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I laughed as Evelyn continued her happy banter. Simon soon joined us in the living room. Together, they showered me with praise for my work. Each time they finished a sentence, they shouted out their appreciation.
These moments made me proud to be a Healer. We were a rare species of werewolf that was supposed to have become extinct centuries ago. Gradually, we were proving that our intentions were good. We were created to help, not to cause danger.
Gradually, the werewolves were also proving that they didn’t want to harm humanity.
‘I owe you guys a lot,’ Simon said, having profusely apologised for everything he had done. However, we didn’t quite trust him yet or accept his apology. ‘So, can we call a truce?’
I smiled at Kieran, who looked at Simon’s outstretched hand before shaking it. ‘Truce,’ Kieran said, smiling.
***
‘Did I tell you how lucky I am to have a sexy healer as a mate?’ Kieran mumbled, nuzzling my neck.
I laughed and ruffled his black hair. ‘I guess luck was on both our sides.’
Kieran smiled and crashed his warm lips on mine. It felt right to be kissing my mate under the stars on our favourite spot on the porch steps. Then again, everything always felt right with Kieran.
And it always will be.
Years later
‘Hey cutie,’ I cooed to the one-year-old in Lila’s arms. She looked up at me with her adorable, crystal-blue eyes. I held out my hands. ‘Come to Auntie Talia.’
“Come on, honey,” Lila encouraged her daughter. “She won’t hurt you.”
But Baby Zoey looked away, burying her face in the crook of her mother’s neck. Lila sighed and started bouncing up and down. I just chuckled and tickled Zoey’s small back.
‘She’s too attached to Luca and me,’ Lila said, rolling her eyes. ‘The only other person she’d go to is Kieran.’
‘She’s too cute,’ I cooed.
‘Just like her father,’ Luca said cockily, slinging his arm around Lila. He picked Zoey up and smiled at her. ‘Did Aunt Talia scare you again? She is scary, huh?”
I smacked Luca’s shoulder. He stuck his tongue out at me before taking Zoey into the kitchen to feed her. Lila rolled her eyes once more.
‘Luca is spoiling her too much,’ Lila said, smiling slightly.
“Well, she is his very first princess,” I laughed.
“Talia!” a female voice yelled. My eyes widened as Brielle came running into the dining room. She wrapped her arms around me. It was somewhat difficult to hug her back with her baby bump. ‘Congratulations, college graduate! You can finally be a teacher.”
‘Thanks,’ I replied, smiling at my achievement.
‘Brielle!’ Beck entered the room with a panicked expression. ‘You’re squishing my baby!’
‘Shush,’ Brielle said, pulling away and rubbing her belly. ‘He’s my baby too.’
‘It’s going to be a girl,’ Beck argued.
“It’ll be a boy. I want a boy first,” said Brielle angrily. “Then Zoey and he can be together.”
‘Zoey is going to be two years older than our baby,’ Beck cried. “Women are so confusing!”
‘Beck!’ Knox called from the living room. ‘You’re missing the football game, man! Where have you been?’
Before Brielle could respond, Beck hurried into the room with the other men. A few seconds later, Maren joined us in the kitchen. We all stared at the living room door as the men started screaming and shouting. We simply shook our heads.
“Hey, pretty ladies,” Maren greeted us. “How are my best friends?”
‘Lacking sleep,’ Lila replied. “Be warned, Brielle. Once your baby is born, they will keep you awake.’
We all laughed, knowing how much Brielle cherished her sleep. ‘I’ll let Beck take care of the night shift,’ Brielle joked. She turned to Maren with waggling eyebrows. ‘How was your first anniversary with your husband?’
Maren blushed. Brielle winked. ‘I’m afraid that is confidential information.’ We all laughed.
Brielle and Beck were the first of our friends to get married. They tied the knot two years ago. A few months later, Lila and Luca also got married. Last year, it was Maren and Knox’s turn. Logan married his spunky redheaded partner about a year and a half ago.
Logan moved back home with his wife. I decided to stay here. I’d occasionally drive down to visit Logan. I was thrilled that he had found a partner. She was everything he was looking for.
