Damien’s POV
The sun was setting.
Orange and pink streaking across the sky. Painting everything gold. Making the whole backyard look like sothing out of a dream.
I leaned against the porch railing. Watching the chaos unfold below.
Kids everywhere. Running. Screaming. Laughing. Lily had organized so elaborate ga that involved half the pack’s children and seed to have no rules whatsoever.
Adults scattered across the lawn. Talking. Drinking. Celebrating Ophelia’s engagent like it was a national holiday.
And in the middle of it all—Sera.
She stood near the garden. Aurora on her hip. Laughing at sothing Riley said. The sunset caught her hair. Made it glow.
God, she was beautiful.
A year ago, I’d been dying in a forest. Poisoned. Broken. Certain I’d never see her again.
Now look at us.
"Alpha."
I turned. Lucas approached with two beers. Handed one.
"Thanks." I took a long drink. "Good party."
"Great party." He leaned against the railing beside . "Ophelia looks happy."
"She does."
We watched Caleb spin her around on the makeshift dance floor soone had set up. She was laughing. Actually laughing. That carefree sound I hadn’t heard from her in years.
"He’s good for her," Lucas said.
"He is."
Silence stretched between us. Comfortable. The kind that ca from decades of friendship.
"Got the final report today," Lucas said eventually. His voice shifting. More serious.
I straightened. "And?"
"Border’s clear." He took a drink. "Completely clear. The last rogue cell scattered three weeks ago. Haven’t seen activity since."
The words settled over . Heavy. Significant.
Clear.
After years of fighting. Years of threats. Years of looking over my shoulder.
Finally, truly clear.
"You’re sure?" The question ca out rough.
"Triple confird." Lucas nodded. "Marcus ran the final sweep himself. Every inch of territory. Nothing."
I exhaled slowly. Let the tension I didn’t know I was carrying drain away.
"It’s over." Lucas’s voice was quiet. "Really over this ti."
Over.
No more rogues. No more Voss. No more waking up at 3 AM wondering if today was the day everything fell apart.
Just... peace.
"Daddy!"
The shout ca from below. Adrian was waving at . His silver-blue eyes bright.
"Co play! Lily’s cheating and I need backup!"
"I am NOT cheating!" Lily’s indignant voice carried across the yard. "You just don’t understand the rules!"
"There ARE no rules!"
"That’s the point!"
I laughed. Pushed off the railing.
"Duty calls," I said to Lucas.
He grinned. "Go. I’ll handle things here."
I jogged down the steps. Into the chaos.
Adrian grabbed my hand imdiately. Started explaining the ga in rapid-fire sentences that made absolutely no sense.
"—and then you have to tag the tree but only if you’re holding the blue flag and Lily says the blue flag doesn’t count anymore but that’s not FAIR because—"
"Breathe, buddy."
He took a breath. Kept talking.
Lily intercepted us halfway across the lawn. "Daddy! Tell Adrian the rules changed! They ALWAYS change! That’s how the ga works!"
"How can I tell him if I don’t know the rules?"
"You don’t KNOW the rules! You FEEL them!"
"That’s ridiculous," Adrian muttered.
"You’re ridiculous!"
"Hey." I crouched down. Eye level with both of them. "No fighting. It’s a party."
"But—"
"No buts." I pulled them both into a hug. Squeezed until they squird. "You two are on the sa team. Always. Rember?"
Adrian sighed dramatically. "Fine."
"FINE." Lily copied his tone exactly. Then ruined it by giggling.
They ran off together. Arguing resud within seconds. But gentler now.
I stood there. Watching them. These two little people Sera and I had made. Adrian had my analytical mind. Lily had Sera’s stubborn spirit.
And the twins...
I looked over at Sera. She was walking toward the house now. Aurora fussy in her arms.
Ti to help.
I found her in the nursery ten minutes later.
Both babies were crying. That exhausted, overtired wail that ant they’d pushed too hard.
"Hey." I took Liam from the crib. Started bouncing him. "I’ve got this one."
"Thank God." Sera looked frazzled. "They’ve been fighting sleep for an hour. Too much excitent."
Aurora was rubbing her eyes. Whimpering. Her little face scrunched up.
"Shh, baby girl." Sera swayed. Humd softly. "It’s okay. Mommy’s here."
I matched her rhythm. Both of us swaying. Both of us humming. The crying gradually faded.
Liam’s eyes drooped. His little fist clutching my shirt.
Aurora’s head dropped onto Sera’s shoulder. Out cold.
We stood there in the dim nursery. Rocking. Breathing. Together.
"Lucas told ," I said quietly. "About the border."
Sera looked up. "And?"
"Clear. Completely clear."
