NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: As I'm writing this, it's October 23, 2018. Roman Reigns has relinquished his championship and will be undergoing treatment for Leukemia. On top of that, Dean Ambrose turned major heel and attacked Seth Rollins. So, I'm kinda gutted at this point.

However, I'm continuing with this story. This chapter will be more of a series of vignettes to give a rundown of Bray's altered life with Paige, Abigail and Nova. And since Bray's the focus here, it'll be the perfect distraction. With that said, fight the good fight, Romie! I may not like your character, but I wouldn't wish cancer on anybody. Get well soon!

DISCLAIMERS: See Chapter One

Chapter Seven

"I was abandoned by my mother when I was born," Bray explained to a mixed multitude of wolves who sat around him. "Abigail found me in a basket floating down a stream. There were others that wanted to cast me aside without giving me a chance, but Abigail rescued me. She, the Reigns pack, my Seer and his sister, they raised me and made sure I use what powers I have for good. I proved to them, time and again, that I was worth their efforts.

"In that aspect, you're like me. Cast out. Abandoned, without a chance to prove yourselves. You're not bad or evil. You're not mistakes. You're not screw ups. You're misunderstood, and you need a place to belong. So, I'm giving you that place. I'm giving you that chance. Prove them all wrong. And if they don't believe you... prove them wrong again."

It was the same story Bray told to Luke Harper and Erick Rowan when they'd first joined his pack, and now they were his Beta and Gamma respectively. He'd set out to keep the promise he'd made to Abigail after her passing and created his pack in her memory. The abandoned, the downtrodden, the cast off… they were welcomed with open arms. They had a place to live, to work, to belong.

But it wasn't a free ride by any means. Bray Wyatt ran a tight ship. He had rules that he expected every pack member to follow. Chop and gather wood. Keep your cabins clean. Cook for the pack when it was your turn. Keep the camp picked up. Patrol the woods when it was your turn. Respect and take care of your fellow pack members. And most importantly, respect the other packs and their territories. Don't steal. Don't lie. Don't hurt others. Have the heart of a warrior, the mind of a healer, and the spirit of a wolf. And never forget Sister Abigail.

The rules had served the Wyatt pack well over the years. Of course there were those who couldn't follow the rules, or chose not to, but they were few and far between. Sure, Bray and his mixed multitude looked a bit rough, but over time, they'd quietly built a reputation as fierce but loyal guardians of the woods. Slowly but surely, they became valued allies, rough around the edges but good-hearted, with a good sense of danger, and a willingness to fight to the death to protect their own and others.

Of course, many a skeptic would say otherwise, but their opinions didn't matter to the Wyatt pack.

~~~AGARTHA~~~

Bray, the Council is here to see you.

Luke's mindlink roused Bray out of a sound sleep in the bedroom of his pack house. He spent most of his time in the human world, as a tattoo artist and custom bike builder in Lafayette, Louisiana. Every so often, he'd visit Shinsuke, and he also helped Asuka at her clinic when she needed it. But during the summer, he traveled to Agartha to visit the Reigns pack, oversee his own pack and help his Beta and Gamma improve their leadership skills.

This was where he was now.

He groaned and pried his eyes open. All of them? Bray mindlinked.

No. Just Sika, Trish, and Sheamus.

I'm always happy to see Sika. Sheamus, on the other hand, is a giant pain, and Trish… Something about that witch sets my teeth on edge. Sheamus and Trish, well… they can wait all day, for all I care.

Hey, don't be so disrespectful, remember what Sika did for you.

I wouldn't in a million years disrespect Sika, and I don't wanna keep him waiting. But I do take offense to certain people, especially those who voted to end my life before it even started. I have an idea why they've all come calling, Luke. Tell them I'll be there as soon as I can…

~~~AGARTHA~~~

Bray greeted Sika warmly, but cast a suspicious glance at Trish and Sheamus before sitting down. "I think I know why you're all here."

"You realize that you can't be Alpha without a mate, Bray. You need a successor to carry on your pack," Sheamus said, getting right to the point. "And if you don't have one, then we pick one, and she'll be your mate, whether you want her or not."

"You seem to take great pleasure in constantly reminding me of that fact, Sheamus."

"Without a female, Bray, your pack will fall apart," Trish said. "And Harper and Rowan won't be able to have young with their mates," she added.

Bray flinched. As a half-wolf who'd spent his summers with the Reigns pack growing up, he understood the dynamics of pack procreation. Until he found a mate and produced a child of his own, his Beta and Gamma wouldn't be able to conceive. He knew how much Luke and Ruby and Liv and Erick wanted children, so that had made his search more urgent.

Had being the operative word.

"Well, you won't have to pick a mate for me," Bray grinned, before dropping his bombshell. "I've found a mate to carry on my pack."

