My Best Friend was a Werewolf

Epilogue: Happily Ever After

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Benji! Happy birthday to you!"

Everyone in the room was singing and the little boy was glowing with the attention. He had a grand smile on his face and his blue eyes were concentrated on the three candles lit up on his little green cake. As soon as the singing was finished, he looked up at his father for permission.

"Go ahead," Carver said. He nodded with his encouragement.

Benji turned back towards the cake and blew at the candles in a big puff. Two went out, but one remained with a strong flame. The people around laughed at his dramatic efforts as he tried to get the last candle out.

"Daddy, help!" he cried out as he started tugging on Carver's black t-shirt.

Carver grinned and bent down to be at the same level with the boy. "Read, set, go!"

Benji tried again and Carver made sure the candle went out. The love Carver had for that boy was infinite and it brought a warm feeling to my heart every time. The love went both ways too. Benji admired his father to no end. He was currently going through a phase where he wanted to copy Carver's every move. That also meant Benji believed managing a bank was a lot more exciting than it really was.

After we got engaged, Carver followed me to Sedalia. He moved into a little apartment and picked up a job in the next town over for a while. There were many weeks I was worried he was going to go mad while he figured out what he wanted to do. Then we took a trip to see his parents and everything fell into place. He talked things over with his father and they decided to do what they do best. They opened the first Hudson Bank branch in a new state and it almost seemed too perfect.

We waited a year before we got married. Everything seemed to go full speed ahead for us. We dove into housing plans after we got back from our honeymoon. Business took off for Carver just in time for another school year to come around for me. It felt like we were seeing too little of each other, so we ended up taking a vacation to Maine. It was an idea that made us both happy instantly and we had the best time in the most beautiful house on the shore for a couple weeks. Then we came back home and found out Beni was on the way shortly after. We moved into our new house and started decorating a nursery.

"He is growing up too fast."

I looked over at Colleen. "I know."

It was nice that Carver's family was able to travel to our home for days like this. I knew it meant a lot to Benji. He loved his grandparents and especially, his Uncle Axel. I was always happy to see Carver's side of the family and I knew it made him happy too.

"You'll have to send me some of those pictures," Colleen said.

"I will, for sure," I said with a smile. I looked down at the photos of Benji with his cake on my phone. I showed her a few and she gushed over them.

My parents were around too. Benji had wiggled his way far into their hearts. He typically spent his days with Dad when Carver and I were working. He was learning far too much from his grandpa. He always wanted to fish or work on the boat.

I spotted Dad talking with Carver's father and Mom was helping serve the cake up. It was great having them around and so involved in Benji's life. I only wished Liz was around more. She was off study abroad and getting her degree in journalism. She was having fun though and kept in touch with video chats often enough.

"Your kid is growing up."

I turned to look at the voice in surprise. Chase always received an invite to our family matters, but his appearances were rare. I had not expected to see him waltz into our house for Benji's birthday party. He was busy in Memphis with his pack. We still spoke often, but Axel kept me informed about him most of the time.