Epilogue
3 years later...
The sun was shining brightly as the children ran in the backyard of my parents pack house. I was sitting down on a bench, watching them carefully as they wobbled around. They were chasing each other, laughing and giggling with so much innocence in their hearts. I twirled the ring that rested perfectly on my finger, touching the large rock that I had been given nearly two years ago. I smiled softly, watching the children.
Lucian was running barefoot as well, mud caking his feet as he ran around in nothing but cargo pants. I couldn't help but chuckle a little bit as he nearly slipped, but smiled when he caught himself fast enough to prevent our little toddler from doing the same. He tossed our child in the air, a smile evident on his face as he kissed the soft baby skin that still remained. A scream of pure joy echoed from the tiny body.
Logan. Our beautiful son who had his father's green eyes and my copper hair. Our genes were no longer tainted with my mother's painful past, and I couldn't be happier. He was much like me, a bit shy but still loud like his father. He enjoyed the mud and being outside more than sitting with me when I would read to him. He loved playing, and he loved getting dirty.
I wanted something to remember my mother's brother, because she had never gotten the chance to name either one of her sons that. The names had already been decided in her Illumination Dream, but for me it was different. I got the choice, and I was happy with what I decided. My uncle deserved to have someone live a long and happy life with his name. It was only the start of something beautiful. I could see in my sons future that it would be fully of peace and control. He had my calm nature, which would be good in any negotiation.
I watched as well as the little girl that had been playing with Logan pointed, her pink sun dress covered in mud. I didn't know where her mother was, but I had a feeling she would not be happy with her. It would take days to get the stain out. It wasn't going to be easy, but perhaps a little magic wouldn't hurt.
Lilura gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Hope. She had hoped that whatever happened in her daughter's life, she would be able to overcome it. Hope was already showing signed of being a witch, but Oliver had claimed he could tell she was more aggressive than an average witch. A part of the wolf gene existed in her, but it was difficult to determine how much she had exactly. If she had enough, she could shift into a wolf and also be a witch. She would be a lot different than the combination of her kind. I could only wonder what her life would be like. It would be difficult, but I had a feeling with her mother's stubborness she could do anything.
Another little boy was calling out to Logan and Hope, his brown hair moving around in the soft summer breeze. Felix was looking at his cousin and friend with so much authority that it concerned me a bit. He would be a powerful Alpha, but at such a young age the Alpha gene was already making a presence. Lucian stared at the boy, and almost immediately the boy backed down. He wasn't old enough to stand up to an older Alpha just yet. That would take time until he was fully mature. However, no one was waiting for that to happen, especially London.
She kept complaining how fast Felix was growing up, and it made me chuckle whenever she called herself old. Every time she did I would point to my grandmother, who was still happily living her life. London would stick her tongue out at me in a childish way, making me happy that we had grown so close in the last few years. She had gotten over the pain, as good as any mate would, after losing Clayton. She was much calmer and seemed to have matured a lot over the years. She kept herself busy from what I heard, and generally would play with Felix whenever she was given the chance. She tried working like a human but hated the idea of taking orders from someone who wasn't exactly the highest on the food chain. Her words, not mine.
"Mommy!" Logan squealed, watching as Lucian tipped him upside-down and then lifted him back up. "Mommy help!"
I stood up, walking over to him slyly. His eyes widened when he realized what I was about to do. I began tickling his sides, watching as he screamed with laughter. I kissed his cheeks, getting an awful taste of mud aftertaste. I spit the mud out watching as my son laughed at the dirt that had formed on my face. I began tickling him again.
"Aunt Penny let Logan go!" I turned to look down at Felix who had his arms crossed at me. He had on the cutest face, and I could tell he was trying to be menacing.
"What are you going to do about it?" I questioned, my eyebrows raising to indicate a challenge.
"I'll throw mud in your face!" I looked down at him in shock, not expecting him to want to do that. I was wearing a white sundress, and I was trying my hardest to keep it from getting dirty.
"Now now Felix." I turned around to see London giving him a look. "What did I tell you about throwing things at people?"
"But Daddy said I could!" I watched as pain crossed London's face for a brief second before it was masked.
I hadn't seen Clayton since the day of my execution, but I soon got the impression he was focusing on watching his son get older. I knew he was seeing Felix, and he was allowing himself before his eyes. It gave the boy hope, but eventually one day he will realize his father is dead and doesn't just randomly visit.
