: Ever After
: Ever After
(Olivia’s POV)
Five years passed like a dream. Standing on the balcony of our home, I watched my family in the garden below. Matthew was teaching Leo proper fighting stance while Aurora chased the twins around a flowering bush.
“Mama, look!” Rosemary called up, her dark curls bouncing as she waved. At four years old, she was already showing signs of my strategic mind.
Gabriel, her twin, was busy constructing an elaborate fort from sticks. His golden eyes–so like Matthew’s–sparkled with concentration.
“I see you, sweetheart!” I called back, my heart full.
The years had transformed us all. After the twins turned one, I finally had the strength to confront my past. With Matthew’s support, I subdued the Mooncrest Pack, becoming their Alpha and imprisoning Caelan and Cyndia for their crimes.
Elder Morwenna had been so furious she’d coughed up blood, passing away two months
later. I hadn’t celebrated her death, but I couldn’t deny the justice in it.
“Deep thoughts?” Matthew’s arms encircled my waist from behind.
I leaned into his embrace. “Just reflecting on how far we’ve come.”
“The Council meeting went well today,” he murmured against my hair. “Your proposal for medical ethics reform passed unanimously.”
Pride swelled in my chest. After recovering from the twins‘ birth, I’d channeled my experiences into advocacy work, fighting for werewolf rights and ethical medical practices.
“The Omega Protection Act?” I asked hopefully.
“Signed into law this morning.” His smile was evident in his voice. “No more forced matings or suppressants.”
I turned in his arms, kissing him deeply. “Thank you for supporting me.’
“Always,” he promised.
”
Below us, Leo had moved on to teaching Aurora defensive moves. At thirteen, he was growing into a strong young Alpha under Matthew’s guidance. His confidence had
1/4
་་འལ་I
LIGT ATLET
blossomed once freed from Theodore’s shadow.
+25 Points
Aurora, now eight, watched her brother with fierce concentration. She’d inherited both my intelligence and Matthew’s natural leadership. Already, younger pack children looked to her for guidance.
“Mom! Dad!” Gabriel’s voice carried up to us. “Come see what I built!”
Matthew chuckled. “Duty calls.”
Hand in hand, we descended to the garden where our family waited.
That evening, as I helped the twins prepare for bed, Rosemary tugged at my sleeve.
“Mama, tell us about your heart again,” she requested, her small fingers reaching toward my
chest.
I sat on the edge of her bed, pulling both twins close. “My heart is special because it once belonged to someone else–someone very brave.”
Gabriel nodded solemnly. “Uncle Theodore.”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “He gave me his heart so I could live and be your mother.”
“Was he a good wolf?” Rosemary asked, as she always did.
I smiled softly. “He made mistakes, like we all do. But in the end, he was very brave and very
kind.”
“That’s why we light candles for him,” Gabriel stated with the certainty of a child.
“Exactly.” I kissed their foreheads. “Now sleep, little ones. Tomorrow is a big day.”
After tucking them in, I found Leo in the library, poring over pack histories. At thirteen, his resemblance to Theodore was striking, though his spirit was entirely his own.
“Studying late?” I asked, sitting beside him.
He nodded. “I want to understand how different Alphas led their packs. Dad–Matthew–says it’s important to learn from history.”
My heart warmed at how naturally he called Matthew “Dad” now. “He’s right. And you’re going to be an exceptional Alpha someday.”
Leo closed his book. “Mom? Do you think my father would be proud of me?”
The question caught me off guard. “Theodore loved you more than anything, Leo. He would
2/4
be incredibly proud of the young man you’re becoming.”
He nodded, satisfied. “I’m glad you have his heart. It’s like he’s still with us, in a way.”
I pulled him into a hug, marveling at his wisdom. “That’s exactly right.”
The next morning, our family gathered in the memorial garden we’d created five years ago. A stone monument bore Theodore’s name, surrounded by moonlight lilies–his favorite.
It was our annual tradition, marking the day of his sacrifice.
Matthew stood tall beside me, one arm around Leo’s shoulders. Aurora held the twins‘ hands, their faces solemn with understanding beyond their years.
“We gather to honor Theodore Redgrave,” Matthew began, his voice strong and clear. “A father, alpha, he had committed many wrongs in the past, but in the end, he found his way back and became our benefactor..”
I stepped forward, placing a wreath of moonlight lilies at the base of the monument. “Thank you for your heart,” I whispered. “It beats for all of us now.”
Leo placed a small carved wolf beside the flowers–his own creation. Aurora and the twins added their drawings.
As we stood in silence, I felt a familiar warmth in my chest–not pain or grief, but gratitude. Theodore’s heart had become a bridge between past pain and future hope.
Later that day, Ethan arrived for dinner–another tradition we’d established. My half–brother had surprised us all, rebuilding the Moonstone Pack into a force for justice and healing.
“Sister,” he greeted me with a warm embrace. “You look well.”
“As do you,” I replied, noting the peace in his eyes that had been absent for so long. Over dinner, we shared news and stories. Matthew spoke of his diplomatic successes, bringing unprecedented peace to the Eastern Territory. I discussed my advocacy work. The children regaled Ethan with tales of their adventures and accomplishments.
“Uncle Ethan,” Rosemary asked suddenly, “will you tell us about Grandmother Lyra again?” Ethan’s expression softened. “Your grandmother was the bravest she–wolf I’ve ever known. She taught your mother everything about courage.”
As he launched into stories of our mother, I caught Matthew’s eye across the table. His smile held all the love and understanding I could ever need.
+25 Points
That night, after the children were asleep, Matthew and I stood on our balcony watching the sunset paint the sky in brilliant hues.
“Happy?” he asked, echoing the question he’d asked me countless times over the years.
I leaned against him, “More than I ever dreamed possible.”
His arms tightened around me. “Our story isn’t over yet, you know. We have many more chapters to write.”
I smiled, thinking of our beautiful, complex family. “I look forward to every page.”
As we watched the sunset together, I knew our love story would endure through whatever challenges came next, strengthened by sacrifice, tested by trials, and proven by time.
Lord K
Olivia and Matthew’s story ends today, and perhaps this ending is not satisfactory for everyone, but it is a decision I have thought about for a long time. I had once considered giving Clara’s heart to Oli, but after careful consideration, Clara is the child of the father who betrayed her mother, the culprit who wanted to murder her and her child, and I felt I could not accept that. So in the end, I chose Theodore. After all, he was once her mate, and though he had done many wrong things, his starting point was still love. When his possessiveness finally disappeared, letting him do one right thing might be the best explanation. Anyway, thank you to all of you who read this novel.
8
Comments
Get Bonus (Ad) >
Vote
21
11
Thank you for this ending. I was also very concerned when the story seemed to be leading towards Olivia eventually being saved with Clara’s heart. Just didn’t seem right! Theodore’s heart was a twist I didn’t see coming but with your storytelling it ended up being the perfect way to close out the story. I am very happy I stayed and read this novel to the end!