Epilogue

London

I stared out the window as my fingers slowly worked to clasp the buttons of my crisp white dress shirt. I snapped my attention back to the present when I felt my mate's gentle touch glide over the wide expanse of my shoulder.

I smiled, brushing my hair back and turning to face her smiling face. Eighteen years, and she didn't look a day older than twenty-five—the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.

“Here, I'll help with your tie,” she murmured, starting the knot around my neck, and I could only stare down at her like a lovesick puppy. She looked even more beautiful today, if that were even possible. Her dark hair was curled to perfection, the black shimmering gown accentuated her curves, and the thigh-high slit revealed slender, long legs that I imagined putting over my shoulder while doing wicked things to her.

I groaned at the thought, pulling her chin up so our eyes met. Even in those heels, she was still a midget compared to me.

“We should just ditch the party and maybe engage in more interesting things,” I rasped, my lips dangerously hovering over her glistening lips. Before our lips could touch, she moved her head away, and I groaned.

"No, we cannot London. Stop it, you'll ruin my make-up,” she chastised, going back to finish the knot. But I ignored her comment, holding her waist and pulling her closer. She gasped and stared wide eyed at me, and it was a fucking turn-on.

“I'm king, and I can do whatever the fuck I want,” I rasped, my palm cupping her ass cheek, earning a gasp from her, which I took as an opportunity to crash my lips against hers that were begging to be kissed. She moaned, returning the kiss in equal fervor. I backed her up against the wall, my finger going between her thighs as I continued to ravish her with my tongue, groaning when her fingers tangled through my mane.

Reaching for her thong, I pushed it aside with a finger, plunging two digits into her tight wet heat. She gasped, throwing her head back, and I attacked her neck, finding and nipping at her soft spot, earning a mewl that made my cock strain against the material of my dress pants.

“You like that, don't you?” My voice turned deeper with need as I played with her most sensitive centre until her mouth curled into a silent scream.

“Please,” she gasped, her eyes rolling to the back of her head when I continued my ministration. My lips came down on hers, swallowing her screams as her legs shook for the mind-blowing orgasm. She sighed, slowly coming down from her high, and I licked my fingers clean, kissing her again. I pulled her closer so her body was sandwiched between mine and the wall.

A knock on the door had us pausing to stare at the door, but we didn't answer to see if whoever it was would just give up and go away. The incessant knocks made me groan and back away from my wife, wiping the corner of her lips smudged with her lipstick.

“I'll see who is at the door; fix yourself,” she said, eyeing my erection, and I looked down, shaking my head and heading into the bathroom.

After ten minutes, I walked out of the room only to find my daughter, Nova, fussing over her outfit. Blaire had retouched her makeup and was trying to reassure our daughter that she looked beautiful and that if she were to find her mate at the ball, he wouldn't care about whatever she wore.

“Dad! There you are,” Nova sighed in relief, immediately rushing to my side and looping her arms in mine.

“Do you think my mate would find this dress too flattering?” She asked, her grey orbs, identical to mine, wide with anticipation, and I frowned.

“Babygirl, don't you think it's too early to be so eager about finding your mate, no?” I tried to reason with the mental picture of another wolf taking her away, not sitting right with me. Even Fuyu seemed to agree with my reasoning.

“No, it's not,” she argued, her nose scrunching up in a little frown.

“Didn't Mom meet you the day she turned eighteen?” Nova asked, flipping her wavy, dark hair over her shoulder and pinning me with a questioning stare that left me at a loss for words. She had mastered the art of leaving me speechless. Physically, she was my exact replica, but socially, she was a butterfly like her mother.

“You will look beautiful in whatever you wear, and if he doesn't like it, then that's on him,” I said, gritting the last part and glaring at Blaire when she tried to cover up her giggle with a cough.

“Thank you, Daddy!” Nova beamed, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me before rushing out of the room.

“Be down in ten minutes with your brother,” Blaire shouted after her, but sighed when the door slammed shut.

I smiled coyly, approaching Blaire, but she walked off, snatching her clutch from the dressing table.

“Come on, honey, our guests await us,” she smirked, and I playfully rolled my eyes, grabbing my jacket off the coat hanger, pulling it on, and adjusting it to perfection.

I opened the door, and she walked out first. We descended the stairs slowly, my hand firmly around her hip. As we reached the threshold of the ballroom, the Herald cleared his throat, and the chatter of the party slowly died down.

“All rise for their Majesties, the Alpha King London and Queen Blaire,” his voice echoed, bouncing off the high ceilings. As we walked in, Blaire's arm in mine, our guests cheered. Some came over to exchange pleasantries before we made our way towards our thrones on the dais.

The crowd hushed as I stood to address them, Blaire standing by my side with a practiced smile on her lips.

“As we celebrate our 18th Annual Mating Ball, may the moon goddess' blessings reach every wolf in search of their other half. Let the festivities begin!” I announced, and the crowd cheered as music filled the room. Everyone began eating, drinking, and mingling with each other.

I spotted Nova in the crowd as I took a seat, her pale blue dress complementing her skin tone as she giggled at whatever the lad she was speaking to said.

“You're glaring at the poor lad, London,” Blaire whispered, her hands rubbing mine that were placed on the handle of my throne, and I sighed.

“Where is Nevan? I haven't seen him all day,” I asked, my eyes doing a thorough sweep and not finding him anywhere among the crowd, unsurprisingly. That boy and his brooding personality. I sighed again, massaging my temple.

“He should be here somewhere,” she mumbled in reply, her gaze flitting across the ballroom and not finding him either.

Music started to play, and some Lycans moved to the dance floor with their partners. Turning to my wife with a slow grin, I offered my hand.

“Can I have this dance, my lady?” I asked cheesily, and she blushed, nodding and placing her hand in mine.

Leading her to the dance floor, we swayed together, dancing to the rhythm of the song for several minutes before we decided to take a break. Laughing, we took our seats, and I downed a glass of wine, sighing when it soothed my parched throat.

The night went on successfully until the party ended and the last of the guests left, with those from other packs choosing to stay the night in the guest rooms we provided.

“Finally,” I groaned, turning to leave when I found Nova by the corner. She was quiet, staring into space, and I approached her slowly.

“What is it, baby girl?” I asked softly, and as her eyes met mine, I realised what was wrong.

“It's okay, there's still time. It doesn't have to happen now,” I soothed her, taking her in my arms and rubbing up and down her back.

Fuyu was overjoyed that she didn't find her mate, and a part of me felt the same, but I felt bad that my daughter was sad because of it.

“It's going to be okay,” I murmured softly, and after a while, she calmed down enough to give me a small smile.

Nevan sauntered in at the same time, clad in a white dress shirt and black pants that weren't tucked in, with white Nike Air Force 1 shoes. He paused when he noticed the ballroom was empty and turned to us with an awkward smile that didn't reach his golden eyes.

“Where were you, Nevan?” Blaire inquired, taking a step closer and watching him with narrowed eyes. He scratched his dark brown hair, cropped at the sides.

“I just got caught up with something,” he said, waving off the topic before his eyes found a red-faced Nova, and he raised his brow in question.

“Now that we're all here, let's take a photo to commemorate the twins' first Mating Ball, or just Nova's,” Blaire said, giving Nevan the stink eye. He quickly looked away guiltily.

Good idea. Let's get this over with,” I said, waving over the royal photographer. I held my wife on my left, while Nova and Nevan stood on either side of us.

As I smiled contentedly, staring at my wife and Queen, the mother of my children and the love of my life, I realised how perfect a gift she was to me. A blessing indeed from the moon goddess.

The End.