Last chapter everyone, I hope you enjoy it!
It's also a pretty long chapter so get comfy.
Ch. 6 I Didn't Know I'd Love You so Much
(ADAM)
"Unbelievable," Drew grunts coming through the basement door.
It's Saturday, April 16th and he was supposed to be out with Bianca all day. The two had been an official couple for a month now. I was surprised to see him home so early, especially because I had Clare over. She'd been with Fitz as much as possible in the last month and I'd asked her over today to check in with her. We could only talk so much at school, and I couldn't communicate with her telepathically the way the pack could.
Her dad hadn't gotten very far in trying to take full custody of her. After a couple of weeks, he dropped the suit and Clare says he hasn't been in touch since. We had just been talking about how life was at home with her mom, Jake and Glen, and what the plan was for her to move in with Fitz when Drew came storming in. He was dating Bianca, but he still had no idea about werewolves, which is why I was having this talk with her when he was supposed to be gone all day.
"What's wrong? What happened to hanging out with Bianca all day?" I question.
"We were apart for a few minutes while she was in the washroom, some girls came over and started flirting with me," Drew says in an aggravated tone. Girls flirt with him all the time, so I'm guessing that's not why he's annoyed.
"Uh oh," Clare says under her breath, but Drew doesn't hear her.
"Then Bianca stampedes over and rips the girls away from me, telling them I'm hers and to stay away. I dragged her off and told her that was unnecessary and stupidly possessive. Then she tells me she's a werewolf and it's her nature. Well, that being the stupidest argument I've heard in my life I just got in my car and drove home."
I exchange a look with Clare, she bites her lip and her eyes dart for a second. I wonder if she's communicating with Fitz or something. I think she must because the next words from her lips confirm Bianca's statement.
"She's not lying Drew; Bianca is a werewolf. So is Fitz, the entire gated community they live in are werewolves. Fitz is the alpha, and I'm a werewolf too. When I got bit at the cabin it was Fitz, he was with two of the others, but Fitz is the one that bit me."
"Yeah right, what did Bianca call you and tell you what happened? Ask you to mess with me?" Drew rebukes rolling his eyes.
"Does that really sound like something Clare would do?" I question.
"Well, no, but c'mon guys, werewolves? I suppose next you're going to tell me Eli is really a vampire," Drew replies.
"I'm pretty sure I would know if he was, and he's not, and I don't know if anything other than werewolves are real, but they are definitely real. Remember how strange the wolf attack was? How fast I healed? How odd it was that Fitz and the others transferred to our school after break?" Clare questions.
"Yeah, all very weird I grant you, but it doesn't mean they're werewolves or that you are one because some wolf bit you," Drew argues.
"Not some wolf Drew, Fitz. He bit her, he tracked her down because she's he's life mate. He bit her so she would change, he didn't give her a choice. He had his reasons but that is another story. He transferred along with Bianca, Dallas, and Owen to keep an eye on Clare. Well, Bianca and the others transferred to be with their alpha. Bianca says you are her life mate," I tell Drew.
"This is sounding weirder and weirder, and Bianca has never bitten me," Drew shoots back.
"Because Bianca isn't alpha, and she will give you the option. I know how it sounds Drew, but it's all true," Clare says.
"You had better show him," I tell Clare.
"Do you have something I can wear? Something you don't mind getting destroyed?" She asks me.
"Yeah, I have some of Gracie's clothes still. Hang on," I reply.
I get up and run upstairs, in the back of my closet is a summer dress of Gracie's I've always hated. When I return downstairs Drew is sitting on the sofa, and still looks angry and totally unconvinced of anything. I hand Clare the dress and she goes into the washroom to change while I sit on the sofa.
"Umm, why does she need a dress?" Drew questions.
"Just watch," I tell him. Clare comes out of the washroom, the dress goes to her knees but does not fit over her chest, which of course is the first thing Drew comments on.
"You know, you're kind of bursting out of that dress," Drew says.
"I will be even more so in a moment," she responds.
