Epilogue
:Tanner
Rocking Sophia in my arms her head nestled into my neck, the tickle of her soft breath as she gave a little groan of discomfort almost slipping from my lap, her arms around me tightened just as mine pulled her closer. Lifting her head she looked up into my eyes with a small smile. "A moment to ourselves" she whispered as she leaned up adjusting herself as she brought her lips to mine.
"What? Getting tired of all the party's?" I asked playfully.
She sighed and shook her head. "It's hard now that Darcy has handed me my Kingdome back" She spoke softly this being the first time she had called it as such. "It's been my birthright but with me gone-" she sighed her face darkening with gloom.
A look I was more then familiar with these past five years sense she had came back to me. She had been a shell of the girl I had fallen in love with, had been distant to me to the point of worry as she had gave up on life. But now she was back and trying to live. A part of living was accepting her title.
"I don't want to be the Queen" She whispered in a mellow voice.
"I know this" I cupped her cheek in my hand. "But your people need you, Darcy knew this which is why he gave it back to you. You are their Queen" I pulled her closer and rested my forehead to hers. "I will be by your side through it all, you will never be alone" I promised as I sealed it with a tender kiss.
"Mommy?" A soft voice called out as the door pushed open. "Mommy"
Sophia grinned as she shifted to look. I sighed our alone time was over, thanks a lot Lex I thought bitterly for a moment but felt my heart swell as the child ran to us and crawled onto Sophia's lap .
"Mommy I missed you" She whispered softly little fangs peeking out from under her lips.
"She is not your mommy" Lex growled as she stomped in with narrowed eyes. "I am I birthed you" Lex reminded.
Climbing off Chloe shrugged as she thought for a moment before skipping back to her mother's side. "Your mommy number two"
"I am your first mommy" Lex grumbled. "Thanks for stealing my kid"
Sophia laughed as she stood and poked her tongue out at Lex. "Your just jealous because she loves me more then you" she taunted.
"Now, now ladies" Evan came in with laughter in his eyes he tipped his head to me. "No need to fight, you both know Chloe loves you both very much" he spoke as the girls continued to scowl at each other he rolled his eyes at me before touching Lex's back tenderly.
Sophia stood bickering with her friend one hand on the swell of her belly as she stroked in circles not realizing her actions as she settled.
Lex squatted and touched her belly before looking up at her. "Soon your on bed rest right?" she asked as she rubbed Sophia's swollen belly, "Or will you shift?"
"Bed rest, as well as shifting" Sophia spoke softly with a sigh. "Nikko said it would be best because in my wolf form the child stands a good chance of surviving. " Her brows furrowed. "Nikko is still deciding which would work best in the interest of the child and me" she swallowed hard as tears formed. "Jem would have turned five today"
And it finally hit, I knew today was a hard day for her. Having waited to see if she would have a break down it had finally came as Sophia sniffled and tears fell freely at the thought of our first child that had pasted.
"Honey" Lex shot up and hugged Sophia tightly. "I know its hard but he's in a better place now. You shouldn't stress its not good for either of you, this little one needs you to be strong" She whispered. "Nikko found a spell to help you guys have your rainbow baby"
"It was all my fault if I-" She protested.
"It wasn't your fault" I whispered out. "WE both know it" I stated. "We did everything medically possible to give him the chance he needed it just-wasn't time" I clenched my hands tightly.
"Bad mommy" Chloe let out as she scowled at Lex and patted Sophia on the back. "You made her cry"
I stood and glanced at the girls and back at Evan. "I wish you would stop blaming yourself, we talked this over. It was never your fault Sophia, we almost lost you to" I reminded. Leaving the room I took a deep breath attempting to calm myself feeling hatred filled me for how I was helpless to helping her cope with the loss of Jem, of accepting the face that we could do nothing.
There was only one threat left in the world left.
Blade. He was still out there. He had dropped off the radar after Sophia had killed Bentley.
It haunted me in my dreams and hung over my every thought knowing he was out there. A constant threat to my wife, and our unborn child.
