15. EPILOGUE

LUKE, EPILOGUE

The logistics of making ‘us’ work isn’t simple but we’re committed to it, so we make it happen. Juliet refuses to leave Quentin in a lurch, so it is nearly two months before her and the girls move in with me permanently. The commute is too far for her to stay working there so she has to give up the job, but not the friendships, which will continue for the rest of our lives.

‘Chase’ claimed Juliet after they move in, making her ‘officially’ ours, and us, hers. Because she is human, we will never be able to mindlink – that is, communicate with our minds but it is a small obstacle that most of the human race manages to deal with and so will we.

“Mate!”

Sophia and Bridget become my adopted daughters legally when they turn four – it was one of the first things we did once we were together. I love those girls like they were my own and it never mattered that I wasn’t their biological father, it never made any difference. We always made a point of speaking freely about Markus so the girls knew who their father was – to this day his photo sits in the livingroom – without him, the girls wouldn’t be here.

Juliet is just as beautiful as the day I first met her. There are more silvers in her hair now than blonde but they only make her blue eyes sparkle more. Living off the land for decades, time and five children have made Juliet a little ‘softer’ than she used to be, which I love. I’m a man made to love such a woman and Juliet has only gotten sexier to me, over the years. It isn’t possible for me to love her more today than I already do – it is literally impossible. I live, eat and breathe for Juliet – she is my all.

Always has been, always will be.

“Let’s go kiss our mate!”

JULIET, EPILOGUE

Sophia and Bridget take after their father and are nothing like me – both are tall and slender, much like Markus was, and have his dark hair and eyes. They are identical in appearance but that is where the similarities end – Sophia is by far the more dominant of the two of them. Bridget has always conceded to her older sister, likely just to keep the peace and is easier going. They may look alike but they couldn’t be more different, personality-wise!

I don’t know how long Sophia will be staying with us here in the woods – her work at the lodge keeps her busy but it isn’t going to keep her contained for long. Neither of them are shifters, obviously, and their difference is not a big deal in our family but it is in our community. They were the only kids growing up who couldn’t shift and play like the others and I know it has impacted them both. Sophia compensated by becoming even more outgoing and outspoken whereas Bridget is a people-pleaser and never likes to make trouble.

Night and day, my girls.

Luke and I didn’t wait long to start having cubs of our own – Kaleb came along first and he takes after his father – actually, both boys do. Luke is a big man – he’s 6’7” and half as wide and our sons are just as big. In fact, Kaleb is an inch taller whereas Kaiden is only slightly shorter! Thank God they were normal sized babies when they were born!

Kaleb as a grown man is 6’8” with the same long blonde hair as his father, and our blue eyes. Being as remote as we are, women are few and far between so I know Kaleb is counting the days until he leaves for University. He’s both looking forward to the freedom as well as hoping to find his mate – time will tell. I keep my fingers crossed that there is a woman out there somewhere, strong enough to tame my wild son.

Kaiden came next and like our oldest daughters, is the opposite of his older brother. Separated by two years the two may as well have been born centuries apart. Kaleb is aggressive and goes after what he wants whereas Kaiden is far more laidback and draws people to him – like his father. I’m sure he’ll be content to stay close to home but when his turn comes, he’ll be going to college too or he’ll be alone waiting for his mate too, just like his father was for years.

Our baby came last – little Bella. Isabella is my mini-me as Luke says. She’s tiny, blonde and has my blue eyes – she’s even an inch shorter than I am! The boys are protective of all three of their sisters but poor Bella, she takes the brunt of it, being the youngest. She is much like Bridget in terms of her personality, sweet, calm and constantly seems at peace with everything. Five children, all extremely unique individuals with promising futures of their own waiting to be revealed.

I can’t wait.

As for Luke and me… it is hard to believe it has been nearly sixteen years already! Every time I look into his eyes it feels like the first time and I fall in love with him all over again. Markus was a big part of my life and I’ll always be grateful for our time together but Luke is my life. He took in my daughters without a second thought and gave me three additional children that I love more than life itself.

He is my everything.

We are only getting started on this journey together. We’re done having children but hopefully, someday, we will have grandchildren to enjoy together in addition to the years we have yet to share. I look forward to it all and can’t wait to get started. For now, I think I would like to find and kiss my husband.

I swear, I never get enough!

THE END

The Robertson Family’s story continues in ‘Sophia’ – out soon on Inkitt.com.