She closes her eyes for a moment and then the air around her almost shimmers. Suddenly the dress is ripping and in Clare's place is a wolf. A pure white wolf with clear blue eyes and a few tatters of the dress still on her fur. Drew is so shocked he jumps up and nearly jumps over the back of the sofa.
"HOLY CRAP SHE'S A WOLF! SHE TURNED INTO A WOLF," Drew shrieks. I can't help it I burst into laughter, it was pretty shocking when Fitz told us and we saw him turn, but we didn't react like that. "Well fuck me werewolves are real," Drew says after a minute as he slowly sinks back onto the sofa.
Clare goes back into the washroom, where she resumes human form and comes back out fully dressed in her clothes once more. "Fitz will talk to you if you want. Bianca too," Clare tells him.
"How do you know that?" Drew questions furrowing his eyebrows.
"Wolves in the pack can communicate telepathically. It's hard to talk with a wolf muzzle," I tell him.
"I guess that makes as much sense as anything else. I do want to talk to them, but somebody else better drive," Drew comments. Clare says she'll drive so we all go out to her car. The whole drive is silent until Clare stops at the gate and uses a garage type opener to open it. "You have your own opener?" Drew questions.
"Fitz is the alpha, and my life mate, I'll be living with him soon," she replies. We drive to the back of the community where Fitz has the largest house. Clare pulls into the driveway, and we walk right into the house. Fitz greets Clare with a kiss, Bianca is standing nervously near the sofa.
"Good to see you Adam, hi Drew, guess it's been a shocking day for you," Fitz comments.
"Shocking doesn't even begin to cover it," he replies.
"Please sit down, we'll answer all your questions," Fitz says. He takes Clare's hand and the two sit together on the sofa. I sit with them, Drew sits in an armchair and Bianca sort of leans on the sofa arm next to me.
"I'm sorry I just blurted it out like that Drew, that's not the way I wanted you to find out. I saw a bunch of girls around you, giggling and flirting and my wolf got angry and jealous. She just reacted because she saw a threat," Bianca says apologetically.
"Don't you mean you got angry and jealous?" Drew questions.
"No, I mean my wolf," Bianca replies.
"I know it's hard to understand Drew, it was for me too, at least until I started changing and communicating with my wolf. The wolf is a piece of you and inside you, at the same time a wholly separate being. One that is very primal and driven by emotion and instinct. It's probably not something you can understand unless you get marked and turned," Clare says.
"When is that happening?" Drew asks.
"Whether or not you get turned is up to you. You don't have to be a werewolf, but I know you're my life mate Drew. That I'm in love with you and that you are all I want for the rest of my life," Bianca tells him.
"That sounds dramatic and Shakespearean," Drew comments.
"I suppose it does, but it's our nature Drew. We know our life mates by scent, it's instantaneous for us. If you are born a wolf and raised that way you know and understand, but for outsiders like you and Clare it's probably confusing and possibly a bit frightening. I will love you for the rest of my life whether or not you become a wolf. That decision is yours Drew, I won't force you," Bianca says.
"Why was it forced on Clare?" Drew questions. Fitz goes on to explain about his parents and everything. How he became alpha and why he felt he had no choice but to bite Clare before she even knew. "So, getting marked and turned are different?" Drew asks when Fitz is done.
"Yes, you can be marked without getting turned," Fitz says.
"If I never get turned or marked at all, will I not be part of the pack?" Drew inquires.
"You're already part of the pack Drew. As soon as Bianca knew you were her life mate you were part of the pack. Adam is as well, he's Clare's best friend and your brother. He'll never be changed or marked, but he's part of the pack. It's why I felt he should know everything, and why he was here the first time Clare saw me change. I can't tell you to allow Bianca to mark you or turn you. I can't tell you what decision to make. If you have any questions, you can ask them, anytime. Anyone in the pack can answer them, and you and Adam are welcome here anytime," Fitz says.
