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Epilogue

Lilianna

Three Months later

I hummed as I dipped the paintbrush into water before picking a new color. I was sitting with Lydia, having one of our weekly get-togethers. After my violin practice, I come to her shop to spend time with her. She was teaching me how to enjoy painting, I wasn’t all that good, but it was fun.

"You're getting better," Lydia commented, her own brush making confident strokes across her canvas. "Your technique has improved since last week."

I laughed, examining my mediocre landscape attempt. "That's generous of you. This tree looks more like a green blob with branches."

"Art isn't about perfection," Lydia reminded me, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"It's about expression. And I can see your joy in those brushstrokes.

" I smiled, feeling the warm pulse of the four bonds humming contentedly in my system.

"Speaking of joy," Lydia said, setting down her brush and reaching for her tea, ”You're practically glowing. The mating bonds look good on you."

I touched my neck unconsciously, where the four marks had healed into permanent silver scars. They were beautiful, each one slightly different but perfectly aligned, creating a collar of possession that I wore with pride.

"I feel... settled," I admitted, adding another brushstroke to my painting. "Like I finally know who I am and where I belong."

Lydia's expression softened. "That's what good alphas do. They don't diminish you—they help you become more yourself."

I nodded, thinking of how much had changed since that day three months ago.

The media attention had eventually died down, especially after several other high-profile scandals diverted public interest. My mother had indeed sought "treatment," though I suspected it was more about avoiding legal consequences than genuine mental health care.

Karen had faced charges for her breach of confidentiality and lost her professional certifications.

My father had quietly settled several lawsuits to avoid further public scrutiny.

"Have you heard from them at all?" Lydia asked gently, as if reading my thoughts.

I shook my head, dipping my brush in blue paint. "No, and I don't want to. My father sent one letter through the lawyers, but Nicolaus handled it. Something about wanting to 'reconcile' now that I'm 'properly mated.'" I couldn't keep the bitterness from my voice.

"Too little, too late," Lydia said firmly. "You don't owe them anything."

"I know. It's just..." I paused, searching for the right words. "Sometimes I wonder if I should feel guilty for cutting them off completely. But then I remember what my life was like before, and I know I made the right choice. Some relationships aren't meant to be saved."

Lydia reached across the table, squeezing my hand. "That's wisdom, not cruelty. You've grown so much, Lilianna." I smiled, feeling the truth of her words."How are the heat preparations going?" changing the subject as she returned to her painting.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. After months of careful medical treatment with Dr. Chen, my body was finally beginning to normalize. My first natural heat in years was expected within the next two weeks.

"Good," I said, focusing intently on my canvas. "Dr. Chen says everything looks normal. My hormone levels are stabilizing, and the alphas have been... preparing the house."

Lydia grinned knowingly. "I bet they have. Four alphas getting ready for their mate's first heat? They're probably driving themselves crazy with preparations."

"You have no idea," I laughed, remembering how I'd found Julian reorganizing the linen closet for the third time yesterday, muttering about having enough soft blankets.

"Christopher’s been meal prepping for weeks, Miles has been researching optimal room temperature and humidity levels, and Nicolaus has created detailed schedules for everything. "

"And Julian?" Lydia asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"Julian's been trying to convince the others that we need to soundproof the entire house," I said, my cheeks burning. "He's worried about the stray press that might come to the house, like they do every so often and… hearing things they shouldn’t."

Lydia burst out laughing. "Oh, that's precious. He's worried about your privacy even in heat. That's actually very sweet."

I nodded, feeling warmth spread through my chest at the thought of Julian's protectiveness. "They've all been so careful about making sure I feel safe and prepared. It's... it's nothing like what I expected growing up."

"What did you expect?" Lydia asked gently, her brush pausing mid-stroke.

I was quiet for a moment, thinking about the clinical discussions my mother had subjected me to about heat cycles—how they were inconvenient, messy, something to be managed rather than embraced. "I expected it to be something I had to endure. A biological necessity that would be... uncomfortable."

"And now?" Lydia asked, her blue eyes connected to my own.

