9 years later

'oh for goodness sake Knox,' Sophia grumbled angrily, watching her mate stalk an 11 year old boy who had given their daughter Grace a rose from the gardens,

'try Dante,' Venus scoffed, remembering how her mate had growled at a boy who called Athena pretty and complimented her dress,

she remembered how she had to pull her mate to the side and give him a full scolding for being so overprotective,

'at least you have one girl, I have two and a possessive crazy beta wolf to deal with,' Sophia grounded out, the couple now had another 3-year-old baby girl,

she was the exact replica of her father but her features were soft, Nina, as Knox insisted they name her also had her fathers characteristics,

'where are they now,' Venus murmured, they were all out in the gardens, having a little picnic,

their mates and kids had wandered off somewhere playing hide and seek, James and Gabriel said they would join them in a while because they had some work to do.

'wow vee you've worked up an appetite today,' Sophia giggled, watching her best friend eat her third cookie, Venus laughed and blushed, slowly chewing while she was lost in thought,

should I tell her now? she thought,

clearing her throat she faced Sophia who was sipping on her orange juice, and she sucked in a deep breath,

'im pregnant,' Venus blurted out, Sophia's eyes widened and she sputtered out her orange juice in a very un-ladylike manner,

'YOURE WHAT,' she screeched, her sea-blue eyes wide as saucers. Venus gave her a sheepish 'oops it just happened' smile,

'does Dante know?'

'nope,'

'When will you tell him,'

'soon,'

'whens soon,'

'soon,'

'SOPHIA YOU IDIOT I-,'

'tell me what?' a deep voice asked, Venus and Sophia, whipped their heads back to see Dante behind them,

Athena next to him with a frees-bee in hand while Abel was running towards them a little distance away with Grace and Knox.

'n-nothing,' Venus stuttered, squirming under her mate's hot gaze that clearly said this isn't over you will tell me soon,

Venus turned to glare at her friend who also smiled at her cheekily and blew her a kiss, Venus was about to give her an ear full when James and Gabriel showed up.

They all sat around on the picnic sheet, munching away on their food and chatting, Sophia leaned closer to James and told him something that had his mouth agape as he stared directly at Venus, as a second later he mouthed 'you're pregnant?' to her.

Venus facepalmed and turned her attention to her mate who was staring down at her with so much love she thought she'd melt,

'let's take a walk,' she whispered to him, gently holding his hand as they walked away from the others,

'wheres mum going,' Athena asked her brother while munching on her apple, Abel shrugged and continued to chat with Gabriel about their neighboring packs.

Abel at the age of 9 was the exact replica of his father, he had a shaped nose, a chiseled jaw with high and wide cheekbones and full firm lips, his skin tan from all the days he spent out in the sun from the sports and activities he'd play outdoors,

he was a quiet kid, from a young age he was into all the pack business, he excelled at school and everyone knew that there was maturity beyond his age in his bright hazel eyes,

his hair was dark in color in likeness to his fathers with thick shaped brows, he was also the tallest in class, Venus sometimes feared he'd grow too tall and Dante would have to explain to her that even he had fast growth at Abels age, the Lycan genes would show every now and then.

Athena was the exact opposite from her brother from a young age, they were not identical twins, she was outgoing and confident, she was also her father's shadow,

where ever Dante was Athena was always nearby, she had her fathers heterochromia trait, her right eye was blue and her left was green, a small button nose, full pink lips, high cheekbones, her hair was also dark in likeness to her fathers and she had delicate winged brows.

Athena was spoiled by her father while Abel had his mother's attention, shed usually get scolded by her brother for being too overbearing but she cared not, she did although have her mothers courage and grace and definitely her father's temper.

'wheres jack, uncle James,' Athena asked

'he had gone to a friend's house love he did say he was going to meet you and the others tomorrow,' James said, buttering his toast.

Gabriel and James had adopted Jack, he was a wonderful boy, he was 11 now and the eldest out of all the kids, with electric blue eyes and pitch-black hair,

James knew his son would be a heartbreaker when he grew up, in the beginning, it was hard for him to adapt to everything but a few months later everything was okay.

