Epilogue

ELEANOR

^EIGHT MONTHS LATER^

“I look like a duck,” I said in a dejected tone as I looked at myself in the mirror.

“You better not cry and spoil all the hard work that I put into your makeup,” Rebecca warned me as she walked back toward me and began applying a coat of lipstick.

“Done,” she said with a smile on her face as she stepped back and looked at me from head to toe.

“You look so beautiful, Ellie,” she commented, but I pouted.

I turned back and looked at myself in the mirror again.

It was an off-shoulder dress made out of the softest silk and net material that pooled just below my feet. It was a teal-blue color that hugged my curves like a glove while showing off my baby bump.

My eyes slowly moved to my hairdo. A simple messy bun with pink and blue flowers on my hair.

“I look nice, but don’t you think I look a little like a duck for my own mating ceremony?” I asked Becca, but she shook her head.

“You’re not a duck, Ellie. You are pregnant, and you look so beautiful with that baby bump,” Becca said, but I was still skeptical.

“Weren’t you the person who wanted the mating ceremony and baby shower to happen on the same day?”

“Yes, but now I’m not so sure,” I mumbled.

Just then, someone barged into my room.

Both Rebecca and I turned around to see Mrs. Costa walk in with a lot of jewelry boxes in her arms.

“Oh my god! You look like an angel, darling,” she commented as she placed a quick kiss on my cheek before she bent down.

“How is my grandchild doing today?” Mrs. Costa spoke as she placed her hand on my stomach, and I instantly felt a kick. “Oh my!” Mrs. Costa beamed as she looked at me again.

“I think you should have found out the gender. This waiting is killing me, dear,” Mrs. Costa whined for the hundredth time.

“You’ll find out the gender soon, Mrs. Costa. Just a few more days,” I told her.

She huffed but didn’t complain any more.

“Okay, I’ve brought you some jewelry of mine. Pick whatever you want to wear,” she said and began showing me everything.

After a lot of debate, we finally settled on a simple blue sapphire necklace and earrings.

“We’re going to be late. Let’s go,” Rebecca said.

We nodded our heads and walked out of the house. A car was already waiting for us, so we quickly got in.

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the venue.

“Are you ready?” Rebecca asked me, but my eyes were glued to the closed double doors.

My palms began to sweat while my heart started to palpitate.

This was the moment I’ve been waiting for ever since I realized I was in love with Xavier, and to think that I was only a few steps away from it made it surreal.

“Relax, darling,” Mrs. Costa said as she placed her hand on mine.

“Ivan said that they’re all ready. Shall we head inside?” Becca asked me, and I nodded my head.

She handed me the bouquet she made, and simultaneously, the double doors opened. The first thing I noticed was that almost the entire pack was there.

“Let’s walk in,” Mrs. Costa said as she placed her hand on my lower back.

As we started walking inside, everyone stood up. My eyes slowly moved to meet my mate’s.

He looked absolutely breathtaking in that teal-blue suit, and he had a smile on his face. As I reached the raised stage, Xavier helped me up, and we stood facing one another.

“Let’s begin the mating ceremony,” Marquez said, and everyone took their seats.

Marquez read a few lines from an ancient book, but my entire focus was on my mate.

“~You look like a goddess, Eleanor,~” Xavier mind-linked me, and I blushed.

“You can now mark your bride,” Marquez said, and without a second thought, Xavier stepped closer to me.

He bent down until his lips were hovering on the spot where my shoulder met the neck. My eyes momentarily closed, and soon I felt the sharp sting of his teeth sink into my skin.

For the first few seconds, it was painful, but then, it was replaced with euphoria. As he pulled back, he licked my wound, sealing it shut.

“I love you, Eleanor.”

“I love you more,” I said as he pulled me into a kiss.

“Now I pronounce you husband and wife,” Marquez said as the crowd began to cheer.

And we started being showered with rose petals.

The mating ceremony successfully concluded, and most of the pack members left after having lunch, leaving only a few select people for the baby shower.

“Ellie, dear.” I turned around when I saw Mrs. Tanner walk toward me with the cake I asked for.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Tanner,” I said as I looked at the cake.

It was a purple ombre cake with fresh flowers, exactly how I wanted it.

