Epilogue

The room was quiet as I sat in the rocking chair, looking down at the new baby boy sleeping in my arms. It was hard to believe that the last seven months had passed so quickly, and now, he was finally here.

It was also incredible to consider how much my life had changed in the last year. Meeting Rayne, coming to the Northern Lands as his Beta, being allowed to become pregnant with his child.

I’d even been able to face my father and the darker aspects of myself for the first and last time. In all of it, I’d begun to realize that the perception I’d grown up with had been wrong.

I wasn’t a monster as I’d been led to believe, and holding this precious baby only reinforced that for me. I’d given birth late the night before, and by morning, I was feeling quite good.

My son’s birth was quick and easy, which had been a relief to Rayne. He’d been thinking much about the story he’d heard of his and Rin’s births and worried that our child could have complications as Rin did.

For this reason, he’d insisted that we stay at the palace during the last two months of my pregnancy. Not that I minded.

I liked being around his parents and sister, not to mention Rin and Aurora visited often. It felt so nice to have a family, and I was very excited that I’d soon have a child of my own.

Our little son came into the world very healthy after those two months; our sweet little Yue. Rayne was the one who chose his name, and I confess that I did like it right away.

It was quite appropriate for this tiny newborn Luna Dog. He had tiny ears and a tail as pale as the moon, and even some white hair much like mine and Rayne’s.

I had to say though that he looked much more like Rayne than me. He even had his golden eyes.

But such felt appropriate too. I always did like the idea of sons looking more like their fathers, and Rayne was a very handsome creature.

The door to the room opened as I sat there admiring him, and I glanced up to see Rayne coming in. Not that it was surprising.

He hadn’t stayed away from us long since Yue was born. I wondered if this was going to last a long time.

He hadn’t been comfortable being away from me too long either the entire time I’d been pregnant. Again, not that I was complaining.

I liked knowing that he loved us so much.

“How are you two doing now?” he asked as he came over to us.

“We’re fine,” I assured him with a good-humored smile. He was still a bit frazzled from Yue’s quick birth. “We’ve been sitting here enjoying the quiet. Well, I have. Yue’s been sleeping since he finished feeding.”

Rayne smiled, gently running his hand over Yue’s tiny head. “I’m glad to see you’re both doing so well. It’s making me feel a little more secure about all of this.”

“Everything is fine, Rayne. He’s perfectly healthy and nothing’s going to happen to him,” I reminded him.

“I suppose I am worrying too much,” Rayne reluctantly gave in.

“Why don’t you hold him for a while? That may help,” I suggested.

“Yes, I would like that.”

I slowly stood up, handing Yue to him and stretching a bit. I had been sitting there for a while and become a bit stiff.

Looking around, I noted the bright sunlight outside and the gentle sway of the tree branches. “Is it really nice out? I’d like to open the windows and let Yue have some fresh air,” I suggested.

“It is. If you’re up to it, then we could go out to the courtyard for a while. The fresh air would be good for you and Yue,” Rayne answered.

“That’s not a bad idea. I do feel a bit cooped up.”

The windows in the hallway were open as we stepped out, letting in the pleasant breeze and smell of the flowers. It all felt so perfect, so light compared to the darkness we’d been through before.

Was this what they referred to when they spoke of the light at the end of the tunnel? I was starting to believe it.

The doors to the courtyard were open, and stepping through them, I noticed that Lord Jekia and Lana were already out there, sitting at a round granite table under the shade of one of the giant willow trees. Rayne and I stopped as we realized that they weren’t alone.

Hailia and Lucille were there with them.

“Did they come because they heard of Yue’s birth?” I whispered.

“I don’t believe so. Emelio hasn’t made the announcement yet from what I was told, and I doubt Father would allow any in so soon to see him,” Rayne answered.

“Should we perhaps wait to join them?” I wondered.

Rayne shook his head. “No. There’s no harm in it, and Father and I are here, so nothing untoward should happen, although I doubt it would. They certainly have been proving through the last seven months that they have no ill intentions.”

