Settling down after moving back home to our pack lands takes a while. Huge chunks of the fence are damaged from when the humans and infected drove us out, and are the first things that need repair. Rowan spends all day out there, along with half the pack, guarding the lands while also fixing the fence. The rest of us are focused on fixing the gardens and greenhouses. Having food for the winter is important.

By the time autumn comes, we are all exhausted. But, the fences are all repaired, and our food supply is higher. So, we are all able to rest easier.

We have kept in contact with Ekata, and they have been helping us to recover as well. Some more of their people have even come over to join us here. Not many, but some.

Once things settled down, Rowan went back to his training with my dad and papa. He was initially upset about having to give up his apprenticeship with Jesse, but he has been enjoying the training. Mom has been pushing me even harder to start shadowing him to become the next Luna. The whole thing is overwhelming, especially with two infants, but it has been enlightening as well.

"Matty, are you listening?" Mom says, drawing me from my thoughts.

"Mm?" Blinking my eyes, I look over at Mom. "Of course."

Mom just raises an eyebrow at me, clearly not believing me. "Sure." He sets the book he was holding down, coming to join me on the couch in his office. "What's going on? You have been out of it all day?"

Shaking my head, I just look down at the book I am holding, the words unfocused. "I'm just tired, Mom. Elias and Aren have been up all night for the past week, and I haven't been getting any sleep."

He nods. "That's understandable. Has Micah been able to give you any advice?"

"Yeah. He advised me to start pumping, and it has helped. Rowan has been helping with the feedings more, so that makes the night feedings not so bad most nights. But the past week, they are both rebelling, refusing to take the bottle. I think they're teething, but I don't know."

He nods again, grabbing my hand. "It will get better, love. Just got to take things day by day. Try not to focus too much on the future, because that is just disheartening." He gives my hand a squeeze. "Why don't we end early today. You can go take a nap. I'll have Gwen bring the babies down before dinner."

"Thanks, Mom," I say. Leaning over, I give him a hug, taking comfort in his familiar scent. Sometimes the simplest things can be the most calming.

The house is lively, noise drifting through the hallways once I leave Mom's office. The sound of running footsteps come from upstairs. The school is back up and running, and Gwen has been shadowing Avery. Even though there are not too many children who are school age, they still have their hands full. Plus, they watch Elias and Avery for a few hours every afternoon, allowing me to focus on what Mom is trying to teach me.

Laughter is drifting up from downstairs, along with a wonderful smell. I think it's Noah and Rosalie's turn to cook dinner this week, and whatever they are cooking sounds amazing.

It's hard to not join them, but the heaviness in my body forces me to climb the stairs and head to my room. A few toys are scattered on the ground, from when the boys were playing while Rowan and I were getting ready this morning. Aren is still too small to run after his brother, being only a few months old. But, Elias loves to giggle at his brother, doing his best to interact.

The bed is calling my name, and I strip down to my briefs before slipping under the blankets. There is a chill in the air, so huddling under the heavy blankets is enough to draw me to sleep.

I have no idea how long I am asleep before a knock on my door wakes me up. Blinking open my eyes, I see Gwen creeping into the room. Both boys are awake, Elias babbling to himself, but Aren is quiet.

"I tried to keep them distracted for as long as I could, but they missed you."

Yawning, I push myself up, making grabby hands at them. Gwen has a fond look as she rolls her eyes, carrying both boys over to me. Elias squeals when he sees me, reaching out to me so much that Gwen almost drops him.

"Hi, little love," I murmur, pressing a kiss to his cheek as I pull him close. Aren is quiet as Gwen hands him over, rubbing his face on my chest and gumming at me. "I missed you too"

"Dinner is almost done. I think they are just finishing up. Probably be calling for everyone in like ten minutes."

"Alright," I murmur. "Thanks for watching them."

"No problem. I like watching them. They help curb the baby fever."

My eyebrows raise, getting a chuckle out of my sister. But before I can ask any questions, she is walking out of the room. "See you in ten."