“No problem. Shall I put it on that table?” she asked me, pointing toward the table that was set for the baby shower.

“Okay,” I said, and she walked away.

The party was going as planned, and Xavier was busy talking to Samuel while I grabbed a plate of apple pie and took a seat at a table.

Just as I sat, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. But it was so spontaneous that it quickly subsided.

“~Erica, what’s happening?~”

“~Don’t panic, Ellie. It’s just a contraction. This is quite normal in the final stages of the pregnancy,~” she reassured me. I nodded my head and took a seat.

“~Ellie, are you all right?~” I looked up when I saw Rebecca there.

“Yes, I’m just having contractions, I think.”

“Are you in labor?”

“No, I don’t think so. I still have time,” I mumbled when another wave of contraction hit me, and I felt something wet flow down my leg. “Rebecca, can you please call Xavier,” I said.

***

“Xavier, calm down!” I said as he literally ran into the hospital, but he ignored my comment.

“Beta Costa?” The pack doctor quickly approached us.

“Her water broke, and she’s having contractions,” Xavier said.

“Okay, bring her to the room.”

***

Two hours had passed since we’d come to the hospital, and the contractions were getting worse, but the doctor said that I still had time since I wasn’t fully dilated.

“Eleanor,” I heard Xavier call my name, but I didn’t open my eyes.

“Do you want to eat something?” he asked me, but I shook my head.

“Okay, shall we check?” the doctor asked as she walked in. After she checked, the doctor looked up at both of us. “You’re ready to push. Are you ready?” she asked me, and I nodded my head.

Xavier came and stood next to me as he took my hand. The contractions were getting worse, and I couldn’t control them anymore. I started screaming.

The nurses worked quickly as they put my legs up in stirrups.

“Okay, give me one big push,” the doctor said.

As the contractions hit me, I pushed. It’d been half an hour of the excruciating pain, and I was ready for the baby to be out.

“Push, Eleanor. I can already see the baby’s head,” the doctor said while tears streamed down my cheeks.

And I pushed.

“No, I can’t!” I screamed as my back hit the mattress again.

“The head is already out, just one more,” the doctor said.

“You can do it, darling. You are strong,” Xavier said, and I turned around and glared at him.

I screamed as I pushed one last time. I felt a huge relief wash over my body when the baby slid out.

“Congratulations, Beta Costa and Mrs. Costa. It’s a baby boy,” the doctor said as the baby started to cry.

Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks as the doctor showed us our son.

“He looks so beautiful,” Xavier commented, while I was speechless.

“He’s definitely going to steal hearts when he grows up,” the doctor said as the nurse took him to get cleaned up, while she stayed behind to finish up with me.

After everything I’d been through, I felt like my heart was complete again. I had a loving mate and family I could call my own and finally, my son.

“You did great, darling,” Xavier said as he placed a kiss on my lips.

All I was able to do was smile before exhaustion took over, and my eyes closed on their own accord.

***

“He looks so cute!” Mrs. Costa’s voice rang in the room.

“What about me then? I’m your son.”

“Nah, I love my grandson more now.”

Mr. and Mrs. Costa and Xavier were there, and Mrs. Costa had my son in her arms.

“You’re already spoiling him rotten.”

“Of course I am. He’s my grandson,” she exclaimed as her eyes landed on me. “You’re awake. How are you feeling, dear?” Mrs. Costa asked as she walked toward me and handed over my son.

“Better,” I said when he finally opened his eyes.

A gasp left my mouth when I realized that he had inherited his father’s forest-green eyes along with my dark-brown hair.

A perfect blend of Xavier and me.

~Knock, knock.~

Mr. Costa opened the door, and Ivan and Rebecca walked inside with a bouquet of fresh flowers, followed by Marquez and Samuel.

“Where is my godson?” Samuel asked while walking toward me.

“Can I?” he asked. I nodded my head and handed my son to him.

The entire room was filled with laughter, smiles, and happiness, and I couldn’t help but smile along with them all.

“What have you decided to name him?” Ivan asked us.

Xavier walked toward me and took my hand in his as he stared into my eyes.

“Ready?” he asked me, and I nodded my head.

“Caleb Costa. Son of Beta Xavier Costa and Eleanor Costa,” Xavier said.

End of Book