"That didn't take long," Sika grinned, genuinely pleased for the half-demon. He caught the put-off look on Sheamus's face and added, "You look disappointed. Were you that determined to play matchmaker?"

Sheamus said nothing. Instead, he crossed his arms and glared down at the table.

"Abigail and Shin taught me that when you find your soulmate," Bray said, "The attraction is irresistible."

"Abigail and your Seer are quite wise." Sika chimed in, with a genuine smile.

"Yes. Abby was a good woman, and I'm proud to call Shin my Seer."

Trish finally chimed in. "So, who is this mate that you've found?"

"Her name is Paige."

"Paige who?"

"Paige Knight."

Sheamus cocked an eyebrow. "Why does that name sound familiar?"

"She's Saraya Knight's daughter," Trish answered.

Sheamus looked incredulous. "Saraya Knight. From the Hardy coven?"

"The Hardy coven broke apart after Matt was killed in the battle with Kane," Sika pointed out. "From what I understand, they all moved to the human world, and they seem to have done fairly well for themselves. Matt's brother is in North Carolina, working as an artist, the last I heard. How did the two of you meet?"

"As you know, I work in the human world as a tattoo artist and custom bike builder. I met Paige at a convention in Texas. We hit it off, and we've been inseparable ever since."

Sika looked pleased. Trish had resting bitch face, so it was hard to tell what she was thinking. Sheamus looked disappointed.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Sheamus," Bray grinned. "Looks like you had your heart set on being a matchmaker. All of you are cordially invited to the wedding, of course ..."

~~~AGARTHA~~~

It was a beautiful wedding, all red and black and Gothic. Bray and Paige stood in front of the minister in the packed banquet hall. Many of Bray and Paige's friends (both human and supernatural in human form) were in attendance. Sika, Shinsuke and Asuka were honored guests who sat in the front row. Luke was the best man, and Brie Danielson was the matron of honor. Becky Lynch, Bryan's niece, was one of the bridesmaids, and Bryan Danielson, Brie's husband, was a groomsman. Paige looked stunning in a sleeveless, full-skirted wedding gown of red taffeta and gold brocade inlay. Bray was resplendent in a steampunk style black tuxedo and red ascot.

Paige grinned as she recited her own vows. "Bray, you're my best friend, mentor, playmate, confidant and my greatest challenge. But most importantly, you're the love of my life and you make me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved than I ever thought possible.

"These last few months have been the best months of my life. Each day and each night that we've spent together have been absolutely magical. I promise, Bray, to love you, to honor you, and of course, to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share in the silence when they aren't. And I can't wait to be Mrs. Paige Wyatt forever."

Bray took Paige's hands in his. "You look so beautiful right now. I feel like I'm looking at the real you. That's the you that I first saw back in Texas. I know we hit it off, but there were so many other things that I wanted to say to you, all these things in my head. And I-I froze up. But now it's going to be different… 'cause it's just you… and me.

"I promise to be faithful and supportive and to always make our family's love and happiness my priority. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. I promise to be your navigator, consoler, sidekick, best friend and your husband. Finally, I promise you myself. I'll dream with you, celebrate with you and walk beside you, through whatever our lives may bring. You are my person—my love and my life, today and always."

"Paige," the minister began, "Do you take Bray to be your lawfully wedded husband? As your companion and friend? Do you take him to stand united in the face of adversity, and to celebrate together all of life's good fortunes? With these words spoken, and all of those yet unspoken, do you wish to marry Bray, and join your life with his?"

Paige could barely contain herself. "I do!"

"And Bray, do you take Paige to be your lawfully wedded wife? As your companion and friend? Do you take her to stand united in the face of adversity, and to celebrate together all of life's good fortunes? With these words spoken, and all of those yet unspoken, do you wish to marry Paige, and join your life with hers?"

Bray smiled as he answered, "I do."

"May I have the rings, please?"

Luke gave the rings to the minister, who handed the rings to the bride and groom.

"Bray, as you place the ring on Paige's finger, please repeat after me: 'I, Bray, take Paige to be my wife'."

"I, Bray, take Paige to be my wife."

"I promise you love, honor and respect, and to be faithful to you."

"I promise you love, honor and respect, and to be faithful to you."

"And forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live."

"And forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live."

The pastor turned to the bride. "Paige, as you place the ring on Bray's finger, please repeat after me: 'I, Paige, take Bray to be my husband'."

"I, Paige, take Bray to be my husband."

"I promise you love, honor and respect, and to be faithful to you."

"I promise you love, honor and respect, and to be faithful to you."

"And forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live."

"And forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live."

"Throughout this ceremony," the pastor announced, turning towards the audience, "Paige and Bray have vowed, in our presence, to be loyal and loving towards each other. They have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore, by the power vested in me by this state, it is my pleasure to now pronounce them husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride!"