My chest is sore, too full of milk to be comfortable. Gathering some pillows, I get everything situated before letting the boys nurse. There have been way too many times where I have been too quick to latch one of them and ended up in an uncomfortable position for the next twenty minutes.

Once situated, I bring Aren close, latching him quickly. Elias is sitting up, resting his head on me as he nurses, hand reaching up to play with my hair. He looks so much like Rowan it's astonishing. His hair is a few shades lighter, looking practically white. But it is curling at the ends, similar to my own.

And where Elias is light, Aren is deep. His skin is a soft olive shade, and the hair growing in is a deep brown, curling tightly. His lashes are long and dark, framing his big, brown eyes. His nose is a little button, and his lips are plush, much more than Elias'. And while Elias tends to be outgoing and talkative, Aren is quite shy. He often cries if anyone other than me or Rowan is holding him. We had been worried about putting him in the afternoon care but knew that it would be good for him. Sure enough, it only took two days for him to get used to being held by Avery and Gwen.

Everything about the two of them is perfect, and my heart feels close to bursting every time I look at them.

Once Aren is fast asleep, I unlatch him, laying him down on the bed. He has gotten a lot chunkier over the months, nothing like the scrawny baby he was when we got him.

Elias looks up at me, fingers twiddling in my hair. When my eyes meet his, he smiles, giggling when I nom on his fingers, before going back to nursing.

It is only when I know that he is full that I unlatch him, pressing kisses on his cheeks. "Come on, love. Let's go down and see everyone."

Elias sits peacefully on the bed, sucking on his fingers as I get dressed and swaddle a sleeping Aren in a blanket before placing him in the basket. He smiles when I pick him up again, babbling to me as we walk downstairs.

The first floor is loud as we descend the stairs. There are people spilling out of the kitchen and out into the living room and dining room. The smell of tomatoes reaches my nose, causing my stomach to rumble.

Noah is the first to see me come down the stairs, rushing over to take the baby basket from me. "Hey, foods on the table." He leans down, pressing a kiss on Elias' cheek. "Hi, Eli."

"His name is Elias."

Noah looks up at me, raising a dark brow. "And yours is Matthew."

Rolling my eyes, I follow him into the dining room. Almost everyone has already gathered around. Some are eating, while others just stand around talking.

Rowan is walking in the door just as I am getting Elias buckled into the high-chair. He makes his way over to us, wrapping me in a tight hug. His scent is musky, and heat spreads through me. It has been forever since we have had a minute alone, enough to anything more than kissing.

"Hi, love," I murmur, leaning up to press a chaste kiss to his lips.

Rowan hums, a smile spreading across his face. "Miss me?"

"Always."

Leaning my head on his shoulder, I look around the room, taking everyone in. Mom has managed to snatch Elias from Noah, talking to Theo while Darcy is eating at the table. Grandpa has Noah's youngest siblings on his lap, helping the twins to cut up the meat they are trying to eat. Taylor is leaning into the living room, clearly talking to someone else, but keeping an eye on his children eating at the table. Dad and Papa are both standing outside, the door open to let in some fresh air. They are leaned close together taking comfort in one another while having a minute alone.

Rosalie and Henry are who catch my eyes though. They are sitting on the couch in the living room, talking quietly together. They are both smiling, and one of Henry's hands is resting on her stomach. I have a feeling they will be announcing something to everyone tonight.

The sight of my pack together, happy and worry-free has something warm blossoming in my chest. This is my family. We survived an attempt to wipe us out. Somehow we all made it through everything life has thrown at us.

It's a crazy life, filled with twisting fates leading us down an unusual path. But it's my life, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

"Fates a bitch," I whisper.

Rowan laughs.

And life goes on.

*****

And the Unusual Fate Series has come to an end.

A family tree will be uploaded soon.

Thank you, everyone, for coming along for this extra long journey. Finishing a story is always sad but exhilarating, but I have never finished a series before. The emotions are strong, fellas. Fate Decides was the first story I ever wrote, and while I sometimes laugh at my writing back then, that story will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you, everyone. You are wonderful.