Epilogue III - Winning

A month after Lyra's birth

"Zaryn.." I sighed as I stared at my overly handsome husband and mate. Completely unphased, he turned to me with a raised brow.

"What's up, sweetheart?" His hands eased their way over my hips as he kissed my neck.

I let out a soft hum and looked up to his bright blue eyes. "I'm exhausted. With the twins and now Lyra.. I just cant get any sleep or anything done, and I hate to keep asking mom, dad, and Blake for help with the twins. I didn't think having three would be this hard, but it is." I grumbled into his t-shirt as he lightly chuckled, rubbing my back.

"Shhh. It's okay love. You have me. I'll clear my schedule tomorrow and stay at home so you can relax. How about that?" He leaned back, smiling at me genuinely.

I contemplated if he had lost his mind for a moment, voicing it when he asked why I was looking at him funny.

Aaaand that offeded him.

He removed his hands from my waist, opting to pout over on the bed.

"Zaryn, I didn't mean it like that- I just meant that you are busy with pack things. You're the Alpha, it's your job. I'm the Luna. Raising pups is my job. I should be good at this by now but i'm just frustrated that i'm not. I'm sorry if I made it come off any different... I'ts just..

"It's alright Nova." He didn't look up at me but I could still see that i had hurt his feeling by implying that he couldn't handle three pups on his own.

Sighing, I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his naked toroso, forcing him to look down into my awaiting green eyes. I still couldn't believe how well he aged, only a few years but he was so much more handsome than ever, right now.

"Hey." My finger stroked the side of his face. "You are a great dad. I only meant that it's going to be hard with all three of them, I can't even do it most of the time. I'm still getting the hang of things. I didn't mean to upset you but if you think you can handle it then I would be so grateful, Zaryn. You know that right?" A small smile formed on my lips and he couldn't resist but to return it.

Rolling his eyes, he swooped down and kissed my lips, "Fine, but I get something in return...." He eyed me deviously up and down.

I rose a brow, "This was you offering, remember? You don't just get something in return. Down puppy." I smacked him lightly on the head but he caught my wrist with that smirk on his lips.

Then I grinned. "oh so that's what you want in return? Well honey, you got it." I giggled as he scooped and picked me up under my thighs, locking my bare legs around his waist as my night slip rode up my skin.

"mmm you are so beautiful. You know that?" He gazed at me for a moment before kissing my lips softly, working his way down my jaw and throat.

I let out a breathy moan as he made is descent, kissing my neck everywhere but on my mark. I knew his game - he was saving it for last to really rile me up.

"Zaryyyn!" I whined, wanting him to take the prize.

His hands roved up the under side of my thighs and he leaned up to whisper in my ear. "This isn't the only thing I had in mind. There's still one more thing I want that you haven't given me yet." He smirked as he kneeled, pressing me down on the bed and unlocking my legs from behind his muscled and narrow waist.

Staring at him in disbelief as to why he just put me down and got up, I rose my brows with my mouth agape. "What do you mean? Where are you going??" He didn't say a word, but reappeared with two thin ropes and I knew exactly what he wanted now.

"Oh no, Zaryn! You can't do that!" I got up to sit on the top of the bed, appalled.

He only smirked as he made his way back to the bed with the ropes in hand, a devious smile on his face. "Yes I can.. Yes we can. It's our lives.. our room... our bed.."

"But it's taboo!"

He chuckled. "That's what makes it more fun."

SIghing in defeat, I looked down at my chest which were swollen with excess milk before looking back up to him. "Fine. If you can handle them for the day.... I'll let you have what you want." I resigned my prudish notion about what he wanted to do with me and just let it happen. It wasn't the ropes I was apalled over, let's just say that.

His eyes lit up like a young pup at christmas, a grin pulling up at his lips. "Really? You mean it?" He was sporting a full blown grin.

"Yes," I rolled my eyes, scoffing. "Is this all you have thought about for the past month?"

