Epilogue
A few months later, I was sat at the Christmas dinner table with two werewolves and my father.
Of course, they weren't actually in their wolf form. That would have made eating my father's deliciously prepared Christmas meal damn near impossible.
Fenn and Accalia had spent Christmas Eve with their father and extended family, so I had invited the two of them to spend Christmas Day with us.
"So, we're going to be leaving college next year and Fenn will be graduating college. What's the plan, Fenn?" I asked him, with genuine curiosity.
"I think I want to become a doctor," he said and I was glad that he was still ambitious. I really did believe that he could do whatever he set his mind to. Fenn was a determined soul and I admired that about him.
In recent news, I had actually managed to pass another one of my most recent mathematics exams, though Mr. Z was convinced it was a Christmas miracle, I doubted him. Unless my Christmas miracle just so happened to be called Kate Azule.
He seemed calm about the whole thing, even though becoming a doctor seemed like my worst possible nightmare- so many medical exams, not enough time.
"I actually think I can do this," he said confidently.
"I believe in you," Accalia assured him.
"Me too," I said.
"Me three," my father added, which led Fenn to direct an appreciative smile towards him.
Fenn had spent so much of his time on his own studying, he deserved to get something positive out of it.
"You're so smart, Fenn," Accalia spoke again, now, "Of course, you can do this. Not to mention how hard you've worked all year around. I'm proud of you. Always have been, always will be."
"Thank you- are you two going to be alright, when I head off to science college, though? You're not going to, like, accidentally start a wolf cult, are you?" he asked, with genuine care in his gaze.
Accalia rolled her eyes.
"We're going to keep our secret on the downlow, don't you worry," she said.
Fenn released a breath at that, seemingly relieved.
My father and Kate were the only humans that knew about who I really was and I planned to keep it that way, for the time being.
Let's face it, explaining that you're a wolf to people is probably up there on the list of most unlikely things to ever have to happen in your life, but it happened in mine, so I'm not too sure what that says about me, besides me being completely and utterly awesome, of course.
"Merry Christmas, everyone," I said, as I raised my champagne glass a little into the air.
The others did the same.
"Merry Christmas," they said simultaneously.
"This was an amazing dinner, Mr. Amarilla. Thank you," Accalia said gratefully.
"You're very welcome," my dad said.
He had been up for hours cooking away. He just wanted us to have a good Christmas, especially given that it was the first time in a few years that he had guests. I loved him for it.
"So, Accalia, what are you planning on studying at university?" he asked her, his ears keen to listen.
He already knew all about my plans, of course. I was going to go into teaching- I supposed you could say that I had been inspired by Naomi. She got better in the end, too, the antidote worked. We were no longer afraid of the virus.
"I think I want to help the world out, somehow. Maybe I'll train to become a vet," she said thoughtfully.
I smiled at that.
I knew no matter what she did, the two of us would be together. We were planning to go to the same university, after all.
"I think you can do that," my father said kindly. "Sometimes, I wished that my life had panned out a little differently. I suppose there were goals I had that went unexplored, but I'm sure many people can say the same. However, if things had been any different- I never would have met your mother," he said, as he reached out to squeeze my hand.
I squeezed it back comfortingly.
"I'm glad to have you in my life, Ophelia," he said.
I felt my own eyes sparkle with tears.
"Merry Christmas, dad," I said again with a warm smile.
His eyes warmed.
I decided to not tell my dad about the whole thing about my mother being a wolf because, let's face it, one family member being a wolf was enough of a shock as it was and my mother had clearly kept her identity secret from him because she had wanted to. I wasn't about to go against her wishes.
"You should meet the rest of the tribe, one day, dad. I'm sure that you would love them," I said.
His eyes widened a little, then.
"I mean..." he trailed off.
Accalia chuckled.
"That's only if you want to, Mr. Amarilla," she assured him.
He relaxed a little in his seat, then.
It might have just been the alcohol, but for the first time in a while, among the people I cared for most in the world, I felt as though everything was peaceful. My understanding of the world around me continued to grow every day, and I realised that even things that had previously felt impossible, were possible. Everything could change.
"Ophelia, can I speak to you outside for a moment?" Accalia asked me, taking me slightly by surprise.
"Sure," I agreed and the two of us made our way to the front door.
"Do you trust me?" she asked me.
"Always," I said.
"Then close your eyes," she said.
I did and she took my hand and led the two of us outside, where I soon felt cold droplets on my forehead.
I looked up to find that it was snowing.
"I had no idea- did you-" I paused.
"No, me neither. I have mistletoe, though," she said, with a sweet smile.
I raised the mistletoe above our heads and gently pressed my lips against her own, as she moved her fingers through my hair and smiled against my lips.
When she drew back, her eyes searched my own. She looked as though there was a lot on her mind that she wanted to say, and I was eager to latch onto every single word.
"I need to be honest," she said.
"Me too," I said, "You first."
"I said about the vet thing but I've actually been accepted onto a veterinary course," she told me.
I felt my eyes flash with excitement.
"You have?" I asked her.
"I have!" she grinned.
I stepped forward and kissed her again.
"Alia! That's amazing," I said.
"But that's not all that I wanted to talk about. I have a feeling you have more you want to say, too," she told me.
I nodded in response. There was far too much I had to say, but the one thing I knew for certain was that I needed to say it.
"What's on your mind?" she asked me, as she smoothed down my hair caringly. "You know you can tell me anything. Te amo, Ophelia. I love you. You're my soulmate. Always will be."
I felt my heart warm with surprise and pure adoration, as though nothing could ever be more purely perfect than feeling like this.
"I love you, too, Accalia," I told her.
Her eyes warmed and she smiled, as she moved forward to kiss me once again and the snow continued to fall around us, making the world glitter with beauty.
I knew that nothing about my life could ever be the same, but I also knew that normality was far too overrated.