“What about you?” Brielle scolded, pointing her finger at me. ‘You’re already twenty-five, woman. You met Kieran about nine years ago. He needs to fertilise the soil or glue a ring to your finger. What on earth are you waiting for?”
I blushed and shuffled my feet. Everyone else was either married or had kids. Kieran and I were in a serious relationship, but we had never discussed getting married or having children. We just went with the flow. Usually, it didn’t bother me. However, now that I was twenty-five and all my friends were starting lifelong relationships and families, I wanted that too.
I didn’t know how to respond to Brielle’s question. But I didn’t have to. At that moment, I was grateful that a familiar brown-haired, brown-eyed boy ran in. My four-year-old nephew threw his arms around my waist.
“Auntie Talia!” he exclaimed, smiling up at me.
“Hey, monster,” I said, ruffling his hair.
“Where’s Uncle Kieran?” He asked curiously after hugging Brielle, Maren and Lila.
“He’s in the living room watching football with the guys.”
“Cool!” he yelled, running into the living room.
My mum came into the kitchen, carrying a two-year-old in her arms. I took my nephew into my arms and cuddled him close. His curly brown hair peeped out of his small baseball cap. “How’s my little baby?”
“Benjamin took the ball. All gone,” said Taylor, pouting. His speech was improving.
“Auntie Talia will buy you another one,” I promised, kissing his cheek.
“Hey, Mum,” I said.
“Hey, Talia,” my mother responded, flinging her arms around my shoulders. ‘Congratulations on your graduation!’
I laughed. “Thanks, Mum. Where are Elias and Tasha?”
“Still at work,” my mum sighed. ‘I swear they work too hard. They’ll be here in a few minutes.”
‘Good,’ Brielle groaned. “I’m starving.”
‘You’re always starving,’ Maren teased, poking her belly. ‘Pregnancy is scary.’
‘Everything is scary to you,’ Lila replied.
My phone notification went off. I took it out of my pocket and read the text message.
‘Hey Talia, sorry I couldn’t make it today. Congrats on your graduation! I’m still in France with my girlfriend. Her parents are so creepy! They own porcelain dolls. I’ll make it up to you! – Cruz
I smiled and chuckled at Cruz’s text message. Just three months ago, Cruz found his soulmate. Ever since then, he’s become a total softie. He’s agreed to meet her parents this month. He said that she was very different from her creepy family.
Once everyone had arrived, we sat together at the long table in the pack dining room. It was loud, as usual. This time, Zoey was crying. Meanwhile, Benjamin and Taylor were making aeroplane noises at the other end of the table. People talked here and there. Beck and Brielle continued their usual banter.
“Congratulations to our graduate!” Lila called out, raising her glass. “Talia, you’ll be a great teacher.”
There were cheers and applause. I smiled at my friends and family. It was nice to be surrounded by loved ones. I wished it could stay like this forever.
Kieran squeezed my hand and smiled at me. ‘Congrats, babe,’ he whispered. ‘You’d be one hell of a sexy teacher.’
I rolled my eyes, but the smile on my face lingered. ‘Now that you’re a teacher, could I ask you something?’ He asked loudly enough for everyone to hear. The silence that followed was suspicious. Their faces were excited and mischievous.
‘Go for it,’ I replied, shrugging.
Kieran smiled and kissed my cheek. I was taken aback when Kieran dropped down onto one knee and dug into his pocket for a velvet black box. I laughed when he scratched the back of his neck before opening the jewellery case.
I could feel happiness and love bursting inside me. Before I knew it, tears of joy were rolling rapidly down my cheeks. I giggled and wiped the tears away with the sleeve of my shirt.
Kieran opened the box. Inside was a simple yet elegant diamond ring. His eyes bored into mine. I would never tire of his beautiful blue eyes. He held my face in his other hand.
‘Talia Ainsley, I love you so very much,’ he said loudly and clearly. ‘I want to spend my whole life with you. You’ve invaded my heart. I know. That did indeed sound excessively clichéd. So, will you marry me?”
I didn’t hesitate.
“Yes!” is the answer.