Once I was calm I turned back and found Sophia on the bed holding her belly protectively.
"My love" Her head lifted up the tears running down her cheeks. "It wasn't your fault" I whispered. "We both felt there was more wrong then we could see with Jem" I knelt before her and held her belly. "He was sick, the placenta had detached from your uterus, you both almost died , he was to small to live at only 21 weeks." I spoke softly. "You held our son in your arms, your felt his heart beat" I met her eyes. "We had time to say our goodbyes" I kissed her belly. "You are 25 weeks along now. Everything is looking good" I leaned in with my lips to her belly. "Little one, you are loved" I spoke softly. "We can not wait to see you"
"Tanner"
Lifting my head I met her eyes and found her smiling through the tears. "Thank you" She whispered. "Can we go home now?"
"Is this what you would like?" I asked softly.
"I -its strange here. I have all these memories when I was little but not very happy ones" she looked away. "My wolf Isabel agrees with me that there isn't something right. She hates it here"
Nodding I stood and gave her my hand. Taking my hand I pulled her up. "I will tell the others, they will be happy, I have a feeling many of them are home sick"
"Thank you" She sighed softly.
"I would never make you stay were you are uncomfortable. If it is in my power I will make it happen" I kissed her cheek tenderly.
"I thought you would be mad" she peered up at me. "I thought you loved it here."
"Its different" I shrugged. "I'll admit it is nothing to what I am use to but my home is were you are so I am content anywhere you are" I spoke truthfully.
Beaming up at me she snuggled into my chest. "I cant shake the feeling its like she is warning of some kind of danger as it-there is something that is making my sense's go out of control. Last night I swear I could smell someone in our room" she groaned into my chest.
Holding her closer I stroked her hair. "Maybe your wolf is on to something that I can not sense" I answered feeling a sickening feeling twisting in my stomach. "I will speak with Jordan to have him stand guard at night by our door." It could be her anxiety about the baby that has her over thinking but better safe then sorry.
I watched as she moved away hands on her back as she walked with a waddle in her step I couldn't help but yearn for my little mate as she moved she glanced at me her hair glossy and skin glowing she looked absolutely delicious as gave me a sensual little smile. Being pregnant had made her even more desirable and I swear she knew it and played on it every chance she got.
"Come here" I growled out playfully.
Giving me a teasing smile she shrugged. "I don't think I should" She let out a little sigh making my heart pound harder as I shook my head trying to control myself. "I mean I should really go see Nikko, he said he wanted to do a check up on the baby" she rested a hand fondly on her belly.
"Your a tease" I let out in a groan as she licked her lips her little tongue darting out quickly.
"I love you"
"As I love you, how about I walk with you? We both can see our little one" I walked back over to her and stroked her back.
"I want to name in Soren" she admitted with a blush. "Or Falcon"
"Falcon, I like how that would sound, Falcon Tanner" I tested.
"Falcon Joel Tanner" She corrected as I guided her out of the room.
"Really now?"
She smiled up at me. "Yea, and if I remember correctly Darcy will be by for dinner or something" she pushed her hair back. "It'd be good to see him, he hasn't come over sense he left our old home"
"He's been busy. I think his family is still grilling him on finding a mate or suitable wife they are getting older and want to retire" I reminded. "You know he would be here every day if he could"
She nodded with a cute little pout. "I know but-I miss him" she sighed her shoulders slumping.
In the past I would have felt jealous, but I had come to accept their odd relationship and draw to each other. "I know, hell I miss the guy. He's the reason you are by my side" I kissed the curve of her neck and grinned as she shivered the heavy scent of her lust filled my lungs.
**
"The baby is just fine" Nikko declared as he moved the object around her belly he clicked around and suddenly the heart beat filled the room and I felt myself fill with awe as I listened. "It's growing very well not the baby is-"
"She wants it to be a surprise" I cut in quickly and he halted. But I listened closely to the heart beat.
