Relief is a strange emotion. It is filled with exuberance, joy. But it also drained with exhaustion and a frozen silence, a paralyzing disbelief, as if your triumph could turn to heartbreak in a second.

Titan's lifeless form is collapsed a heap on the cold ground, his beady eyes staring into the pits of hell awaiting him. And Octavius stands above him, his chest rising and falling quickly, staring down at the monster who tormented his very being.

The monster is dead.

I pick myself off the concrete floor, dragging myself over to Octavius, and I stand alongside him, watching the blood drain from Titan's skin.

We stay in silence, an unblinking, unmoving void of uncertain serenity.

Days, weeks, years of noiseless breathes pass, before footsteps are heard coming down to the dungeon.

I turn, but Octavius remains where he is, a statue of disbelief.

It's Klaude, his eyes filled with worry and relief, as he races over to us, hugging me to him tightly.

"You're alive, you're alive." He whispers, and I squeeze him quickly, before gently moving him away.

"You have to get Lacy," I whisper, and my voice sounds like a creak-filled ancient floor, millions of centuries old. "She's in the other hanging cell."

Klaude races over to the cell, and yanks a cord, catching Lacy's sleeping form as it falls from the ceiling.

He carries her back to us, and I lay my head to her chest, letting out a sigh of relief when I hear her little heart beating strong.

"Take her upstairs." I order softly. "We'll follow soon."

Klaude looks from me to Octavius' back, and just nods, retreating back the way he came, the tiny red-haired girl nuzzling into his arms.

I turn to Octavius, at his unblinking eyes. They are empty of emotion, drained of fear and pity. They're still and calm.

I wrap my hand around his, and I smile slightly when he grips my fingers tightly, his skin warm and comforting against mine.

"You have no idea," He croaks, his voice rough and metallic. "how many times I imagined this moment. How many nights I dreamed of cutting his heart out of his chest, or drowning him in the coldest of lakes."

He squeezes his eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

"And then how many nights I was ripped from the dreams of him hurting me, the memories flashing back to me. Those nights when I woke up in tears, thinking that my dreams had been reality. The terror following when I realized they had been."

I move closer to him, wrapping my arms around his side, melting into the warmth he brought. Underneath the smell of blood and tears, I could still smell him, the smoke and cinnamon, the addiction I loved so much.

He was still for a moment, before wrapping his arms around me, holding me to him tighter than ever before. My head is in his chest, my body wrapped around him. He is a clean white blanket, warm and filled with the promise of sweet dreams. He is the sun, bright and filled with a calm blue sky, the clouds far far away from my piece of perfection.

"Come on," I whisper, and I pull away slightly, much to his dismay. But I just give him a soft smile. A smile that says everything will finally be alright. Or as alright as can be expected in our imperfect world.

And I lead him up the stairs, up up up and away from a past filled with heartbreak and pain. Away and towards a life without the beast. Towards peace.

"Gracias, Dr. Sanchez."

I am sitting back in our wing, my back pressed against a mountain of white pillows, with at least half of my body wrapped in some form of bandage.

"Con mucho gusto." Dr. Sanchez replies with a smile, and with a humorous flare of his white coat, exits my room.

Octavius is sleeping next to me, his stomach pressed against the soft sheets of my bed, snoring softly.

I place my hand on his hair, stroking softly. He purrs slightly, and opens his eyes slowly.

"Hey." I whisper.

"Hey." he murmurs, his voice heavy and full of sleep. He sits up, and with surprising speed, pulls me into his lap, nuzzling his face in my hair.

"Good morning, Alpha." I tease quietly, a laugh bubbling inside of me at his childish but adorable actions. I realize I am leaning on his still-healing leg, and I try to lift myself out of his grasp.

"No." He mumbles, pulling me tighter against him.

"Octavius, your leg-"

"I don't give a damn about my leg. You're here, and right now, that's all that matters."

I blush slightly, and I allow myself to nuzzle into him, and I giggle slightly when his stubble scratches my skin slightly.

"You need to shave." I joke, poking his cheek.

"You don't like my manly beard?" He pouts, and rubs his face into the crook of my neck.

I laugh loudly, and his own chuckle follows, deep and husky, and slightly musical.

"I love it." I smile, stroking his hair softly.

"Oh, is that all you love?" He grins, raising an eyebrow at me in mock-sadness.

"No," I giggle, pouting out my lower lip in thought. "I love," My lips near his ear, my voice lowering. "Your eyes." I kiss his cheekbone lightly. "I love your nose." I lightly press a ghost of a kiss against his nose. "I love your jaw." I move down to his jaw, bringing a growl from his chest.

"I love-" I move my lips an inch away from his, but he moves forward, bringing his lips to mine.

I smile into the kiss, and he presses a hand lightly to my stomach.

We pull away, our foreheads resting together.

"Hey there," He whispers to my stomach, his fingers tracing the exposed skin. I don't even have a baby bump yet.

"When you come into the world," He murmurs, resting the palm of his hand against me. "I am going to love you with all my heart. My child...my family."

I don't notice the tears until one drops down my cheek slowly, and Octavius turns his head upwards in time to wipe it away. He kisses me softly, and pulls away so his lips brush mine as he speaks.

"My family..."

"Our family.." I respond, a smile planted on my lips.

This day is black and brown and filled with tears. This day is the day when we are lowering my Aunt May, my second mother, my guardian, into the ground. The entire pack is here, all of us dressed in the darkest of blacks, a sea of ravens sobbing together.

The casket is beside the deep hole, the final resting place of someone I loved more than anyone could comprehend.

I place a black gloved hand on the dark wood of her casket, the other hand resting on the tiny bump of my stomach. I am unable to hold back the valley of tears begging to rain down onto my face, and I let myself cry. I let the tears fall.

Octavius is by my side, his head bowed, his body covered in an all-black suit. A slight rain is falling, misting over the crowd, and it seems as if the Goddess is crying for May too. Crying for a woman whose heart was filled with nothing but gold.

"Goddess take care,

To watch from the skies

To protect the dead

To cover their eyes

With roses of red

Oh Goddess, take this love

To the green and thick forest

To a blue sky above

To bring them to peace, in which they may rest"

All the voices of the mourners rose in this song, the traditional funeral hymn, and I almost choke on each lyric, my tears falling in rivers and lakes. Once the song ends, four men raise the casket, lowering it into the earth. I pick up a rose and a handful of soil, and, placing the rose onto the wood, sprinkle the soil onto the casket.

"I love you." I whisper, and turn away from the grave, and into Octavius' arms.

"Why does everyone have to leave?" I whisper against him.

"She's not gone, Alessandra. Your love for her is alive and well, and as long as that is true, she lives with you forever. Love is immortal, as long as we cherish and hold onto it as tight as we can. I promise."