It's been a rather interesting and educational time. Often she felt like walking around with a recorder and document what her life has become.

Even after all these years, it all still felt pretty surreal... Even unreal.

Although this was happening less now, she would still get startled when she'd feel her lion move under her skin, or when it would start talking to her.

She was still mesmerized at the fact that at night she was capable of feeling, smelling, hearing all the small little lives tinkering yards away within and beyond those trees if she was focused enough at night when everything else stood still.

The possibility of it all being a dream, a world of imagination that a comatose brain have conjured to cope, never truly left her mind completely.

But only because she was happy.

Like... Truly happy.

It was hard sometimes to accept that simple truth when you've lived in the dark for so long and accepted it as the norm. So it didn't surprise her, that this darkness still found a way to creep up sometimes and reminded her of her past and what she had endured to become who she was today.

The nightmares were almost non-existent. Sleeping and waking up in the arms of her husband helped with that. Still doting and loving as ever, no matter how busy he might get, he always made sure to be home for dinner and be by her side at the end of the night.

On the rare occasions where he had to travel and she couldn't go with him, she'd never admit it, but yea... She would still wake up with beads of sweats coating her skin.

It was always a variation of the same nightmare. She wouldn't tell him, but it couldn't be a coincidence that every time this would happen, her phone would ring almost immediately, and he would stay on the line with her until he lulled her back to sleep.. And more often then he should, she'd wake up the next morning and he would still be on the other line.

Never once has she ever imagined herself capable of loving another with that much intensity. And when she thinks, her cup was already overflowing and she couldn't possibly love him more, he'd do or say something to prove her wrong.

Like when a year after she'd settled within the pride, and he threw her a surprise birthday party. It was the very first she's ever had and she was floating on cloud nine. But that wasn't even his real surprise.

In the middle of the night, right when the party was in full swing, he took her aside and silently lead her to their favorite hiding/make out spot. A beautiful waterfall in a little hidden clearing within the forest.

She was more than ready to thank him properly for the party, but they weren't alone.

There sat a man near the river bed. A place that would make anyone instantly relax, but his anxiety was rolling off of him in waves, almost like the world was weighing on his shoulders. It was suffocating.

When he heard them approach, he swiftly turned around, got up and almost fell into the water if not for her quick response in grabbing his forearm.

As he regained his footings, she quickly let go and returned back next to Henri and grabbing his hand, needing his touch all of a sudden.

"Baby, I'd like you to meet someone. This gentleman here is Anthony Toussaint... Your father."

He had a literal kingdom and countless businesses to run, but he still found the time to find her dad and surprise her.

She felt her eyes water, as she remembered Anthony falling to his knees in tears as he profusely apologized for not being in her life.

It was quite a sight to behold. The man was not small. She clearly took her heights from him. Short hair with a little bit of gray on the sides, dark chocolate eyes, dark skin, with his nose a bit wider, she could see the resemblance between them.

He had no idea of her existence, until Henri tracked him down after getting all the info he could out of her Arielle, her biological mother.

There was nothing for her to forgive him for and she couldn't help but kneel right there on the ground and let him hug her as long as he needed and sobbed in his arms.

Later he'd come visit as often as he could. Except he couldn't be told about who they were, so for each visit, the community was warned to act as "human" as possible.

That was getting old fast, so they made the decision to tell him.

That's when she learned something else about her father. He was an avid catholic who carried around holy water.

She couldn't help but smile, when she remembered Henri's face when Anthony emptied out a vial of holy water in his hair, after he partially shifted to show him that what they were telling him was real and they weren't crazy.

He was surprisingly and thankfully not too hard to convince afterwards that they weren't demons. She was his newfound daughter after all, and he wasn't about to let her go and was more than happy to be sworn into secrecy and welcomed within the pride as family.

When it comes to her mother, she did call and thank her for giving Henri the info he needed to get in contact with her father.

She learned of her behavior when she was in the hospital and she was well... Touched?

Yea, touched.

After all, she wouldn't have expected her to come at all, let alone try and protect her from what she perceived to be a bad decision, especially since the doctor on call was advising against moving her. So she understood why she reacted that way.

