Epilogue

Henri’s POV

I laid in my bed, listening to the beep of the heart monitor. Stephen and I married just weeks after I got my memories back. My brothers and I caught up on everything we missed. Gabriel and I remained friends, but he stayed away as much as he could. And I understood. Derrick and Stephen joined their packs three years after that night. It made us stronger, and both of them run things together.

My eyes roam around the room and I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. I was no longer young, but nor was I old. Stephen and I had thirty years together, and I cherished every moment I had with him. We had ten beautiful children. I smile fondly as I think about my youngest two. We didn’t expect them when I became sick. When the doctor told us that I was carrying twins, Stephen fainted. That’s right; the big, tough alpha fainted.

The eight oldest were boys, but I still longed for a girl. I got my wish when I had the twins. Both of the pups were girls, and I could sense that both had my gifts. When they were born, I was both glad and sad. I was saddened at the fact that one day, one of my future great-grandchildren would have to face the choice I made. So, I raised them in the belief that the wolf community was like a huge pack, and the pack would always come first.

And I knew that they would raise their daughters with the same, and that made me feel better. As the laughter of my children reached my ears, I felt tears run down my face. All but the last four of my pups were married and had families of their own. And I knew that I wouldn’t be around to see them meet their mates, get married and have pups.

Even though werewolves don’t get the normal sicknesses that humans get so often, we can get cancer or any of the major illnesses. Two weeks after our thirtieth anniversary, I noticed that I was losing weight fast and I was throwing up. I kept putting off seeing the doctor until the day I passed out in the kitchen. Stephen found me and carried me to the hospital floor.

There, after two days of running tests, I found out that I had stage four cancer. The doctor gave me a year at least, but said that could change at any moment. We sat the whole family down that night and broke the news to them. They were shocked.  The past few months, they all watched me like a hawk, but I knew that they were worried about me and they loved me.

Stephen had stepped down from the alpha position and passed it to Dean, our fourth son. The first three joined their mates pack when they found them. I was so proud of them. Opening the small dresser beside my bed, I pull out eleven notes. Each one was tied with a different colored ribbon. They were my last goodbyes to my family. I laugh quietly when I notice that Stephen’s was thicker than the rest. But I didn’t know how to say goodbye to him.

He was the love of my life, beside Louis. When I told him about my second mate, Stephen surprised me. When our last son was born, Stephen named him Louis. The sound of my heart beating slower registered in my mind. I wipe a tear from my eye and closed the drawer, keeping the letters in my hands. Stephen told me that when I knew I was about to die, to call for him.

But I didn’t want his last memory of me to be the one where I drew my final breath. I decide to link with him. Hey babe, what are you doing?

I’m teaching Dean’s son how to throw a ball.

Are y’all having fun?

We are love. How are you feeling?

I’m a little sleepy. I think I’ll take a nap before you come and take me for our little stroll in the garden.

That sounds like a plan.

Stephen, I love you. I tried to keep the sadness out of my voice, but I knew he heard it anyway. I love you too Henri, forever and always.

When you get back, will you bring me some of that soup Kathleen’s making? I’ve smelled it for the last hour and I would enjoy a bowl of it.

Anything for you. I cut the link so he could pay attention to our grandson. Dean and his mate had six children. The first was a girl and the rest were boys. My little angel looked so much like me, that they named her after me. To say that she was my favorite would be the truth, though I loved them all equally.

I felt Angel stirring and I smile at her. Hey Angel, this is it girl.

It’s been one heck of a ride with you Henri.

That it has girl. You’re the best wolf anyone could ask for.

And you’re the best human a wolf could want. I take a slow breath as my eyes close. The sound of the heart monitor flat lining filled the room, but I was already gone.

Stephen’s POV

After Jim decides that he wants to play with his cousins instead of throwing the ball around with me, I make my way slowly to Henri’s room. I rub a hand down my face as I think of her. The cancer was a huge surprise. We had thought that she was expecting another pup, but never this.

Every day I watched as she slowly wasted down to nothing, and it killed me not being able to help her. When I reached her door, I knew something was wrong when I felt the bond break. The sound of a steady tone filled the hall instead of the constant beep. The tears started to fall as I slowly open the door.

Taking her hand, my legs give out under me. My mate, my love, my life was gone. “Mom, I was wondering…” Dean starts as he enters the room, but his words fade as he takes the sight in front of him in. “Is she…?” I just nod, the words frozen in my throat.

“I’ll let the family know.” He whispers as he slowly leaves. Standing up, I notice that Henri was holding a stack of letters. Picking them up, I see the names of our children written in her handwriting. There was another in her hand and I see my name on it. Laying the others back on the bed, I open mine and slowly slide the pages out.

Stephen,

If you’re reading this, then the cancer has won. Trust me when I say that leaving you behind is the last thing I ever wanted to do. I’ve loved you since the moment I knew your name.

When we first met, you asked how I knew your name, and I said that I didn’t know. Well, I remembered the night my brothers found me. The moon goddess granted me another chance at life since I chose to sacrifice my life for the rest of our kind. She told me that my mate would be one Stephen Galloway.

She took the memories to keep me from feeling like the deaths of the ones I lost was my fault. If she hadn’t done what she did, I don’t think I would have found you my love…Last year I found out that Declan Moss had been killed by one of the last hunters that managed to hide from him. He wanted my power to help his race from hunters and rouges. I bet he never thought one of them would kill him one day.

Love, I want you to forgive me. I know that I said I’d call you when I felt my time get closer. But I didn’t want your last memory of me to be me taking my last breath with you. I want you to remember me smiling and laughing with you.

Stay with our children Stephen, they’ll need you in the days and months to come. You’ve always been our rock that held us up. I’ll be watching over you every day until you join me. But I don’t want you to take your life. Promise me that you’ll live for our family.

            If I could have chosen a mate, I couldn’t have picked anyone better than you. You gave me thirty years of love, laughter and happiness and I wouldn’t change one second of them. There are letters for my brothers in the small blue shoebox in my closet. I want you to wait until after my funeral to give them their letters darling. I have to go now, my strength isn’t holding out. Just now that I will always love you.

Love,

Henri

P.S.

If you find your second mate, accept her dear. You deserve all the love and happiness that comes your way. I’m sure that I would have liked her. Until I see you on the other side…

I smile through my tears as our children fill the room, each taking the letter I hand them. We couldn’t believe that she’s gone. The sounds of laughter and crying filled the room as each one read what she had wrote them.

Standing beside the bed, I lift the blanket and slowly covered her face. Looking out the window, I smile when I see a shooting star. “I’ll be waiting to see you again love. And I promise.”