Time Will Tell (sequel to HMM)

Epilogue

--Alarik--

I'd been worried ever since Allison had gone up against the witch who'd cast the curse on the pack one year ago. Even through the haze of the curse, even though I'd been unable to speak or do anything, I'd been able to feel Allison through our bond. I'd felt the rage and darkness that had been coursing through her. 

I wasn't a fool, I knew exactly what it came from. She'd even said where it came from. 

Allison may have taken a step forward in finally confiding in me- in telling me just what happened to her while she had been held captive by the hunters, but it was something that was always going to stay with her. It had created a dark place, and that was a place that she'd accessed. 

The Allison before would never have done the things this Allison did. She would have wanted to do anything she could to protect me, but she never would have been able to do what this Allison had done. It wouldn't have been within her nature. 

It was something that had me conflicted, for various reasons. It was good to have someone who would do anything within their power to protect what's theirs, but the darkness I'd felt through her was something else entirely. It took 'anything within their power' and turned it into a phrase you didn't want to hear. She'd been ready to tear into the witch's chest, and while she may have been deserving of such treatment- the thought of Allison being the one to do that made me cringe. 

The ghost of the emotions of that dual between the two seemed fresh in my mind. 

My hands moved up to the bowtie at my throat, straightening it. 

I looked myself over in the mirror and there was a light knock on the door. Jason stepped in, closing the door behind him. 

"Are you ready? We're waiting on you... and of course the Luna as well," he said. 

"I'm used to waiting on her."

Jason chuckled a bit and we both went out into the main room. 

--Allison-- 

"Oh my goodness, Allison! I'm so happy for you. Today is going to be absolutely wonderful!" Cassie squealed. 

"Are you sure it has nothing to do with being paired up with Jason for the majority of the day?" I asked giving her a knowing smile. 

"That is just an added benefit, my dear. I of course was referring to you forever tying yourself to the scrumptious Alarik Trenton in holy matrimony."

"We were already tied together. It's just a formality."

"One that replaces your last name with his," Cassie pointed out. "You're not going to be my little Allison Cole anymore." A small pout formed her lips. 

I just rolled my eyes at her. "Just because my last name is changing doesn't mean I'm not still me."

Her comment hit a little closer to home than Cassie may have thought though. I wasn't her "little Allison Cole" but I hadn't been her for a while now. So much had changed over the year and a half. I'd met Alarik, well not met him, but found out that we were mates. All the trouble that had gone into that, not to mention everything that happened just because of the connection our souls had. 

"Aren't you glad that I didn't take your advice and give up on Alarik? We probably wouldn't be standing here now."

"You're right. I'd probably be visiting your grave," Cassie sighed and pushed her as we burst into laughter. 

"You better get out there. We've kept the boys... and everyone else long enough. I'm ready to go, and you have to walk down there with Jason." I wiggled my eyebrows at her. Alarik's Beta and best man just so happened to be mated with my best friend and maid of honor. 

Cassie gave me a tight hug and then went out to do her thing. 

I took in a deep breath and looked myself over in the mirror, running my hands along the fabric of the white dress. The form fitting bodice with small white beading that swirled around, the full skirts that billowed out around me. I put the veil in my hair and made sure everything looked to be in place. 

There was a knock on the door and I cleared my throat before telling them it was okay to come in. I was fairly certain I knew who it was going to be. 

Alarik's father came into the room, shutting the door behind him and I felt a lump form in my throat. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes but I forced them to stay back. There would be no crying. Not before I went out there. 

Alarik's father was here to walk me down the isle. In the aftermath of the curse Zelena had put on the pack, we'd found both my parents had been taken to the medical center with symptoms of the disease. While my mother had recovered after it had been lifted, my father hadn't. He'd died before Zelena had reversed the curse. 

While I hadn't exactly gotten along with Alarik's father, considering our first discussion had been in the back of one of his cars while he threatened me into staying away from Alarik, things had been on much better terms. Because of that, I'd asked him if he'd do the honors of walking me down. 

"Ready?" He asked with a smile. 

"Ready."

I grabbed his offered arm and we made our way toward the hall. When we were standing in front of the closed doors that hid the mass of people, he looked over to me once more. 

"I want to thank you for everything you've done already. I was completely wrong about you."

I smiled and nodded and the doors opened, the music started, and we walked down the isle toward my soon to be husband.

When Alarik's eyes had met mine, I'd thought I was going to melt into a puddle. I'd been shaky since the doors had opened. Nervous as hell. 

When it came time for the vows, Alarik turned to me and took my hand. The sparks shot straight through me, igniting all of me, down to my soul. 

"I Alarik Trenton, take you, Allison Cole, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." 

I rolled my eyes at him when he said sickness, that smirk on his face that I wanted to wipe right off. He'd been dead set on adding that into the vows after what had happened. I'd smacked him at the time for his wanting to joke about it. 

"I Allison Cole, take you, Alarik Trenton, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." 

Alarik and I exchanged our rings. 

"By the powers of our mother goddess, I pronounce you husband and wife."

My heart skipped a beat with the words and Alarik smiled. He pulled me into him and kissed me as everyone clapped. 

I couldn't beleive it. I was Allison Trenton. 

I'd done the one thing that I never thought would happen; I married my mate. I realized now that I never really had a chance. If I'd known that the one thing that Alarik needed to become the amazing man and Alpha he was now was just that extra push from someone else, from me, then maybe I wouldn't have tried pushing him away like I had. 

But I wouldn't trade a single thing-- none of the horrible events, because they all shaped us into what we are now, into the people we are now. And the people we were now, is something that anyone would second guess before crossing.

********

So there it is. That's the epilogue! Hope you enjoyed this series!! 

Thank you to everyone who read, voted and commented. It all means so, so, sooooo much. Each vote and comment is truly amazing. Votes are like what writers survive off of so each one goes a long way. 

Thanks again! You're all awesome! 
~Red