Chapter One

SIX YEARS AGO

"Sorry I told them like that." Alex says as we get to my Parent's house.

I get out of the car, smearing chocolate all over the slice of cucumber, yes, the cravings started already, guess being a Werewolf and Witch heightens everything.

"Okay." I say, looking at him, in that shirt, and I lick chocolate off my lips, wishing it was something else.

"Not here baby." He says with a smile, and I nod, with a groan. We are late because I had a last-minute need, not my fault everything is heightened, if anything, it's his fault.

"Come in!" Mom yells as we near the door, she probably sensed us, or was peeping through the window, I'd say the latter.

We walk inside, hand in hand, and they all look pretentiously chill when we enter.

"Come on guys, don't make this awkward, I am pregnant." I say, and conversation breaks out.

"Congratulation." Rick says, and I nod, then frown when Ashley is not here.

"Where's Ashley?" I ask no one in particular, but they all look at me.

"She's at the hospital, darling, she had a baby girl." Tony says and I gasp.

"Why did no one say anything?" Alex asks.

"We didn't want to stress you." Rafe says, and I nod.

"She had a baby girl, Emma." Faye says, and I nod, happy.

___

"The color could be blue and peach." Blu says, as they discuss wedding details.

"I was thinking beige and white." Mom says, and they look at me.

"How about Beige and Blue." I say, and they smile, nodding, moving on to the next details.

I stare at the Dining Table, where the boys are all seated, probably ironing out details. Alex catches my eyes, and winks, making me blush.

"It could be seafood themed." Alina says, and with my eyes still on Alex, an idea form.

"Excuse me, got to pee." I say, and they nod, this pregnancy is getting me out of a lot of things.

I enter my room, and lay on the bed. Carefully, I tune into Alexandru, speaking to him, but rather than speaking, I rub my hands all over my chest, then pull down the dress, my underwear follow.

Naked, I lay on the bed, letting my hand travel lower, and I begin stroking, moaning, knowing Alexandru can feel everything.

For the next minute or so, I don't stop, keep stroking, and when the door slams open, and he locks it behind him, I don't stop stroking.

"Brat." He says, as he kneels before me, taking my hands away, and lick, slowly, barely, making me moan.

"Keep your voice now, or I'll walk out of here." He snaps, as he loosens his trouser.

I place his hand over my mouth, and bit into it, when he thrust into me. Alexandru fucks me slowly, then roughly in my childhood home, his hand resting softly on my belly.

How bliss.

____

It's my wedding day, and Faye just went into labor. I am fine, I am fine, I am fine, I am not fucking fine.

Her due date isn't today, today - February 23 is my wedding day, and shit has gone sideways.

"Ah." She screams, and I pale.

"Addie, we are going to deliver this baby, and then have your wedding." Ashley says, and I nod.

Thankfully, I am not in my wedding dress yet. We get to work, Mom, Lily, Ashley and Elena, start to prep her, we are delivering this baby ourselves.

Selena, Blu, Lola and I create a circle round Faye with candles, we bring out incense and crystal balls, and they place her in the middle as she screams.

I hold my belly, as we start chanting. We are going to help the birth sail smoothly, with magic, and the rest will help physically, helping her.

We chant, and chant. Do everything we can to appeal to the Moon, to the Ancestors, to the land and the wind, to everything. For the next three hours, the room is filled with chants, and screams from Faye.

"We have the baby." Mom screams in happiness, but we don't open our eyes or stop chanting.

"We are losing her!" Lily yells in panic, and I hear Rick's growl. Today won't be the day Faye dies, today I will get married, I will lose no more people.

"Chanel me." I say, falling to the ground.

"It will hurt." Blu says and it does hurt, my scream mixes with Faye's, and through it, I hold my belly.

"NOO!" I hear Alex, but Faye is no longer screaming.

I get up, bleeding from my nose, looking frantic.

"She's alive." Ashley says and I gasp in relief.

"NO. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU ARE PREGNANT. NO MORE CHANNELING, Adaline or I swear I would lock you in a room till you can't put yourself in harm's way again." He yells, hugging me tightly.

"It's a boy." Rick says, but my eyes are on Alex.