"Yep." He smiled that smile that would make any heart melt.

Well, relationships are about compromise and I guess I'm about to give in to something he has wanted for a while now.

Zaryn leaned down, hovering over top of me on the bed but I swatted at him. "Not yet! We have to see how well you pull this off tomorrow first. And I need to feed Lyra so, excuse me." I giggled at his pouty expression as I slid out from under him and scampered to the adjoining room from ours, Lyra's nursery.

Peering down at her from over the crib, I watched with a smile as little Lyra kicked her feet and waved her little arms. Still so tiny, she was born at six pounds even, a little on the light side. Her bright blue eyes were just like her dad's but her nose was mine. She was the perfect combonation between the both of us.

"Hey my baby girl. Is someone hungry?" I cooed to her, picking her up as she girgled and whimpered. Her little body always mesmerized me. How could something so tiny be such a handful!

I sat with her in the corner of her room, settling down in the white rocking chair that had been passed down my family for generations. Settling Lyra down in my arms, I got comfortable and looked around her pastel green painted room, little owl decals sitting in trees on the walls, pretty little fairy lights with stars encasing them hung over the turquoise curtains. The room was so beautiful, I didn't have the words to describe it. Very soothing.

With the twins, I wasn't able to pick their nursery items out because it was such a tough pregnancy and I was always feeling out of it, so everyone had pulled together and with mom, Eden, Grace, Elise and Olivia, Blakes new girlfriend, the twins' room turned out to be perfect.

But this time, I got to choose what I wanted. And it was even more perfect.

Lifting my shirt, I settled Lyra onto my chest as her mouth opened, whimpering as she search for something to suck on to fill her belly. Just as I smiled down at her, brushing her fuzzy hair back, I felt Zaryn's eyes on me and looked up in time to see him standing in the doorway, leaning against it with a sweet smile on his face.

"You are most beautiful like this, you know?" He remarked, without even the slightest bit of a joking manner.

I watched how his eyes looked over us and his smile increased. He loved the sight of me feeding our pup because he said it was one of those special moments. A moment where no one but me could provide for her, and Zaryn, being able to witness that, it made him feel special to be apart of the experience. Something that was only for he and I. No one else could be apart of that.

In fact, I thought it was a special moment too. Mother and pup, bonding. Feeding her from my own body, just the way the goddess intended. It was something beyond special.

"Thank you." I smiled up at him.

His gaze lingered on me a moment longer before he sighed, "Well, I'm going to give you two some bonding time. Come to bed when you are done and we will talk about tomorrow." He said with a slight smirk on his mouth.

I rolled my eyes, of course the conversation would lead somwhere.. It always does.

Once Zaryn backed out of the doorway, I smiled down lovingly at little Lyra. "Your daddy is one un-complicated man. I hope one day that you have a mate that is like your dad. Minus the situation we had to deal with in the beginning, he has been such a good mate to me and a great father to the three of you pups. I feel like the moon will bless you too my sweet angel." I kissed the top of her head then with a sigh of happiness, I laid back against the chair and held her as she fed.

It's moment's like these that make me realise how lucky I am.

Even with all the bad that had happened with me and Zaryn, It didn't replace the good. There was too much good to even think about the bad.

The moon's warning still makes it's way into my mind every now and then and I know that this happiness won't last forever, but if I can be happy now, then i'll take it.

Because one day, I Know that what the moon said will come true. One day, someone will try to take me when they discover how powerful I am... And my pups, they are powerful too. There will come a day when we have to ban together but until that day comes, we will enjoy life and be in love because I know the Moon will always guide me to the right path.

She will protect me. And my family.

~*~

The next morning, I awoke after an amazing night with my mate, to .... no crying pup?

Frowning, I threw the covers off of my body and glanced at the clock on the bedside table.

"Sh!t"! I exclaimed, realising it was already nine in the morning. Lyra usually wakes me up at six for a feeding!

