“Nora, you’re the bravest, strongest wolf I know. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone able to endure as much as you endured, yet still deeply care for others. Even after everything he did to you, you never betrayed Alec, because you still had some love for him, and for your pack, too. You’re gentle and forgiving. I could never forgive my father, I only hated him to the core. I think... I’m the one who needs you. I can’t care or be as patient as you are towards others. I would be as cold-blooded as my father if it weren’t for you. …I’m always terrified you might hate me, that you might get scared of that violent part of me. So, I learn, every day, how to be a better man, a better wolf, because of you. I want to be a fair King. Not someone that is only feared like I used to be, but someone people can think of as a protector, someone you can truly love, a real Alpha King.”
“You already are. People look up to you.”
“This is all because I have you, Nora. They have seen the best of me because I have a Luna as gentle and caring as the Moon Goddess herself. You bring out the best of me. You’re the one everyone in this city really needs.”
His words bring me to tears, and I hide my face against his shoulder. I’m needed. The girl that used to hide in a basement, the weak, pitiful wolf. They need me.
Damian soothes me, caressing my hair and my skin gently, covering me with tender kisses on my neck, my cheeks, my lips. When he stops, his silver eyes look at me with a gentle gaze.
“I love you...” I whisper.
“I love you so bad, too...”
He resumes kissing me again. I kiss him, too, and we get lost in each other’s embrace in this long, long night of December...
Epilogue
Two Years Later
“Mama!”
I open an eye. A baby’s giggle runs to me, and I suddenly feel a small, chubby hand grabbing mine. Gosh, that was a short nap.
“Mamaaa!”
He gets impatient quickly, so I sit up, waking up completely to look at the little toddler reclaiming my attention. The little boy, balancing on his two short legs, is pulling on my skirt and looking at me with his two bright blue eyes.
“Where is daddy, baby?”
He ignores my question and pulls on my skirt again.
“Choco?”
“It’s not the time for your snack, honey.”
“Choco!” He insists, suddenly getting teary.
I sigh. My son is such a glutton... I still can’t believe how much an Alpha baby boy needs to eat. He keeps insisting, pulling on my skirt again. Suddenly, Damian walks into the room and spots our toddler and me right away.
“James Black! I told you to let mom sleep!”
Our son, jumping at his father’s angry voice, runs out in a hurry, completely forgetting to cry. I laugh, and Damianwalks up to me with a sigh, putting a knee down before me, as I’m still sitting on the couch.
“Sorry, Love, he ran out when I wasn’t looking... Did you sleep enough?”
He puts a hand on my tummy, with worried eyes. My first pregnancy was exhausting, and Damian is scared this one might be as well. I smile.
“I’m fine, don’t worry. James is—”
“Right here.”
Bobo walks in the room, carrying James by his overall. Compared to the giant wolf, our little boy is no match. However, our son is laughing from being carried that way. He has fun on his own until Bobo drops him at his dad’s feet.
Damian sighs and takes James into his arms.
“I told you to let mommy sleep, didn’t I?”
“But... my Choco...”
