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EPILOGUE
Seven months later
“You sure got a good one, Maya.”
My mom is sitting next to me on the porch of the house Forge and I just bought. I’m in a big old rocker, resting my hands on my huge belly, while she’s in an easy chair. She’s all better. Within a month of Demetrius’s return, her pain and weakness disappeared, and now she’s back to her old, energetic self. Her doctors are amazed at her recovery. But I never doubted it. I just knew, the whole time, that it was her heart that was broken.
I sip the iced tea that Forge just brought us, before he headed off to tinker with his bike.
“Not bad for a werewolf, huh?” I say mischievously.
She leans forward and reaches for my hand. “I’m sorry I forced you to make that vow. I was just so hurt and disappointed, and I didn’t want the same for you.”
“It’s okay, mom, I get it.”
She shuffles closer, her dark eyes filling with pain. “And I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you when you were growing up. I really neglected you, Maya.”
I go still. She’s never mentioned this before. I close my eyes for a moment, absorbing it all. “I’m over it. I understand,” I tell her.
It’s true. I already forgave her. My childhood wasn’t easy, but now my days are full of love and intimacy. I wouldn’t change a thing from my past, in case it put me on a different path where I didn’t get to meet my incredible mate.
We turn our heads at the sound of a car approaching on our quiet street.
Demetrius pulls up and bounds out of the car with a wave. I break into a grin at the sight of his tousled head. He’s grown up a ton in the past few months. I wouldn’t have expected it, but almost being killed knocked some sense into him. He’s officially renounced his allegiance to his father’s pack, and he’s going to school to study engineering.
“Sure you don’t want to stay a few more days?” I ask my mom.
“No, honey. I don’t want to be in your hair any longer. I know you’ve got plenty to be getting on with.”
“Come back soon, okay?” I tell her, as Forge appears and helps me up. Pregnant belly plus rocker equals a lot of trouble getting up by myself.
She reaches for Forge and he gives her a big, bear hug. They like each other, and I’m so happy for that.
Forge and I stand on the porch, waving them off. He’s behind me, one arm just below my boobs, the other resting on my belly. I let my weight settle against him, loving the feeling of being wrapped in his big arms.
“Good visit?” he asks.
“Yeah, really good. Thank you for being so sweet to my mom.”
“Aw, she’s a pussycat these days.” He laughs.
I gaze at the big, wisteria-covered porch and happiness flows through me. I’ll miss my mom and Demetrius, but I’m real happy to have my mate to myself again. It hasn’t been easy having quiet sex for the past few days.
As if he’s thinking exactly the same thing, Forge dips his head and presses a kiss to the side of my neck. When his teeth graze my skin, I give a shudder.
“You need to take a nap?”
“Nope,” I say, as the familiar desire floods my body.
“Good,” he growls. His hands rise up and cup my tits for a second, before he tears them away again. “Better not shock the hell out of the neighbors.”
I giggle. They’re only just starting to warm up to us. “Be a shame to sabotage all those rounds of home-made cookies and iced tea I brought over to them.”
It’s a nice street. I never thought Perdue Town would have such a peaceful, leafy enclave, but here it is, on the outskirts of the town. A rambling Victorian, with enough bedrooms for a whole litter of pups. There’s a lovely, sunny room at the front that I’m going to use for my therapy business, once I’m fully qualified, and a big yard at the back that’ll be perfect for the kids to tear around.
We’re going to go ahead with Forge’s idea of expanding the cabin on the lake, so we can use it for vacations. It’ll always be a special place for me, as the spot where Forge and I fell in love, and I can’t wait to take our kids there.
Forge takes my hand and leads me inside: through the front door, with its gorgeous etched glass panel; along the flagstone-tiled passageway, and up the immense staircase, with its third step that always creaks.