Feeling adrenaline rush through my body, I slipped my silk robe on and made my way to her nursery, seeing that her white crib was empty.

My heart was beating fast as I raced down the stairs. "Zaryn! Zaryn, where are you!" I called out in a panic.

"In here sweetheart!" He called out with slight laughter. I ran to the kitchen and haulted in my tracks at what I saw.

Zaryn was holding Lyra in his arms with a bottle of my pre-pumped breast milk in her mouth, drinking her breakfast as he smiled down at her lovingly.

I let out a breath of relief then caught myself grinning at how the two were bonding.

Zaryn's eyes flicked up to meet mine with a knowing smirk. "You were worried."

"All mothers worry." I walked up to them, taking a seat beside Zaryn and scooting my chair so that I could watch the two of them with happiness beaming from within me.

"You look so beautiful when you wake up. Not like most she wolves.. No, you are hands down the prettiest just when you wake up. Not a stitch of makeup, sleepiness in your eyes that make them look so shiny... You are so beautiful Nova. Even when you don't try." His words along with how he was looking at me, made my heart thud in my chest.

"You are so good to me Zaryn. Thank you for being what I need." I smoothed his hair back from his forehead and leaned down, pressing my lips to his. I never had the 'I need to brush my teeth before I kiss you' complex anymore. When you are this comfortable with someone, brushing your teeth before you kiss them just seems like such a mundane problem when you are in love. If you love someone, nothing will stop you from kissing them.

He smiled as our lips brushed and I kissed him once more before leaning down and kissing Lyra's head.

Zaryn cleared his throat, making me look at him. "My schedule has been cleared. Today is your day. I want you to do whatever it is that you want. Invite the females over, go shopping, explore in wolf form, whatever you want to do, I want you to do it. Understood? Even if it's just sleeping. I'm going to be watching the twins and Lyra today. My dad is coming over with yours, they want a little piece of the action too. You know, as much as you worry about them having to do so much for the twins, they don't know what to do when they stay away so it's just best we let them be the grand dads they want to be and just let them have time with their grandpups without question." He chuckled.

Shaking my head as I smiled, I gazed down at my wonderful mate. "You really are special, you know that?" I leaned down, kissing him one last time. "I love you. Thank you for this. Really."

Zaryn was always helpful, but with having to lead the pack, he couldn't always be around and I don't blame him for that because he took care of us. He protected us and made sure we had everything we needed. He was our Alpha, and not just my Alph but everyone in this pack's.. just as I was their Luna and their warrior.

I finally found it in myself to leave Zaryn and Lyra alone. He had actually more or less commanded me to leave them be and go have my fun filled day. The twins had made their way to the kitchen table to join their dad and little sister which made me really want to stay, but Zaryn was having none of that.

"Mommy don't go!" Drac whined, tugging at my silk robe.

"And why not?" I bent to his level, holding him around his little chubby waist.

He looked at me with his big green eyes, one of the differences in Drac and Ace. He sighed, but Ace cut him off.

"Don't wisten mommy. Me and daddy will pwotect ta pack!" Ace exclaimed, looking up at Zaryn as he smiled down at our son.

"That's right bud. We are going to protect the pack." Zaryn chuckled.

"I can powtect too!" Drac turned to his brother with a frown that reminded me of Zaryn.

Ace rolled his eyes, much like I tend to do. "You can't. I was bown fiwst."

Drac started to cry and blubber about how he wanted to be an Alpha too.

"Boys!" Zaryn called out to them, making them both snap their eyes up to their dad. "Both of you have Alpha blood. You can both protect. Just because you were born first Ace, doesn't mean your brother won't be an Alpha too. He may meet a pretty mate who has no other siblings. That mate will be an Alpha blood and Drac will take over her father's pack. Remember that." He warned Ace sternly, reminding him not to belittle his brother.

I smiled as I shook my head. Zaryn was such a great dad.

