Her own heart leapt, her hands shaking within the press of his.
‘I would give anything to take back all the hurt I inflicted upon you, all the times you felt doubt, or questioned yourself because of me. I have had only a week of that myself and…’ He broke off, shaking his head. ‘I am truly sorry for it. And if you give me the chance I will spend each and every single day trying to make up for it. I will never, ever speak an untruth to you again. I will never make you doubt me, my love for you or our child. I will do whatever it takes, Ella. Because I love you. There is so much of it, there is no room for anything else. Not thoughts of vengeance, not the need to destroy. Just love. And all of it for you and our family.’
She was startled to feel the pad of his thumb sweep aside a tear she hadn’t realised was there.
She reached for him then and pulled him towards her, delighting in the feel of his kiss, sweetened by her tears of joy.
‘I love you,’ she said between presses of her lips against his. ‘So, so much,’ she said. And that was the last thing he allowed her to say before sweeping her into his bedroom, closing the door and showing her how beautiful their lovemaking could, and would, be for the rest of their lives.
EPILOGUE
Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel…they each found their handsome prince. But Red Riding Hood found something so much more. She found her mate, her wolf…her pack. And in doing so she found herself.
The Truth About Little Red Riding Hood
—Roz Fayrer
ELLA STOOD IN the doorway to her daughter’s room in Puycalvel watching the four-year-old spin slightly off-centred circles in her little pink leotard and ballet shoes, both of which were extremely cute but nothing compared to the full length pink, frothy, layered, sparkly tutu that Roman had produced for her just hours before.
It was completely over the top but Tatiana loved it and had refused to take it off, not even for bed, despite the warnings that she might damage it.
‘I’m going to be the greatest ballerina ever,’ she proclaimed between spins, ‘but not as great as Grandma, because no one could be as good as Grandma.’
The sound of footsteps above on the staircase drew Ella’s attention towards her husband, who had their second daughter in his arms as he made his way carefully down the steps. Not once had he ever betrayed his promise to keep her and their children safe, not once had he ever given her cause to feel anything but joy and love. Frustration sometimes and perhaps, even on occasion, a healthy dose of anger. But never sadness and never fear.
The moment his eyes found hers, the smile on his face brightened, his eyes widened with an awe she would never tire of as he took in her, once again, rounded form.
‘We’re going to have to stop at three, you know,’ she warned in a voice still low from trying to settle her unruly daughter.
‘Why?’ he said, as if he would never tire of seeing her pregnant, of meeting the children they bore, of increasing the amount of love each time within their family. It seemed in almost never-ending supply.
‘Because I want you to myself for a while,’ she mock growled as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
‘You can have as much of me as you like, for however long you like. I am here, yours, always and for ever.’
‘It’s words like that that got me in this situation in the first place,’ she moaned, her hands sweeping down around her bump. Their third child was due in a few months’ time and neither parent could wait to meet the new addition to the family.
‘I will keep saying them until they stop working,’ her husband insisted.
‘I want to see Auntie Célia and my cousins,’ Tatiana announced, jumping up and down, despite the late hour.
‘And we will, but tomorrow, sweetheart. Now, it’s time for bed.’
‘Nope. Not time for bed.’
‘Yes, time for bed,’ Roman chimed in, walking into his daughter’s bedroom and sitting at the bottom of her bed. ‘And you know what that means?’
‘Story, story, story,’ exclaimed Tatiana as Adeline clapped her hands together with as much co-ordination as an eighteen-month-old could manage.
‘I believe it’s your turn, wife,’ Roman announced with a smile full of satisfaction and happiness. Ella believed that he loved this nightly routine almost more than the girls did.
‘No, surely you’re mistaken. It was my turn last night.’
‘No, Maman, last night was The Frog Prince. It’s your turn tonight.’
‘And what story would you like to hear?’
‘My favourite one, silly.’
Roman growled softly, and Tatiana looked apologetic enough for long enough, before reaching out a hand towards Ella to pull her on to the bed. Dorcas stalked over to her doggy bed in the corner of the room, seemingly content that she had successfully herded her entire family into one room.
As she sat down on the edge of the bed, next to her husband and children, Ella felt wrapped in a cocoon of unconditional love. Her family, all joyous, beautiful, beaming, happy and safe.
‘Once upon a time, there was a sweet little maiden and whoever laid eyes upon her couldn’t help but love her, nor help but remark on the beautiful red velvet cape her grandmother had given her…’
She looked at her husband and he didn’t need to hear the words that cried through her heart straight to his. For Ella did believe in fairy tales now that they’d both found their happy-ever-after.
* * *
