Epilogue - Part One
Milo's P.O.V
Three Years Later -
"Andrew pushed me!" Avery cried running over to Lincoln.
Lincoln scooped her up into his harms and smiled down at her. "He did? Why would he do that?"
"She's annoying." Andrew grumbled as he walked in. "She took the remote."
Andrew was Cole's twin, in both looks and personality. He had the same dark hair and dark eyes, and the same annoyance and anger towards anyone that spoke to him. I had never met a three year old who was so pessimistic, but he was exactly how I imagined Cole to be at a young age.
Avery on the other hand was kind and sweet, but she had her moments where she acted bratty. Wyatt and Lucy spoiled her so they were the ones at fault. We all predict that her behavior will stop once her brother is born. Lucy was currently five months pregnant with a boy, Avery was not very excited for the new arrival.
We had been babysitting the two of them for the weekend while their parents went on a short break to a Californian hotel near the beach. However they would be back today, we were expected them to arrive soon.
"That's no excuse, you shouldn't push people." Lincoln told him.
"Daddy pushes people." Andrew replied crossing his arms.
"Your Daddy is a meanie." Avery spoke confidently because she was in the safety of Lincoln's arms, she wouldn't have said that if Lincoln wasn't here.
Andrew's face dropped and anger flashed in his eyes. "No he's not!" Andrew stomped his foot furiously.
"Avery." I spoke warningly. "That was a mean thing to say, why don't you both apologize to each other."
Andrew hated apologizing and was clearly still annoyed about Avery insulting his dad so instead he huffed and walked out of the room. I heard quiet footsteps making their way upstairs so I decided to follow him.
I found him sat on the guest bed he had been staying in for the past three nights with his head in his hands. We put him in the guest room near our room so that it would be easier to make sure he was safe.
"Andrew what's wrong?" I asked as I approached him.
He looked up at me for a split second letting me see his tear stained face before he covered his face in his hands once again.
"Is this about what Avery said?" I sat down on the bed beside him.
He sniffled and nodded. He slowly lifted his head and wiped his tears off his cheeks.
"Everyone says that." His voice wobbled.
"Says what?" I spoke confused.
"That daddy is mean." He mumbled. "Or bad, or a rogue, or evil."
"Who says that?" I frowned.
"Avery, and all the other kids." He growled out in anger.
"And what do you think about your dad?" I asked him. "Do you think he's mean or evil?"
Andrew shook his head instantly. "Daddy is nice and kind and funny. I love him, he's not mean."
"Then that's all that matters." I told him. "It doesn't matter what anyone else says."
Andrew's face hardened as he wiped away any emotions. "Okay."
I heard the door open downstairs and people's voices, I knew this meant that they were back from their getaway.
"Come on." I stood up from the bed. "I think you're parents are back."
I held out my hand to him and was slightly surprised when he took it. I guided him back to the living room to find Lucy holding Avery while Wyatt spoke to her. Lincoln was having a conversation with Cole and Cora so I walked over to them.
"There he is." Cora smiled when her eyes landed on her son. "How was your weekend?"
Cole reached forward and picked up Andrew who rested on his hip comfortably. Cole took one look at his sons face and frowned.
"You've been crying." He stated. "Who made you cry?"
Andrew remained silent, he wasn't a tattle tale.
"Son." Cole spoke warningly.
"Avery." I answered for him.
Cora frowned glancing over at Avery. "What happened sweetie?" She leaned in so that she could see Andrew's face.
"She called daddy a meanie." Andrew grumbled glaring at Avery who was unaware that we were talking about her but Wyatt noticed and frowned. "Everyone calls you a meanie."
Cole's eyebrows furrowed. "They do? Well maybe I am a meanie then."
"No Daddy." Andrew shook his head quickly. "You're not a meanie."
Cole's eyes were bright but he forced a frown onto his face. "Hmm, maybe not but I am a monster."
Andrew's face scrunched up in confusion and he was about to say something when Cole spoke again.
"The tickle monster!" Cole exclaimed.
Andrew's eyes widened in horror as Cole began to tickle him furiously.
"No! Daddy stop!" Andrew squealed.