"Thanks," Drew nods. I'm not sure how much he actually heard, he looks like he's not entirely here. Although his head is probably filled with so much right now that I'm not surprised. "I have a lot to think about, right now I think I just need to go home," Drew comments looking at the floor.
"I'll call you tonight," Clare says kissing Fitz gently before we leave.
"Would you have made the decision to be marked and turned if Fitz hadn't forced it on you?" Drew asks Clare after we drive in silence a few minutes.
"Honestly, I don't know. Had I been given the choice, had Fitz talked to me and told me everything I'd probably just be scared. I don't like that it was forced on me, but if he hadn't, I wouldn't know…so much. There's a stronger connection between you and your mate when you're changed. It's not instantaneous but you start to feel it. To feel the pull of them, the need to be with them. How wonderful it feels to be with them. The ability to communicate without words. Your wolf, having your wolf, the strength, the senses. I'm stronger, I can see better, hear better, even taste better. If I was given the opportunity to go back and have it be my decision, with everything I know now having experienced it I would choose to be turned."
"Thanks Clare, I might need to call you later," Drew comments as Clare pulls up to our house.
"Anytime Drew, I know it's a lot and I can only tell you what I've experienced but as Fitz said the community is open to you."
Drew nods and we get out of the car. I tell Clare I'll call her tomorrow and go inside with Drew. Mom and Dad still aren't home, so we go down to the basement.
"Would you become a werewolf?" Drew asks when we're sitting on the sofa.
"Knowing what Clare's been experiencing, yes, I would. That doesn't mean you should just agree to it, take some time to think about it. Remember Drew the mate bond is so strong that Clare wants to move in with Fitz now. You'll probably start to feel the same with Bianca."
(CLARE)
"You are awfully nervous for having your boyfriend to dinner," Jake comments as I pace with anticipation.
"It's not just having Fitz to dinner, I…this is important," I mumble. I don't know how to explain this to Jake. It will be the first time Mom and Glen have met Fitz. It's important that they like him, not just because we're dating, but I need to move in with Fitz. I know it's not going to be easy to convince my mom of that but getting her to like him is the first step.
Yesterday I took Drew and Adam to Fitz's place so we could all explain to Drew about werewolves and life mate bonds. Drew called me late last night and we spent a while talking. I still wasn't sure what he intended to do, I'm not sure he was either, but at least he has a better understanding of things.
All I knew was I wanted to be with Fitz, needed to be. That I wanted to be living in the community with them. That felt like home, not this. I still loved my mom, cared about Jake and Glen, but it wasn't the same, and this didn't feel like home any longer.
I had been very nervous and worried the first time Fitz took me around the community and introduced me to everyone last month. I was an outsider, someone thrust upon them by their alpha. I knew Bianca, Owen, and Dallas from school, and they were friendly, but that hadn't meant the whole pack would be. I was welcomed by everyone though; they were all happy to meet me and pleased that I was there. Everyone was extremely welcoming and friendly, and excited to have me as a Luna.
"Okay, why?" Jake questions.
"It's important you all like him," I reply.
"I already do like him, and I'm sure our parents will too. Anyway, he's here," Jake says motioning to the car parking outside.
I run down the stairs and open the front door just as he gets to it. My lips attach to his before he's even fully inside. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me back with just as much passion. Inside our wolves are nuzzling and happy.
"Hey Fitz," Jake says breaking us apart.
"Hi Jake, good to see you," Fitz smiles shaking his hand.
"Come, I'll introduce you to our parents," I say taking his hand pulling him into the kitchen.
"Mom, Glen, this is Fitz.'
Mom and Glen shake his hand and exchange pleasantries. Fitz helps me set the table before we all sit down. The first few moments are just talking about the food and Fitz telling Mom how wonderful the food is.
"What do your parents do Fitz?" Mom asks. I knew she would ask these kinds of questions and I cringe.
"I haven't seen or heard from my mom in many years. My father passed away, I lived with my grandparents until they both died," Fitz replies.