She saw her a couple of years ago, when she went back to new York to wrap up and closed down her real estate business. Their relationship had evolved from the awkward phase, now they spoke regularly on the phone.

Tony who basically appointed himself as her personal guard, was not too happy and didn't even bother hiding it being back there with her. He forever worried about her, and by goddess she was happy when he finally found a woman to marry and have cubs with. Two of them to be precise. Now he could worry about someone else other than her. She was really happy for him though. He was the sweetest guy.

Because of him though, she learned one of the first really important lessons on what was acceptable behavior as felines.

Mated shifters, as a form of respect for their significant others, always keep a healthy distance between other shifters from the opposite sex. Especially, if the latter is unmated not wanting their scent all over them.

One rule that Mr. Luc had zero care for when it came to her. As he was currently proving that right now.

She was laying on a picnic blanket studying for her finals for her masters on education and literature, near her not-so-much-of-a-hideout anymore since Luc found them one night near the waterfall, when he just barged in and laid across her lap pleading for her to help him with his dreadlocs... No... Locs... "Nothing dreadful about my locs" he once corrected her.

He needed to look good for yet another hot many many dates. The man was determined to find a woman he could spend his life with. He was ready.

So that's where he was still right now, head on her lap while she fixed him up, because of course he came prepared with his hair products giving her no chance to refuse him.

"Luc...are you ever going to tell me?"

He tensed at her question, knowing exactly what she was referring to.

"Bestie, you know i can't. He forbade us to."

"So, what you are telling me is that you are afraid of your brother?"

"Don't be ridiculous Lia! I'm not... NOT afraid of him." he responded with a grin.

"I'm serious Luc, i need to know."

"No you don't" He answered with a really no nonsense serious tone. One he's never used on her before, but she's seen in action plenty of times. He may be playful and goofy at times, but Luc was not to be underestimated and trifled with.

She wacked his shoulder with her comb, "Don't you use that tone with me mister!"

"OUCH!" He exclaimed exaggerating. She rolled her eyes giving him another whack.

"Aw cmon Lia, i didn't come here to get abused. Your so mean!"

She stayed silent and continued working on his hair. She was pissed and he knew it. He sighed and got up for a moment to look at her.

"Hun, why do you need to know so badly about what happened to the detective? What good is that going to do for you?"

"Closure?... I keep waiting for him to just pop up somewhere even after all this time." her lips quivered and she blinked rapidly refusing to cry.

It was the first time she'd said this aloud or even admitting to herself. He did a better job at affecting her than she ever let on not wanting everyone to worry constantly about her.

"Lia, trust me that is one fear you can put aside. It is not my place to tell you how Henri is dealing with him because he doesn't want you to know and he tells you everything..."

Her eyes widened in shock, "So he IS STILL alive? "

Luc groaned and rubbed his hands on his face, an act she's seen done by Henri countless times, especially when she or work was getting on his nerves. It was fascinating to observe how similar and yet so vastly different they were. She would have loved to have siblings.

"Natalia, there are worse things than death." he whispered. And a chill went down her spine. She gulped and nodded softly.

A bright smile reappeared on his face, he leaned in and gave her a big squishy kiss on her cheek and quickly laid back down.

It's been five years now since she and Henri had gotten together and four since they've officially been married.

Marriage might not be a big deal for shifters. Their mating bites is the equivalent, but for the sake of the human world and their rules, Henri wanted to marry her as soon as possible. We can all agree that being put aside at the hospital because he wasn't married to her still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

All this time she knew he dreamed of them having children, but he also understood she needed time to heal, so he never pressured her.

Damaged people can't help but damage others, and she had to many demons to deal with which none her dad's holy water could help with. She had to make sure she was mentally fit first before agreeing to bring a baby into this world.

She had finally concluded with her therapist a few months ago that she was indeed ready. A decision she hadn't yet disclosed to Henri when she stopped taking her pills. She wanted it to be a surprised, and this morning she finally got the good news.

She was already 4 weeks in, and apparently a shifter's pregnancy didn't last as long as a human. But since she was changed, they were going to play it by ear.

Henri was away in business today and she was dying to tell him but wanted to do so in person. She was positively bursting at the seams and couldn't wait anymore to tell someone.

