Chapter 242


    Epilogue


    Six Months Later


    “Does this ever get easier?” I groaned, swiping a hand over my forehead. A thin sheen of sweat clung


    to my skin, running from temple to temple.


    There wasn’t one specific person I spoke to, rather the entirety of my friends and family that had


    gathered for this historical event. Naturally, my eyes strayed to my mate, the beacon that never once


    failed to lead me through the dark.


    His lips quirked up at the side, eyes sparkling with significantly less shadows than before. He was


    slowly learning to forgive himself for the death’s of our pack members. “I wish I could say it does, but I’d


    be lying.”


    Zeke let out a cheeky snort. “Way to make her feel confident. You’ve got this, L. You’re a natural.”


    Breyona peeked her head from around Giovanni’s massive shoulder. “Besides, if you choke you can


    always work a little magic and make everyone forget about it.”


    “Hah! With my luck I’ll get a little too magic happy and make the whole pack forget about me.” A


    genuine chuckle slid past my lips as my friends continued with their yful banter. I was quickly pulled


    into the arms of my mate, whose embrace


    I epted with a blissful sigh.


    His lips skimmed my ear, brewing all sorts of thoughts that were not suited for tonight’s events. “Zeke’s


    right, though.


    You were meant for this. You won’t choke.


    After all, look at all you’ve aplished.”


    I ced my hand against his taut chest, tapping the thick pad of muscle I felt just below his shirt. “All


    that we’ve aplished.” I corrected him. “I would’ve never been able to do this without you.”


    Asher looked as stunning as ever, ying the part of Alpha to near perfection. He, like the rest of us,


    were dressed in a mixture of both professional and casual attire. While we needed to step into our roles


    tonight, we also needed to present an air offort and unity to make the


    Witches and Vampire’s in audience feel right at home.


    After all, it wasn’t just a few Witches and Vampire’s in audience. 1


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    It was all of them. Well, almost all. Those who wanted to voice their opinions, lend their hand in shaping


    this new future that would cater to us all, stood in attendance.


    Truthfully, I couldn’t have done any of it without the help of two unlikely allies.


    “I swear, that child gets all her sass from you, Ember. Angelica used to be a sweet, docile thing before


    you got to her.” Tessa scolded her sister as the two of them entered the room.


    Ember kicked the door shut behind her with the sharp heel of her boot, and began to take in the


    contents of the room with a hand propped on her hip. A quick flick of her eyes over the velvet furniture,


    hand–woven rugs, and paintings hung in golden frames, was all she needed before cocking a sculpted


    eyebrow at her sister.


    “Please, do you even know Angelica?


    She’s never been sweet or docile. The kids a menace.” Ember eximed with a suspicious amount of


    warmth to her voice. Paired with the cocky tilt to her lips one might assume she almost liked Angelica.


    “She’s not the only menace I know.”


    Tessa shot back, not an ounce of venom in her voice. Her eyes skimmed the room secondster. She


    let out a small sound of appreciation. “This ce is beautiful.”


    The room we stood in was one of many at the Seven Springs Country Club. While everything was a bit


    extravagant for my tastes, it was the only ce big enough to hold a meeting this size. Compared to


    the pack–wide announcement we had well over a year ago, revealing the truth about our alliance with


    the Vampire’s, this was the biggest event our kind has ever held.


    I approached the twins with radiant warmth. Six months ago, I had a long list of suspicions and doubts


    but one–by–one these girls managed to cross them all off.


    We weren’t yet best–friends, but I could see the road we walked down and knew that with time and


    patience, I’d eventually trust these two with more than just my life.


    “I’m so d you two made it in time.” I beamed, truly relieved.


    Ember sniffed, flipping her thick mane of fire–kissed hair over her shoulder. “Well, as the ambassador’s


    of the Witchmunity we couldn’t very well miss tonight, could we?” 1


    Augh rumbled in my chest. Even though she’d sooner lock herself in a dark room with Brandon than


    admit it (her words, not mine), I knew she was bing just as fond of me as I was of her.