"Well, that must be rather hard on you. You're seventeen I believe Clare said, who do you live with now?" Mom questions. She's stopped eating and just seems to be scrutinizing him.
"I live in my family home still, but I live alone."
"That must be hard at seventeen," Glen says.
"I'm sure it would be, but they left me the house and a decent inheritance. The gated community I live in is like one family and they all help take care of me. We take care of each other really," Fitz replies.
"That's good, you don't see communities like that anymore," Glen smiles. Mom is not smiling and has not taken a bite in five minutes.
"You live entirely on your own? No parents? No rules? No responsibilities?" Mom inquires.
"Not exactly Ma'am. I do live in my house alone, but I wouldn't say I'm entirely on my own. Like I said the community is one family, so I'm not alone. I eat dinner with one of the families almost every night. They help me with grocery shopping, keeping the house clean, the yard maintained, and my laundry done," Fitz says. Mom's eyes widen in shock that a community would take on a teenage boy, cooking his meals and cleaning his house. What she doesn't understand is that the community is actually a pack of werewolves, and that Fitz is the alpha. It's not like we can explain it to her.
"Well, that must be nice for you, it sounds as though you have no responsibility at all, and a lot of money to spend," Mom comments.
"Actually, I have a lot of responsibility. As I said, the community is like a big family. We help each other. I was left money when my family died, but I don't pay any of them, they do it because they want to. The whole community has money, but we are not a community based on money, we are one based on support and togetherness. It's a hard thing for outsiders to understand, being so involved only with their immediate families and not their communities," Fitz says.
Mom still doesn't like this; she's looking at Fitz with scrutinizing eyes. She either doesn't believe him or thinks he's hiding something. Which technically he is, but we can't exactly tell them it's a community of werewolves and Fitz is the alpha and that's part of why everyone helps so much.
"You know, that is just so true," Glen speaks up before Mom can say anything, "we've become so secluded in a way. It's sad that most neighbors and communities don't help each other that way."
"What do you plan to do with your life? Given any thought to college?" Mom asks. She's being civil but I can tell that she's forcing the politeness. She formed an opinion on Fitz and it's not a good one.
"Yes Ma'am, I want to be a sound engineer. I've already begun looking at the programs at Ryerson and U of T."
"We're in the same broadcast and print production class. Fitz is great with all things electronic, and he has great ears for sound," I say proudly.
"That's great Fitz, it's always good to have a technical skill," Glen smiles.
"Yeah, I think so too. Clare, tells me you're getting married in a few months, how is the wedding planning coming?" Fitz asks.
The remainder of the meal is Glen, and occasionally Mom talking about the wedding. Fitz offers to help clean up, but Mom says it's not necessary and thanks him for coming, a clear dismissal. Jake and Glen shake his hand and say goodnight and I walk Fitz to the car.
"I don't think that went very well," Fitz remarks when we're standing by his car.
"Glen and Jake like you, but my mom, she's suspicious, she knows you're hiding something. It's not like we can tell her you're an Alpha werewolf in a community of werewolves. It didn't help my chances of moving in with you though and I don't know how to make her try and understand," I sigh.
"Don't stress about it, we'll figure it out I promise you," Fitz assures me. He takes me in his arms and couples our lips. I want to just get in the car and drive into the sunset with him, but I know I can't. Inside my wolf is howling and frantic, she wants to go too. It's actually physically painful to release Fitz and watch him drive off.
"Clare, help me finish cleaning please," Mom says as soon as I'm back in the house. I notice that Glen and Jake have retreated upstairs. I'm sure Mom asked them too, just as I'm sure that this is the part where she tells me she doesn't think I should be with Fitz. She may not say those exact words, but she'll do what she can to encourage me to break up with him. "Fitz seems like a nice boy, but I don't think this is a healthy relationship," Mom starts as soon as I pick up a towel to begin drying.
"You know nothing about him Mom, you've had one dinner with him, and you've hardly seen us together. You have nothing to base that assumption on other than your mistrust that he lives in such a helpful community. Just because you can't fathom being that helpful and understanding doesn't mean other people aren't capable of it," I snap back. I'm already getting annoyed, and my wolf is growling inside.