Her eyes filled. Just for a second. Then she blinked it away.
"It’s really over?" Her voice cracked.
"It’s really over."
She moved closer. Careful not to jostle the babies. Her forehead pressed against my chest.
I wrapped my free arm around her. Held them all. My whole world in one embrace.
"We did it." The words ca out thick. "We actually did it."
"We did."
Liam sighed in his sleep. That little baby sound that made my heart crack open every ti.
"I love you." I pressed my lips to Sera’s hair. "I love you so much it scares sotis."
"Scares you?"
"To have this much to lose." I looked around the nursery. At the two cribs. The stuffed animals. The family photos on the wall. "I spent so long alone. Convinced I didn’t deserve happiness."
"Damien..."
"Then you crashed into my life." I smiled against her hair. "Stubborn. Fierce. Absolutely impossible."
"Hey."
"And you gave everything." My voice broke slightly. "These kids. This family. A reason to fight. A reason to live."
Sera pulled back. Her eyes shining. That look that still made my knees weak.
"You gave the sa thing." She reached up. Cupped my face. "I was broken when you found . Lost. Convinced I’d never matter to anyone."
"You matter." The words ca out fierce. "You matter more than anything."
"I know." She smiled. "You remind every day."
Aurora stirred. Made a small noise.
We both froze. Waited.
She settled. Kept sleeping.
"We should put them down," Sera whispered.
"Yeah."
Neither of us moved.
"One more minute." I pulled her closer. "Just one more minute."
She laughed softly. Let hold her.
---
We put the twins in their cribs twenty minutes later.
Stood in the doorway. Watching them sleep. Two perfect little miracles.
"They have your eyes," Sera said.
"And your stubborn chin."
"I don’t have a stubborn chin!"
"You absolutely have a stubborn chin."
She elbowed . I caught her arm. Pulled her against .
"I love your stubborn chin."
"Smooth recovery."
"I try."
We walked back to the party hand in hand.
The sun had fully set now. String lights illuminated the backyard. Soone had started music. People were dancing.
Adrian and Lily had finally stopped arguing. They sat with Marcus’s kids, eating cake and plotting sothing.
Ophelia and Caleb were slow dancing near the garden. Her head on his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her like she was precious.
Lucas and Riley were laughing with Claire. The old woman looking younger than I’d seen her in years.
My pack. My family. Everyone I loved in one place.
Safe. Happy. Whole.
"What are you thinking?" Sera asked.
I looked at her. At this woman who’d survived hell and co out stronger. Who’d saved my life with her tears. Who’d given four incredible children and a future worth fighting for.
"I’m thinking..." I paused. Searched for the right words. "I’m thinking I have everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything." I pulled her closer. "You. The kids. This pack. This life."
I gestured at the party. At the laughter and music and joy.
"A year ago, I was dying in a forest. Certain I’d lost you forever. Certain our kids would grow up without a father."
"Don’t." Her hand tightened on mine. "Don’t go back there."
"I’m not." I shook my head. "I’m just... grateful. For this. For you. For all of it."
"Even the hard parts?"
"Especially the hard parts." I cupped her face. "They led us here. To this mont. To everything we have."
Sera’s eyes went soft. That look that was just for .
"I love you," she said. "Have I ntioned that lately?"
"Once or twice."
"Good." She rose on her toes. Kissed softly. "Because it’s true. Always has been. Always will be."
"Always?"
"Always."
The music changed. Sothing slower. More romantic.
"Dance with ." I pulled her toward the floor. "One dance before the kids demand our attention again."
"They always demand our attention."
"That’s what kids do."
"Speaking from experience?"
"Speaking from the last six years."
She laughed. Let lead her to the dance floor.
We swayed together. Her head on my chest. My arms around her waist. The party continuing around us but sohow feeling far away.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Lily’s voice. Right on cue.
"One minute!" I called back.
"But Adrian’s hogging all the cake!"
"I am NOT!"
"You ARE!"
Sera sighed against my chest. "Duty calls."
"Always does."
But neither of us moved. Just held on for one more mont.
"This is it," I said quietly. "This is the life I always wanted. I just didn’t know it until I found you."
Sera looked up. Tears in her eyes. Happy tears.
" too." Her voice was thick. " too."
"DADDY!"
"MOMMY!"
Chaos.
Beautiful, perfect chaos.
Sera laughed. That bright, full sound that made everything better.
"Ready?" She grabbed my hand.
I looked at her. At this incredible woman. My mate. My Luna. My everything.
"Ready."
We walked into the chaos together.
And I knew—with absolute certainty—that this was exactly where I was ant to be.
Ho.
Finally, truly ho.
**THE END**
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