"I'll have to talk to him the next time he comes back from his trip." London was good at withholding the truth from her son, but I knew one day he was going to figure it out and will be devastated. I was never going to be looking forward to that day.
"He's already back!" He screamed out in joy, and once again I saw London's face drop. From what she told me she hasn't seen a glimpse of Clayton once, and she was beginning to feel hurt. She just wanted to talk to him, at least once to officially say goodbye. She never really got the chance, and it upset me. "He wants to see Aunt Penny for a few seconds."
London had a weird look on her face, and I knew it was jealousy. However, I was surprised by this because Clayton hadn't appeared to me or requested to see me in years. I couldn't understand why he didn't prior. I whispered that to London so that her son wouldn't hear, and she gave me a confused look. I asked her if she wanted me to give me a message and she told me. I nodded to her, looked at my mate and kissed him on the lips before going towards where Felix was pointing. Logan gave a disgusted sound but didn't say anything else as his father put him down. Hope was happy enough to get the attention from him again.
I picked up the end of the gown so it wouldn't fall in the mud, but I could already see a small stain on the bottom from when I went to tickle Logan. I sighed in disappointment, and let the gown drag through the mud. It would have to be washed anyway, it might as well get dirty.
I stopped when I saw a back to me and instantly knew it was my brother. He was watching a stream trickle, but I could only hear that. His heart wasn't beating and he wasn't breathing. I couldn't figure out how Felix didn't pick up on it yet. There was no clear sign of life from Clayton and his body, so I was more curious than confused.
"You know telling your son to throw mud at me was clever." I stopped a few feet away from him and crossed my arms, he turned around with a grin on his face.
"I couldn't resist messing with my sister." Clayton laughed, his body still the same from when he had died.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"You." He tilted his head to the side. "You still haven't taken your memories back, and I want to know why. Lucian hasn't brought it up, and you two haven't discussed it so I have no idea what's running through your head."
"I've decided I don't want them back."
"That's bullshit, Penny." He snapped, his eyes darkening as he stood several steps towards me. "You just don't want to leave this dreamland you've sucked yourself into."
"My life is perfect this way," I told him confidently. "Why ruin it with painful memories that cannot be undone?"
"Because those memories make you remember me better." He pressed, his hands running through his golden hair. "It's why your magic won't come back fully."
"I don't need my magic." I pointed out. "The pack has been at peace for years, so in turn, I don't need it."
"You're so ignorant." He snarled, his eyes narrowing at me. "You're so selfish to let yourself forget about all the painful memories you had. London is living her life without a mate, and she's doing a lot better than you."
"I am doing perfectly fine."
"Seeing dead people again are we?" My blood ran cold at his words. "Just because I watch my son a lot does not mean I don't watch you."
"The Moon Goddess told me I would see them, but they would not interact with me because they don't know I can see them." I clarified, knowing the risk I was in by saying this out loud. I had kept it to myself for fear of losing Lucian or going back to some mental ward. "Let it be Clayton, I beg of you."
"Think about how much potential you could have by reliving those memories again." Clayton seemed to almost be begging. "You think peace is going to last your entire life? It won't, and sooner or later some greater evil will come and you will have to face it."
I ignored him, deciding I had enough of the bickering between us. "London told me to give you a message." His face didn't halter from my words, in fact, it didn't even soften when I said his mate's name. "She says she wants to see you. She says she wants to have another baby."
"I'm dead, I can't get her pregnant." He snapped, his arms crossing over his chest. "And I can't see her, I spend any chance I get to see my son."
"See her at least once Clayton." This time I was begging, and he knew that.
"Fine." He gave me a look, and soon he formulated an offer. "Only if you bring back your memories."
For London, and her happiness I wanted to do something for her. I glared at him, my anger rising more as I looked at my brother. He knew I would give in to his demand because deep down I felt like I owed something to her. I would do anything to make that happen, and it frustrated me.
"It's a deal."
Clayton and I didn't stay to chat any longer, and after he told me when he would see London I left to go back to the party. It was a celebration of summer, a tradition my parents had started after Felix was born. I enjoyed it, and I had a great time with it. I was able to really get to know my past pack members and to meet up with old friends. This was one of the few times of the year we were all together as a family.
I walked to London and gave her the information, which instantly made her excited. I walked into the house, catching Lilura's eye. She excused herself from the conversation and walked towards me, her dark skin glistening with jewelry as she walked. Her face showed concern as we entered a private room, and I closed it behind us.
"Help me take my memories out of this damn pendant and put it back in my head." I pointed to the necklace that I never removed, knowing fully well if I lost it I would never get it back.