"I just think the relationship is getting a little serious and you should slow down. See other people, you're young you should be exploring and dating lots of boys," Mom says and my wolf snaps.
"I don't want other boys Mom!" I snarl. I'm still in control but barely, my wolf is just under the surface and she's ready to pounce. "I want Fitz! I only want Fitz ever again and we're moving in together!"
Mom drops the pan she was washing back in the sink and turns to me. Her eyes wide, her face red, but it doesn't scare me. "You most certainly will not young lady! You are sixteen, you will not move in with a boy you barely know."
"Try and stop me," I reply in an even firm voice, but I feel my wolf at the surface. I'm pretty sure my eyes glow a little. Mom looks shocked and doesn't move, I drop the towel and run upstairs for my purse and phone and I'm out the door with Mom yelling for me.
I jump in my car and drive straight for Fitz's I've already linked with him that we're coming. I let myself into the gate and when I pull into Fitz's driveway, he's waiting for me. I get out of the car and run straight to his arms. As soon as I'm in his arms I feel safe and happy.
"What happened?" Fitz asks, bringing me into his house.
"As soon as you left, she told me she was concerned about how serious the relationship seemed. She wanted me to date other people and I just snapped. I told her we wanted to move in together and she said no. I told her she couldn't stop me and ran here; she's never going to let me move in now. Not unless we get married, and the only way she would consent to marriage right now is if I was pregnant."
"Clare," Fitz says looking at me surprised. We're sitting on the sofa, I'm on his lap and in his arms. "I want to have children with you, I can't wait to see your belly swell with my children, but we're still in high school. You still have two years left just for high school, and even with all the help we'd have I don't want you to be pregnant in high school."
"Well, we could just tell her I'm pregnant, so she lets us get married," I reply running my hands along Fitz's collar.
"I have a feeling your mom would want to see proof, and even if she doesn't what do we do when she expects a grandchild? We're not faking a miscarriage. There has to be another way Clare, we'll find it. I'll call a meeting tomorrow after school, you can attend, if your mom doesn't show up at the school and drag you home."
"She might," I pout.
"Don't think about it tonight," Fitz says kissing me softly, "just be with me tonight."
(FITZ)
"What if this doesn't work?" Clare asks, putting the mixture I brought her into the tea.
Clare spent the night at my place Sunday night, after running from her mom. I held her all night long and she rode to school with me on Monday morning. Helen wasn't waiting for Clare after school on Monday but did call her and demand she come home after school. Clare called me in tears later that her mom would not understand, and they fought about it.
While Clare was fighting with her mom yesterday evening the elders met at my house. I explained what Helen was trying to do and sought their advice. Most of the pack is wolf born but Chris DiMarco was turned by his mate Marie. Turns out it's a very common problem among human parents. The feeling and desire to be with your mate is so strong that humans don't understand. So, there's a mix of plants that leaves most humans highly suggestable, puts them in a trance like state. You mix it into tea or make a broth and have the person or persons drink it. Then while they're in a trancelike state you can sort of hypnotize them to your way of thinking. It works about 85% of the time, there are other options, but this is the easiest.
"Then there are other options, we will deal with this Clare, together. You, me, and the whole pack, and that means Drew and Adam too. Let's not worry about finding alternatives until we have to. What about Jake and Glen?"
"They don't understand, but it's not up to them, it's my mother we have to convince. Well, I have to convince," Clare sighs. I kiss her nose as I hear her mom's car approaching.
"I'll be listening from your room, but I won't intervene unless I have to," I tell Clare. I go upstairs and hear her pouring the tea into a cup. Clare already made a second cup of tea for herself, one without the mixture it's just tea. I go up to Clare's room quietly closing the door most of the way and changing just my ears so that I have a wolf's hearing.
"Well, this is a nice surprise, we haven't done tea since you were a little girl," Helen says walking into the kitchen.
