A year has passed since the death of Larson and Emma, and since that time so much has changed in my, and my family's lives.

My mate and I took the leap and decided it was time to go away from The Vale and move out of the Deepwater pack, something we never anticipated.

Having spent so long in these lands, I would never imagine wanting to live anywhere else, away from my children and family, but after extensive talks with Sora- my beautiful mate, we decided it was time to travel.

My son Caelan, and my Daughter Lisla don't need us anymore, they have their own lives and children now, and for that, I am one proud father, my children's happiness is more than what I could hope for.

"Babe." Sora calls out from the walk-in closet. "Have you seen my pink dress? The one with the flowers on it?" She asked, clear frustration in her voice.

Laughing, I stop what I'm doing and walk into the closet, only to find my mate completely overthrown by a mountain of clothes on the floor.

Sora, whose hair was in every direction but down as she tries- and fails to control what she's caused, chaos in the wardrobe.

"What are you doing?" I ask, amused by what I'm seeing.

Turning around, Sora glares at me cutely. "I give up, it's gone, I can't find it." She groans out, looking around the floor at the clothes.

Shaking my head, I step over the mountain of clothes and help her up. "I told you that I'd buy you another, just forget about it."

Sora's eyes drop and I can feel how sad my words made her, making my stomach twist at the thought of making her just a small bit sad.

"You got that dress..." She says quietly. "After the twins were born and I finally got my body back, it was the first time I felt... like me again."

Seeing how upset she is, I bring her into my chest and hug her tightly, not caring about hurting her anymore seeing as my little mate is growing stronger every day.

I had forgotten all about that dress, I only remember how much she hated how her body looked and felt after our children were born, I was desperate to make her happy again, to have her gain her confidence back.

Only remembering that she liked pink dresses, I had seen it one day while traveling to another realm, it was unique and ever since I laid my eyes on it I had to buy it.

Sora always looked amazing in anything to me, but I knew somehow that giving her that dress would make her happy again, and it did now that I think about it.

It felt like so long ago, until now.

Looking around the room, I can see that it's not here, and with so many girls in our family, something tells me that there's a reason it's not here.

"Did you ask the girls? Hayden always liked coming in here now that I remember." 

Sora hums and freezes as if she figured something out. "Hayden." 

With a smile on her face, Sora stands on her toes and kisses me on the chin. "You're the best!" She says, before rushing out of the wardrobe and out of the bedroom.

Hayden, of course, is my first granddaughter, the daughter of my son Caelan.

I had never understood girls until I met my mate, but having raised one I can fully now say I have 'experience' with them, and now that I think about it, seeing Hayden in here a few weeks ago made things click.

Hayden, who would rather die than wear a dress was changing before my eyes without realizing it, my grandson Harriot made a joke I didn't understand- until now about her 'changing'-

Now I have to wonder... whose the guy? Or did she find her mate?

I stay off that one-track mind and focus on the mess in front of me that my mate left, not wanting to get wound up and hunt whoever this man, boy, or mate is of Hayden's.

"Kane?" A voice calls out, making me stick my head out from the doorway.

Lucas walks into my bedroom with worry on his face, right up until he sees me, then he shakes his head.

"I just saw Sora, she told me you were in here." He says, coming closer and getting a look at the mess Sora made. "Pink dress?"

I roll my eyes and scoff. "How did you know that?" I had to ask before going to sit on my bed.

"The walls have ears Kane, or did you forget you are in my home right now?" He asked, sarcastically.

I ignore him, as my mate mindlinks me.

'I found it! But I don't need it anymore, I'm giving it to Hayden." She says happily through mindlink, free of worry again.

I scrunch my eyebrows. 'Are you sure? You loved that dress.'

Hearing her giggles in my head, I can't help but miss her even though I know she's not far.

'I love you, and a dress doesn't make me feel beautiful anymore, you do and that's all i need.' She says with a cheering tone as she cuts off the mindlink.

Not being able to help it, I laugh, gaining a look from Lucas, but he shakes his head, fully knowing who I was speaking to.

Only Sora can do this to me, make me feel this way, after so long I still love her more than anything in this world. and the next, without her I'd be truly one pitiful old man.

"So, what did you want me for?" I ask Lucas, not sure while he's still here.

"OH." He blinked out. "Everyones here, to wish you farewell on your journey."

Shaking his head as I stand up, he stares at me. "I still can't believe it, Kane Black leaving Deepwater, my oldest friend who swore he would die here." He shakes his head smiling. "Sora really got you wrapped around her, after all these years my friend." 

Snorting I shove him as I pass him, hiding my smile. "It was my idea to leave, it's not that fucking weird." 

Laughing, Lucas walks next to me. "I think it's a good idea, really, we're going to miss having you here."

I raise a brow, skeptical but Lucas waves me off. "Seriously, we're both retired with children and grandchildren, I thought we'd all live and die here together, it feels like so long ago now that I sometimes miss those days."

I know what Lucas is saying, because those days when it was just us, Rogan, Theodin, and Larson before nothing went to hell, we all lived and breathed together, right up until I was Alpha and they went into their roles.

It feels like a century ago, but I still miss it, even if my life is much better now, I do think about what could have happened if I saw who Theodin was before he hurt anyone.

