Chapter 36: EPILOGUE

ADDISON

^ONE YEAR LATER^

“Luna! Gosh, let me give you a hand with that.” Sam ran up, taking some of the boxes out of my arms.

“Thanks, Sam.” I smiled.

“Where do you want these?” he asked, walking beside me.

I pointed to one of the picnic tables down the hill.

“Just throw them on the table over there. Then can you remind the cooks to get started on the meat? If we don’t eat on time, there will be an uprising.”

Sam laughed, knowing all too well what happens when a bunch of hungry wolves have to wait for their food. “Yes, Luna,” he said before walking back up the hill.

I started laying out tablecloths on each of the picnic tables. As I leaned down for another one, I felt a hand on my back.

“You really shouldn’t be doing that,” a familiar voice said from behind me.

“Feel free to step in and help then, Alpha,” I teased.

Slade took the remaining tablecloths from my hands and started placing them on tables as I sat down on a bench. I was panting a bit, not realizing I had lost my breath.

I stretched and sat up straight, rubbing my swollen belly. I was at the end of my pregnancy, and most things tired me now. “Anything else, Luna?” Slade teased.

I smirked at him and then pointed to the box. “Take those and put them on the serving table, please?”

I got up and walked over to Slade. “How long is this pack meeting going to take?”

“Well, you are the one that made it a pack meeting ~and~ dinner. So probably a couple of hours at the least.”

I groaned, and Slade continued. “Why? You want to get out of here early so you can have your way with me? For shame, Mrs. Black!”

I laughed and smacked his arm. “If having my way with you means I get you to rub my feet, then yes.”

“Oh, I’ll rub more than that,” Slade said with a sly grin.

I looked at him with shocked eyes. “Slade Black, you stop it!”

When the pack meeting and dinner were just about over, Slade walked up to me as I was talking to Hannah. “I have something to take care of back at the house, you good?”

I gave him a warm smile. “Yep, we are almost done. I’ll meet you there.”

Slade leaned down and gave me a peck on the cheek. “All right, love, see you in a bit.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Gosh, even after a year together, you’re still disgustingly cute.”

Hannah walked me back to the house, continuing our earlier conversation. I hugged her and turned to the house.

I entered and stood at the bottom of the stairs trying to decide if I should even try or just go lie on the couch instead. My thoughts were interrupted when Slade spoke from the top of the stairs.

“Oh hey, coming up?”

“Honestly, it’s up in the air right now,” I said, only half joking.

Slade chuckled. “I’ll meet you halfway.”

I sighed and made my way up the stairs. “Whose idea was it to have so many stairs?”

Slade smiled and then took my hand, half pulling me the rest of the way up the stairs. When we entered our room, I was met with the most amazing smell.

Slade led me to the bathroom where the tub was filled to the brim with warm water and my favorite oils and Epsom salts, candles lit all over the bathroom.

I closed my eyes and let out a breathy laugh. “Oh my gosh, thank you. I’m so tired.”

I started to walk into the bathroom but then stopped, wide-eyed.

“What?” Slade asked worriedly.

“Uh, I think my water just broke.” My words were then followed by a low moan as I bent over, holding my stomach. “I think we should head over to Dr. Thomas.”

Slade’s eyes were wide, the panic setting in. “Oh! Okay, okay, okay…”

I let out a long breath. “Slade, calm yourself and let’s go. Don’t forget my bag.”

Four hours and several curse words later, the most beautiful little boy was born. Mason Slade Black was the perfect, beautiful beginning of our family.

“He’s amazing. I love you,” Slade said quietly, pressing his forehead to mine.

I smiled, my eyes full of exhaustion. “I love you too.”

^The End^