Gabriel was the best father to him, and James gave him so much love that everyone knew jack couldn't have found a better home.

James was even realized that Athena may have a little crush on Jack, lord forbid Dante found out the man would kill everyone in sight.

'tell me, what were u hiding,' Dante murmured, lifting his lips off his mate who he had decided to thoroughly ravish after they were out of everyone's eyeshot,

breathless and heated venus placed her head on his chest, hearing his heart drumming loudly and a smile graced her lips, years later and the effect they had on each other was still the same,

'promise me you'll be calm,' she whispered, as he rubbed her waist over the sundress she was wearing, and he hummed his reply,

'i talked to doctor mark and he said its completely safe since I've already given birth to 2 miracles so my body is used to it and I am half lycan now from all the blood u gave me,' she mumbled, and Dante froze when realization sunk in,

'venus,' he grounded out, almost as if he was in pain,

she realized his struggle, what happened all those years ago was replaying in his head,

she could feel the tension off him, leaning up she kissed him again, cupping his jaw in her hands she peered up at him, sensing the struggle he had within.

'i love you, Dante, I always will, and I want you to know I've taken every precaution to make sure this pregnancy will go amazing, I promise,' she whispered, and she heard him breathe out deeply,

holding her chin with his thumb and forefinger he lifted her face up to look directly to him,

'for some reason, I trust you this time around,' he whispered,

she gave him that smile he could never say no to,

'baby number 3 huh,' he teased, holding her close to himself,

'yes sir,' she teased back, as she once again locked lips with him till she heard a distant 'get a room you two' shout from the others,

blushing she pulled away and buried her face into his chest as a deep laugh escaped him.

With his arms around hers, their unborn child nestled in between them, Dante and Venus watched their twins from a distance, as they played around with their friends, and the people around them were not related to them by blood but they were family,

they were all they had, and it was etched across their hearts that no matter what happens their bond for each other ran deeper than mere affection, it was all their undying loyalty and commitment that pulled them all together.

'they're growing up so fast,' Venus said, an ache in her voice as she watched Abel teach Athena a protection move to while she sassily flipped her hair and proceeded to show him exactly what he had taught her in all under a minute,

'i wanted to ask when a girl blushes in front of a guy, does that mean she likes him?' Dante asked, an edge to his voice, as he gently squeezed her derriere.

Gasping at his open display of affection she smacked his hand away and glared at him in warning,

'yes but it also depends, why?' she said nonchalantly, forgetting for a fleeting moment what was going on in her mates head,

'why the fuck, does my daughter giggle like she's onto something every time she sees jack?' Dante demanded, his tone nothing short of a growl,

Venus's eyes widened, James and her knew Athena had a crush on jack, it was obvious but they feared if Dante found out he'd go on a rampage,

confused and baffled, unaware of what to do to distract her mate Venus kissed him thoroughly, taking her time to push her tongue into his mouth and suck on his lower lip the way he liked it,

'ill be on top tonight,' she whispered in a sultry voice, that had her hormonal mate forget all about their daughter's crush as he focused on what his sexy mate had to say,

and he leaned down to whisper something into her ear that had Venus fisting his shirt, something that was not for the world to hear, and just his husky voice had her moaning low in her throat.

He hummed his reply at her heated and bothered reaction, lifting his head from looking down at her Dante watched his kids play around.

he knew his life was truly and utterly complete, his dark past was forgotten the moment Venus stepped into his life, she made him forget everything bad,

And Venus knew, when you truly love someone, no matter the time and situation if they want you enough they will change for you,

this Adonis in front of her that owned all of her like she owned all of him was once a feared lycan with a dark past and an even darker future, he eased her into everything and with time together they overcame their fears,

he completed her, he helped her grow stronger and showed her love when no one was there to do so,

despite their setbacks she knew at the end of the day he loved her no matter what and he did everything he could to prove it to her,

sincerity comes from the heart, and she found a love so pure it warmed her from within, and even during times when he was away,

it was the mere thought of him that brought a smile to her face.

Love is not always on a high, but on those days respect and care for each other overpowered, he was her best friend and her protector, just like she was his.

and she knew the reason for her happiness and peace,

was her dark Lycan.

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