He was right. I had spoken with them several times since that day we’d faced my father and learned the truth about what Camille had done, and they’d been nothing but good to me.

Hailia had remained the friend she’d been from the beginning, and Lucille was quite attentive about her actions around me, so much so that I’d had to remind her several times that she didn’t need to be so nervous.

Indeed, it appeared that she was desperate to make up for what her mother had done and prove she was nothing like her.

“Very well. I suppose there is no harm in us joining them then, and it would be nice for our friends to begin seeing Yue.” I relented.

I did have a bit of nervousness as we walked over there, even insisting on holding Yue again just to calm myself. Not that I didn’t trust his father. I just felt better that way. As expected, all eyes turned to us as we approached.

“Oh my! You have had your baby?!” Hailia exclaimed as she stood up.

“Yes. She had him last night, so we haven’t had time to make any announcements,” Rayne answered for me.

“True. Emelio is working on those as we speak.” Lord Jekia patted the table. “Come and join us. Hailia and Lucille were simply paying us a visit this morning, so this is a good opportunity to introduce him.”

Rayne and I obliged, and I sat down next to Lana with Rayne beside me. Hailia and Lucille stood up, quietly stepping over to see Yue.

“Goodness, such a tiny Luna Dog, though I must say that it is rather nice to see another in the world. It will be just as much so when Lord Rin and Lady Aurora finally have a child,” Lucille commented.

“Heirs to the more powerful alpha do tend to be quite a focal point to all of you, do they not?” Lana noted.

“It is simply how it has always been, and we do not see so many anymore. Many of the more powerful alpha clans have been wiped out, and that’s rather sad to think about.” Lucille sighed.

“Perhaps it is simply how the Fates have designed things here. After all, there was much bloodshed in the competitions before,” Lord Jekia pointed out.

“That is a reasonable conclusion.” Hailia nodded. She gently touched my shoulder. “How have you been feeling, Luna? I will take it that his birth wasn’t too stressful for you to be moving about so soon.”

“It wasn’t, and I’m feeling very good now. But it is a bit of a surprise to see the two of you out here. I haven’t seen you visit the palace for months now,” I responded.

“No, we have not, and honestly, we didn’t come today expecting to see that you had your baby, though it is a sweet bonus to be able to do so,” Hailia admitted as she and Lucille took their seats.

“I am very grateful that all of you trust me to see him as well. I know what happened before has been a weighing issue for many, even if you have given me enough trust to be around you,” Lucille added. She looked down as she spoke, wringing her hands in her lap. It was a nervous habit she’d had for a while now.

“If I may ask before we get too far into things, does your little one have a name yet?” Hailia inquired.

“He does. His name is Yue,” Rayne answered.

“Yue,” Hailia repeated thoughtfully. “A name meaning moon. It is quite fitting for a Luna Dog pup.”

“It is, and he looks so much like you, Lord Rayne, although I suppose that the white hair could also be from Lady Luna,” Lucille noted.

“We have considered the same,” Rayne allowed. “But let us move on now. I am curious as to what this visit is about. Luna’s right about you two not coming around the palace recently, and this appears unannounced to me.”

Lord Jekia nodded. “It was, but not unwelcome. The fact is that they came to speak to me about an offer Lucille has been given. A surviving member of her father’s family that has been living within the Eastern Lands has extended an invitation to her to stay with him and his wife,” he explained.

“Oh? Your father still has some family in the Eastern Lands?” I questioned her.

“He does. Legard is a second cousin of our father, and he and his wife Grizelda are both prominent figures in their village and good friends of the ruler, Lord Lyric. They had heard about what happened with my mother and the truth about what happened to Father, and they felt that it may be better for me to come and live with them so that I may begin rebuilding my life and escape some of the shame left from my mother’s actions. Lord Lyric has agreed to it, and I came to ask permission from Lord Jekia before I leave,” Lucille explained.

“Which I am willing to give. Lyric and I have spoken about it, and I feel confident that it is the best decision to be made both for Lucille and our lands,” Lord Jekia added.