Just as she was opening her mouth to tell Luc, both their ears perked up and she inhaled deeply smiling from ear to ear.

Right then peaked out of the wood onto the clearing growling loudly.

"LUC GET OFF MY WIFE!"

Luc rolled his eyes and sat up anyway.

She chuckled and patt his head. "It's ok Luc, I'm just about done anyways. You are good to go for your hot date on the mainland."

Henri slipped on the blanket behind her, pulling her back against his chest between his legs, burying his face in her hair and leaving a trail of kisses on the back of her neck and on her mark that had her unconsciously purr.

" I missed you so much baby."

" I missed you more, I've been dying to speak to you all day."

Luc got off, picking up his hair supplies.

"Ok ok I'll leave yall alone."

But was stopped short when someone else came into the clearing. Just as Henri sniffed her cheek and growled again "I'm going to kick his ass" and kissed her on the same spot Luc had just a few minutes ago covering his scent with his.

She giggled shaking her head. She was human way longer than has been a cat, so even if it's been years, some of those behaviors she still found fascinating. Like how he was currently, softly rubbing his cheek against hers scenting her even if his mark left his permanent scent on her. But apparently that wasn't enough.

She wasn't complaining though, she loved it when he claimed her and prayed he'd never get tired of doing so. He slipped his hands to her belly and rubbed it gently.

"You smell so sweet ma belle."

She turned her head to look at him, and his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"You know!" she gasped.

He shook his head yes. He pecked her lips and pulled her in even closer against him breathing her in.

"We'll celebrate tonight, but for now someone wanted to see you."

She turned to see Miguel silently waiting. He was a brazilian Jaguar shifter whom after traveling around the world alone for years, heard of Henri emerging, and decided to come be of service. They were supposed to meet tomorrow and determined how he could help with the huge library she opened in the middle of the island. He was an avid reader himself, and although he'd have more important duties given to him by Henri, he'd let her know how much he'd love to help her.

He didn't take long talking to him to know he was brilliant and a borderline genius. Tall, broad shoulders, he didn't have Henri's muscles but it was obvious his body was well defined. Curly hair falling over his forehead, the only place not tattooed that she could see was his face.

Luc groaned in her ear, "You are killing me here baby, you know i can read your mind right?"

"Shhh babe, something is happening."

He looked up putting his chin on her shoulder, still holding on as tightly as ever.

"Holy shit!"

"Right !"

They've in the past sent a numerous amount of scouts all around the world, talking with leaders and people within all shifter communities with only one goal... To find other true soulmates like them. Were they part of the new beginning to a new era? They didn't want to be the only ones, but alas, besides a really old werewolf couple claiming to being mates, their search had come fruitless.

But here, in front of them right this moment stood Miguel and Luc, frozen and unable to look away from one another.

"Aren't you going to get ready for your date Luc?" she asked testing the waters.

A fierce growl escaped Miguel upon hearing her that had Henri jumped in a blink of an eye and pinned him against a tree.

"Im sorry sir, i didn't mean to. Por favor accept my humble apologies."

Henri let him go, and straightened his shirt collar for him. "Just don't let it happen again.

Henri strolled back to Natalia who was now also standing up watching it all unfold.

" So... You guys are..."

"Mates" answered both of them.

An awkward pause stretched between them all until Luc finally broke his silence and muttered without breaking eye contact with Miguel not even once.

"B-Bbbut.....

I'm... I'M not even GAY!!!"

THE END

***************

I started writing to help with my chronic insomnia not thinking anyone would be slightly interested in any of my stories.

So, if you've gotten this far and allowed me to pull you and got you to escape even for a moment into my crazy world, i thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Please stay safe and healthy.

I've got a few other crazy stories rattling in there fighting to come out. So if you are the slightest bit interested, give us a follow so you'll know when i start posting again.

The next story I'm currently thinking about will be called "RESTRAINT" or "OUR MATE"

Again thank you and don't forget to comment! I think i rewrote this epilogue life 4 times in my head before agreeing to this version.

😘🙏🏾♥️

(OMG! 08/08/2022 JUST REACHED 200K! You guys are AWESOME. Thank you.)