Cole laughed and stopped, he looked down at his son lovingly. "See? I am a meanie."
"Avery why do you think uncle Cole is mean?" Wyatt asked her suddenly.
Lucy looked at him confused but didn't say anything. Avery looked around at everyone, her eyes landed on Cole and her face contorted into guilt.
"I'm sorry." Her voice wobbled as her eyes watered. "All my friends say Cole is mean, or a rogue, so I thought he was."
Cora's face dropped and I could see her wolf surface at the word 'rogue' but she calmed herself quickly. Cole sighed and handed Andrew over to Cora before turning to Avery.
"Come here." Cole said taking Avery out of Lucy's hold. "Can I talk to her upstairs for a few minutes?"
Wyatt and Lucy nodded and soon Cole and Avery had disappeared upstairs.
"So, did Uncle Lincoln and Uncle Milo take good care of you?" Cora asked Andrew.
He nodded with a small smile. "We had ice cream every day."
Lincoln gaped at him. "Look at you trying to get us in trouble."
"It was all Lincoln's idea, he used it as a reward for being well behaved." I told them.
"You're both ganging up on me." Lincoln whined which made Andrew giggle.
Lincoln's face lit up when he hears the laughter, he reached forward taking him off Cora. "You think it's funny huh?"
"I do Uncle Lincoln." He nodded with a gummy smile.
"It's alpha Lincoln to you." Lincoln teased.
Andrew understood the game. "Of course Alpha." Andrew did a mock salute.
Lincoln grinned at his godson. "As your Alpha, I demand that you clean up all these toys you threw around the living room."
Andrew frowned instantly. "But Uncle Lincoln-"
"Alpha." Lincoln corrected him with a smirk.
Andrew stared at him for a moment in annoyance but eventually sighed. "Fine." He mumbled and Lincoln placed him down.
We watched as Andrew walked around the room collecting the toys, most of which were actually Avery's but he cleaned them up anyway.
"Good job buddy." Lincoln high fived him.
"Say goodbye to Lincoln and Milo, we should go find your Dad." Cora told him.
"Yeah we should go get Avery." Lucy said and Wyatt nodded.
Lucy and Wyatt quickly left leaving us with Cora and Andrew. Lincoln pulled Andrew into a tight hug before kissing his forehead.
"I'll see you later little man." Lincoln stood up straight and watched as Cora and Andrew left.
Once they were out of sight Lincoln sighed and flopped onto the couch. He picked up a toy that Andrew had missed out and looked at it with a frown.
This entire weekend Lincoln was smiling non-stop, it was the happiest I've seen him. I knew that he wanted kids and he was waiting for me to want them too. He was happiest around Andrew and Avery and was always upset once they left.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
"Hmm?" He looked up at me confused. "Yeah why?"
"You're always sad when the kids leave." I pointed out staring at the teddy he was holding.
He noticed and put it down. "Oh, that's nothing."
He didn't want to bring up him wanting kids because he didn't want to make me feel guilty about me not wanting them yet, except that wasn't true.
"Look, I've been thinking." I started and he looked up at me expectantly. "We should have a kid, soon."
Lincoln froze and didn't speak for a few moments. "Are you serious?"
I nodded.
"If this is a joke I won't speak to you for a month." Lincoln warned me.
"We both know that you are not capable of ignoring me for that long." I told him.
He smiled knowing that I was right but his face soon turned serious. "So you really want a kid?"
"I do." I smiled.
He grinned. "Okay, let's have a kid."
He pulled me into a kiss which made me laugh and pull away. "You know this isn't how we're going to make a kid right?"
"I know." He smiled. "We'll start the kid stuff tomorrow, let's just celebrate our decision today."
"Sounds like a plan." I pulled him into a kiss.
***
"You can do it Avery." Wyatt told her tossing the basketball towards her but she failed to catch it.
"No I can't." She crossed her arms in annoyance, she had clearly given up by now.
We had been trying to teach Avery to catch a ball for the past ten minutes but now she was getting frustrated.
"Avery, you're going to be a beta when you grow up. You need better motor skills." Wyatt said.
