Epilogue

They woke next morning to the smell of and sausage, bacon, eggs and coffee. They looked at each other and grinned, “Erica!” they dressed quickly and after checking on Kyle went down to the kitchen.

Sure enough Erica was busy preparing breakfast for them, she gave them a nod as they came in and she poured coffee for Nicolas and tea for Chrissy, setting the cups in front of where she wanted them to sit.

Erica looked at Chrissy then turned to Nicolas, “You might wish to make yourself scarce after breakfast. Some of the women will want to visit and make sure Chrissy is alright,” she rolled her eyes, “you know not traumatized or anything.”

Nicolas almost chocked on his coffee. “What!” then the colour drained from his face and he looked at his mate sheepishly.

“Nicky?” he didn’t answer so she turned to Erica.

“You’d better tell her, it’s not my place to do so.” Erica turned to the food and started dishing up.

“Holy crap! They know don’t they… they all know what happened, what we did!” Chrissy blushed scarlet and all Nicolas could do was sit and nod his head. “Damn it Nicky you could have warned me. I hope they don’t want details because they aren’t getting any.”

Erica put a plate in front of each of them. “They’ll just want to make sure your okay Chrissy, that Nicolas wasn’t too rough with you. I won’t be here; this kind of meeting is just for mated women.”

“You’re family Erica and if I have to go through this you’re gonna sit right by me and go through it too.”

Chrissy could see her tear up and she got to her feet and gave her a hug, “Seriously Erica you are family and no one shuts out my family. If they don’t like it they can leave.”

So it was that Nicolas Alexander Romanoff Head of Security and Head Enforcer for the Pack made a quiet retreat from his home leaving his mate and Erica to deal with a group of women who supposedly wished only to see that she had been cared for.

It ended up being a day long party of sorts. At first the women stopped by a few at a time and when Kasey could see Chrissy had had enough she declared a time out. Meaning Kasey, Jaz, Erica and Chrissy got to sit quietly at the kitchen table sipping tea or in the living room playing with Kyle as he giggled and gurgled as babies do.

Just as they thought they’d seen the last of the women a knock sounded on the front door and Jacobs’s voice sounded through the hallway. Tally came rushing in holding a teddy bear with a blue ribbon around its neck.

“My Jacob and I bought Kyle a present,” she looked shyly at Chrissy and rushed to her when she saw the smile on her face. She looked around and saw that Jaz was holding Kyle and looked at Chrissy hopefully.

“If you sit next to Jaz you can hold him,” she looked up at Jacob, “you can have him too,” she grinned when once again Jacob placed Tally on his lap as they both held Kyle.

“So,” she asked Tally, “does Kyle’s bear have a name?”

Tally grinned and gave her a nod, “His name is Cadbury because he’s the same colour as chocolate.”

Chrissy took a closer look at the bear, “You know you’re right he is the same colour as chocolate. I think Cadbury is an excellent name for him.”

There was a steady stream of Uncles as the afternoon wore on and when Nate and Eli arrived Chrissy couldn’t help but touch minds with them both. She could feel a slight tension within Eli and when Nate looked at her she came to her feet announcing she was making more coffee and tea.

Nate followed, “I’ll give you a hand and if you have any more of Gilberts cookies…” he grinned, but she saw concern in his eyes.

Chrissy got things organised then stepped out into the back yard, Nate following behind her. I know you sense something Chrissy, I’ve been watching him too and I’m a little concerned.

Chrissy rested a hand on his arm. You’re a good friend Nate, be there for him. Don’t push, just be there and listen if he needs you no matter how strange it might seem at the time.

Nate was smart enough to realise she either couldn’t or wouldn’t say anymore but he would do as she asked. He’d known Eli all of his life, they were good friends and he wouldn’t let him down.

By the time Nicolas came home the house was full of people, even Gilbert was there and ended up helping Chrissy make dinner for everyone. As they sat down to eat that night Chrissy couldn’t help but smile. Kyle’s crib was nearby as one of his Uncles declared Kyle should be closer and another stated they needed to be able to see him as well as hear him.

There was a great deal of laughter and chatter around the table and Chrissy smiled knowing that this was home. Home! She said to herself and Nicolas gave her hand a squeeze letting her know he’d heard her.

As Chrissy looked around at those sitting at the table she saw that she truly belonged here. She was part of this Pack and she needed them just as much as they needed her. She closed her eyes for a moment sending out thanks to whatever powers that had managed to arrange for her and Nicolas to meet.

Chrissy knew their life together wouldn’t always been easy and there would still be times when she’d want to wring his neck and tell him what a Neanderthal he was. But he was her Neanderthal and god help anyone man or woman that tried to come between them, she’d fight for what was hers and that’s exactly what he was… hers.

She leaned into him, and he kissed her on the nose. No one would be stupid enough to cross you my little gem. You are mine now and always and I am the happiest man alive because of it!

That evening as she sat in her comfy chair in the nursery holding her son Chrissy closed her eyes and let her mind wonder once more over those it was now her duty to watch over. She smiled as she sensed that everything was right within the Compound. She relaxed more and as she did so her mind reached further afield.

A deep warmth engulfed and she realised she’d found them. The two lost souls she’d touched on once before were getting closer. They would be here soon and their arrival would mark an even greater change than was felt when their Alpha found his mate.

She felt him as he came through the door and opened her eyes to the man that was to be hers for all eternity Nicolas Alexander Romanoff her lover, her husband, her mate. He knelt down in front of her and kissed her softly.

Chrissy smiled a smile that promised so much more, “Mine!” she stated, “now and always.”

Nicolas grinned at his little mate, “I like the sound of that my little gem.”