32: EPILOGUE

Marisol could hear. The birds outside the window were loud, and her boys were gurgling in their cribs. Marisol could feel. She could feel the fabric of her dress against her thighs. Marisol could taste. She could taste the mint from her tea. Marisol could smell. She could smell the baby powder in the room.

She couldn't see, though, and strangely...she was alright. She was alright to give her sight for the birth of three healthy and beautiful babies. Still, it sucked. She could hear Grey lean against the wall, and she turned, smiling toward him as best as she could.

"What are they doing?"

"Our girl is sleeping, soundly, even as her brothers yawn. The boys have their eyes open, but they look sleepy because they're yawning. They're swaddled right now. They're slowly going back to sleep."

"We need names," she sighed.

"We'll figure them out, promise," he whispered into her ear. She sighed softly in his embrace. It felt like she only got moments of peace before the war infiltrated her head. She found herself doubting her happiness because it was fleeting. Maybe he'd die, maybe she wouldn't spend her human life with her mate.

"Do you think you'll win?"

"Yes. That Alpha is filled with hatred and greed; I have you and our family. I have to."

❥

Marisol was allowed to attend. She was allowed to watch. But what mate would want to watch their mate beat someone to death, or even worse, get beat to their death? He wanted her there; he said it would give him strength, but she refused. She couldn't do that to herself.

But as she sat alone in their home, her stomach sank, and she realized that she was strong. She survived abuse, disability, and discrimination. Not only did she survive, but she thrived. Greyson didn't want her there; he needed her there. He needed to know that she was by his side no matter what, just like he was for her.

Abigail gently held her hand as she led her through the amass of crowd. The babies were left with Samantha who was more than thrilled to have some alone time. Marisol had to take a breath and remind her that the world wouldn't make her go through so much shit just to be alone forever.

She saw nothing but felt everything. She could feel the intensity between her pack and the other. She could feel the rage between the wolves as she walked through the crowd. They must have gotten to the front because all she felt was the sun on her skin, but that momentary joy vanished as she heard the thick sound of bone cracking.

She didn't know who it was. She didn't want to know.

After moments of the terrifying unknown, a bell rang and she heard Abigail gasp beside her. "What? Abigail, what happened?"

"H-he won."

"Greyson?"

"Yes, Marisol! He won!"

As Greyson came to her, she threw herself into his arms only to hear him wince. "Oh, God, I'm sorry. You must be so hurt. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Marisol. I'm fine."

"You better be," she whispered whole-heartedly.

As Greyson laid on her chest, she ran a gentle hand through his hair. She smiled, hearing his steady breaths. He was awake. She could tell by how his hold on her shirt tightened and released.

"I've decided on the names."

"I thought you weren't sure–"

"You know, before you left today, I was sitting near the nursery, and I heard one of them giggle. He reminded me of you. We can name our son Greyson, II like you dreamt of, and the other boy, Chrystian, spelled with a y so I can have some form of flare," she smiled.

"And our daughter?"

"Alora."

"Thank you," he whispered, sitting up, pulling her onto his lap.

"You're welcome," she responded, smiling. "Besides, you make beautiful babies; they should have beautiful names too."

"We make beautiful babies. How about next time we do it au natural?"

She laughed, shaking her head profoundly. "Definitely."

❥

During the following months, the Alphas took the land of their enemy and allowed the pack members to join the heir pack or move to another. Many chose to be recognized as members of the Weston pack. Their land extended far passed their house and into the city. Marisol eventually returned to work, only to quit her job and change firms that had a predominantly female staff.

Their home was decorated and moved into, and soon a mess of children and dog toys evaded every corner of their lavish home. A few months after her labor, Greyson came home with a cute little puppy that would train her to be her service dog. Marisol's eyesight never returned. Part of her was glad; she would have missed her old self, and she was always confident that her struggles would never hold her back, and they never did. After a few years, she became a partner of her firm– the first-ever blind attorney to do so. Part of her was sad; her sight didn't return. She wanted to see her children grow and the events in their lives, but she was more than glad just to be present.

Samantha and Cal moved away, returning to his pack where they lived out their days blissfully in love. They had another beautiful child together, and Samantha was a better mom to both than she ever had been before. She was going to therapy– sometimes with Cal –and tried to work through all her insecurities. She was doing very well. She was even returning to school to become a Registered Nurse to help her mate with his clinic.

Greyson and Marisol shortly realized that their time together was limited, as his age progression would slow down to the same rate as his mate's. He was alright knowing he wouldn't live as long so long as he was with Marisol every step of the way.

"Mama! Grey and Chrystian outnumber me! Can I have a little sister?"

Marisol smiled as Alora ran into her lap. "Maybe? Why don't you go ask your father?"

She smiled, hearing her children fling themselves outside the door to go outside Greyson was God knows where doing God knows what. She knew her children were safe, however, as their entire property was always filled with shifters.

As she read her case files at the kitchen table, she hummed, thinking. It had been five years since the triplets were born. Perhaps they could have just one more. Alora would be devastated if it was another boy. Marisol chuckled to herself and continued reading.

If you had asked her seven years ago where she would be now, she wouldn't have said this. She wouldn't have answered, 'I'd be happy with my mate and three beautiful children in a grand house as a firm partner.' I would have never responded, 'I'll be a Luna.' She always believed she could never achieve everything she wanted; that her disability limited her. In some ways, it did. She couldn't drive, couldn't see her children grow, and to rely on her other instincts to get by. Strangely, actually, ironically, she knew she saw better without her eyesight than with it. She focused better, she had a better understanding, she could feel more, appreciate less...in a way, her sightlessness was a gift in disguise.

Somedays were difficult. Sometimes she'd spill something or break something. She'd cry and get mad at herself. But then Grey would come to her, and everything would be better. Everything as always better with him.

During the later hours of night, Greyson awoke to a painful scream. He stood up quickly, rushing out of his room to go to the nursery. Marisol, worried and followed the sounds, only to be shocked, but he sounds of bone cracking.

"They're shifting."

"They're only ten, Greyson! What do you mean they're shifting. What does that mean?"

"I don't know, Marisol. Stay close by so they can sense you, but do not touch them."

After a few hours of hearing such guttural screams, Greyson sighed in relief, and she felt a soft, wet nose touch her hand. She smiled, feeling the texture of her child's fur. "I bet you're so beautiful."

"They have to go for a run, Marisol. I'll go with them. They'll be okay."

"Okay, be safe, please. I'll come wait on the porch."

As Greyson strolled to the edge of the forest with his three, very uneven pups, he smiled and leaned down. While her brothers ran off quickly, Alora stayed behind, Greyson knelt down, rubbing her familiar fur. "Welcome back, Tala."

The wolf arched to the moon and howled before rushing through the forest floor with Greyson shortly behind her.

The End.