Page 55 of Blood and Magic (RBMC: Helena, MT #2)

MAEVE

Five Years Later

I sat on the patio of our cabin at the homestead with a cup of coffee on the table next to me, my sketchbook in my lap, wrapped in a blanket.

The sun rose over the horizon, painting the sky in beautiful roses and mandarins, accenting the burnt oranges and crimsons on the dying leaves.

My mate and our children were still asleep in our bed, but I didn’t want to miss this.

It had been five years since my heart stopped, and I was still here.

Death had tried to come for me, but I was a tough bitch to kill.

Since Mill and I had been mated, I’d pulled back from the corporate life at Vanderbilt Holdings.

I still had my seat on the board, of course, but I didn’t want the day-to-day.

I focused on my art, even setting up a little studio in downtown Helena to sell my pieces and feature those of other local artists.

When I wasn’t at the shop, I spent time with my kids or helped around the homestead.

Life was too short to spend it doing things I didn’t want to do, and nothing pleased me more than being around my family.

I slowed down. I listened to the instinct telling me not to go so fast, that life was worth living in the present. It had been a hard lesson to learn, but I’d finally accepted it.

“Hmm, here you are,” Mill said, walking outside. He wrapped his arms around me from behind and leaned in to kiss the mating scar on my shoulder. “Why are you up so early?”

He circled to stand in front of me before lifting me off the porch swing, holding me in his arms, and sitting so I nestled in his lap.

“Just wanted to watch the sunrise,” I said. “It’s been five years.”

He smiled and kissed me, nuzzling his head into my neck. “Has it? Feels like only yesterday.”

“Are the cubs awake?” I murmured, trying to keep my voice low.

“No,” he replied with that characteristic taunt in his tone. “I’ve got you all alone for once.”

“Oh?” I chuckled and licked my lips. His focus immediately dropped to the movement, and I knew what he had on his mind. “And what, pray tell, do you plan to do with such spoils?”

He ducked his hand in the blanket, coasting it up my inner thigh until he reached my underwear, dancing his fingers over the increasingly soaked fabric.

“Anything I want,” he said.

I feigned offense. “Such arrogance.”

“Are you going to be a good girl?” he said. “Or am I going to have to?—”

He cut himself off and leaned in, taking a deep inhale. I raised an eyebrow and looked down at him, waiting for him to finish.

“What?” I finally asked.

“Baby, you’re pregnant again,” he said.

“No, I’m not,” I said. I’d gone into heat two weeks ago, and I hadn’t bled yet, but that didn’t mean anything. The last time this happened, it took almost a month before my body indicated I wasn’t with a cub.

“Yes, you are,” he said. “I can smell it. I can sense it.”

The last two times he’d knocked me up, he had known before I did. He said the dominant always knew first. I opened my mouth, preparing to tell him how wrong he was, but he put his hand on my stomach, and a tiny flutter stirred inside me.

We already had three kids, a set of twin girls and a younger son, but the thought of another brought joyful tears to my eyes.

We had both lost our parents way too young and, as a result, wanted a huge family to nurture.

In five years together, our connection had only grown stronger.

I thanked whatever fates had brought us for each moment we got to share, for each child, for each remarkable day alive.

He wrapped his arms around me to pull me closer, and we watched the sun rise together.

“Happy five years,” I murmured to him.

“Happy five years, my sweet girl.” He kissed my temple and held me close, and when our children rose for the day, we kissed them too, determined not to let anything take us from them. It was a good life, and I was determined to keep it.

* * *

VERMILLION

“Another one?” Fenris said when I told him. “Jesus Christ, my man. You’re just raising your own little Alexander-Vanderbilt army, huh?”

“Your kids said they wanted more cousins,” I replied. “I’m just fulfilling my promises.”

He laughed and pulled me into a congratulatory hug.

It had been five years since I’d died and come back to life, and I had so much to live for.

My siblings were doing great, my pack was thriving, and my mate…

well, nothing brought me more joy than waking up to her beautiful smile every day.

Watching her with my cubs, loving them, holding them, and raising them with unconditional acceptance filled my heart nearly to bursting.

Once, a long time ago, I wished I’d died. I wished I hadn’t been brought back to life by pack magic. I was scared of what it meant. Now, I couldn’t believe I ever thought that. I had so many blessings, and when I let myself dwell on them, I almost broke down in tears.

The blood cravings eventually went away.

Once my magic understood that she wasn’t going anywhere, that we wouldn’t be separated again, it stopped being such a sharp, piercing ache.

Every now and then, she’d beg me to do it, and I would give her whatever she wanted.

Yes, I lived to spoil my girl, but she lived to please me back. And on and on our love went.

I could have stayed with her all day, and I wanted to, but duty called, and she urged me to go.

“Did you tell Caelum and Morwyn yet?” Fenris asked.

“No.” I shook my head. “We’ll break it to them at the same time as the rest of the pack.”

We headed toward the clubhouse office for church, and when we arrived, most of the officers were already in attendance. Kodiak sat at the head of the table with Orion at his right and Lycan at his left. Moose, Serpent, Larentia, and Ruby surrounded him, brightening when we walked in.

“There he is,” Kodiak said, tugging his mate close to his side.

She’d started joining our sessions shortly after they made it all official, and it had taken some getting used to by everyone else, but now she was a fixture at the head of the table, providing that delicate balance of intense determination and fierce protection that was indicative of an alpha’s other half.

It pleased me to see Kodiak so happy. He deserved it, and even if it had taken a long time to get there, I was delighted he’d finally allowed himself to have it.

“Now that everyone’s here,” Kodiak continued as I sat in my usual seat. “I have an update.”

“Oh?” Moose said. “Are we expecting a couple of new little alpha cubs to start running around?”

“Shut up, Moose,” Kodiak said. “No. We’ve gotten word from the Royal Harlots. Another pack is on the move.”

“Fucking great,” Orion said, rolling his eyes. “Who is it this time?”

As we all set about planning and scheming, I let contentment fill my heart. I was right where I wanted to be with the people I’d chosen as family. And no matter what came for us, I’d stand up and fight to protect them, even if it meant I’d have to die… again.

I’d sworn my loyalty to these Bastards in blood, and they’d sworn the same to me. Together, we were stronger for it.

Five years ago, I wanted it all to end, and now, I’d grasp at life with everything I had, and may the Gods curse anyone who tried to take it from me.

The End