    Tessa’s soft eyebrows matched that of her smile. Ever the diplomatic twin, she reached out and


    grabbed my hand, giving it a quick squeeze. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world.”


    Before the conversation could truly take off, the door opened once more. Asher’s


    Beta, who had been on leave these past six months doting on his pregnant mate, peeked his head into


    the room.


    “It’s show time folks.” He drawled, shing me a gruff smile as though he could see the raw nerves


    throbbing beneath my veins.


    I let out a sharp breath and shook out my hands, visualizing the stress leaving my body in heavy


    waves. It would never cease to amaze me how I’d rather be neck–deep in battle than speak in front of


    a crowd.


    But hey, we all had our weaknesses.


    Asher and I stepped out into the hall, our entourage following closely behind. It was there, beneath the


    sloped ceilings. and crystal chandeliers that we met up with Tristan and Holly.


    Tristan, who I had recently denounced as my first–inmand, greeted me with a warm smile. Seeing


    as he and my sister were now an item, I figured I should no longere as his first priority.


    Holly was still a Princess, after all. And a


    Princess deserved a mate that would look after her and her alone. Which is exactly why I promoted


    Tristan to Head of the Royal Guard. Only instead of protecting me with his life, he’d protect my sister.


    The two of them looked the part. Tristan, with his navy button down and dark cks, matched the


    sparkly cocktail dress Holly had on, one that showed her lithe figure and subtle curves.


    “Are you ready for this?” She asked in her soft, melodic voice.


    After spending thest six months with an actual therapist, she had grown in strength. Her entire


    demeanor had changed, and it was truly a sight to see. She no longer hid from the world and had even


    found friendship in ra.


    I bumped my elbow into hers, returning the friendly smile she shed me. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”


    “She’s going to do amazing, and she knows it. Doesn’t hurt that she has a bunch of Witches,


    Vampire’s,


    Werewolves, an Alpha, and a Princess backing her up.” ra chimed in, a vision in her sea foam maxi


    dress. When paired with her dark skin and curly hair, it made her look she’d emerged from the very


    depths of the ocean.


    Mason, with his matching button down, had an arm wrapped around her waist.


    The haunted light that came with losing your fated mate was nowhere to be seen.


    In fact, he looked more at ease than anyone else here. Catching my eye, his lips quirked up in his


    usual cheeky grin, one I couldn’t help but return.


    “I believe it’s time. Unless, you want to bete to your own event.” Tristan said smoothly, tilting his head


    towards


    Asher’s Beta, who waited by a set of towering double doors.


    Doors that would lead outside, to the massive crowd I knew was waiting.


    Nothing could’ve prepared me for how many heads there were. It was all too easy to see them all


    considering we had to carve a path through the crowd to make it to the very center of the field.


    Technically, the neatly trimmed grass that surrounded us was the country club’s golf course. All twenty–


    seven holes were packed with people. Since things were still a bit rocky, the crowd was divided by


    species, each cluster set with their own handful of guards for protection purposes.


    It was our goal that someday the crowd merge as one.


    Asher and I led the way, following a path of silver silkid on the ground to the very center of the field.


    Since it was the dead of night,mp posts wrapped in ivy sat scattered throughout the grass.


    Behind us was Holly and Tristan, followed by Breyona and Giovanni, Zeke and Tessa, and then the


    others.


    There was no stage waiting for us. I didn’t want to stand above the masses, to look down on them as


    though they were beneath us all. What I wanted was for them to see that regardless of species, we


    were all equals here.


    Several feet in the air was arge screen that would soon feature all of our faces.


    The speakers scattered throughout the entirety of the golf course would ensure our voices were heard


    far and wide.


    My skin prickled from the sheer number of eyes turned our way. There was always the risk of this


    ending badly, but surrounding ourselves with an army of armed guards would not support the idea that


    this meeting was to discuss terms of peace and unity.


    Each one of us had a head set with a microphone that would cast our voices across the sea of people.


