Epilogue
It’s Friday night and the main strip of Little Vallis is busy with party-goers. After returning to Silver Forest, Alaric and I finished furnishing the forest house and officially moved in. We’re planning to host of first family dinner on Sunday night, and I’m excited about all the baking and cooking I plan on doing tomorrow in preparation.
But tonight we’re meeting friends at Howling Moon. It feels like I haven’t been back in ages.
“Leyton’s already there,” Alaric tells me as we walk towards the line to get in.
“Good. Do you think they’ve saved us a table?” I ask.
“Yup.”
We stand in line when Alaric suddenly grabs my hand and walks out.
“Hey!” some people cry when Alaric speaks to the bouncer who let us in.
Howling Moon is busy tonight. I scan the crowd and already see a bunch of people on the floor, dancing. Peter is also at the bar, busy serving. I begin to head for the tables in front of the middle of the dance floor, where we usually sit when Alaric takes my hand and leads me in a different direction.
We steer for the right and I see where we’re heading- towards two tables with all our friends. Dawn, Erin and Isabella sit at one table, while Leyton, Frances and Kiran sit at the other.
“Hello!” I greet. Dawn shrieks and waves at me, indicating to sit next to her.
“How are you?” she asks, hugging me as I sit.
“I’m good, I’m good,” I reply, happy to be sitting with my friends.
“How was going home?” Isabella asks. I smile as I look at her.
“I love my parents and my family, but my home is here,” I say.
“Too right it is!” Dawn cries.
“Anyone for another drink?” Erin asks.’
“I’ll get it,” Isabella says. I begin to shake my head when Kiran speaks up.
“Nuh. My shout. Ladies. What do you want?” Kiran asks. We give him our orders and he leaves with Alaric.
“Hi,” Frances greets, walking over to our table.
“Come sit, come sit,” Dawn says happily. Frances smiles and sits next to Isabella.
“Enjoying our pack?” Dawn asks. Frances nods.
“Everyone is so friendly,” she replies.
“What is it that you do again?” Erin asks.
“I work in the admin department for the pack,” Frances replies.
“That must be nice,” Erin replies, finishing off her drink. Frances smiles and Dawn gives me a look, but I shrug. That’s Erin, she’ll never change.
“Drinks, M’ladies. Dawn,” Kiran says, handing out the cocktails and spirits we’ve ordered.
“Am I not a lady?” Dawn asks her brother. He narrows his eyes at her.
“Nuh,” he replies, grinning before going over to the other table with the boys.
The conversation starts back with Erin talking about her job and the customers she gets before complaining about how lucky Frances is about getting an admin job straight away, ignoring her when Frances admits to having a business degree.
“So who wants to sing?” Erin asks when she realises her taunts aren’t getting her anywhere.
“Sing?” Frances asks, looking at me. I smile and shake my head.
“No thanks,” I reply.
“Oh, boo hoo, you’re such a joy sucker,” Erin says, standing up. Isabella follows. I smile. I love how they enjoy singing together.
I don’t notice that Isabella and Erin haven’t come back when Frances grabs my hand, urging me to come with her.
“What? Where?” I ask.
“Just come,” Frances pleads. I look over at Dawn, who shrugs and follows us away from the table.
I follow her and stop in shock when I hear a voice coming from the karaoke machine.
“No…” I say, shaking my head. Alaric grins when he sees me, and then he begins to sing.
“People fall in love in mysterious ways, maybe with a touch of a hand. But I fall in love with you every single day, just to let you know that I am…”
I can’t help but stupidly grin back as I watch him. When he finishes my friends around me clap, and he takes a bow.
“Alaric…” I say as I approach him. He smiles and takes me in his arms.
“I sang that for you, babe,” he whispers.
“I know…” I begin.
“See, you’re not the only one who can perform music in our family,” he says, making me laugh.
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call that music…” I tease, making him glare at me.
“Thank you, Alaric. I loved you singing that song for me,” I smile.
“I love you, Georgie,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head. I breathe in his comforting scent.
“I love you, too,” I whisper back.
THE END
