Chapter 149: Epilogue

IAN

Dara’s flaming hair is damp with sweat as she squeezes my hand.

“Ian,” she breathes out my name.

“I’m here. I’m not leaving your side,” I remind her.

The group of women all begin to stir closer to Dara. Realta, Ina, and Natalie surround the foot of her bed.

“Dara, you’re going to be just fine, but I need you to push,” Realta tells her.

Dara nods then squeezes my hand as she begins to deliver our baby.

Ina gives Dara a touch of her white glow, which I know to be healing or pain relief. I’m grateful for the care she has for her sisters.

Ina spends a lot of her time with them, avoiding the werewolves—well, natural born werewolves. Ina has no desire to find love. She’s more concerned with the task of bringing the Goddess’s gifts to her children, but she loves her sisters and their daughters wholeheartedly.

“One more big push,” Realta advises.

Dara takes a deep breath then pushes with all her might. Realta pulls the baby free and hands her off to Natalie.

Natalie cleans the baby up and gets her to take a breath. “There you are, precious.” She looks to me. “Are you ready, Daddy?”

I swallow, but nod. Natalie places the most beautiful little baby in my arms.

She has tufts of red hair and soft pale skin. “Hi Deanna. I’m your daddy.”

The little girl slowly blinks her eyes open and I can’t help but smile. I touch her soft little cheek then turn to place her in her mommy’s arms.

“Ian. She is so beautiful,” Dara notices.

I lean down to kiss my mate. “Just like her mom.”

Even all covered in sweat, Dara is the most stunning woman alive. Realta heals Dara then the sisters and Natalie give her a kiss before leaving our family to bond.

Deanna begins to squirm so Dara places her to her breast. I’ve never felt so much love in my life.

I sit beside my mate and just watch her feed my daughter. Dara softly smiles up at me. “This feels so weird, but so right at the same time.”

“I can’t imagine.” My hand glides up her leg.

“It is different than when you suck on my breasts.”

I chuckle. Then Dara switches the baby to her other breast.

“You are not allowed near my breasts until she is weaned. My breasts are for the baby only.”

With a smile still on my face, I grunt, but Dara knows I’m kidding. She just rolls her eyes.

Even though her sisters blessed her with energy and healing, we still stay the night in our room. Dara didn’t want to go to a hospital. She delivered Deanna at home.

While my girls are sleeping, I slip away to finish setting up the nursery. I decorated the walls with a soft yellow color a few days ago.

Her crib, dresser, and a rocker are all white, and the bedding is a nighttime, twinkle twinkle little star motif. I plug in the cord for the sleeping star nightlight, then return to my room.

Deanna is beginning to stir, so I pick her up. Her eyes open to look at me.

It’s too early to know the color, but I’m hoping they’re the emerald green of Dara’s.

The next day the visitors begin to trickle in, beginning with my sister Gretchen and her mate John. My parents stop by, then Virgil and Haley.

We visit for a while, then they all give their congratulations before leaving. Dara is perfectly healed, and she has Deanna wrapped tight to her body.

“Let’s go outside. I need to feel the sand between my toes,” she suggests.

I take her hand, and we walk the short distance to the beach. The sun is setting, and the breeze is cool.

Dara sits between my legs in front of the bonfire, and I set it alight. Her hair blows against my arm, so I begin braiding it.

Once I’m finished, she leans against my chest in our usual position. “I love you, Dara,” I tell her, then kiss her behind her ear.

I reach around to hold her and my daughter. “I love you, Ian.”

“Thought we’d find you here. We went to your house, but then saw your fire,” Lexi grabs our attention. “Care if we join you?”

“Not at all. Cole, there’s a chair on my porch,” I offer.

Lexi grabs his arm. “You can just help me up later.”

Cole shrugs his shoulders then helps Lexi to sit. Cole sits behind her in close to the same position Dara and I are sitting.

Lexi is about five months pregnant with their second girl. “Where’s Callie tonight?” Dara asks.

“She’s with my dad. You know how he spoils her.”

Wyatt works with Able at the shop. His relationship with his kids is much better and he’s an awesome Grandpa to both Callie and Ethan’s kids, Quincy and Aaron.

After everything went down four years ago, Cole and I became pretty good friends. Lexi and Dara are almost inseparable.

Rosalie too. She and Ethan are in Montana right now or I’m sure they’d be here to join us.

Bonfires at the beach have become a popular hangout for us. Lexi looks over my sleeping newborn.

“Goddess, she’s so sweet!”

Dara leans forward to begin unwrapping the shawl she’s tied in. Lexi accepts my baby and holds her close to her chest.