"Right now?" She gave me a concerned look. "Are you sure?"
"Now," I demanded, and without a second thought, Lily closed her eyes and magic formulated from her head.
I felt all the memories returning, and my eyes filled with tears. I began crying hysterically, realizing all the mistakes I had made. The fake memories I had were removed from my mind as if they never existed and were replaced with the correct ones. I collapsed to the ground, clutching my heads as I relived through every memory again. It played like a broken record player in front of my very eyes. It felt like hours as I withered in the pain of killing my brother and being stuck in that dreadful and painful prison. I had taken a knife to my stomach I was so desperate.
I collapsed on the ground and Lily helped me back up, her heart racing and her hands sweaty. Her face showed so much concern that I thought it would explode. She was so scared for me, and it made sense why. I was sweating everywhere, and I was breathing heavily. I could stop shaking, and I couldn't stop seeing all the images that terrified me.
I finally relaxed, looking into Lily's dark and worried eyes. "Are you okay?"
"That was awful." I teared up, and Lily pulled me into a hug. "I understand why I had to do that."
"You're okay." She soothed, rocking me back and forth. "You're okay."
"But that's over now." I sniffled, realizing that the events that occurred were years ago. "I think I can heal knowing that this was so long ago."
Lily nodded before helping me up. "I'm proud of you."
"Let's head back to the party." I turned around and grabbed the door but stopped to look at my closest friend. "Thank you."
"Anything for you."
We walked back into the backyard, and I was engulfed in a hug by my son. I picked up him and gave a big smooch on his face. He giggled, wiping off the slobber I had left on his cheek. His green eyes sparkled with happiness and I couldn't help but feel it as well.
All the pain I had been through was for the beautiful werewolf I was holding in my arms. It wasn't for peace or happiness, it was for love. Everything I did I did for love. I may not have realized what I was doing at that time but now I knew. My mother's wedding vow was right, it was a natural instinct to run when we were scared, but at the end of the day, my family was still whole again. We came back to each other because we love each other.
As I held my son in my arms, looking out at the two other children playing, I couldn't help myself but wonder about their future. Times were changing, and it was difficult to say if it was for good or for bad. All I knew, was that I was happy to be able to be where I was standing.
I looked out into the forest, and my breath hitched. There stood my Uncle Logan and Savannah, hand in hand. I could see them, but no one else could. They looked at each other before looking to their right. Fia and Sal appeared, a smile on their faces that were directed at me, and my mother who was a few feet away from me. Fia wiped a tear from her eyes, before turning her head to look to their right. I followed her eyes as Clayton appeared, a cocky smile on his face as he looked at his son playing with Hope. He then turned to his left and held his hand out. A figure appeared, stepping out from the shadows of the forest.
Sage appeared, tears in her young eyes as she looked at me. She smiled, wiping the tears away as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. She was looking at the family that had grown that she could not be with. It hurt me to watch her reaction, but at the same time, it made me happy that she was able to appear. I had a feeling it was the Moon Goddess's doing but I didn't care. She was here looking at me as I looked directly at her. She mouthed something to me, something I could barely catch but I knew at an instant what it was.
"Thank you." Sage had mouthed.
Tears had built up in my eyes, and by now Lucian had noticed. He turned to look at me with confusion, his eyes turning back to the trees. He went around me and gripped my shoulders softly and began to massage them. My son, Logan grinned at our interaction, loving the attention his father gave me. It was something I wanted Logan to do with his own one true love when the time came.
"Are you okay?" Lucian finally asked, but I didn't stray my eyes from the scene before me. My family was here, even if they couldn't see them.
"I am now." I grinned, wiping my tears away as I spoke more clearly. "I have never been so happy in my life."
In a blink of an eye, my dead family and friends disappeared, and all I was left with was the forest. I couldn't help but smile. They had found peace in their death but it was the family that gave them a reason to visit. It gave them their own reason to stay.
________________________________________A/N
I'm not crying....you're crying...I'm not crying......you are.
;(
I would love to do a little Q&A for you guys now that the story of Celia and her family are finally over. It can be questions about anything, ranging from this story, the next, and also maybe about me. You guys have stayed with me for nearly five years now, and you are bound to have questions for me. Leave comments below and next week if I get enough questions I'll post them.
I would love to hear your thoughts about this book, and the final ending.
A huge thank you to my beautiful friends and family for their support as they watched me grow into the writer I am now.
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Much love,
Xox
-Pamela