"Don't pressure her, she's only four. She'll learn." I reassured him.
Wyatt nodded at me before looking back at Avery. "Why don't you go find your mum, maybe she needs help in Austin's room?"
Avery's frown deepened. "I don't like the baby."
"Well you don't have a choice, you'll love him because he is your brother." Wyatt spoke sternly. "Now go find your mum."
Avery pouted but walked away to find her mum anyway.
Wyatt turned to me. "Wanna play a quick 1v1?"
I nodded picking up the basketball. We spent the nest half an hour playing basketball but the next thing I knew Wyatt's elbow was moving quickly towards my face.
Lincoln's P.O.V -
I rubbed my forehead as a sharp pain passed through it but I chose to ignore it.
"So where did the rogues enter?" I asked looking at the map of my pack's territory.
"Here." Cora answered pointing to the northern side. "Near the stream."
I nodded staring at the map. "Well it seems like an isolated incident, tell me if any more rogues enter from the same area."
Cora then began to read out the statistics on the number of rogues in the area and I listened intently until the pain in my head returned.
I frowned rubbing my head once again but this time Cora noticed.
"What's wrong?" She spoke concerned.
"My head hurts." I mumbled. "I'm not sure why though."
"Maybe it's Milo." Cora suggested. "He might have a headache or something."
My eyes widened slightly and concern filled me, Cora saw my change in mood so she forced a small smile.
"He's probably fine, he would've called you if something was wrong." She reassured me.
I nodded slowly. "You're right."
There was a knock at the door before it opened and Cole stepped in.
"Wyatt told me to come get you because he's taking Milo to the hospital." Cole watched me with a bored expression.
"What?" I jumped out of my seat. "What happened? Is he okay?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "When I saw Milo his face was covered in blood so take from that what you will."
I chose not to respond and instead rushed out of the room and downstairs, I searched the house until I found Milo and Wyatt in the kitchen. I relaxed slightly when I heard Milo laughing, I partially though that Cole was lying or overreacting but then I saw Milo's face.
Wyatt was holding a kitchen towel against Milo's forehead, the cloth was slowly turning red and there were trails of blood streaming down his face. Wyatt seemed panicked as he stared at Milo.
"What happened Milo?" I spoke concerned.
Milo looked up at me but one of his eyes were covered by the towel. I didn't see any pain or distress on his face instead it was filled with amusement.
"Wyatt elbowed me in the face." Milo answered making my eyes darken.
"It was an accident." Wyatt spoke apologetically.
"Yeah it was." Milo informed me. "But I might need stitches."
"Where are you bleeding from?" I asked as I slowly pulled the kitchen towel away from his head.
"My eyebrow I think." He mumbled.
I could see the cut in his eyebrow and the deepness of it made me wince.
"Yeah let's go to the hospital." I told him helping him stand up.
We arrived at the hospital quickly and as the nurse was showing us to a private room my eyes landed on someone.
Ivy, the surrogate for Milo and I's baby, was sat in a wheelchair and was being pushed by her mate as a nurse led them. She was due to give birth next week to my biological child. We were yet to find out the gender of the baby.
"Ivy!" I called rushing over to her with Milo following after me. "Is everything okay?"
I noticed how her face was scrunched up in pain and she was taking shallow breaths.
"Her waters broke, she's gone into labour." Her mate, James, explained. "I was going to call you once Ivy got settled in the hospital room."
I nodded in understanding and forced myself to remain calm. "Okay, this is great news." I glanced at Milo who still had blood running down his cheeks.
I looked back at Ivy who's breath were becoming more even and she became relaxed.
"How are you feeling?" Milo asked her.
Ivy looked up at both of us for the first time and her eyes widened in horror. "I should be asking you that, what happened to your face?" She spoke breathily.
"Wyatt and I were playing basketball and he accidentally elbowed me in the face, I'm fine though it's just a little cut." Milo spoke quickly. "You're much more important right now, so how are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She told him taking deep soothing breaths. "I've done this twice before so I know what to expect, I should be fine."
Milo nodded. "How close are the contractions?" He continued to hold a towel, a new one now, against his head.