“How was the delivery?”

“Pretty easy, but the contractions were awful. I labored for six hours. Ina wanted to make me deliver immediately, but I wanted to go through most of it naturally.”

“Would you do it again?” Lexi asks, and I perk up to learn Dara’s answer.

“Maybe, but not anytime soon. I am happy with my little family as of now.”

I hold her tighter and she leans more into my chest.

“Your parents were here earlier, Cole,” I inform him.

“Yeah, they’re going to a summit tomorrow. I actually need to go with them,” Cole says, and Lexi grunts.

“Really? You would think these wolves would learn by now.”

Cole was pretty busy the first few years after being blessed, but everything has calmed down after his first round of visiting the packs. Word of his power and calling has spread and people are terrified of the destroyer.

“I know, but as long as there is corruption, I will always be needed.”

“Where are you going this time?” I wonder.

“West coast. There’s a new desert wolf pack. They’ve been overstepping in the Vegas area. My Dad is going to be laying down the law and I’m going to be sorting through them.”

“Vegas, huh? Forget that. That city is crazy busy and hotter than hell,” I say, shaking my head.

I spent a drunken weekend there after my first mate rejected me. That’s where I went to wallow. Dara knows all about that.

We’ve shared our sordid tales of woe with each other.

“Says the fire demon,” Lexi comments, and Dara laughs.

They’ve been calling me that since the night Dara told me she was pregnant. I was in the process of starting a bonfire, but I set off a huge blaze instead.

Dara instantly had it under control, but the name stuck. We had a few other wolves with us, so they call me that once in a while too.

“He’s not kidding. Vegas sucks,” Cole agrees.

“Lex, are you staying here or going with Cole?” I ask.

Lexi looks up at Cole with a face of innocence. I laugh into Dara’s hair, just knowing she’s about to get him to cave.

I don’t blame him; I give Dara anything and everything she asks for.

“Ugh, fine,” he caves, and Dara laughs too.

Lexi looks at us with a pleased smile. Cole just rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

“Have you picked a name yet?” Dara asks as Lexi hands Deanna over. She started squirming for feeding time.

“Not yet, but we want her name to fit her. We didn’t pick Callie until she was born.”

I remember this same conversation just over two years ago when Lex was pregnant. At that time, Dara was still iffy about having a baby. After her first few heats didn’t take, she was frustrated and less inclined to actually have a baby.

After Callie was born, Dara’s desire resurfaced.

Cole gently rubs Lexi’s belly. “We’ve tossed around a few ideas, but we’re not settled on anything. We picked Savannah as her middle name.”

“After your grandmother, Lex?” Dara asks.

Since her mother died, Lexi has grown closer to her dad’s family. Savannah is the dictionary version of grandma.

They came down to visit a few times. Everyone loves that woman, even Ina.

“Of course. Plus, it’s similar to Callie’s name, so we like it.”

Callie’s middle name is Anna, named after Virgil’s sister.

Dara pulls Deanna from her breast. I take her to burp while Dara adjusts her clothes.

Nudity isn’t a big deal for Dara, it never really has been, but with Cole sitting beside us, I’m fine with it. It’s amazing how much things have changed. I know he’s not checking out my mate. He only has eyes for Lex, as it should be.

Dara wraps Deanna back into her sling. “I am getting pretty hungry,” she tells me.

I get to my feet and dust off my shorts. I catch Dara staring at my ass and give her a smile. She checks me out every chance she gets.

“I’m going to start cooking dinner. You guys staying?” I ask, then help Dara to her feet.

“We should probably go pick up Callie.” Cole helps Lexi up.

“You can have Wyatt bring her here. There is plenty,” Dara offers.

“Ian is grilling and there is beer in the fridge.” Dara isn’t a beer drinker, but she keeps them stocked for me. I like one every now and then, especially when we have company.

“Nah. You guys probably need family time. Besides, I’m going to have to pack for our trip.” Lexi smiles up at Cole.

Dara and I hold back our laughs. After hugs and handshakes, the two leave us alone.

I pull my mate to me, being careful not to squish my sleeping daughter. “I have never been so happy in my life as when I’m with you.”

Dara’s emerald eyes light her face. “I know, my love. I feel the same. I have no regrets about choosing you. Look how beautiful our daughter is. She is going to be strong and kind.”

I take Dara’s hand and lead her back to our home. “Did Haley tell you that?”

She shakes her head. “No. It is inevitable. She has the powers of Starlight, but you as her daddy.”

I chuckle, then kiss her head. ~I love you, Dara. Forever.~

End of Book 4

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