He Came From The Wild | Epilogue.

It's still dark when noise comes from the corner of the bedroom. It is cold too, at least it is outside the warm cocoon of blankets I find myself rather content in. Miranda only groans, and I'm reluctant to move. We never were morning people, and my change only happened recently.

"Oh god. It's only four am!" Miranda yawns, making an effort to get up;

"Stay, I got it." I try to keep the joy from my voice, knowing the evil look she'll serve me with at my early morning chirpiness.  

"Are you sure? You got up before?" Though judging by the way she just pulled the blanket a little tighter, I think that's as far as her argument is going to go.

Kissing her cheek, I let her sleep and swiftly move over to her bassinet in the corner where, I'm greeted by a mixture of baby powder and the fresh, new scent of our daughter. It's the best smell in the world; unlike the stench that's starting to filter through it and it's probably why she is awake now.

"Hey little princess, what are you making that noise for?" I hesitate before picking her up.

She's eight weeks old today and I'm still scared of doing something to damage her. Miranda tells me I won't, but I can't help it thanks to how tiny and delicate she is. The way May, can scream would have you thinking otherwise. Luckily she isn't demonstrating her full range of vocals right now and the second I hold May against me she goes quiet; content with being held only it's moments like these I hate having such a keen sense of smell.

I take her down the hall to the nursery and once she's changed, we go to the kitchen. The whole way I keep talking to her softly and it only seems to settle her further. Miranda says its because she is so used to hearing my voice. The whole time she had been pregnant, most nights were spent talking to her stomach, to the amazing little being growing in there. 

Oh how life had changed.

It wasn't just Miranda and I anymore, with most of our days spent in a constant rotation of feeding, changing and trying to work out a sleep schedule; what ever that meant. The books Miranda got seem to talk about it a lot as well as all the do's and don'ts that just seemed to contradict each other above all else. I let Miranda worry about that side of things. I didn't understand it, but what I did know was how to change a diaper and heat up a bottle.

That was precisely what I was doing now and with her breakfast ready, we move into the living room where I feed her. It ends with me telling her about an episode of one of my new favourite TV shows, while gently patting her back as her small body rests against my chest. Again, just how tiny and fragile she is hits me as I hold her until she falls back asleep. It doesn't last for long as the second I hear a sound from the staircase I get tense; prepared to guard her at all costs. Her tiny fists open, flexing slightly before curling back up with an iron like grip on my shirt as I turn to see Chad coming down. 

"Thought I heard the squawker!" Chad yawns, nearly two hours too late.

"Don't call her that." I warn, not stopping the growl to my words.

"Right. Sorry. Coffee?" He keeps walking down towards the kitchen and he should know my answer by now.

With him up and being noisy downstairs, I decide to go back to my room where Miranda is still asleep. The morning light is coming through the curtains now and once baby May is back in her bed, I crawl into mine.

"Only two hours this time. I can't help feel jealous of our daughter getting all of your attention!" Miranda mumbles as she rolls over and snuggles back into place beside me.

"Chad's up and figured I should get in a nap before we have to get ready for today."

"Oh right. Today!" She sighs, and looking down a small smile is on her face making her look completely at ease.

I thought I was happy with Miranda. I thought the life we started together here was it for me. I didn't think I could love her anymore than what I did when we got married last year or when she told me she was pregnant. As cliche as it sounds, I don't think I will ever find out how much love for her I can feel, because every day in a million different ways, it just keeps growing. Three years ago I never saw us here; with all of this. I'd dreamed of something maybe half as good, if that. I had just wanted Miranda.

And now we have May.

At eleven they arrive. Bianca's twins are dressed in matching outfits, the boys practically mini-versions of their father. The fact they all have checked shirts and jeans on doesn't help alter than image. They're nearly three now and act as if they're joined at the hip. Judging from the look on Bianca's face as she breaks up the instant rumble they get into once they're out of the car makes me wonder if that's not a good thing.

Cody watches on with the kind of pride I can identify with now and despite seeing them frequently due to our alliance, it's definitely turned into a long term friendship. The boys know our house like their own and rush up to the door. They don't even knock as they go to open it, but I'm already there.

"Baydon!" They chorus before I'm ignored with Chad's appearance on the staircase. 

"Hey monsters!" He greets, grabbing one under each arm as they make airplane noises through the house and into the back yard.

"Sorry we're late! Taylor couldn't find her shoes and-" Bianca starts mumbling until Taylor yells from behind her.

"Don't tell them that!" The red head practically runs up to the door with her sibling close behind.

Adam simply nods as he comes in and Bianca only rolls her eyes as the pair act in a similar way to her twins, constantly pushing and shoving each other. Jay and Chloe are too involved in each other to notice I'm even standing at the door and Connor heads straight out back to see Chad. The pair are practically best friends and considering they're both rather mature for their age, it makes sense.  

