Well, I think you've all suffered enough I:} also, this is the last chapter :(

This chapter takes place the day after the last one ended.

Hazel's POV

I scream as I sit up in bed, sweating and gasping. I put my hand over my heart, trying to calm the pounding. It's always the same in these nightmares: Parker getting shot right in front of me and dying.

My mate rolls over in bed and opens his eyes, looking at me. "Hazel, are you okay?"

I can't speak through the crying.

"A nightmare?"

"I see it clearly," I sob. "And I don't want to. It's been haunting me ever since it happened."

"I know."

He hugs me comfortingly. "Do you want to go back to sleep?"

I shake my head. "I need some air."

"I'll come with you."

I get out of bed, my heart still pounding, and tiptoe down the stairs so as to not wake anyone else. My mate follows me.

I'm never going to get tired of calling him that. My mate. It feels nice.

We go out into the moonlight. The cool air helps calm me down. We sit down together on the bench outside the house, where my mate takes my hand, interlocking our fingers.

"I'm glad you're here with me," I tell him. "I'm just really glad."

"Me too," he smiles.

"Oh, by the way, you know my brother's mate's brother?"

"Luke? I've never met him, but yeah?"

"Well I've kind of volunteered for us to look after his child while Luke and Kimi go on a well-needed date night."

"Really?"

"Is that bad?"

"No, not at all. What's her name?"

"Lokie. She's a one-year-old platypus but apparently she's really mischievous."

"Great," he grins. "What have we let ourselves in for now?"

I match his grin and lean into the crook of his shoulder. He puts his arm around me and I rest my head on his shoulder.

The moonlight is illuminating the area so we're not completely blind. We sit together like that, in the cool breeze, until I say, "I'm ready to go back inside now."

"Alright."

We go back into our bedroom and settle into bed. We face the same way as he puts his arms around me. I subconsciously smile as he says, "Goodnight Hazel."

"Goodnight, Parker."

…

Jolyon's POV

I settle into bed. Across from me, I can hear Xanthe snoring.

We've kindly been put up for a while with Hazel's dad's friends: Peter the Panda and Patty the Panda. They live with Pinky the Chihuahua, Victoria the Dalmatian, Harry the Hyena, and Karen the Cat. I must admit, it unnerves me a little to share a house with my old girlfriend's new mate's parents.

Naturally I was heartbroken when Hazel told me that she was choosing Parker, but I understood. We hadn't spent enough time together for there to be a proper spark. Besides, I saw her face when Parker was recovering in a hospital bed from his wound. It was just lucky that he has tough skin or he wouldn't have survived, according to the doctor. Apollo, was his name? Anyway, seeing the incredible worry on Hazel's face, coupled with the fact that she barely left his side, told me that I had already lost.

And I don't mind. I'm just happy I still get to spend some time with her. Xanthe and I are joining OWCA. We have to go through the training first, and Peter and Patty have offered to train us. I'm glad we have someone to look out for us.

…

Parker's POV

As I slowly drift off to sleep, I hear Hazel mutter in her sleep, "Parker…don't…don't go…"

"I'm right here," I reassure her in a whisper.

Hazel's POV

I roll over in bed to face Parker, who's now facing the other way. I smile and hug him from behind. It took a while, but now…

I'm happy.

…

*cries* it's the end :( but also Parker and Hazel are together, aww :)

Thank you to Nightflame203 who's been reviewing every chapter, and thank you to anyone reading this story in the future :)