Welcome Home Mate
Epilogue

ROXIE

A YEAR LATER

I lean back on the couch and quickly place the bowl of strawberries on my ever-growing bump and settle in to watch the movie that Harlow picked out.

I watched as our daughter climbed into Lex's lap and snuggled in to watch her favorite princess, Rapunzel.

I smiled.

Even though we didn't know what Harlow was, I knew deep down our first pup would be a girl. There was a bet going on within the pack, what the s*x of the baby was, and I won the entire stake.

The moment Harlow was born, she was a Daddy's girl. Well, that would be all the men in our lives actually, especially her grandfathers. She has Lex's wrapped around her little fingers before she could do anything.

Lex has been fantastic as a father and as an alpha, too; he wakes up early for training and then heads to do his alpha duties. Lex does have this one rule that he follows every evening, he has to be home no later than six, as he wants to see our daughter and to be there before she goes to sleep. It has been the main rule in our home.

After Harlow, I went back to training before falling pregnant again. I have been training all pack members and have already made an ultimate fighter out of three of our warriors. Next year, we are setting up a tournament that all pack members could try out for, and we are holding a prize for the winner; they would get to train with Uncle Keith. It was a big hit, Lex and I already think we might do this every year, but it all depends on what happens this year.

As for Uncle Keith, he and Nora decided to stay within the pack and are now pack members with higher-ranking roles. There has been an increase of mates this year, and even a second chance mate for my father, no less, which was nice. Everyone is happy for him and Rosa; she is lovely and has even got him to move on.

It is not without saying that mum is not too far from our thoughts, and we all talk about her occasionally. Rosa lost her first mate about eight years ago and didn't even believe in second chances. They are well suited for one another.

Alpha Frank, well now just Frank since we took over, has chosen to have fun and found a chosen mate, Olive. He has often been caught in some situations with her, including by Lex, which was fun to watch, especially when he tries not to look embarrassed.

My mind wonders to Jason and Sofia; not long after we announced to everyone about Harlow, they were expecting. They had a boy, Jacob, who looks more like Jason daily. Jason became the official beta not long after and had Uncle Keith helping him.

I looked toward Lex, who was staring at me.

"How are the nuggets doing?" He asked as he moved Harlow into a better position to see, but she wanted him to snuggle her in as she placed her head into the crook of his neck. Harlow was tired; she did that whenever she was ready to fall asleep.

"They are doing well," I said as I popped a strawberry into my mouth, "they just need to keep off my bladder, or they can evict themselves now."

Lex chuckled.

We found out three months ago that we expect identical twin boys. We found out what we are having yesterday, and we can't wait.

"We should come up with some names," he said as he leaned further back into the couch, "I just hope they don't do what little one here did to us."

I nodded but looked toward the TV.

My thoughts went to that day, the treat. We held it here just before Harlow's due day. Everything was great until she wanted to make her appearance known to everyone as I went into labor. Everyone stayed around, waiting to replace out what we had. We announced that we had a girl, and everyone congratulated us; not one bothered that she was a girl, but after a few hours, Lex met with everyone, and they all signed the treaty, even the Elders. I was surprised to see the Elders participate, but Nora told me they would, as I scared most of them. I can still remember Elder Issac smiling at me when I walked into the room; I made it my mission to make him feel uncomfortable after learning that, which amused Lex more.

"What about Bruce?" Lex called out, which made me move quickly and glare back at him.

"NO," I growled.

Lex looked at me, and a grin appeared.

"Do you have any suggestions?" He asked as he moved slightly, moving closer to me with Harlow clinging to his neck. I stared at him as he sat closer, placed his hand on my thigh, moved away, and tried to grab some strawberries.

"Drop it or get stabbed," I warned, which earned a chuckle.

He grabbed one but leaned closer.

"I love/hate these hormones," he whispered, leaning closer to my ear, "but I hope you have the horny stage as you did with Harlow."

I could feel his excitement run through the mate bond, and my core wasn't helping.

Bex moved slightly and huffed.

"Nope," she murmured, "they can stay away."

I looked back at her, but her face was in a pout.

"What crawled up your a*s?" I asked.

Bex c****d her head to the side and grunted.

"They get to shift, and we don't because we are carrying the pups," she muttered, "not fair."

I know that feeling and couldn't help but feel the same.

Bex and I didn't know we were expecting Harlow until two months later; we shifted right up until we found out about her, and then the doctor told us we couldn't, which we didn't.

We had to be extra careful due to the twins, but Bex and I got into a routine after we were ready to return to work after Harlow. We decided to go for a run every morning in her form. Blaze and Lex would sometimes come with us if one of our fathers watched Harlow. It was nice for her to have some freedom.

"What's up?" Lex called, pulling me back to him.

I looked back and sighed.

"Bex is annoyed that we can't shift," I said, "I think she is missing her runs."

I looked to Lex, who nodded.

"I know what you mean; Blaze has been on about it too," he said.

Pregnancy affects both the human and the wolf in every way. I could hear movement in my head and voices, indicating that Blaze and Bex were talking. I knew Blaze had settled her, and he knew the right words to calm her.

"I think Blaze is talking to her," I said to him.

Lex nodded and moved slightly, placing his head on the cushion behind us.

"Little princess has gone to sleep," he murmured, "I'm going to stay by here for a little while and snooze. I have missed her today."

I nodded and placed my head on his shoulder. I felt warmth radiating from him. I could easily fall asleep like this.

After everything we had been thorough over the first few months of me replaceing out that Lex was my mate, and after everything with attacks and being alpha and Luna, everything only has gotten better. There have been fewer rogue attacks, but we still get some, but at least there is no alpha behind them.

The pack is in control and has plans for everything, especially any attacks. I feel sorry for those who try; they won't know what hit them. Every pack member has been training, and they all have come a long way in the past year.

We know we are not perfect, but our kind is not, but we all have each other.

I could feel my eyes close as I leaned on Lex.

Lex's hand goes into mine and moves his head, placing a kiss on mine.

"Sleep," he murmurs with a yawn, "I love you, Rox."

"I love you too," I say as I let the darkness take hold of me.

I am where I need to be, and that is here with my mate, children, family, and pack.

THE END