Unrelenting Destiny

Epilogue

Luciana Faith Deveraux

The Luna sat on the back porch of Astral Twilight's pack house, basking in the fading warmth of the sun as it blanketed the backyard. Pups played, filling the air with peals of laughter and the occasional shout from a mother or an Omega.

Just a few months had passed since Jasper and Luciana became the Alpha family of Astral Twilight. All of the packs in their region were just now getting wind of the events that had taken place there - the news of Alpha Clark Camden's daughter and her treachery spreading like disease throughout the land.

Luci remembered the weekend she had spent in her old home of Sunset Waters, attempting to explain what had happened to the most disappointed parents in the world. Bianca's mood and temperament flickered like a light switch, a mixture of remorse and rejection that drove her parents mad. It broke Luci's heart to watch them sedate her, attempting to keep a mutual mask on in front of her.

But Bianca's mother broke down constantly, ashamed of her daughter and fearful of her future. But Alpha Clark was far more reserved, nodding solemnly and silently taking in the news. It drained Luci by the time she had left to go back home.

Jasper hadn't gone with her, insisting that she was a good enough liaison while he handled matters at home. It had filled her with pride and confidence that he trusted her. But nothing was more comforting than returning, seeing the familiar mountain ranges and lakes that surrounded their territory. It really was home for her.

Maeve appeared at her side, extending a glass of iced tea to her friend, "So then what happened?"

As Maeve sat, Luciana continued, "They decided to imprison her instead of banish her. Their reasoning was that her magic couldn't go unchecked, even with a rogue branding to distinguish her."

"I guess I can understand that. I don't know what would stop her from trying something crazy again if they just set Bianca loose." Waving her hand in dismissal, the she-wolf changed the subject, "But enough of that. I think I'm more upset that you and Jasper got married without properly planning! That should have been a year-long preparation and you know it."

Jasper appeared, shirtless in tattered cargo shorts as his Beta, Gamma, and a gaggle of Fighters poured out after him. They had been training profusely, getting ready to name a new Head Fighter that night. He wiped his sweaty brow before leaning over to kiss the top of Luci's head, "And why would I wait that long, Maeve?"

He lowered his head, placing a kiss on his mate's slightly rounded belly, "And delay my pup as well? I would never."

Luciana giggled, swatting him away as he quickly kissed her and winked, running off towards the rest of the gathered Fighters to finish their preparations. She placed her hand on her small stomach, feeling the presence of the baby within. Truly, she was glad to have gotten married before their pup was conceived and born. It felt right that way. Jasper had proposed to her the night she got back from Sunset Waters. She remembered it wistfully.

Jasper guided her along the dark forest path, her blue eyes covered in a blindfold and hearing muffled by noise-cancelling headphones. If she hadn't trusted Jasper so much, she would've been scared out of her mind. But his big, warm hand held her own, the other gently guiding her by the waist as they traversed. They stopped and Jasper took out her blindfold and headphones, revealing a candlelit clearing.

Not just any clearing, but The Clearing. The one from The Claiming where she had unknowingly fled from him just a month prior. She had laughed at the irony as she was led to a table, covered in a white tablecloth with an arrangement of white lilies and blue forget-me-nots scattered about them. It was beautiful and simple, just the way she loved. How Jasper knew that, she would never know.

They ate dinner together, having the first date that they never got to have. They spoke of everything they knew of, getting to know each other on a base level that finally met the emotional and physical level they had already conquered.

At the end, they walked towards one of the lakes, the dark waters lit up with hundreds of floating lanterns as the pack gathered for their royalty. Jasper had gotten down on one knee, presenting her a gorgeous ring that she surely thought would weigh down her entire hand, and asked, "Luciana Faith Moore, will you marry me?"

She had accepted, of course. It would have been terrible if she didn't, considering the entire pack was not only present for their proposal, but for their wedding as well. Just as their entire matehood, their ceremony was impromptu and out of the blue - Elder Elroy emerging to wed them right then and there.

And so Jasper and Luci got married right after their first date, in the most perfect way that they could have ever imagined. Luciana didn't need a year to plan it all. It just happened. Exactly the way destiny intended.