Chapter 89

Amelie

"Oh no, no no no! Got you!" I lift Aspen in the air, and the sound of his giggles is the world's sweetest music. "Where do you think you're going, mister!" Birch squeals as I pick him up in my other arm. Escaping mom is our favorite game these days. I can't believe they turned one today. My little trees are growing so fast, and of course, since they are always around older kids, they have developed very quickly and have already started walking.

"Daisy, Rose, girls, can you help me with your brothers for a second?" I pop my head out of my bedroom door, looking for signs of my daughters. They come tumbling out of their bedroom door.

"Yes, mommy, we can help." Rose eagerly bounces past me into my bedroom. Daisy twirling behind.

I set the boys down on the floor with their toys. "Thank you, girls. Once mommy is ready, she will help you get ready for the party. Are you excited to see your grandparents?"

"We want to see Uncle Riley and Uncle Jammmmeeessssssss." Daisy is in this phase where she likes to drag out peoples' names.

"Hahaha, I'm sure your uncles are excited to see you too." I bend down and give each of the girls a kiss on the head and dash off to my closet. The first birthday for an heir is a big event for a pack, and the weekend will take on a festival-type atmosphere. All the Delta Force Team Leads are here. My family will be arriving today as well. Tomorrow we are holding a formal dinner for the Council members. I thought that was unnecessary, but after everything that happened, the Council wanted to show its gratitude to Gideon and me. We could refuse, but honestly, it would be telling my dad No, and he would let me if I tried. Still, it will be a good break for everyone. This past year has been hectic.

I slip on a sundress and sandals. It's the end of summer and still hot. Tonight is just an informal BBQ for everyone, but I am still the Luna and need to present myself as such. A sundress was a good compromise. Honestly, I couldn't be happier that the most trying thing in my day is what I'm going to wear to a BBQ. I have don't have to look over my shoulder, and I can raise my family and run the pack with Gideon like we were always meant to.

"Mommy Birch is trying to eat my hair again." Rose has found a bit more of her voice, but she's still not as rambunctious or boisterous as Daisy, but it's a good chance.

"Coming." I quickly leave the closet and bathroom to find Daisy and Aspen laughing at Birch trying to eat Rose's hair, and Rose is just sitting there pouting, letting him.

"Rose, he's just a baby. You can't just let him do that."

"But mommy, I'm bigger than him. I don't want to hurt him." Oh, my sweet, gentle Rose.

"You can be gentle with him and tell him No. He has to learn, and you girls have to help mommy and daddy teach them." The girls loved their brothers, and thankfully all of their visions have been of good things lately.

The bedroom door opens. "There you all are!"

"Daddy." The girls run to Gideon, and he scoops them up, peppering them with kisses as they giggle.

"How are my little flowers? Are you helping mommy?"

"Yes, daddy, we are." Daisy gives him an epic eye roll. So sassy for four.

"Let me change the flowers, and we can head down to the party. Has my family arrived yet?" I pick up the boys. Since the girls have flowers and the boys have trees as their family marks, it became natural to refer to them as flowers and trees.

"They just arrived. Everyone is in the garden."

"OK, let's get a move on it then." Magically the girls were motivated to get dressed and get down to the party once they knew everyone was there.

Once we get to the back door, I take in a deep breath of satisfaction and let my genuine smile take over my face. I have the flowers in each hand, and Gideon is carrying our little trees. Once we step across that backdoor threshold, the back garden and yard erupt in clapping and cheering. The girls go running off to find their uncles, and mom and Celeste come up, and each steals a baby from Gideon's arms. What a fantastic feeling.

"Dad!" I open my arms wide to give my dad a big hug.

I get that dad hug. "Hey, kiddo, how's it going?"

"Great! No better than great it's perfect."

"I'm happy for you." The look in my dad's eyes in that exchange will stay with me forever. "Gideon, later on, we need to have a meeting in your office, including Logan."

"Of course. Right now, I need to dance with my mate." Gideon turns to me. It gives me a smirk, "Amelie, right? Would you care to dance?" He stretches out his hand to me.

I laugh uncontrollably. Yes, this was my life. This sweet man would always remind me of the first dance we had together where I ran away from me. I couldn't deny him then, and I can't now. "Sure." I take his hand, and we dance, well we kind of twirl around, and I'm just giggling the whole time. It's truly all over.

After the raid, all the Alphas and Betas that didn't die fighting were rounded up, tried, and executed. The hardest part was what to do with the packs. Thank goodness dad is a scholar of history. He found a ritual to identify an Alpha if a new one was needed to take over a pack. The tricky part was they would have to do a separate ceremony to be blessed as the Alpha. Each ceremony had to be performed on a full moon on pack lands with four other Alphas and two pack elders. This process took time but soon, new Alphas and Lunas were running packs. The Councils had some changes too.

The Black Hills Pack and the Korey Pack were added to the Alpha Council. Now both of my brothers, cousin, and sons would be on the Council together. It was crazy to think about because I changed all their diapers at one point. There will be a lot of diaper changing going on in the packhouse for a while.

Becky and Benjamin come up beside us on the dance floor, well grass. "Becky, how are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. I still have two months left, but we can't wait to meet our little girl!" Becky rubs her belly. She was going to be such a great mom. Benjamin has been practicing with our little trees to make sure he is ready. It's the funniest thing to watch. It was like he was analyzing an attacker's next move. He will be a great dad.

"Oh, have you seen Matt and Bailey?" Gideon dips me while I'm talking. Such a showboat.

"She's on her way. She was having trouble finding something that fits. She is at that awkward stage where your normal clothes don't fit, but maternity clothes are not the answer." Becky chatters away, and I see Matt and Bailey come in from the side.

"Bailey, how are you?" I break away from Gideon to hug Bailey. She went through so much for so long. It's great to see her doing better. She's two months along now and has become a fantastic Delta.

"I feel so tired all the time. I don't know where Becky gets all her energy."

"Don't make Becky you standard when it comes to energy, and she has more energy than the Hoover Dam."

"Your just jelly of my super stamina." Becky flexes, showing us her guns, and no one can keep it in.

Laughing with the people I care about, watching my kids grow up. It is the most amazing feeling I will ever have. Sitting in the back of my mind behind a closed-door hide the fear of what's to come. Ithildin's words still haunt me. I know something is brewing, and my family will be directly involved, and I can't stop it. I can only be the best mother, mate, and Luna that I can be and have faith in those around me. I’m more confident now that we have broken Inari’s seal but there’s no guarantee.

"Gideon, can we borrow your office for a bit?" Dad comes over with Logan and Flynn.

"Sure. I'll be back, no dancing without me." Gideon gives me a wink and a kiss on the forehead. James, Riley, and Harlow come over to meet up with their Alpha fathers. Our little flowers are hanging off them like little monkeys in a tree.

"Come here, you two. Your uncles and cousin need to talk with daddy and the Alphas. You can play with them later."

Rose cups her hand around her mouth, and I bend down to hear her whisper. "It's about the long trip, right, mommy?"

"Oh, did you see it?" Both girls nod. "Does something bad happen?" I hold my breath.

"We didn't see anything bad." Daisy whispers.

My breath released from my chest; I hope these peaceful times can last a little longer.