"I was hoping we could talk Mom," Clare replies setting the teacups on the kitchen table.
"Alright," Helen says warily. I hear the scraping of the chair as it's pulled out and the slight squeak as Helen sits down. I hear Clare sit down and the clinking of the teacups on the saucers when they are set back. "So, talk," Helen says after a moment.
"Give me a minute Mom, I need to think about my words. Drink your tea, give me a moment," Clare replies.
I hear Helen sigh, the sounds of sipping tea and clinking of the teacups when they return to the saucers. Clare has to wait until Helen has had the entire cup of tea, but I can hear that Helen's getting frustrated the longer this takes.
"Perhaps I can save you some time Dear, I know this is about Fitz. I understand that you like him, but I just think you're too young for such a relationship. I mean he lives alone, and I don't th…"
"Have you finished your tea mother?" Clare asks cutting her mom off. Seems Clare has also begun to lose patience.
"No, but…"
"Please finish your tea and let me think then," Clare replies.
Helen lets out a frustrated sigh, but I hear her continue drinking. Clare is drinking too, sipping slowly, I can hear her nervous heartbeat from here. I hear when Helen's empty teacup hits the saucer with a lazy thudding clink because the mixture is taking effect.
"Did you enjoy the tea mother?" Clare asks.
"Yes, the tea was good," Helen replies in a sort of far-off sleepy voice.
"Good. You like the idea of me moving in with Fitz. You are very fond of Fitz, and you think we are a great couple. You know how much we love about each other," Clare says in a firm but even and calm voice.
"Yes, you two really love each other and should live together," Helen replies in the same voice.
"Good, sign this," Clare instructs. I hear the rustling of a paper and the click of a pen as Clare sets the document in front of her.
When I discussed this with the elders last night, I had Jeff Michalchuk draw up a legal document for Helen to sign. One that says she gives permission for Clare to live with me and for us to get married. It's legal and binding for human law so Helen will have a hell of a time fighting it if she tries.
"Right here Mom," Clare says, she must be directing Helen's hand to the paper. "Thank you, Mom, I'll be moving in with Fitz this weekend," Clare tells her.
"Wonderful Dear," Helen replies in the same sleepy voice.
"I'm sleeping at his place tonight."
"Good, such a wonderful boy."
The next thing I hear is Clare running up the stairs and I open the bedroom door to embrace her. Our lips join, my wolf is happy, hers is happy, but Clare's heart is still pounding nervously. I can feel it against my chest, I don't need to hear it.
"I know the document is legal, but as soon as the tea and whatever I put in it wears off Mom is going to fight this. She signed the document saying I could get married, can we do it tonight?"
"Of course, everyone in the community can be there, I'll link them. Bianca's grandfather is a pastor he can get the license and file it in the morning. Why don't you start packing and call Adam, have him and Drew come," I tell her.
"I'd like Jake to be there too, but he doesn't know any of this and I don't think it's the time to break it to him," Clare says as she starts quickly packing.
"Tonight, will be small, you don't even have a wedding dress, we'll have a bigger ceremony at some point with your family. You are pack Luna if you want bring Jake in and reveal us to him that's something you can do, as long as you think he can handle it."
Clare smiles and kisses me, and we go down to my car, her car is still at my place from when she drove it over Sunday night. While I link the rest of the pack about the wedding ceremony to take place in an hour Clare calls Adam. She tells me Adam and Drew are coming after hanging up with them. I tell her the pack will have everything ready in an hour and several of the women will take her to the Michalchuk's house to get ready.
When I pull into my driveway Paige and her mom, Vanessa, Bianca, her grandmother, and Mrs. Milligan take Clare away to get ready. They'll do her hair and give her something to wear, but we come out as wolves. We'll transform back to human behind a barrier and then be married as humans. There's not much for me to do to get ready, I take Clare's bag upstairs to our room and go out to see how the preparations are going. We are getting married in the clearing where I took her for our first date.
"It's looking good," I smile.
