Epilogue Part Three: New Beginnings

Isaac and Abigail got married the summer following their engagement along the lake of her territory. Lyra and Derek stood next to them as matron of honor and best man, respectfully, while Tyler made his way down the aisle as "the world's cutest ring bearer", as Lydia and Allison called him.

Watching her sister and her new brother exchange their vows, Lyra shared a smile with her husband. She remembered their own wedding along their cliff- her walking along the grass barefoot, the smell of the wildflowers...

Then Chris was pronouncing Isaac and Abby husband and wife, interrupting Lyra from her memories, and she cheered just as loudly as the others as the newly weds kissed enthusiastically while everything else was drowned out by thunderous applause.

Later, Lyra found herself sitting next to Derek while talking to Scott and Stiles. She watched them both, her gaze occasionally drifting to Isaac, wondering when exactly all of her boys had grown up. The sound of her son's laughter had her looking over, and chuckling when she saw him perched on top of Allison's feet as they danced.

"What's next for you both?" she asked her boys.

"Deaton offered me a job," Scott said. "I think I'm going to take it."

"My dad said I could join the force once I pass my exams and physical," Stiles said, glancing at the sheriff, who was talking to Melissa and Chris.

"That's great," Lyra replied, smiling. "You're not gunning for my job, right, Stilinski?"

Stiles grinned innocently. "Never."

"So are you going to be mentored into the next emissary?" Derek asked Scott.

Scott laughed. "Oh, no. I think being Alpha is enough, you know? We still got new wolves and whatevers drifting into town."

"And whatevers," Lyra repeated, rolling her eyes. "Is that what you call Kira or Malia?"

Scott winced sheepishly. "You know what I mean."

Lyra gave him another eye roll, but dropped it with a humorous chuckle.

"Speaking of, where's Cora?" Stiles asked, looking around.

"She went off to show Max more of the territory," Derek said. "She's not big on crowds."

"Right, that's why she never showed up to those big parties at your place."

Lyra kicked Stiles' shin, making him yelp. "Leave her and her girlfriend alone. Go bother Lydia for a dance, hm?"

Stiles sighed, hauling himself to his feet. "Well, if no one else will..."

Watching him go, Lyra looked over at Scott. The young Alpha was watching Allison dance with Tyler, a small, odd smile on his face. Lyra knew that although Allison and him had never gotten back together, even when things eventually ended between him and Kira, there was still something there.

"You could ask her to dance too," she suggested.

Scott shook his head. "Nah... she looks happy dancing with Tyler."

Lyra kicked out her foot again, albeit more softly than she did with Stiles. "Come on. It's a wedding."

"Why don't you dance with me?" Scott challenged, standing.

Lyra's eyes narrowed. "Okay, McCall. Deal. One dance, then you pass me back off to my husband. My ankles are swollen enough."

Scott rolled his eyes this time. "You're like, four months along. How bad can it be?"

This time, Lyra didn't kick him gently.

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Derek stared into a pair of beautiful violet eyes, and felt his heart expand with love.

Then his daughter gurgled, making him laugh and bounce her in his arms.

Stella Hale was born three months ago during a thunderstorm that wiped out more than half of the town's power. She came into this world thanks to the quick help of Melissa and Deaton right in the middle of the living room, screaming her displeasure.

A black haired whirlwind came into the room on unsteady legs. "Daddy! Flying leg attack!"

Derek braced himself as his three year old son leaped against him before latching onto his leg. "Oof. Tyler, what did we say about flying leg attacks?"

Tyler looked up at him with wide, green eyes, a perfect miniature of his father. "Not to do it," he said, pouting. Then he brightened. "But it's fun!"

Derek resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Where's Aunt Abby?"

"Ousside, with Mommy."

Derek adjusted Stella on his hip. Kissing her tuft of black hair, he beckoned for his son to follow him outside.

The sisters were sitting in the sun, laughing about something. Lyra leaned over, caressing her sister's large belly, murmuring something that Derek didn't quite catch.

"Mommy!" Tyler called excitedly.

Lyra turned and scooped up her son with practiced ease, then smiled when she saw Derek and their daughter. She passed her son to his aunt before taking her daughter, who was already reaching out for her.

"How's my girl?" Lyra cooed, kissing Stella's rounded cheeks, making her giggle. She looked down at Abby, who was letting Tyler look at the rings on her left hand. "In three months, we'll have one more pack member."

Abby gently pulled her hand out of Tyler's grasp, giving her sister a dirty look. "Hopefully sooner. This one-," she rubbed her stomach, "doesn't let me sleep at night, or eat take out."

Derek chuckled, sitting down next to his sister in law. "Lyra was the same way when she was pregnant, if you remember."

"Glad to know it runs in the family," Abby muttered. "Where is that husband of mine?"

"Out with the boys," Lyra answered. "Something about an hour of freedom? I think it was Stiles' idea."

Eyes narrowing dangerously, Abby leaned back in her chair. "Oh really?"

Derek and Lyra both exchanged a look, and shook their heads with matching wry smiles.

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It wouldn't be later, when he watched his daughter take her first steps then watched as his son went off to his first day of kindergarten, when Derek would find himself taking an hour of alone time to reflect on just how much his life had changed over the years.

Standing in front of the Hale house, he wondered, had it just been several years ago when it stood half-burned and hollow? Had so much time passed since he turned and first saw Lyra standing at the edge of the trees, with wariness in her eyes?

He thought about the few times his mother had visited his dreams since the birth of his children- a forever vision of a black wolf with both red and green eyes, eyes that she had passed to her son, and then he had to his. He could still remember feeling her pride and happiness when she saw he was slowly rebuilding his life into one that he deserved.

Even Beacon Hills, a place that would always be home, had changed for him- once being a place where he wanted to rule with his own pack, back when he was hungry for power and to prove himself, in order to cover up the pain of losing his family. Now it was a place of love and healing, where his children would grow up in the house he and Lyra had fixed up, and perhaps one day, they would have children of their own here.

Everything had fallen into place in his life. Even though the road here was not easy, Derek knew that everything that he had been through, that Lyra and the others had been through, all had lead them here, now.

And for the first time in a long time, Derek knew there was nothing he would change. Right here, in front of his house, with Lyra waiting inside, he was ready for this new beginning.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf.

Author's Note: Thank you to those who stuck through Dominance and Dominance 2: The Triskelion! And thank you to those who read and or reviewed these stories. It's been five years since the beginning of this series, and it will always hold a special place in my heart, as will Lyra, my first OC. I hope you enjoyed reading it all as much as I did writing it.

Please review!