"Far enough apart that you have time to fix your head." She laughed lightly.
Milo smiled at her. "I'll be back as soon as possible, Lincoln stay with them."
I said a quick goodbye to Milo who walked away with a nurse. I turned back to Ivy and James.
"Let's go meet the future alpha." I grinned in excitement.
***
Milo and I watched from the corner of the room as the doctor laid the crying baby on Ivy's chest. I watched in awe as the baby wriggled slightly, it was slightly disgusting with all the blood and fluids covering the baby's skin but the moment was beautiful.
I snapped out of my gaze when Milo nudged me. I looked at him confused but smiled at the tears rolling down his face, he had washed all the blood away and now only had two butterfly stitches in his eyebrow.
He nodded towards the doctor, I moved my eyes to the doctor who was staring at us.
"Do you want to cut the umbilical cord?" She repeated.
I glanced at Milo and he smiled and nodded. I slowly stood up and walked over to them and took the scissors from a nurse. I followed their instructions and cut the cord taking the time to look at the babies face in more detail.
"It's a boy." The doctor told me and I nodded with a smile and teary eyes.
"He's perfect." I moved my eyes from my son to Ivy.
She was breathing heavily and had sweat sticking her hair to her face but she stared at me with happiness and content.
"Thank you so much." I told her.
She forced a tired smile and moved her eyes from me to the baby. Technically the son was not hers biologically, she was only surrogate not the egg donor but I didn't care if she saw this baby as her child or not. If she chose to be part of his life then that means he has a positive female role model, and that could only be a good thing.
Milo walked over to us his eyes not moving from the bundle resting on Ivy's chest.
"We have a son." Milo spoke in disbelief.
"We do." I wrapped my arm around his waist and pulled him into my side.
***
"Come on in guys." I responded to the knocking on the door.
Ivy smiled up at everyone as they walked in before returning to the food she had been given.
Milo was sat in the armchair beside the hospital bed holding our son while James sat on the edge of the hospital bed so that he was close enough to care for his mate if she needed him.
Wyatt and Lucy stepped in first with Avery in Wyatt's arms. I could hear Lucy whispering to Avery that she had to be quiet around the baby, Avery seemed to understand and nodded in response.
Wyatt placed her down before making his way over to me with a huge grin. "Congratulations on your son."
"Thanks Wyatt." I looked between him and Lucy quickly. "Although you've seemed to have forgotten your own son."
Wyatt smiled. "Austin is with my parents, he was due a nap time and I didn't want him crying and disturbing the baby."
Wyatt and Lucy's second child, Austin, was only nine months old which meant that he was about the same age as my son.
Cole and Cora entered with Andrew following after them, they didn't need to tell him to be quiet because Andrew was always quiet. His eyes immediately landed on my son and he walked over to Milo quickly.
I watched with a smile as both Avery and Andrew cooed at the baby and asked Milo questions in quiet voices.
Cole had begun a conversation with James while Lucy and Cora were checking up on Ivy to see how she was feeling.
"So has he got a name yet?" Wyatt asked gaining everyone's attention.
Milo nodded telling me that I could answer, I smiled at him before looking at everyone.
"Jackson." I smiled. "His name is Jackson."
Everyone looked at me warmly before their eyes darted over to the baby.
"Lincoln wanted to name him after a president, because his name is a president." Milo looked at me in mock annoyance. "I managed to talk him out of naming him Washington or Kennedy to a more subtle reference."
"What president is called Jackson?" Wyatt frowned.
"Andrew Jackson, the 7th president." I shrugged. "It's the only name Milo would let me have."
"What were you going to do if it was a girl?" Cora spoke curiously.
"Name her after a first lady." I answered as if it was obvious.
Everyone laughed which made Jackson begin to stir before shrill cries escaped him. I noticed how Andrew's face dropped and he reached forward to gently stroke Jackson's head which immediately soothed my son.
"Together Andrew and Jackson make the presidents full name." Lucy pointed out.
I chuckled and focused my attention on Andrew interacting with my now awake son.
"Yeah." I smiled at the two of them. "I think they're going to be good friends."