Epilogue

Song: Chicken Tendies by Clinton Kane/Oblivion by Labrinth/Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo

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There is more to a heartbeat than the simple blood passing through our hearts, or the steady pounding of our pulse.

In a heartbeat, there is silence. It's a reminder. A pause, a break, a moment in which we stop, letting the stress and pressure from our past leave behind us. A brief and tender moment between the chaotic boom of our hearts reminding us that we are alive. We will live and ultimately thrive.

Embrace the silence, the tender pause in a heartbeat, for, without it, everything else falls to oblivion.

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Third Person POV

A month later

The bar was bustling with the sound of guests and Grant's band warming up their instruments. It was busier than Vince remembered, and for once, he found no comfort here anymore. But as promised, he shadowed Xavier through the bar, a couple of the betas joining them to watch Grant's performance. He had been gaining popularity recently, and Xavier had practically begged Vince to come with him to see his gig. Of course, Vince held onto a glass of soda, turning down all of the alcohol any of the betas offered. He didn't want to be here, but he wasn't going to back out of his promise to Xavier.

At the other end of the bar, Simon and Sam were at the bar, grabbing a drink, scoping out a place to sit to listen to Grant play for a bit. Sam had work in the morning, but he insisted on taking Simon out for a drink to see his old friends from his pack. It had been Xavier's idea, and Sam couldn't agree more that the two could enjoy a night out. It took quite a bit of planning, but fortunately, Grant's band had a gig today.

As Simon took a sip of his drink, Sam scanned the crowd, smirking as he spotted Xavier approaching the stage. Looking around, he spotted Vince in the middle of the bar. "Hey," he whispered in Simon's ear. "I see an open table."

Vince had been distracted for a second with a conversation between him and a beta before realizing Xavier had left his side. He slid past a few patrons, trying to spot his brother amongst the crowd. He turned to the stage briefly before glancing over to the restrooms, and settled his eyes on the bar.

Then he spotted him. Simon. He would recognize that face anywhere. Vince let out a shaky breath, seeing his mate for the first time in person in seven months. He was near the counter, smiling next to a taller man. Sam, he realized, the same man that had been in that pickup truck. The one Simon had called in his vision. Vince had only glanced their way for a second before turning around sharply. His heart hammered in his chest as he tried to control his breathing.

He needed to get out of here, needed to find Xavier and get the hell home. He wasn't ready to face him, wasn't ready to see him this soon. Vince weaved through the growing crowd, mindlinking Xavier. Where are you? Xavier, we need to go.

Xavier didn't respond as Vince searched the crowd, spotting him closer to the stage talking to Grant and his bandmates. He squeezed past a few more people, wondering why it had been so busy. Xav, I can't be here. We need to-

"Vince?" Vince was frozen, the sound of his mate's voice calling out to him in the crowded bar seemed to cut through all the noise around them, sounding clear as day. Vince breathed heavily, not daring to turn around, the temptation to run out of the bar ever increasing.

Vince feared turning around, knowing that seeing Simon again, happy with Sam, would hurt. He wasn't ready to face Simon, wasn't ready to force a smile and be happy that Simon was happy. He needed more time than that.

"Vince, you're here too?"

Biting his lip, Vince shut his eyes before focusing on his breathing. In. Out. He wondered for a moment if he should've ran out of the bar, but knowing Simon, he would've followed. He breathed in and out again before turning around.

And their eyes met. Brown and blue. Briefly, hardly even a second, hardly a strum of Grant's guitar, as everything seemed to slow down around them.

"Hi," Vince let out shakily, taking in the sight of him.

Simon smiled. "Hey."

Sam stepped closer with a kind smile, extending his hand out to Vince. "Sam."

"Vince." Vince gulped before taking his hand in his.

Sam smiled. "I've heard a lot about you, Vince."

Bad things, Vince nearly joked but bit his tongue. His eyes wandered, glancing towards Simon. "You have?"

Sam nodded, before gesturing to the table. "I have. Nice to meet you, finally. Please, let's sit down."

"You too," Vince responded, glancing at Simon. "How are you?"

"Good," Simon said, smiling at how painfully awkward Vince was acting. "And you? It's been a while."

"I'm alright," Vince said, hoping his face wouldn't tell Simon otherwise. "I am."

"I...I'm happy," Vince continued, feeling his eyes get warm, threatening tears. His next words were said softly, Sam barely picking up on it. "I am. I'm happy that you are happy, Simon."

"Oh," Simon pouted, meeting his eyes. "Vince..."

"I...will be," Vince clarified, not even sure what he was blabbering about anymore. "I'm getting there."

In an attempt to prevent his lip from trembling, Vince bit them, staring at the corner of the table to prevent the tears from surfacing. After an awkward silence, Vince shook his head. "Sorry, I don't know what I'm saying. We should be listening to Grant's band anyways, right?"

Simon blinked, shaking his head. "Yeah. He's great isn't he?"

Vince nodded before glueing his eyes to the stage, fearing that he ruined the moment. And if this had been a date night for the two, he was surely putting a damper on it by saying that nonsense. They listened to a couple songs, Simon occasionally talking to Sam. Vince wondered if he could just slip out of the chair without being noticed, then he could get Xavier's attention and head home, letting the two enjoy themselves.

After the end of the band's fourth song of the night, Simon pushed his chair back. "I'll be right back. Bathroom."

