say something, but the words didn't come out, so I shut it seconds later. I nodded my head once again, fighting tears, trying to keep calm.

A mistress. That's a low blow, I never thought he would be so desperate. I never thought my mate would accuse me of cheating to cheat me himself. Just as I thought things were getting better, I get to know this.

"How sure are we about this?" I questioned her, trying my best to drop the thought of this rumor being something more than just another rumor.

"Your father has left the pack territory to visit our King and find our what is happening. Since you have spent all your time in office- sleeping, eating and working, nobody, besides pack doctor knows about your pregnancy. We are keeping this as a secret until everything falls in its places," mom smiled at me, trying to reassure me that everything is going to be alright. Oh, I hope so.

"Thank you," I practically ran to my mom, just as I used to do, when I was a child and dropped in front of her on my knees, tears streaming down my cheeks.

For any other pack member, no matter how high of a rank they are, the sight would be shocking. An Alpha kneeling in front of someone. We are too prideful, to do that. Even in front of our parents. But it's easy for me, my wolf isn't fighting me for power anymore, she has accepted the fact that our parents are superior in my eyes and she had to protect pup growing in us.

"Oh, my sweet child. I don't understand, I just don't. You haven't done anything, to deserve this. Why the Moon Goddess had to spare such cruel date for you, this just isn't fair," she cried with me, sobbing on each word she spoke. Seems like both of us had gotten overly emotional.

I wiped her tears away. Only now I could see how tired she looked like. The bags under her eyes were making her look much older than she is.

"How about we do some baby shopping?" I suggested. She stood up like a bullet, her sour facial expression gone, replaced with a bright smile.

"Yes please, I've been dreaming about this day since that pregnancy test came out positive," she clapped her hands and laughed like a maniac.

"Alright, but first I'll go to the bathroom, this baby is pushing all possible liquid out of my body. I swear, I've never peed as much in my life before," I laughed and joked, trying to brighten the mood.
For a split second, I caught myself thinking that I should call Lukas and ask him what's happening, but undecided to go against that idea. I need facts, not empty promises, made up excuses or lies. Facts and facts only.

"Let me grab your dad's credit card, were about to spend a whole fortune on this baby and Mister-to-be grandfather is so going to cover expenses of all those things!" she yelled and ran out of the office.

The energy of my mom is priceless. She's one of a kind and I'm lucky to be her child.

I made my way to the bathroom, which thankfully was in the office room, so I never needed to leave this place and find an empty bathroom. It's a life of a Queen, I tell you.

I left the bathroom a couple of minutes later and headed to my bedroom to change. I can't go baby shipping in a stained hoodie and old leggings, I have to get myself together and look good. My baby has to be proud of having a beautiful mom, not a miserable and depressed one. I have to try... For the baby!

I brushed my hair and put it in a messy bun, which surprisingly suited me very well. Dad has been telling me that I've become more beautiful because if this pregnancy and I see why. My eyes were shining in happiness, even though worry did cross my face here and there, it was gone as soon as I thought about the baby. I went into the closet and picked out a gray form-fitting dress with long sleeves, adding black flats. I loved the dress since it showed off my slight baby bump. When I was dressed, I threw a simple jacked over my arm and grabbed my purse. Of course, I will wear the jacket when I go out, I'm still keeping the baby as a secret. For now.

I made my way downstairs, suddenly hearing my mom yelling at someone. There's no other scent than my mom's, so she must be on phone.
I approached her, she smiled and lifted one finger against her lips.

"For the last time, you can not come! If you do, I will kill you myself, no matter how much power you hold. I am a God damn mother, after all! She doesn't want to see you and you are not welcome here! Go to Hell!" she yelled and ended the call.

"Who was that?" I asked her, slightly distressed, without noticing it, I covered my belly with hands.

"Your mother instincts are kicking in, already trying to protect the baby," she smiled at me dreamily.
"But for your question - it doesn't matter, we should go," she took my hand in hers and lead me to the main door.

We didn't get to leave the living room when the front door flew open with a loud bang. I fielded my belly, feeling the need to protect the pup more than ever. A vicious growl escaped my lips before I could stop it. That's my wolf, one more mother-to-be protecting her unborn cub.

"Where is she?" all too familiar voice yelled in pure rage.

Tears filled my eyes, my lips trembling and knees getting weak. Why?

"Don't you dare to come into this house!" my mom yelled and ran towards the door as I stood frozen, not being able to move a muscle.

"I need to see her, please!" the voice sounded desperate, hurt, miserable...

"I said no! Leave before my husband comes back, we don't care who do you think you are, he will kill you in a heartbeat!" mom kept arguing and threatening him. You go, momma! I rolled my eyes at my stupid remark and pushed my body forward.

They kept yelling at each other back and forth until I reached the door frame of the living room. As soon as I caught a glance at his face, I dropped my jacket and purse, freezing on spot once again. The room went quiet.
His eyes traveled to me, even though my mom tried to hide any view of me from him. First, he looked in my eyes, I couldn't look at him without breaking down, so I averted my gaze away from him. I stood there like an idiot. Not saying a word, not moving.
He growled, which made me look back at him. But this way he wasn't trying to look in my eyes, this time his eyes were dead set on my baby bump.

I guess I can't escape or hide anymore...
At the realization that he knows, that he has figured it out, I started crying unwillingly.

"Lukas, I think you should go. You being around is not good for Kato, not now," my mom whispered.

He gulped visibly and cleared his throat.
"And the baby, don't forget the baby," he added, at this point not trying to hide any emotions he had.

Pain, regret, surprise, sadness and happiness, everything at the same time.

I understand why he's in pain.
I understand why he's supposed.
I understand why she's happy.
I understand why he's feeling regret, but then again I don't.
Is the regret for our argument, is it because he hasn't been around to know that he's about to become a father? Or is it regret of finding a mistress while his supposed soulmate is expecting his child?

"Is it mine?" he whispered.

I looked straight into his eyes, trying to read all emotions flashing through them. My eyes were burning, most likely puffy from all unnecessary crying I've had today. I can't believe him... He's doubting me. Can't he feel his child?

I didn't say a thing. I didn't bother to move a muscle. I didn't try to convince him about anything. It looks like we're a little too late.
A little too late to be happy. Is it?