"It won't have everything we traditionally have for a ceremony, especially a joining ceremony for the Alpha and the Luna, but it will do. Jay is stopping by the bakery to get cake. We didn't have time to prepare food, but Owen, Dallas and Sean are getting food and we'll have some sort of wedding feast," Jeff Michalchuk tells me.
"Right now, it just has to be legal so her mom can't force her home. We'll have a complete and traditional ceremony when things have calmed down a bit. This summer maybe, or a year from now. I don't care when as long as Clare is here with me," I reply and Jeff smiles.
When Drew and Adam get here Bianca goes out to meet them and bring them back to the clearing. I bring a change of clothes putting it behind the curtain that's set up, if it were all wolves we'd simply change and be given robes to put on. With Adam and Drew here, I figured we'd change behind some kind of privacy barrier and wear clothes. Vanessa brings clothes for Clare and sets them behind the curtain. When everything is ready, I go into my house and find Clare in a robe in my kitchen. Her hair is done and she looks beautiful.
"Are you ready for this?" I question.
She responds by kissing me passionately. She sheds the robe and I quickly undress; we change into wolves and pad down the aisle together. We greet the pastor and through the link he asks if we are mates, we answer yes. I hear Bianca telling Drew and Adam what's going on since they can't hear the pack link. We nuzzle as wolfs before disappearing behind the curtain and changing back to human form.
Clare smiles at me as we begin getting dressed. I have a suit jacket, jeans, a black T-shirt, boots, and socks. Clare has a dress I think belongs to Paige and shoes. I help her zip her dress and she helps me get my shoes on. Then we walk hand in hand out together and stand in front of the pastor. This part is essentially like human tradition, there's vows and he asks if we take each other as life mates. Since we're also Alpha and Luna we're asked if we will lead the pack together and be loyal to each other and the pack, vowing to take care of each other and the pack. Then he pronounces us married and we kiss. As soon as we kiss, we sign the marriage certificate, legal and binding in the province of Toronto. It will have to be filed and all first thing tomorrow, but for wolf and human laws Clare and I are now married.
"You know your mom could still request to have the marriage annulled, but I am happy you're married," Adam comments when we join them.
"She can try, but our marriage is legal, and she did sign the document. I have no doubt she'll try something, and she'll fight, but we'll fight back," Clare replies taking my hand.
"I've decided I want to be turned," Drew says, and we all look at him.
"Are you sure?" Bianca asks.
"I'm sure, I felt too much like an outsider when the wolf parts of the ceremony were happening. I can't say I feel so sure that we'll be together for the rest of our lives, but Clare tells me that I will. If I'm going to start feeling it as intensely as Clare and Fitz do, then we need to wait. I guarantee Mom will do all she can to stop me from moving out and our dad's a lawyer he'll find a way to stop it. However, my 18th birthday is next month, at that point there is nothing they can do. I want you to do it on my 18th birthday," Drew replies.
Bianca responds by kissing him, I smile, so does Clare and even Adam is happy. Tonight, is the start of a wonderful future, I just know it.
~Epilogue~
(CLARE)
"Can you believe it's been ten years?" I ask Fitz as he secures the necklace around my neck.
"Doesn't feel like it," he replies before kissing the back of my neck. He turns me around looking at me with those adoring eyes that make me feel like a goddess. "You get more beautiful every day, I'm the luckiest Alpha and human to have such a beautiful, sexy, intelligent life mate."
I smile and lean up, attaching my lips to his in a passionate kiss. It's Sunday April 19th and our tenth wedding anniversary. After we got married in a quick and small ceremony that Tuesday evening that I drugged my mom into signing the paper I spent my wedding night with my husband, and we moved in together that weekend. Our marriage certificate was filed first thing the next morning, and Mom started fighting when she figured things out after a couple of days. She tried to have the marriage annulled, even tried to have Fitz arrested. It became a huge fight, so much so that I was prepared to not attend her wedding that summer.