"Now, I'm actually looking forward to it," I admitted, my voice soft. "I had one heat before, but I don’t remember much of it.”

"Being with alphas who care about your experience makes all the difference," Lydia said, nodding sagely. "A heat can be beautiful when you're with mates who prioritize your comfort and pleasure."

I added another stroke to my painting, considering her words. "They've been so patient. Even with the bonds in place, they're still giving me space to adjust, to find my footing."

"That's what real love looks like," Lydia said, rinsing her brush. "Not possession, but partnership."

My phone buzzed with an incoming message. I glanced down to see Julian's name on the screen, along with a photo of a newly delivered package of nesting materials. The message below simply read: "Too much?"

I laughed, showing Lydia the picture of what appeared to be enough blankets and pillows to build a small fortress.

"Oh my," Lydia breathed, putting a hand to her mouth before she burst out laughing.

"At this rate, I'll need a separate room just for nesting supplies," I giggled, typing a quick response to Julian with several heart emojis. "He's been ordering something new every day this week."

Lydia leaned over to examine the photo more closely. "Those are the premium Omega Comfort pillows from Nestwell. Those aren't cheap." She whistled appreciatively. "Your alphas are sparing no expense."

"I know," I said, setting my phone down with a fond smile. "Miles keeps saying they've waited years for this, so they want everything to be perfect."

"You deserve to be spoiled," Lydia said, her expression softening. “They're right to want it to be perfect. It’s their way of showing their love.”

I nodded, feeling a flutter of anticipation mixed with nervousness. "I know and I do appreciate that they are trying to make me comfortable.” I smiled with the warmth of love and the feeling of being cherished washed over me once again. “ It's sweet and I love them for it.”

Lydia opened her mouth to say something when the sound of the bell over the door made noise. We both looked over and I couldn’t help but smile at seeing Nicolaus with Elias and Lucian. Nicolaus's eyes found mine immediately, his lips curving into that subtle smile reserved only for me.

"Nicolaus," I said, setting down my paintbrush and rising to greet him. "I wasn't expecting you until later."

He crossed the room with his usual measured stride, leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead. "The meeting finished early. The others are still at the house finalizing some details." His eyes moved to my canvas, his analytical gaze assessing my amateur attempt.

"It's not very good," I said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"It's expressive," he countered, his lips quivering into that slight smile that always made my heart flutter. "I can see your personality in it." Elias and Lucian both went to Lydia's side before they greeted me.

"I keep telling her that," Lydia said with a laugh. "Art isn't about technical perfection."

I gathered my supplies, carefully rinsing my brushes before setting them in the drying rack. "Same time next week?"

"Absolutely," Lydia confirmed, accepting a gentle kiss from Elias. "Unless your heat arrives early, of course."

"In which case, we'll see you in about two weeks," Lucian added with a knowing grin.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks as Nicolaus's hand settled possessively at the small of my back as he led me out of the store and into his car. The marks on my neck tingled pleasantly at his touch, the bond between us humming with contentment.

"The others are eager to see you," Nicolaus murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "Julian's been pacing since noon."

"He's worried about the preparations, isn't he?" I finished, settling into the passenger seat as Nicolaus started the engine.

"Among other things," Nicolaus replied, his blue eyes flitting to mine before he he pulled away from the curb. "Your scent has been... shifting. Subtly, but we've all noticed."

I felt a flutter of nervousness mixed with anticipation. "Is that normal?"

"Completely," he assured me, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently. "Your body is preparing. Dr. Chen said it could happen gradually over the next week or two."

The drive home was comfortable, filled with easy conversation about my painting session and his business meeting.

But I could sense the underlying tension in Nicolaus—the way his grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel, the careful control in his voice.

All four of my alphas had been more attentive lately, more protective, their alpha instincts responding to the subtle changes in my scent even before I'd noticed them myself.

When we pulled into the driveway, I could see Julian through the front window, his tall frame moving restlessly across the living room. Christopher's car was already there, and I could smell the delicious aroma of dinner preparation wafting from the kitchen.