    There wasn’t a single one of us more important than the next, and tonight would prove that. Every


    voice, every idea, every suggestion, would all be heard.


    Squaring my shoulders, Asher and I led the others into the circr clearing where finally, history would


    be made.


    Asher and I stood front and center, while the others formed a half circle around us.


    For several minutes, chatter rippled throughout the crowd. Waves were thrown left and right, which we


    reciprocated with equal enthusiasm. Once the excitement died down, I spotted an opening and


    promptly took advantage of it.


    “Wee, everyone. We cannot thank you all enough foring here tonight.” I said warmly,


    sweeping my arms out at my sides.


    The heat that was Asher’s presence loomed over my shoulder. I craned my head to look up at him,


    shing him an intimate smile as he stepped forward and bellowed his own wee.


    “Never before has an Alpha had the honor of weing so many into his pack. No matter where the


    future might take us, this is a moment I will not forget.


    Everyone here, regardless of your background, will be treated with the same respect as a pack


    member. Should any issues arise, I ask that youe directly to me. Now, with that out of the way, I’m


    going to let my incredible mate, and Queen to quite a few of you, take the stage.


    Wiping my sweaty palms on my dress, I took a deep breath and let my thoughts and emotions flow


    freely.


    “Today is the first day we work towards the future–a future that not only see’s all three of our species as


    equals, but as allies, as friends. Many injustices have beenmitted against your kinds, against


    Vampire’s and Witches‘, and as much as I wish I could, I cannot erase the past. What I can do is


    promise that tonight it ends.” I bellowed. 2


    I paced the length of the circle marked as our stage, looking each and every person in the audience in


    the eye, taking them all in and seeing them for who they truly were. The camera projecting our faces


    onto the big screen swiveled as I moved. Vampire’s stared out at me, both dark and pale skinned.


    Witches, with eyes sparkling with magic, gifted me their full attention. Werewolves, wearing various


    levels of shock on their faces, watched with rapt interest.


    “As you all can see, my friends and I here have many differences. Wee from different backgrounds


    and have endured a wide array of things, but not one of us is more deserving ofpassion and


    respect than the next. I don’t expect this to be easy. In fact, I expect it to be the hardest thing I’ve ever


    done, but I won’t give up. I will earn your trust every single day that I choose to fight for you, and for


    your right to live in the way that you see fit.”


    An eruption of cheers spouted from all sides, from all corners of the field. It rippled over each and every


    one of us, thickening the air with something sweet -something that felt an awful lot like hope. As it died


    down, I addressed the crowd a third time.


    “Love, no matter it’s source, is always wee. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce you all to my


    friends. Hear their voices, their stories, and know that each and every one of us are on your side.”


    I retreated into Asher’s arms, winding our fingers together as Holly and Tristan took center stage.


    Pride swelled in my chest as my once timid little sister spoke to a crowd of thousands. With her chin


    held high, Holly told her story, leaving nothing out. Afterwards, an eruption of cheers sounded. Next


    came Tristan, who earned every single shout, p, cheer, from the Vampire’s in the crowd.


    Breyona and Giovanni came next. My best -friend spoke with such emotion, unraveling the secrets


    behind what was once a forbidden love. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the crowd. After Giovanni’s


    turn, it was time for Tessa and


    Zeke to take the stand.


    One–by–one, my friends shared their stories, the mistakes that they’ve made along the way and the


    disys of bravery they showed that ultimately led us to where we were today. Every single emotion


    was evoked until both the sharp sting of grief, and the warmth that was joy, rippled amongst the crowd.


    As each one finished, they took a stand beside the other, until we were all side–by -side.


    “To the future…” I shouted, thrusting my fist into the air. “…where every story matters–where every


    story will be heard.”


    A split second of silence rang out before the explosion that was thousands of Vampire’s, Witches‘, and


    Werewolves‘ cheering. One–by–one, their fists were raised, kissing the stars and the moon that looked


    down on us all.


    And finally, history was made.