One Month Later

== Enna’s POV ==

The aftermath of the battle had induced a few problems and struggles but we made it through so far. The other shifter who had chosen to live in our pack were installed. A few of them had made their own little families, and the pack had risen to help them build houses and get back on their feet. The youngest ones were starting to be sent to the pack’s school. It was a bit hard because they weren’t prepared to have so many new students, and the physical education’s teacher had to create new programs for those who weren’t wolves. Everyone was adjusting, at different speeds.

Elias had stayed to live with us in the pack house. Lara had taken a special liking to the boy and Simon didn’t have the heart to refuse it to her, as she had only been able to have one child and I would most likely have none.

We were now making our way towards Collins’ pack. He was holding the meetings for the new alliances. A few days of long talks and negotiation was ahead of us, and I honestly, didn’t feel like it. I was tired and drained, but I wanted to be with Simon, despite him offering me to stay back at the pack. I also wanted to meet a few of my fellow inmates before we all went on our way, especially Gerard. Cassandra had told me on the phone that he had become a sort of leader for the other shifters and I wanted to meet him.

As we pulled in the pack, I could directly notice the amount of people present. Most packs had sent delegations, and they stayed in fancy tents all over the lands free from the grips of the woods. We were lucky enough to be reassigned to the rooms we used during our last stay. Cassandra said it was because we were family but I secretly though she didn’t want other people to stay in the house. She was due anytime now but the baby was taking his sweet time.

== Simon’s POV ==

My head was aching from all of these talks. You would think agreeing on peace is easy, but it’s not. They all had conditions such as “I will sign if this pack gives me so much of their land” or “I’m not going to sign with them if they don’t recognize that about 300 years ago, some of them stole our goats”. Sometimes, it was just plainly ridiculous. The worst was to watch Collins apologizing for his father every other hour of the goddamned day. It’s not exactly like he could have done anything about it.

After four days, every party finally decided to sign on, agreeing on peace (and various details) as well as the freedom and protection of other shifters. Gerard had been a big part of the negotiations. He really wanted to make sure they would receive the same treatment as wolves, of course that depended on the pack, because some killed rogues on sight, and shifters could have the same fate, but at least, Gerard could now communicate the safe paths for them to take.

At the end, we had an official signing ceremony, with a lot of hands to shake and pictures to take. We all took oaths, on behalf of our packs, before breaking free to have a cocktail party. Enna joined me for that part, she was absolutely magnificent, in a floor length conservative dark purple gown with lace details.

I hugged her, kissing her temple. “I can’t wait to see you in your wedding dress” I commented, bending a little to kiss her mark. It was healing fast, probably from her own abilities, and leaving a silver-like scar on her shoulder. She shivered and then chuckled.

“Honestly, I can’t wait to be at the ceremony either. I love your mom but she’s driving me a little nuts. She kept me on the phone for two hours, about napkins” she said, with a little laugh. She had practically handed over the reins of the wedding to my mother. Enna said that she would have loved to do it with hers but Lara was the perfect replacement, and the best mother-in-law she could have asked for. I also guessed it was because my mom looked so wholly excited about the ordeal. I had seen Enna looking at her with an amused face, and I felt like she was happier because my mom was helping and ecstatic about it.

“Are you feeling better?” I asked her. She shrugged, “I think, I was just a little tired, that’s all. I think it’s the fact that all the pressure from the battle and my escape finally but suddenly settled. It was like running a marathon and suddenly sitting down. I think I just needed to adjust, but I’m happy I came” she explained, squeezing my forearm with a little smile.

“I’m happy too” said a deep voice behind us.

== Enna’s POV ==

I turned around, meeting the eyes of Gerard. I let go of Simon to hug the old man. “I’m so happy to see you” I said after stepping beck, the warmth of Simon enveloping me again as his arm circled around my waist.

“I’m happy to see you too, my child. I heard you two were getting married” he commented with a smile.

I nodded warmly. Gerard was the closest thing to a father I had. I had thought he died but seeing him now, alive and free, made my heart feel content.

“Speaking of which. You are invited, obviously, and I know you’re not technically my father, but I was wondering if you would…walk me down the aisle?” I asked, my cheeks getting a little redder.

“Of course!” he answered warmly, taking my hands in his. “I would love it. I’m happy to see you like this. You are truly blossoming into an amazing woman” he said, a huge smile spreading onto his wrinkled face.

“You better treat her well!” he suddenly said to Simon, his face extremely serious. “I didn’t get her out of that jail for you to mistreat her!”

“I wouldn’t dare” answered Simon with a light chuckle, squeezing my body into his.

“Simon treats me like I’m the most precious jewel” I answered. “By the way, you’re also welcome to stay in our pack, if you want to”.

He shook his head. “Thank you for the invitation, I will visit but me and many other shifters have petitioned to get out own lands. We’ll build our own pack out there. You’re welcome to visit too.”

“Oh where will you go?” I asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry, they’re only a few hours away by car. A few packs gave some lands away to them, in exchange of their help” explained Simon, making my worries rest for a little while.

“Someone else wants to talk to you” said Gerard, nodding behind me. Simon and I turned around to see the witch standing there, a cryptic smile on her face.

“Lady Calahan” I greeted her, and she answered by a nod of the head. “If you’ll excuse me” I said to Simon and Gerard. Simon let me go, squeezing one last time my hand before.

The Lady led me to the gardens which were almost deserted as everyone was drinking and eating inside.

“I wanted to thank you, for all you did for me. I doubt I would be here if you hadn’t helped me” I started as we sat on a bench under a wide tree.

“It was my pleasure. I knew your mother, she had me cast a spell on you so I would know if you were in danger. It took me a while to find you back then, I’m delighted that I was able to fulfill your mother’s wished” she explained, her voice was steady and dreamy, almost like it came from another time.

“You knew my mother?” I asked, surprised.

“After she left Allan, she came to ask me for help. I did what I could but I’m a witch, not a god. He ended up finding her and you know what happened next. I had placed a spell on you, to find you and know if you were in danger, but the prison messed up with it and it was hard for me to find you, then infiltrate the place. I ended up also doing it for my kind, the witches and wizards in there were not practicing correctly” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“We are all children of nature. As witches and wizards, we draw our powers from it, but we’re not supposed to harm it, or it’s like shooting in your own foot. They were careless and extremely stupid to ally with the Commander. Most of them have been stripped from their powers by the order.” She finished with a satisfied smile.

She then turned around to look at me, detailing me from top to bottom. “I see it worked” she commented.

“What worked?” I asked confused.

She smiled at me knowingly. “Do you remember after the battle, I gave people potions to help with recovery?” I nodded, she had even given me something to drink. It had felt warm and tingly inside and it tasted like liquid caramel.

“Well, I didn’t give you something to recover. It was something to help you.” She said, almost laughing, her eyes sparkling instead of being dreamy and stoic.

“Help me with what?” I asked standing up, suddenly scared.

She had a little laugh before pointing my belly with her finger. “WHAT?” I almost screamed, but my surprise was cut off by James. He ran to me.

“Simon’s asking for you. Cassandra just went into labor and apparently, Collins doesn’t know what to do” said James, his tone hurried and worried.

“It’s not like it’s his fist child” I argued.

Lady Calahan stood up. “You should go” she said with a little wink. “She might need some of your healing after all. Oh, and congratulations” she added before starting to stroll away.

“Witches are weird. Why was she congratulating you?” asked James.

“The wedding” I answered, looking at her figure disappear in the darkness. “All right, let’s go!”