“I see.” I looked at Hailia. “And what of you? Are you planning to go to the Eastern Lands as well?”

Hailia shook her head. “No. I will be remaining here. I was also speaking to Lord Jekia about maintaining a matchmaking house in Jumal. The madame of the current one wishes to retire and has no heirs, and she feels quite comfortable with handing it to me, especially since her girls have taken to me so well.”

“I do not wish to sound wrong, but that surprises me a bit. There was so much fear of you before because of your heritage and previous banishment,” Lana noted.

“There was, but much of those fears have now dissipated given what occurred along with Luna’s presence. She has shown many that one should not judge simply for where one comes from, which I admit I have enjoyed seeing others realize,” Lord Jekia told her.

“There is still much work to be done, but I believe that minds can be changed in time, and I had been hoping that Luna and I could be part of that, just as Rin, Aurora, and Mother have been,” Rayne added.

“It is true that nothing comes in a day, but the future is never written in stone, and we can overcome prejudices if we are willing to try.” Lucille bowed her head to me. “For my part, I still wish to say how sorry I am for everything that happened, Lady Luna. I should have done so much more when I began to realize what Mother was doing, but I let my own views of the world cloud my judgment about you. I have much to learn and make amends for, and I hope I can do so from now on.”

I glanced at my son, who was beginning to fidget against my shoulder. “I’ve always accepted your apologies along with everyone else’s, and I can’t hold any grudges about it. I’ll be no better if I do. If you are sincere, then let us put that in the past and move forward. I only hope that you’ll be able to make a good life with your family now,” I told her.

I did mean every word of that. Maybe Lucille had done the wrong things, but I couldn’t continue holding anything against her or anyone else.

We couldn’t change the past, but we could make the future so much better.

Yue squirmed a bit more, making small sounds of displeasure. “Goodness, did you have a bad dream?” I asked as I hugged him and patted his back.

“Perhaps he needs to be changed. It has been a while, hasn’t it?” Rayne suggested.

“Then why don’t you both take him inside to do so? We can finish up out here,” Lord Jekia said.

“Thank you for allowing us to see him. I hope I can see more of him soon,” Hailia added, smiling sweetly at us.

“I can’t see an issue with that, can you?” Rayne asked me as we stood up.

“Not at all. It will be nice when we can take him out as well,” I agreed.

I admit that I did believe this gave Rayne and Lord Jekia the excuse for us to get away for now, though I wouldn’t complain. It was nice to see and talk to them, but it was nicer to have this private family time with Yue during his first day.

“So, do you think that Lucille will be better off going to the Eastern Lands?” I asked Rayne as we headed up to our room.

“Perhaps. It will at least get her away from the ones who still insist on accusing her here. That’s probably why Father and Lyric agreed to it,” Rayne admitted.

I patted Yue’s back as he began crying. “I know, I know,” I whispered. “We’re almost there.”

Yue fussed louder as we arrived at our room. However, he calmed down once he was changed and swaddled in his blanket.

Rayne picked him up once he was done, kissing his forehead as Yue snuggled against him. “You really are something already. It will be nice when we can give you a few siblings,” he softly commented.

“That is quite a bold comment from one who did not wish to have children this quickly,” I teased, sitting on the bed near them.

“True, but I have never had a time without siblings, and I wouldn’t wish for him to feel lonely,” Rayne responded. He looked at Yue, who was looking back at him with bright golden eyes. “Besides, don’t you feel like this has made us much closer?”

“I do,” I conceded, standing with them and caressing Yue’s hair. “But everything in its own time. We’ll have plenty of it, won’t we?”

Rayne returned my smile. “We will. It’s just a pleasant thought for the future.”

Maybe we couldn’t know all of the future, but it certainly could be brighter than where we’d been, especially now that we had Yue.

Yes, meeting Rayne had been the ray of light my life needed, and I knew I’d love him forever, just as I loved our new little son. With them, I truly did feel like life was beautiful.

And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

^End of Book 3^

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