"Its a boy" Sophia stated while touching the side of her belly. "I can tell"
"well then, everything is just fine, healthy as could be at the right stages. Soon we will put you on bed rest just for safe measures you will have 15 minutes a day to walk around besides bathroom breaks" Nikko stated.
"How soon?" I grunted. "We plan to move everything back to the compound. Or will it be best to wait?"
"Another week or two, if you will be moving I don't want you lifting anything over five pounds" he grunted. "The sooner the move the less stress " He stated. "I want someone with you at all times after your on bed rest, I'll have Julia swing by every so often if you do have to be alone"
"Okay" Sophia sighed. "Anything I have to do to keep him right here" she stated firmly. "Thank you so much"
And just on time Lex came in and bellowed. "What are we having" And Chloe mimicking her with a large grin.
"Ya mama what we having" she let out but it was cuter with her.
"Its a surprise" Sophia stated.
"But the time I snow" Lex whined.
Chloe threw herself down and let out a shriek of annoyance.
"Chloe" Sophia let out in a stern voice snapping Chloe right out of her tantrum she shot up and ducked her head. "You know better then that, and Lex your teaching her bad habits" she scolded.
"I cant believe your not letting us know" Lex grumbled ignoring the scolding.
"Lex your like what 22 , act your age" I rolled my eyes when she flipped me off.
"OHHH Mommy number 2 used the no no finger" Chloe gasped in outrage.
"I am mommy number 1 child" Lex threw her hands up.
"Come on let don't get all touchy because Chloe loves Sophia your such a jealous woman" Even grumbled as he came in,
"It is not fair" Let stammered with narrowed eyes and flushed cheeks. How the hell those two put up with each together I don't know. I was just greatful for a calm and collected mate. Though she did have her moments but she never got as uncontrollable as Lex.
"If you don't shut up you will sleep on the floor" Evan stated in a deadpan.
"If you think I'll ever sleep on the floor you are sadly mistaken" She shot back with a smirk.
He raised a brow. "Do you want to test me? your already sleeping on the couch when your bad"
Gapping she scowled.
"You go Evan" I whooped.
She scowled. "don't encourage him"
**
"Your telling me that Sophia is sensing something?" Jordan let out with a grumble his face knitted together in a scowl. He ran his hand through his hair and gave a sigh of relief, "I felt something as soon as we crossed the threshold but I thought I was just to worked up from dealing with Blade"
He looked at me with a weak smile. "So I went to the archives to research this house, something didn't settle well with me." He went to his desk and sat down bringing out a folder he dropped it down and opened it. "Back in 1300 the South Kingdom overthrew a large clan of hunters, the largest this world has ever seen. They took the booty for all the trouble they caused amoung the treasure was this palace that later became known as the Southern Kingdom, the people soon forgot what this place once was. And the marking in the rooms above the door show who's room it was." he opened a scroll and pointed. "That's your room, it belonged to Jericho the very hunter who single handedly took down the Western and East Kingdom"
I felt the air on my arms raise up and a growl fill my lungs.
"That was my reaction when I found out that Jericho the Ender lived here" He threw his hands up before flipping through the pages. "He just went missing in the 1300 when the Southern Kingdom over threw the clan. Nobody found a trace of him, no body, no blood" He looked me in the eyes.
I felt my blood run cold. "Jordan. I need you to find out what the hell happened to that-that beast" I growled out. "If he is still alive-that just means there is one other looking for him."
"Blade" he growled out. I nodded.
"Exactly." I shook my head. "I have to get the word out we all leave for the compound in two days at the latest"
"Very well"
*** So yes they have a baby! But now theres new information that they uncovered! Is this the end for Sophia and Tanner and their baby to be? NO this is not the end! Look for the Sequel "The Secret of Jericho"....which is just starting off hope you loved the ending...because I know I did XD*** vote? Comment? Tell me what you think about the whole story now that its ended. And yes I know there are a lot of mistakes in it but now that its done I can finally go through it all and fix it up...<3***