We both make it outside the house in silence, and as we step outside I see that my family are all here talking amongst one another, with smiles on their faces, and even though I say I miss the past...

I would never give up on what I have now, I'd sacrifice everything to see this- my family and friends surrounded in harmony together, laughing and smiling, knowing this won't be the last time.

"There you are!" A loud voice says behind me before they wrap their arms around me.

I know who it is before I turn around by their scent. "Hey, when did you get here?" I ask my little girl, Lisla.

From the far left, her mate and children talk to my mate talkatively, that's when I notice Sora had changed into a long blue dress and she had fixed her birdnest of hair, it now flows freely down her back in long curls.

"A few minutes ago." Lisla says before I look her over from habit. "Mom looks better, I thought she'd not want to leave."

Humming I agree. "You know her, she's never down for long." I say and Lisla smiles at that.

"I'm going to miss you, daddy, and so will the kids." She says sadly, before she wraps her arms around me, making me chuckle.

"Liz, keep the waterworks to a minimum, do you want mom to cry?" Caelan says, coming up behind Lisla.

Caelan, the new King of The Vale stood with his mate Acela, who smiles widely at me.

"Hey, you both just arrive?" I ask releasing Lisla as she stands next to me proudly.

"Just now." Caelan says, looking around. "Is the whole of Deepwater here?" He asked amused as he looked around.

I nod and look around, seeing that more and more people are showing up, warming me that they came to see us off, knowing that, I feel like I'm making the right decision to take a long vacation with Sora.

After so long, it's time to rest.

Oh, that reminds me. 

"Where's Hayden?" I ask Acela, whose eyes go wide.

Looking around, Acela's eyes freeze and I follow her line of eyesight until I spot who I was looking for, Hayden stands looking pissed off as she looks around the crowd, not looking at anything in particular.

"She's been like that all week." Acela says amused as Caelen grunts next to Acela.

"I need a drink." Caelan says, storming away from Lisla, Acela, and me.

Lisla grins as Acela sighs, with a smile on her face as she watches her mate- my son storm off to the table where drinks are.

"Hayden found her mate, but Caelan... well..." Acela grimaces.

I knew it, somehow I just knew. "I understand." I say putting my hand on her shoulder. "Excuse me one second," I tell both Acela and Lisla as I walk away.

Hayden is so much like me when I was her age, she's stubborn, headstrong, and keeps things for herself, so much like my younger self, bottling it up until I pushed everyone away, and made them fear me.

I don't want that for her, she's too smart, and has a bright future within the Shadow League, which she entered last year after convincing Caelan that was what she wanted.

Coming up to Hayden, her eyes land on me, and with that, she relaxes and I even see a smile.

"Hey kid, you know this is a party, not my funeral, right?" I say sarcastically, leaning against the fence with her.

Huffing, Hayden rolls her eyes. "I know, it's not you or this it-"

"You found your mate." I interrupt.

Hayden's eyes widen, then she frowns as her eyes get hard. "I'm going to reject him." She says lowly, glaring at the floor.

Smiling, I shake my head, because I can feel her thoughts, and I know she doesn't mean that, in fact, I feel that she's battling with herself and the bond, pushing it away.

"Who is he?" 

Hayden sighs out. "What does it matter anyway? It's not going to happen."

I go into my pocket until I feel what I was looking for, then I throw it in the air to Hayden, making her timidly reach out to catch it.

She opens her palm with the key in her hand and then looks up at me confused.

"It's yours now kid." I tell her, hinting at my house. "It's our last gift to you, for when you're ready."

Hayden frowns yet squeezes the key in her hand as she stares down at her fist in silence, that's when I lean off from the fence and stand in front of her.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready..." She says quietly under her breath.

I ruffle her hair, earning a glare from her as she hits my hand away. "Stubborn brat." I tease.

"Old fat man." She claps back, and we both laugh and then look to the crowd.

"I think it's time to go gramps." She says softly, as we both see Sora come towards us.

Nodding my head, Hayden surprises me by wrapping her arms around me, squeezing me tightly before running away towards Sora.

Hayden says something I don't catch to Sora, yet it makes her smile and hug Hayden before Hayden makes her way to stand near Caelan and Acela and her brother, Harriot who stands with his mate.

"It's time to go my love." Sora says gently as she intertwines her hand in mine.

A light feeling washes over me as we make our way towards the car waiting for us, and after 151 years of living, this might be the first time I have felt full in life, and completely at ease with happiness.

A new chapter is coming in my life, along with my mate by my side, so I know it's not the end, it's simply a fresh start for us, a long-awaited break to spend the rest of our lives together, in each others company.

We say our farewells and get into the car, and for the first time in a long time, not since Caelan and Lisla were born, I feel an emotion wash over me, which my mate picks up on instantly.

"I love you, Kane Locus Black." Sora says, sitting beside me, as a single tear falls from her eyes.

Smiling, I take one last look at my pack, and my friends and family waving us goodbye before looking at my beautiful soulmate, looking as beautiful as the first day I laid eyes on her, glowing from the summer light.

"I love you, Sora Black." I kiss her knuckles and exhale with my eyes closed. "I always have and I always will." 

Now the only thing I feel is fear.

Fear and excitement, for this, is simply the beginning of the rest of our lives.

The End.