"There is something that I want to do that I haven't done in a while.." I announced to the four of them at the breakfast table.

Zaryn rose his brow as he continued to feed Lyra. "And what's that, sweetheart?"

My wolf flashed her eyes at him and he nodded in understanding, letting his wolf come out to see me as well. "Go ahead, then." He smiled.

Feeling giddy, I slipped behind the entrance to the kitchen, into the living room and slipped off my night gown where I was hidden. Letting my wolf come forth, I attempted to shift for the first time since Lyra was born. It has been ten months and my wolf was getting antsy, waiting to be able to meet her pup.

My bones began to crack out of place and the sickening sound filled the air as I let my wolf slip past me in our mind, her body coming forth, replacing my human one. Fur sprouted and I caught a whine coming out of my throat. This process was so painful after not shifting for nearly a year. My bones hadn't gotten used to it yet.

Once fully shifted, I heard footsteps and Zaryn appeared over me with a worried look. "Are you okay, Nova?"

My wolf's head nodded, proceeding to sniff the air and directing her eyes on the little pup he held in his arms.

The twins came running up towards us with smiles, yelling out.

"Oh cool! mommy is her woof!" Drac yelled, making my wolf snarl and let out a warning growl to her males.

They needed to learn how to be quiet around the new pup.

The boys stilled and Zaryn shot them a warning scowl. "Ease up sons. Don't get so loud around your sister. She has sensitive hearing. Back up, give your mommy time to see her new pup, then you can play with her, okay? Mommy's wolf is still on edge right now. Don't make her nervous around Lyra." He explained to them.

With knowing eyes, Ace nodded his head and little Drac sighed in defeat, nodding as well.

My wolf bowed her head, licking each of the boys on the cheek before Zaryn knelt down and placed the pup on the floor, unwrapping her from the blanket for the wolf to rub her scent on her little pup.

The wolf whined up at Zaryn and he reached over, rubbing her fur, looking in her eyes.

"You're a good wolf, Nova. I love you." His eyes flashed with his wolf, letting me see that he was in agreement with that statement.

My wolf then leaned her head down carefully, sniffing all the way over to newborn Lyra. She was careful, cautious as she peered around the room for other intruders. Seeing there were no threats, my wolf laid down next to the pup and pressed her nose into her skin as she covered the little pup's body with her tail.

She proceeded to lick Lyra all over her face and exposing limbs, making the little pup wiggle and smile a bit, though it could be gas.

My wolf loved her new pup just as much as she loved the twins. They were here, no, our pups. The males left us for a little while to have some alone time but after about twenty minutes of my wolf loving on her new pup and grooming her, Zaryn came in and said it was time for me to go, that I needed to go enjoy myself for the day.

Agreeing with that, I pulled the wolf back into my mind because she didn't want to go. She was whining and whimpering, snapping her jaws at me in our mind but I conceited that I would let her out tomorrow, after I have had some me time. She relented and I shifted back to skin in that moment, my body replacing the wolf's instantly without as much pain.

"Hey there." Zaryn looked me up and down with a smirk. "She didn't want to go did she." He mused.

I shook my head as I put my night gown and robe back on. "Not exactly." I laughed.

"Yep. Happened to me when my wolf first met Lyra. He wanted to stay with her and protect her all night." A deep chuckle came out.

I kissed Zaryn and the boys goodbye then managed to get myself ready and decided to call Eden and Grace up to see what they were up to. Both of them said that their males were watching the kids today which surprised me and made me suspicious all at the same time. Then I called Elise, Gabriel's mate. She said she would love to come as well, so we all made plans to meet up here at our pack and just have fun together. Mabye do a little shopping on human territory since the one closest to Crescent Moon had the biggest mall.

I was sitting downstairs, watching a little t.v. as I waited on the girls' to arrive. Zaryn had take the males and Lyra over to the lake with Dad and Blake, having a little fun.

