EPILOGUE
Harper’s [POV]
Three months later
“Miss Harper! Miss Harper! Look!”
I crouch down to Lottie’s height, marveling at the small sprout that has risen from her terracotta pot.
“Good job!” I say. “You’ve got a natural green thumb, Lottie.”
She gives me a toothy, five year old grin, and my heart melts.
Beau and I have been working with foster children from around and outside the city of Aurora, teaching them about gardening.
Beau and I never had that opportunity growing up and working with the children through the outreach programs fills me with joy.
James holds his art classes for youth at the community center, while Grey continues teaching at the college.
He’s started mentoring again as well and volunteering in at group homes.
I didn’t realize how much of their life was on pause once I left.
TheInnthrives, and I work with James on more custom designs for the garden.
We’ve even won awards for it. James refuses to take the credit, even though he’s the artist, and I just tell him my ideas.
He’s stubborn like that.
Renee is back in my life, and our friendship is repairing itself.
I also learn more about who I was.
Turns out, nothing really changed, except for my memories.
According to her, I’ve always been adventurous, stubborn, and passionate.
I’ve especially loved working with children and giving back to the community that has embraced me fully once again.
The night terrors still happen, but not as regularly. Many mornings I wake up with a sense of calm, not panic.
It’s the best sleep I’ve had in at least two years.
“Hey, you.” Lottie runs past me, and I bump into Beau, giving him a quick kiss. “What’s going on?”
He grins. “You’re going to laugh.”
“What?”
“We have a pest. And we’re trying to figure out what to do with it.”
“A pest?” I ask, confused.
“Yeah. Come see. Tell me what you think.”
He doesn’t make sense, but there’s so much delight in his eyes that I can’t help but follow him. Putting down my trowel, I meet him back at the front of theInn, where Grey and James are talking amongst themselves.
Wilson zooms in front of me, making a crazy meow song-and-dance as he rushes between our legs.
“Did we ever tell you how we met Wilson?” James asks me as I lean into his embrace. He wraps his arms around me, and his spicy scent mingles with mine, invigorating my senses.
I shrug. “Not that I know of.”
“He just showed up one day and demanded food. And wouldn’t shut up until we fed him,” Grey mutters, rolling his eyes.
I chuckle. “Okay…and?”
Beau grins and motions his head over to the corner of the wall near a small patch of grass.
“It’s a kitten!” Lottie yells. “Miss Harper, it’s a kitten!”
A small grey cat with blue eyes emerges from the grass, prancing over to Grey. She climbs up his leg and the Alpha winces before plucking her off of him. The kitten fits in his palm, and her giant blue eyes stare up at us.
My heart melts as Grey gingerly hands her to me. I hold her to my chest and a small purr radiates from her tiny body.
“Looks like we have another cat,” Beau says, excitedly.
Grey sighs and shakes his head. “Guess we do.”
I make a face at him. He would never admit it, but he’s the kindest soul with animals.
He just likes to appear like a grumpy Alphahole.
Besides…
“It’s one more addition to our family,” I beam at him.
His scowl disappears, and his eyes soften.
“Yes, it is,” he says.
Our bond thrums, and I feel the essence of his love pulsing through my veins. James and Beau’s affection mixes with his, and I sigh as the kitten purrs in my arms.
I remember Grey’s words from what feels like ages ago.
Good things are allowed to happen to you.
And as I look around, taking in my Alphas, Wilson, and the newly acquired kitten, I realize I’ve allowed a lot of good into my life.
Finally.
——–//// MY DARK MATE ////———-
Broken. Rejected. Determined never to love again. Until I met my match and realized we were fated.
My life was a mess, I had one shot at staying in my pack and gaining protection, and that shot just happened to be a male who wanted nothing to do with me.
He’s my boss, my protector and a male I would like to call a friend.
Unfortunately my wolf didn’t seem to agree with me and when she recognized him as our fated mate, I had no choice but to listen.
I knew love wasn’t in the cards for us.
That falling for him wasn’t smart, but my pesky heart and my wolf wouldn’t listen.
When I was taken by a rival pack and my life hung in the balance, he showed up to save me.
The only question was, could I risk my heart and accept a one sided mating?
———-//// MY DARK MATE ////———-