Finally, I told her that if she wanted to ever have a relationship with me again, she had to let it go. I was happy, I was in love and legally married. She had signed the papers for it and had no legal ground to stand on. That if she didn't give it up and let me be happy, I'd just cut her out of my life. She had already tried to prove she was drugged and not in her right mind when she signed, but there was no proof. The mixture Fitz gave me left no trace of narcotics or anything she could take to court. A week before Mom married Glen, she called me and said she was done fighting. She still thought the marriage was a mistake and was sure we would get divorced, but she wanted me back in her life. Fitz and I were at their wedding.
Everyone, including Jake, Glen and my other friends (except Adam of course) who couldn't know the connection Fitz and I had was sure the marriage wouldn't last. It's not as though I could explain being a life mate and knowing as deeply as we did. I couldn't exactly say we were werewolves, and it was different. As the years went by and Fitz and I continued to be deliriously happy they stopped waiting for the marriage to fail. Even Mom has admitted she was wrong, she loves Fitz now and is as proud of him as she is me.
Fitz graduated from U of T with a bachelor's degree in audio engineering. He has a studio at home and works for a local TV station, the same one I work at. I graduated from Ryerson University with a master's degree in journalism. Along with of course running the pack, but even though we are Alpha and Luna we don't run the pack alone. With two children, Rosalie who just turned five, and Killian who will be four next month, we are kept very busy.
"DADDY!" Killian screams, breaking our kiss.
"Don't yell Killian Michael," I scold him through the link.
"Sorry Mommy," he apologizes the same way, "can't find shoes."
"I got it, Uncle Drew to the rescue," Drew says through the link.
Drew and Bianca have the house next to us. Drew was turned on his 18th birthday and I spent a lot of time helping him with his senses, transforming into a wolf full or partially, and communicating with his wolf. Bianca and Fitz helped as well, but since I had just gone through it and was born human, I knew more of what Drew was experiencing. Drew and Bianca moved in together after two weeks, his parents were not happy but there was nothing they could do. They were married that August in a small ceremony, well two really, one for the wolves and one strictly human, but the ceremonies were technically the same day so one anniversary.
Killian's birthday is only two days before Drew's and the two are very close and often celebrate together. Drew and Bianca have three kids of their own, twins Troy and Tanner who will be six this year, and Mae turning three in December. Drew got his teaching certificate and a degree in child development. He teaches at the pack school and loves his job. All of the kids adore him, and it allowed him to be home with the kids. Bianca recently graduated from law school and currently works in Omar's office.
Adam may not have gone through becoming a wolf but went through a transformation of his own to male, inside and out. He attended Ryerson with me and graduated with a master's in journalism as well. He's a syndicated reporter for radio and television. He's been dating a wonderful woman for the last five years, and they recently got engaged. After they are married, she will likely be let in on the werewolf secret, after all Adam is here a lot and she's been here many times herself.
Mom, Glen, Jake and even Darcy are all coming for our anniversary party tonight. Darcy ended up marrying a man she met during her work in Africa, and they make their home in Puerto Rico. We hardly ever see them, but they are coming tonight. It's just the two of them, no kids and they still do a lot of volunteer work.
Jake went to UCSC and met a girl there. They were engaged for almost a year before breaking it off. He moved to B.C. and started working at an architectural firm where he met his wife, Melissa. They've been married almost five years now and are expecting their first child in just a couple of months.
Mom and Glen are still in town and love being grandparents. They will likely never be let in on the secret, we generally visit them at their house. As for my dad, well he hasn't been in my life for years. I don't miss him though my life is wonderfully full, and I wouldn't give up anything.
"Humans are arriving," Owen links with us.
"We should get down there and start greeting guests. I love you Alpha Fitz, my life mate."
"I love you Luna Clare, my life mate," Fitz grins before taking my lips again. Inside our wolves circle each other, gaze at each other with love and nuzzle together. My life has been wonderful since Fitz first came into it the night of the dance so many years ago.
That does it for this one. Not sure what's replacing this quite yet.