He huffed out a breath. “Almost forgot to tell you something Remy said.” He quickly relayed the story about how a mage came to the Alpha and struck his bargain.
“Sounds like they wanted to turn you into one of them,” Mika said, huffing out a breath. “I’ll tell Daric when he gets here. He’ll be interested to know, I’m sure.”
“What about your council?” Adelaide asked. “Will they give us justice? Without any consequences on my grandson or your clan?”
“The Alpha is calling the Lycan High Council as we speak,” Mika said. “Lucas will relay the events to them, and I’m sure once they realize what Remy did and what he was up to, they’ll side with us.”
“I wish my Helene was still alive,” Adelaide said. “But we cannot change the past. And I’m glad you have come back to us.” Her expression was full of hope as she looked up at him. “You will … stay and get to know us, right? I mean, for a little while, before you have to go back to your clan?”
He slipped his hand into hers. “Of course. We are family … Mémère.”
The smile on the old lady’s face could have lit up the night. “That we are.” She turned to Mika and took her hand, all three of them linked. “And soon there will be more of us.”
His heart nearly burst his chest with happiness. Growing up, he’d been alone; surrounded by his clan, yes, but always alone, with only the shadow as his companion. But now, he not only had a mate and a pup on the way, but a whole family he never knew about, and a legacy that he would hopefully be passing on to his children.
Shadow and light were facets of life and nature, one couldn’t exist without the other. And though he was a child of the cold darkness, from now on, his life would always be filled with the warmth of light from the love surrounding him.
Epilogue
One month later …
Mika took a deep breath, taking in as much of the fresh, clean air as she could into her lungs. “That winter felt like it was forever. I’m glad it’s done. Don’t you love spring?” she asked her mate. “Everything’s so fresh and clean.”
“Growin’ up, I never really noticed the weather, cher.” He helped her out of the car and shut the door behind her. “In the bayou, summers are long and hot. Everythin’ else is just wet and cloudy.”
“But surely you can appreciate this weather,” she said. “Spring is always like a new beginning.
He stopped and placed a hand on her belly. “I never thought I could start again, but maybe now I believe it. You’ve given me a new life.”
His smile made warmth spread through her. “New beginnings are always something to be happy about. But,” she put her hand over his, “sometimes there’s no reason to start again. Sometimes you’re just fine the way you are.”
He pressed his nose into her hair and inhaled. “Then you’ve given me something else. Something more precious than my own life.”
Some days Mika couldn’t believe this was her life now. A few months ago, she’d been consumed by her own depression, drowning herself in work, and at the same time, trying to fill that void inside her with something. She thought a pup would be able to do that, and while she knew that she would be devoted to that life growing inside her, she now had so much more. She had a mate, and soon they would be a family. She was happy and content, and it was obvious that Delacroix would be an excellent father. They both had their fears and doubts, but she knew that together, they would be able to raise this child and give it so much love.
“Are you sure you really want to do this?”
He nodded without hesitation. “I’m doing this for you and for me. I think … I think it’s time.”
She slipped her hand into his and squeezed. “You know I love you now, right?”
“I do, Mika.” And she had no doubt.
“Okay, let’s go then.”
Together, hand in hand, they walked through the gates of Holy Memorial Cemetery. When they reached Joe’s grave, she placed her free hand on top of his gravestone.
“Hey, babe,” she began. “Sorry I haven’t been back for months. I’ve been really busy, but I’m here now. I wanted to say …” Her throat tightened, and her chest ached. “I’m sorry. I can’t,” she said to Delacroix.
“It’s all right, cher.” He squeezed her hand tighter. “You probably feel like a part of you died when he did. That’s all right. Maybe that part belongs to him, and I would never ask you to take it back.”
Her breath hitched, but the ache in her chest loosened. She knew this was his way of telling her that it was okay to miss Joe, and that he would never resent her for whatever feelings she had for her former husband. God, how she loved her mate, this man who she knew would always be there for her and their pup.
He stared down intently at the name etched into the smooth stone. “You loved her first, I can never take that away. And I wouldn’t want to. Because if it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t have learned to believe in love in the first place. So, thank you for that.”
They stood in the silence for a long time, among the lush green surroundings and only the faint chirping of birds or the scuttle of squirrels breaking the tranquility. There was no need for more words, as Delacroix had spoken for them and said everything that was necessary.
“I’m glad we came here,” she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
“Thank you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and nuzzled her cheek, then splayed a hand over her bump.
“We should head out,” she said. “We have some
