I tilted my head, the smile on my lips wholly sincere. “I’m not alone. I have Remy. I have Katy and Larkin. Rhodes, Tate, Dante, Ryder … I have Gabe and Mallory and the twins.”
Just listing the people I had who loved me was humbling, and the list could have kept going. Somewhere in the last few months, I had truly found my family and it wasn’t just the people tethered to me in blood.
I squeezed her hands. “I have my pack, Mom. Maybe it’s time you found your pack, too.”
She choked on a strangled laugh, but hope shone in her eyes. “And you think that’s in Russia?”
I tried to pick my words carefully. “I think it could be. You’ve spent your life protecting me. I think it’s time you started living for you.”
“How can I do that when my heart is here in Blackwater?”
I grinned. “They make these new things called phones and airplanes …”
“Smart ass,” she retorted with a laugh before pulling me into the warm circle of her arms. She kissed the side of my head as I wound my arms around her waist.
“I’m okay, Mom,” I promised her softly. “We’re going to be okay.”
Telling my mom I was okay with her leaving and watching her standing in front of me on the airstrip the next morning were two different things.
Even though I had spent the night with her, helping her pack what she was taking to Russia and then just hanging out, I still craved more time with her.
I was having a hell of a time letting her go once I hugged her.
“Promise you’ll call me when you land,” I demanded, squeezing her extra hard.
“Promise,” she swore, tightening her hold around me.
“Thank the heavens this is a private flight because we’d have already missed takeoff,” my father muttered good-naturedly to the side.
Remy laughed behind me. “Imagine what it will be like when they’re reunited in a few months.”
Remy had suggested we fly out to Russia after graduation in a couple of months to spend time with my parents. I was already counting the days.
With a sigh, I let Mom go. A second later, Remy gave her a hug as I turned to my brother.
“Guess I’ll see you later, little sister,” he teased, giving me a hug.
“Take care of my pack for me, okay?” I told him with a smirk.
He rolled his eyes as he moved back. “Sure thing, princess.”
“Pity you aren’t serious,” Lulu said, hugging me next. “I’d love to see you kick his ass in a challenge.”
“Funny,” he deadpanned behind us.
I looked Lulu over before letting her go. “Sure you’re still good with taking Elias and Jack with you?”
“Elias may prove a little useful,” she admitted begrudgingly. “And he definitely wants to make amends. Jack … I need to keep my eye on him.”
“No idea still about his family?” I asked softly.
She shook her head. “No. Elias wasn’t sure either. Damien was the one who found Jack and took him from his family.”
“If we can help, let me know,” I added.
“I will. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
“Yeah,” I said with a smile, watching her walk away.
Alexei paused in front of me, dipping his head. “Printsessa.”
“Alexei,” I giggled, nodding back. “Make sure those two don’t kill each other.” I jerked my head to where Dimitri and Lulu were already arguing as they boarded the plane.
Alexei grimaced. “Must you give me such a difficult task?”
I laughed as he turned and started for the plane.
Finally, I turned to my dad. The emotions I had been fighting saying goodbye to my mom swelled up all over, tipping over as I swiped the tears from under my eyes.
“Sweetheart,” he said gently, wrapping his arms around me.
“I’m going to miss you,” I choked out, sniffling against his chest.
“Strange isn’t it?” he murmured, stroking my hair.
“What is?” I asked as I looked up at him.
“A month ago I didn’t know you existed,” he answered, “and now I can’t remember a time when you weren’t in my life.”
“Thank you for being there when I needed you,” I said. My lower lip trembled as I tried to smile. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“We’ll agree to disagree on that,” he replied warmly, “but know that I am always here for you.”
I glanced at Mom. “Take care of her?”
“Always,” he promised.
I bit my lip. “I love you, Dad.”
He smiled and kissed my forehead. “And I love you, little wolf.”
Remy’s arms pulled me in as soon as he let me go to take Mom’s hand and lead her to the plane. I watched as they climbed inside and the door was shut.
Remy’s chin dropped to my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I placed my hands over his. “Yeah. I want them to be as happy as we are.”
“I think there’s a pretty good chance of that happening,” he replied softly, kissing my jaw.
So did I.
Epilogue
Remy
Ten Years Later
My brain barely registered the hand between my shoulder blades a second before the shove sent me deeper into the mountain of pillows filling my bed. Hands and knees dug into my spine.
“Dad! Wake up!”
Grunting, I rolled over and stared at my youngest. Sawyer was the spitting image of his mother, big green eyes that always seemed to sparkle with mischief and a mop of dark hair that was always falling in his eyes.
“I’m up,” I muttered, unable to stop from smiling at the three-year-old who quickly scrambled to sit on my bed. I glanced to my left to see Skye’s side of the bed was empty except for the seven pillows she insisted on using.
But considering my wife was seven months pregnant with twins, I wasn’t going to argue. I’d sleep on the floor and let her make the entire bed a pillow fort if needed. Although, judging by the way she growled when I’d suggested it last week, she hated that idea.
I was usually her favorite pillow.
“Where’s your mom, buddy?” I asked, blinking the last traces of sleep away.
“Downstairs with Aunt Larkin,” the voice in the doorway said matter-of-factly.
I looked over to see my oldest, Rhys, standing in the doorway. A frown was firmly fixed to his face, making the seven-year-old look like he was about to turn seventy.
“We’re having cakes!” Sawyer declared with glee, rolling off me and the bed. He landed on the floor and took off down the hall for the stairs.
“Pancakes,” Rhys corrected with an eye roll that would have made his Aunt Katy proud.
I sat up, and looked at my eldest. “Am I the last one up?”
Rhys shook his head. “No. Uncle Dante is still sleeping. I heard Aunt Tate say it’s because you two were up late talking.”
“Did your mom send you two up here to wake me up?”
Rhys shook his head, still in the doorway. “No. I just wanted to come up to my room, but then Sawyer ran in … I told him to let you sleep.”