The Beast Within Us

Epilouge

A Few Years Later

I closed my eyes as the cold wind blew against my face. I know it's too cold for me to be outside right now but I just couldn't help myself, I love the winter time, and with less and less sightings of Discord's changeling army it was much safer for me to be outside.

Over the years, we have captured and killed many of them. Any that are still alive pose no threat to us. They are leaderless and without a leader, they are unorganized and weak. 

"Delilah, would you please come back inside?" Conan asks as he walks towards me.

"Just a little bit longer." I pout. "This is our first peaceful winter where we aren't having to worry about feral wolves. I at least want to see one snowflake fall."

"You're going to catch a cold."

"Sit next to me and I promise when I see a snowflake I will go back inside."

Conan sighs but smiles, "Fine. You're lucky I love you."

I smile brightly as he wraps the wool blanket he had brought with him around me. Conan plops down on the ground next to me and we stay like that for a moment.

"Why do you like winter so much?" He asks.

"My step-father loved it," I answer. "I remember making snow angels and warming up by the fire."

I turn to look at him, "Loving winter means loving him, and in a way, it keeps his memory alive..."

I shift and groan as I become uncomfortable. I place a hand on my slightly swollen belly and rub it gently. As quickly as it came, the discomfort soon passes.

"You're going to be sick if you stay out here too long." Conan voices. "That's not good for you or the baby."

"I'm only 3 months in." I state.

"You say that so calmly now." He says. "You need to rest more."

"Roze was doing so many more things than I when she was pregnant with Justin."

"And now that 3-year-old boy is jumping around the place with never-ending energy."

"I just wish you wouldn't have guards follow me everywhere I go."

"You're a pregnant Alpha Female," Conan responds. "You're the most targeted person in a pack, of course I'm going to have guards watch over you."

"But they are so obvious about it," I whine. "Roze only had one guard when she was pregnant, why do I have 3?"

"Hey, now that Roze is expecting again she is probably going to need double the amount of guards you have just to watch over Justin." He states.

I pout and cross my arms over my chest.

"Would you feel better if I had them camouflaged to match their surroundings?"

I laugh at his comment, letting my arms fall onto my lap, and look back towards the sky. I smile as I see a small snowflake fall to the ground soon followed by many others.

"Finally, snow!" I beam.

Conan stands to his feet and turns around to help me stand to mine.

"Great, you've seen snow, now let's go inside before we turn into giant people popsicles."

I wrap my arms around my stomach and stare down at the ground. Small teardrops fall from my eyes and wet the ground, the display of emotion not missed by Conan. He gently cups my face and wipes away the tears from my eyes.

"What's wrong? What is it?" He asks.

I raise my own hand up to his as I lean into his loving touch.

"If the baby is a boy... can we name him Alexander..?" I whisper.

Conan stares at me for a moment before smiling. He kisses me on the forehead and afterward hugs me gently.

"Of course, that's a great name, a strong name."

We pull away from the hug and I look up at him, "The old woman. She told me that the war was not mine to fight. I'm worried that--"

"Delilah." Conan interrupts. "Discord or Kosmas or whatever that things name was... he is dead. He can't hurt you or anyone ever again."

"But the old woman..."

"I have talked to Jason." He says. "There is no one in his pack with the description you provided. We are at peace. Everything is going to be ok..."

I hug him tightly and sigh, "Let's go inside now, I'm cold."

"Finally!" Conan laughs, wrapping an arm around me. "I will make you the best hot chocolate you've ever tasted."

My eyes light, "With cinnamon?"

"Yes, of course..." He says as we walk back inside the main house.

"With cinnamon..."