Cody shakes my hand as he passes, coming in last and I'm about to close the door when Abby's car appears. Before long our house is full of the few humans who know about my kind and the shifters who are here to meet my pup. They'd stayed away out of respect, and even Chad had gone to stay with Rory during those first couple of weeks of having May home. He was the perfect Uncle, and he'd become like a little brother to me, and Miranda too who had taken him in barely a month after that night. She'd found out he wasn't fitting in at the new place we'd found for the pups to stay, since Carolina was gone and her father dead. It wasn't helped by the fact Oliver blamed him for most of what happened simple for the fact wasn't full wolf.

I follow everyone outside as Helen fusses around in the kitchen preparing salads with Taylor and Chloe helping her, chatting away. Emma and the twins are being kept amused by Connor and Chad, while the rest of us spread out on the deck. Despite being winter, the sun is out and we're all making the most of it. Abby leaves the others in the kitchen and brings out snacks, while Donald takes over barbecue duties and Rory isn't shy in the way he is flirting with Taylor the second she comes out behind Abby. 

Bianca sits back with Cody, looking at everyone with a peaceful smile and catching my eye we share a look. This is what life is about for us now. Family. Pack. Our pasts are complicated, but we're exactly where we're meant to be. There are only two people missing now and leaving everyone doing their own thing, I go and find Miranda.

"And you are the prettiest little angel I ever did see!" She coos from the nursery, slipping on the pink, glitter covered pair of socks Taylor had brought for May on her feet. 

She picks May up and as she hugs her, kisses her forehead. 

"Everyone is here now." I tell her from the doorway, and I see through the fake smile she plasters her face. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I just," her voice breaks and she kisses the top of May's head now, before she lets me take her. "I was thinking about Chad and the whole runt thing."

"Don't even worry about it. May has us, her family and pack behind her. It doesn't matter if she grows up to be a shifter or if she is human; she will be loved and protected." My wolf agrees.

"I know, I just can't help thinking about it considering we're literally taking her down there to be thrown to the wolves."

"I don't doubt she'll end up leading the pack. Look at her!" Maybe I was biased, but with dark navy eyes and the whisper of blonde hair, I had no doubt May wouldn't grow up looking like her mother. "And with you as her Mum and all the strong, female influences in her life, I think she'll end up as a force to be reckoned with!"

"Well, she is only eight weeks old and she has you, Dad and Chad wrapped around her little finger!" Miranda laughed.

I pull Miranda close, keeping her under my arm as we go down stairs and the second we arrive outside all eyes turn to us. It doesn't last as Emma runs over to see the baby, interesting enough so does one of Bianca's boys, Caleb. Taylor squeals in delight at seeing one of her gifts from the baby shower on May's feet and before she can do much else, Helen has swooped in to take her granddaughter from me. She has competition though as it's not long until Bianca and Abby pounce, both eager to have their turn at cuddles before lunch is served.

As the afternoon carries on, we all end up shifting and as the Alpha couple, Cody and Bianca go through the motion of accepting May into the pack, by nothing more than a lick on the cheek and their wolf recognizing her scent as one of theirs. I'm sure our neighbours wonder what goes on in our house as no one holds back from the howling chorus which ends up with us all going for a run in the forest that our house sits beside. We wrestle and chase, getting out all of the new pent up energy from the excitement of the day; bonding.

I may not have wanted a pack, but I have one, and it's exactly what I need it to be.

Much later that night, long after our guests have all gone, I leave the bathroom to find Miranda has finished nursing May. She's spread out on the bed, resting her head on her arm, that has curled around our daughter. They're both deep asleep now and inching closer, May stirs slightly, yet doesn't wake up from where she rests against Miranda. Both Mother and daughter take a deep breath and sigh softly, content and completely at ease. It's the kind of moment I want to freeze and relive again and again. It's the kind of moment that makes me forget about everything that happened in the past because none of it matters now.

I have my mate, and our daughter; safe and healthy, which is all I could ever ask for. Together, they are my home. They complete me in ways I never possible and standing there, admiring the way the soft light of the lamp has Miranda's skin glowing and the chubbiness of May's cheeks, the sense of pride and the love that warms me to my center tells me the voice in my mind knows exactly what I am thinking.

'Beautiful.' My wolf tells me.

"Beautiful." I agree.

-------------------------------------------

Authors Note: And that's the end of Braydon and Miranda's story. There will be no sequel, and I hope you enjoyed the ending, well I hope you enjoyed all of it really. Please believe me when I say I really appreciate how you've taken the time to read, comment and vote on my story. I can't say thank you enough, especially to the ones who have shown me so much support along the way and have been there since I posted Chapter One.  

Feel free to leave me any comments (good or bad) about the story as I'm always looking to improve and I just love hearing from you all. I know editing needs to be done and one day I promise I will :) I also know a few of you struggled with some of what happened in certain parts, but hopefully the happy ending made it up to you. I'm amazed that what I wrote was able to get such passionate reactions from you all.

T H A N K Y O U once again and to those of you who are Hunter fans - updates will be more regular as I have more time for it now this one is finished :)

ER xxxx

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top