"Nova!!!!" I heard Eden's high pitched voice screech out in a squeal as came running up in her.... ballerina flats?

"Eden!? What are on your feet!?" I hopped up from my spot as she looked down.

"Oh! well, It's gotten a little less comfortable to wear heels with a new born and all... besides. I like them!" She beamed.

She and Maxim had had their little female a few weeks ago, Just after mine. Aria. She had gotten here earlier than expected which with wolves, it was never an exact measurement of time because some wolves could give birth earlier than others. The twins were born early too.

"Completely understand." I chuckled, grabbing her in a hug. You couldn't even tell she had just given birth a few weeks ago. She was a slim and svelt as she ever was and her curves didn't increase or deacrease.

"Hey Nova!" Grace greeted as I peered up from over Eden's shoulder. Grace stood there with her blonde hair braided off to the side, longer now. Her brown eyes looked tired but she smiled at me with that smile reaching her eyes.

"Hey Grace. How's the little one doing?" I pulled out of Eden's embrace and went to hug my sister in law, her belly swollen and ready to give birth in another month or two, depending on what the moon decided.

"I'm good. Nic is the one you should be asking about." She giggled. Ah, My brother.. He loves the twins but I know as well as anyone that they drive him crazy. They don't have a parent living with them on the pack lands and the do rely on the pack to help from time to time but it's nothing like the help we have with mom, dad, and blake. Even Olivia pitches in. She was a perfect match for Blake.

Pulling back to look at my two best friends, I laughed lightly. "I completely understand. You know, why dont you ask my parents to come vacation there for a little while to help you guys out again? You know they won't mind." I reasoned with her.

Grace's lips pursed. "You know how I feel about asking for help, besides, I figured we would need them most once I give birth. Blake and Olivia were just there last week anyways and I know I have to learn how to do this on my own sooner or later. With three though? I'm worried." Her eyes widened with panic as she looked up at me.

"Hey... it's going to be okay. You will get the hang of it Grace. Promise."

"Yeah!" Eden chimed in, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. "You will be a natural before you know it! Besides.. it isn't that hard. trust me." She grinned.

I deadpaned her. "Eden. You have a one year old - almost two, and one that just got here. You don't even know what tired is yet. Trust me. Imagine having two, two year olds and an infant. Then you can tell us how you feel." I laughed as she pouted her lip.

"Hey guys!" A sweet voice called out, making us all turn our heads to see who it was.

"Elise!" I announced, walking toward her with Eden and Grace right behind me.

"Are you all ready?" She beamed.

I was going to enjoy having a girls day. It was pretty much what I needed.

~*~*~*

The day seemed to drag by so slowly and I was already aching to come home to be with my family after half the day and voiced this, to which the other Luna's all agreed. We honestly just liked to be with our families. Every she-wolf was this way and we are no exception.

Once I got home, I saw that the house was still inoccupied so I decided to have a little 'me' time and take a long hot bath and watch some t.v. in bed.

Once I had picked on a movie, hoping everyone would be home by now, I accidentally drifted off and was awoken what seemed like hours later after a good long nap.

Zaryn stood over me with a smirk on his face. "Good evening, sleepy head."

I yawned, stretching as I glanced to the side of the room, noticing the sun wasn't out anymore. It had already gotten dark! I glanced at the clock and the time said nine o'clock pm.

My eyes shot open and I sat up in bed. "Zaryn! Why did you let me sleep so late? Where have you guys been? I need to feed Lyra and check on the twins." I started to get out of the bed in a flurry, but Zaryn put his hands around my waist and stopped me, pressing me to his chest.

"Stop. Everything is fine. Lyra is fed and asleep and the boys have had a bath and are in bed too. Sleeping. You just relax." He soothed me with his voice.

Peering up at him with wide eyes, he smiled softly down at me. "You came home early didn't you. You missed us." He chuckled.