~~~AGARTHA~~~

Bray and his new wife settled down in the human world, in a small town in Louisiana called Crowley. They purchased a small but comfortable two story white house with plenty of room for additions.

"A year from now… maybe... maybe two… I was thinking that maybe we could start a family of our own," Bray said to his new wife as they lounged together on the couch one night. "What do you think about that?"

"I'd love that. I think you'd be an awesome father. You want a boy or a girl?"

"A little girl with your eyes and your smile. Oh, that'd be perfect. You'd make such an amazing mother."

"I'd rather she had your eyes and your smile, Bray. But boy or girl, I'm a witch. You're half-demon, half wolf. I guess Baby's gonna be a supernatural Heinz 57."

Bray sighed, content. "Y'know, I think it's smart for us to start our family when we're more… financially stable. I wanna make sure my business down here turns a profit first."

Paige sighed. "That was the plan, Bray."

Bray glanced over at his wife, who had a knowing look on her face. "What do you mean, was?" A moment passed, then another. "Paige, are you pregnant?"

Paige glanced down and looked sheepish. "You're not angry, are you?" she ventured cautiously, instinctively wrapping her arms around her still-flat belly.

"Angry?" Bray couldn't stop the grin from stretching across his face. With an overjoyed yell, he spring up from the couch and swooped his wife up in his arms. "Paige, I'm ecstatic! I'm gonna be a daddy!"

~~~AGARTHA~~~

"Just a couple more pushes, Paige, and it'll be over!" coached the midwife, as Paige, in the throes of hard labor, lay in the bathtub. The water was warm and it helped ease the labor pains somewhat. Bray crouched on the floor, holding his wife's hand. Paige was squeezing his hand so tightly, his thumb would later turn black and blue, but he didn't feel it yet.

Paige glanced over to her husband and gave him an icy glare. "What the fuck are you smiling for, Bray?!"

Bray couldn't help himself. "We're having a baby!"

The look on Paige's face was almost homicidal as she grabbed him by the beard. "What the fuck do you mean WE'RE having a baby? I'M having this baby, you're just riding shotgun!" Another contraction hit. "OWWW!"

"Harder, Paige!" instructed the midwife. "You're doing great, one more…" The midwife caught the newborn as it slid out, and moments later, the sounds of a squalling baby filled the bathroom "It's a girl!"

Paige couldn't help herself. "Is she normal?"

The midwife smiled as she cleaned off the newborn. "As far as I can tell, she's beautiful!" After taking the baby's vitals and weighing her (she was 7 pounds, 6 ounces, with a great set of lungs), the midwife placed the baby on Paige's chest. Bray had the honors of cutting the baby's umbilical cord.

"Have you decided on a name?" asked the midwife after she wrapped the newborn up in a blanket and presented her to the new parents.

"Her name's Abigail Paige Wyatt." The new parents had chosen Abigail to honor the woman who'd helped raise Bray, and Paige as the middle name.

Later that day, in bed, Paige and her husband marveled at their new baby. They'd have plenty of visitors later to meet the newest Wyatt, so the new parents were enjoying some peace and quiet before they arrived. "She's got your eyes and your chin, Bray."

Bray kissed his wife on the cheek. "Good job, Mommy. I'm proud of you." He gazed down at the sleeping newborn. There were tears in his voice as he said, "Hello there, Abigail. Your mommy and I both love you very much."

~~~AGARTHA~~~

"Abigail was such a cute baby, wasn't she?" Asuka sighed, as the image in Shinsuke's reflecting pool faded.

"She certainly was. And quite a spunky little thing when she grew older." Shinsuke smiled at the memories that were suddenly flooding his mind. "And her powers were emerging. When I dropped by for a visit. Abigail was just two. She was playing in the dirt beside the house and I saw her playing with a set of marbles. Which would have been nothing special, but the marbles were moving around all by themselves. Back and forth, side to side, and even up and down.

"And that's when Bray and Paige started training Abigail to use her magic sensibly. Of course, Louisiana's a hotbed of magic, so they could conceal her powers easily. And that came into play when Brie and Bryan had their child. Nova was five years old when Bray invited them all to spend a week with them. That visit changed the course of Nova's life ..."

Shinsuke waved his hand over the pool once more, and a new scene emerged from the swirling colors…

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Aaaannnd… I'm gonna stop there. Plenty more table setting, and I need to develop more story from the Agartha side. If you've followed Jessica619's Into The Woods series, then you'll know that an agreement was broken, leading to Nova's birth. That agreement will come back into play, which will reveal the true antagonist. Suffice it to say that the road to Hell will be paved with good intentions.

REVIEWS = LOVE (AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CELEBRATE IT… HAPPY TURKEY DAY!)