The tension in the air between them lingered as Simon's steps faded. Vince looked away, glancing at Simon before staring at the table. "Sorry-"

"You miss him," Sam said, interrupting and jarring Vince's attention back at him. "What you two had."

Vince had hardly heard Sam's words, instead watching as Simon greeted his old friends at the bar, beaming and laughing with them on his way to the bathroom. "What?"

"You still miss him," Sam repeated. "You wish he was still in your life, even if you think this is for the best. Am I right?"

"Um," Vince stammered, wondering how to even respond.

Sam let out a breathy laugh. "It's alright, Vince. It's okay to miss him."

"Yeah," Vince breathed, watching as Simon hugged Grant, a bright smile on his mate's face. A smile that rivalled the one he had witnessed that night on his sixteenth birthday. "Yeah, I do. I do miss him."

Sam smiled at that reassuringly. "He got your letter."

"What?" Vince paled and blinked, his thoughts running wild as usual. "Letter?"

Sam nodded. Vince hadn't sent any of those letters, had kept them safely secured under lock and key. The only person who had known about it and had access to them was...Xavier. Vince cursed inwardly, reminding himself to scold his brother later. They weren't to be read, and whichever letter he had snagged and sent to him was weighing heavily on his mind. What had it said? He wondered.

"He wrote you one too," Sam pulled an envelope out from his inner jacket pocket and slid it across the table. "I think he can better explain what I'm trying to say. But I want you to know that there's still time to find your own happiness too, Vince."

Vince hesitantly reached his hand out, shaking as he saw the envelope decorated with Vince in Simon's handwriting. He ran his fingers over the letters, tracing it as if in a trance. He had written a response? Vince thought. To what letter?

"That," Sam added, shifting his glass around in his hand. "And I think you'd be surprised. He misses you too, Vince. Maybe more than you'd think; but that's okay, it's okay to miss your mate."

Vince had a million questions running through his mind, but sucked in a breath as he saw Simon approaching the table. He pocketed the envelope in his jacket before sipping on a glass of water.

Simon smiled softly before sitting down next to Sam. "What did I miss?"

Vince wanted to ask about the letter, but Sam spoke first. "He was just telling me about Xavier's plans for the RCPP and the clinic."

Sam gave Vince a look, as Vince let out a nervous breath. "Yeah, well Xavier knows more about the details. But it'll be like a partnership, in exchange for supplies, we'd have the clinic help us out with treating rogues."

"That's lovely," Simon responded before tilting his head, his eyes meeting Vince's. "And you? Your plans?"

"Uh," he stammered. "I haven't really thought about it, I guess. Since Xavier took over, I've just been..."

Vince wasn't sure what to say. Writing? Existing? Trying to move on? Trying to get better?

Simon smiled. "Yeah, I've just been working at the clinic, nothing much. Well, whenever he'll let me, he hardly makes me do anything."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Sam nudged his side. "You shouldn't have to work as hard."

Simon rolled his eyes before nudging Sam's arm with his elbow. The corner of Vince's lip lifted up in amusement, watching the two banter. Vince wasn't sure if it was a slight pang of jealousy but he brushed it aside, taking a sip of his water.

"Speaking of work, we should probably call it a night," Simon mumbled to Sam. "You've got work in the morning."

Vince watched as Sam looked at Simon with a pout. "Do I have to?"

"Yes, come on. Clara will come after both of our hides if you're late again."

"It was two times."

"Three," Simon insisted. "This week too."

"Yeah, yeah." Sam nodded before turning to Vince. He smiled before reaching his hand out. "Well, it's been nice to officially meet you, Vince. As he's said, I do have work in the morning. A shame we couldn't stay and chat longer."

Vince stared at his hand before glancing between the two of them. He gulped before reaching his hand out to shake his. "Likewise. Nice to meet you, Sam."

Sam and Simon stood up from their seats, and Vince followed, meeting his mate's eyes. "It was nice to see you again, Simon."

Vince bit his lip, and despite it hurting, he meant it. It was nice to see him, happy and smiling.

Simon chuckled at how nervous Vince stood. Vince's emotions on his sleeve as he wondered what to do. Simon stepped forward and enveloped his mate into a hug. They could feel the warmth of the bond, neither of them wanting to let go.

"It was nice to see you too." Simon mumbled into Vince's chest, feeling his heartbeat through his shirt. "It's okay to call or text me you know? Things don't have to be the way we once were. We're still mates, Vince."

Vince hesitantly wrapped his hands around him, slowly squeezing Simon to his chest closer. He wondered if this wasn't a great idea considering Sam was standing right there, but Sam was smiling back, reassuringly. "Yeah, we are."

They pulled apart and looked each other in the eyes, and for the first time a sense of calm washed over them, a look of mutual understanding. They smiled genuinely this time, even as Simon stepped backwards and turned away from him. Despite watching him leave, Vince finally felt like that they had made the right choice. That this was for the best. For once, Vince had felt hopeful and free. It would hurt at first, maybe for a while, but it would get better. Simon would find his happiness, and so would Vince. He was sure of that. 

There was still time, after all. 

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A/N: It's finally here T.T I can't believe that it's the end. It's been a long journey, and I'm happy and thankful for those that have stuck around. 

I will be posting an author's note later on this week (and possibly some deleted scenes later on), and have decided to answer some questions y'all have as well. I'm sure you'll have some questions for the other characters and what not. Send the questions here:

And again, thank you all for reading. Love you <3