My cheeks heat up in embarassment. "Yes, okay I did miss the pups and freak out a little and yeah I kinda wanted to spend time with you too. But how did you get everyone in bed so fast? And what happened today?" I stared at him incredulously as I sat down on the bed and he climbed over me.

"Well" He cleared his throat as he glanced down at me. "We have pretty much been at Dad's all afternoon. We cooked out. If i had known you were back, you could have come over. Sorry sweetheart. And you are looking at 'how I managed to get the kids in bed.' He gestured to himself. "Apparently I'm some sort of a pup whisperer." He chuckled, pulling me into a hug.

I sighed heavily, "I don't know how you did it, but you did it. You're amazing, you know that?" I pulled back, staring up at him with all the love I felt in my heart for my perfect mate.

A sly grin formed at the corner of his mouth. "Hmm... I think... I was supposed to win something today.. hmm.. what could it be?" He pretended to think about what we both knew he had won today.

Rolling my eyes, a smile broke free. "Okay okay, you did win fair and square although you did have some help." I chuckled as he gripped my waist and gave me that devious look he is so good at. "But... you did managae to get them all in bed before bedtime so, you win my Alpha. Go get the ropes.." I couldn't help but to laugh at the way his eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store and he dashed out of the room with that grin plastered on his face.

What was I getting myself into?

He has been hounding me for a month now about wanting to do this.. He never brought it up with the twins but now, for some reason, he has it in his head that he really wants to .... well I can't even say it aloud.

If you ask me, I think Maxim put it in his head because with he and Eden? Those two are some freaks!

I walked next door to my Nova room and found a pretty red night slip, taking my clothes off and dumping them in the hamper before donning the silky red slip. It had lace at the bottom where it brushed my upper thighs and hopefully Zaryn wouldn't rip this because it was my favorite.

I learned the hard way, that If I don't want my clothes to be ripped, then I need to wear something loose, but every now and then, the male just wants to rip something and when he is in that mood, nothing is going to stop him.

Laughing slightly, I shook my head as I came back to our bedroom to discover Zaryn standing by the bed in nothing but his black boxer briefs, ropes in hand. His eyes scanned my body before they turned dark with how excited he was feeling.

"Come to me, my Luna." He drank me in like fine wine as I approached him slowly.

Grabbing my waist with his large hands, he pressed our bodies together as his fingertips trailed down my shoulder, removing one of the straps.

"Are you ready for this?" He leaned down, pressing his lips to the mark on my neck and I found myself letting my head fall to the side in submission. His teeth nibbled at the mark and a low growl erupted from his chest. My buds peaked and I could feel them secreting milk through the silk material.

His growl only became deeper.

"Lie on the bed for me, love."

I wasn't going to argue with that.

Refer to the chapter in the Private Chapters book, titled, Epilogue III - winning, for the freaky scene that this one runs into!!!!

enjoy!!!!

What other Epilogues do you want to see? Maybe a tidbit into the future as the kids are grown? Or something before then?

You tell me what you want to see!!!!!!!!

Also.. the cover contest was going to go on until the 10th but seeing as I have a few that have the same amount of votes, I'm going to take the top covers and post them for you guys to vote on.. yay!!! I will do the same on my facebook and create a new album for it.

H.N. Von Ward is my facebook! for some reason i keep getting old creepers sending me friend requests and i'll think it's you guys and it turns out these ppl have never even heard of Shatter!!! And some of these ppl are friends of you guys lol Its way creepy yall! I have middle eastern dudes asking me to get to know me and Italian old guys wanting to 'be my friend.' maybe facebook wasn't such a good idea hahahhaa. but hey! at least I'll get shatter out there!!!! lol!!!!!

im not sure when i'll start maxim's book... stilll working out the characters and plot... but I will say... it will happen soon... but i won't post until i have a lot of the story written.

You can, however, expect His Obsession to begin its edited updates and Betrothed to a Vampire Prince will continue as well...

Still need to rename these two books!!!! thank you @SernityR0se for the help!!!