Epilogue: Cassie

Life is very different in Volare these days. Leo is almost two. Wonderful in every way, his pouty lips and blue eyes making it almost impossible to tell him no.

I flit between wondering what my mother would think of my own material efforts. Praying I make better choices than her.

I still don’t know what the hell was on her mind when she died. Was it out of love for me or hatred of Elle? Staring at Leo, I will never understand how she stood by all those years in silence.

It has taken some serious organising but tonight, finally everyone is going to be reunited. A celebration of friendship. Raphael and Robyn have been sorely missed. Almost eighteen months without any visits between us.

Corbin had requested all bridges go up for our own safety for a period.

He was attacked in an uprising in the centre of Pemberton. Touring a pack and hit in the chest with a cannonball. Quite how the fuck a group of rebels got hold of a cannon is something Raphael is furiously investigating.

The night Leo was born, the Kallio cliffs were completely savaged by lightning. Hundreds of huge black blisters covered the face of the pristine white rock face. Corbin had it chipped off of course but it didn’t stop people seeing it as a sign he wasn’t meant to be there.

Ayr is ready to accuse Luna Jacintha outright of meddling with Kallio in the next Alpha Council. Maybe it’s linked to jade-eyed Imelda? Perhaps I should have killed her alongside the treacherous Elders.

Neither of us have proof, that is on Corbin, Raphael and the Silver Warriors to provide.

Having Corbin, an entirely regular, silver-branded, silver-eyed man at the helm was always a risk. I had hoped the fact he was steady, loyal and devoted was enough. But the public are fickle. Gossip rags are firing up ideas that he is a eunuch. Sexless and dead inside.

But finally he’s agreed to attend tonight alongside Raphael and Robyn.

Matthew and Lucas remain at Ayr’s side. Together they build and manage most of Volare. Overseeing huge construction projects. Frequently caught pushing one another into doorways, nooks and alcoves where their huge, threatening bodies give way to pure tenderness. Matthew now has his own tiger stripe tattoo, over his right collarbone.

They completely remodelled our suite. Replacing the bed, carving a beautiful cot with tiny animals working their way up the slender bars. Everything is lighter, less serious now with the dark wooden walls painted cream.

Ayr was behind my humongous bath tub, and the huge bookcases that fill one wall. For he still reads to me. I hope I never have to stop falling asleep to the sound of his voice. On our last shift, we both asked our wolves about the golden-eyed wolf.

Braced for the usual fire and thunder it was a shock to feel nothing. Coldness. A void, similar to the now-empty space where the silver wolf used to live.

She has descended. Chosen a soul whose eyes will glimmer with gold one day. Just like Elle. Just like all the rest before her.

Even Marcus has promised to come back home. For one night at least. The instant he regained his sight and stunned us all with his matebond to the sweet, constantly smiling Jessica he declared he was leaving.

Or as he put it, “not wasting my vision, or my magnificent personality on the same patch of grass I’ve known my whole life.”

He’d held Leo and stared down at him for the longest time. Memorising his tiny features, blue eyes the colour he used to have, he whispered. “Well, you are lovely to look at at least. It’s a shame you’re not blonde. You’ll never be as handsome as your father and I,” trying to lighten the mood at his impending departure.

For the longest time we had no idea where they had gone. Until one day she called us over to her inn.

Freshly delivered from over in Locksley Marcus had sent her a rolling pin. Made of marble, handles of the finest cherrywood, a rose and gold pattern glinted in her hands. With tears in her line-filled eyes she handed over the note.

The note accompanying it read, “I know you lost two wonderful sons, but for what it’s worth, you saved one silly lad and made his life in the dark worth continuing. M”

I had no answer but to hug the woman who has done nothing but care for everyone, no matter their flaws. “I do love the idiot you know, Goddess knows why! Testing me every single day” she hiccuped. “I told him his new eye colour made no difference, you know, but he was determined,” shaking her head and holding the random gift preciously.

“We all did,” Ayr agreed, but Marcus wanted out.

Jessica’s skills as a midwife meant the couple were welcomed everywhere. We got reports at various Alpha Councils they were at Locksley for a time, where the Locksley’s triplets had been successfully delivered to his newly crowned Luna Diana. Then they were reported to be as far as Alpha Silas, making their way as needed from village to village.

Ayr loved him so much he never commanded him to stay, which as Alpha he was more than authorised to do. Just hugged tightly and made him swear to return one day. “I’ve been playing cupid for too long, sorted all your lives out haven’t I?” he grinned, his baby blue shirt fitting him immaculately, beard trimmed and sleek. “My time now.”

All of this makes tonight so important. I know Ayr is hoping Marcus will say he is returning to Volare. He’s definitely going to ask him to consider it anyway.

“Are you excited?” I smile, turning to Ayr from the comfort of my huge bubbling bathtub.

“About tonight, or knowing you’re naked in that thing?” he grinned dipping his hand into the water enough to flick some water at my face. I squeal and kick out at him. Leo is asleep, our Mrs Berrybrow-recommended nanny Gilda keeping watch over him for the evening.

“Well you haven’t even got clean yet,” I smirk as my handsome mate shrugs off his day clothes. Unrolling his shirt sleeves he chuckles at how quickly my eyes blaze silver. There is no denying how much I want him. Always. I scoot up forwards in the tub, making room for him to get in behind me.

Soon, his fingers are toying with my pussy, rubbing my clit and sliding over my hard nipples. “I don’t think I’ve ever take a bath without you joining, you know,” I groan, allowing my head of piled chocolate curls to lean onto his shoulder. “That doesn’t mean stop,” I breathe quickly, feeling him harden into my back

“I don’t think you have ever said stop, Spitfire. You don’t know how to. You just take more and more,” adding another finger deep inside me. Using that decimating combination of grinding the heel of his palm into my clit whilst his thick fingers curled around that pressure point of pleasure.

I soon found myself gripping onto his thighs, on the verge of sinking underwater as I spread my legs needily, chasing more of him inside me.

I whimpered out my release but it’s not enough. Once is never enough and Ayr delights in making me want him. “Out.” I demand, water splashing everywhere. I turn around to turn the shower on but like the predator he can be I immediately find my hands pressed against the tiles and his cock jammed inside me with pure vicious delight.

I yelp, pressing back against him. I want him harder, deeper, rougher. He doesn't stop until I’m calling his name with every thrust. “I’ll never stop loving you. Fucking you like this. I’ll never ever have enough of you Cass.”

His mouth is on my mark. I’m dying and floating on a cloud of bliss as he roughly grunts, holding me firmly in place, both us feeling the hot liquid spurting inside me.

“Oh fuck Ayr, they can wait another two years surely,” I pant, completely filled by him. “Don’t tempt me cannonball,” gently working his still hard cock in and out of me, his seed dripping out between my thighs. The sensitivity made me shake against the cool tiles.

In a low, gruff voice, “What if I told them they got the day wrong?” flexing his hips and making me groan deeply.

“Do it. Do it for me.” Another thrust, another blinding hit of pleasure. “I dare you.”

Goddess our guests had better be in exceptionally good moods tonight to make it worth me leaving this bathroom and bothering with my gown.