"You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding." I say, and he growls, kissing me fiercely.

____

I hold on to Dad's arm tighter as I walk down the aisle. I'm wearing a beautiful wedding dress, details I do not want to go into, because my eyes are on the man looking at me, like I am his whole world.

"Thank you." I smile at Dad, and take my place by Alex's side.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please be seated." Zayd says, and I smile as they sit.

"Today, we are here to witness the wedding of Adaline Aurora Vulkov and Alexandru Luc Conri, a Flower, Witch, Werewolf and a Lycan. A match we've never seen before. . .." He goes on to speak all about love but I am too distracted by Alexandru, wishing we'd sneak in a quick fuck.

"Do you, Alexandru, take Adaline, to be your wife, in sickness and in health, in strength and weakness, in poverty and riches, in pain and grief, in every part of her?"

"I do." He says, eyes glued to mine.

"Do you, Adaline, take Alexandru to be you -- "

"I do." I cut him off, then I grip Alex's head, stand on my tiptoes, and kiss him, softly and eagerly.

"I pronounce you husband and wife, kiss the bride." Zayd says when we break apart, making us and the three thousand guest burst into laughter.

____

I dance slowly, as Simi's By You plays. I am married, and almost four months pregnant. I catch Faye's eyes, who's seated, and her baby boy - Cavill in her hands. She gives me a grateful smile, and I blow her a kiss.

"Your kisses are mine, Adaline."

I throw my head backwards laughing, this is the beginning of the rest of my life and it's beautiful.

_____

F I V E Y E A R S A G O

"Hey beautiful."

I smile as I turn to see Alex behind me, with Noah in his arm.

"Mommy." He says, hands in the air, and I grin as I take my baby boy.

"Hey baby." I coo kissing his cheeks, because at three years old, he's so cute.

"Where's Zoe?" I ask my husband and son for my five years old daughter.

"Here, Mom."

I look behind and see her, with a book in hands, and a wide smile when she glances up from said book.

"Hey Zo." I smile, bending down and she kisses my cheek.

"Class dismissed." I say, remembering I am on a podium in New Orleans University. The students file out, and Zoe takes my seat. I place Noah in his stroller.

"Hey husband." I say to Alex, tugging his shirt and kissing him thoroughly.

"Eww." Zoe says, and Noah laughs but I do not stop kissing my husband, my hands get lost in his hair, and he holds my waist tightly.

"Love you." He whispers when we pull apart.

"Love you, till forever ends." I say, laying my head on his chest.

Life in the past five years hasn't been easy, but I have my Family, and friends, I am never alone. My children and husband are my life. Of course, I think about Zoe, but I carry her with me, like I said, I am never alone.

NOW

Adaline Point of View

Adaline

adaline

adaline, listen to me,

it isss meee, ADALINE

I jolt awake, heart pounding at a faster rate, I blink rapidly, trying to get my bearings, and remember what I was dreaming abo --

"Mommy!"

Zoe. I sit up, smiling, as I see my daughter standing by the door, her green eyes bright.

"Baby." I say, urging her forward. She climbs unto the bed, hugging me, and I bury my face in nook of her neck, my little girl, my first child, Zoe.

"Daddy is making eggs the way I hate it." She whispers, and I burst into laughter.

"He is?"

She nods, seating on my lap comfortably, with her hands around my neck, I love the way she loves me. Seeing her on my lap, my baby girl is five years old, I remember when she was few weeks old, how fast time has gone.

"I always tell him that I do not want to eat it, it is always so soggy." She grumbles and I laugh.

"Well, let's go tell Daddy not to make soggy eggs anymore." I say, indulging her, and she nods.

"Yes Mom, let's go. Come on, get up, I want a piggy ride." She orders, and I laugh.

_____

"And that is how to make a scrambled egg." Alexandru says, as we walk to the Kitchen. I smile, watching him interact with his son.

"Eggs, I love eggs." Noah says, clapping, and I smile wider, God, my life is complete.

"Yes, well your sister doesn't like my eggs." He says with a frown, kneeling before Noah, so they can be leveled.

"Zowi?" Noah says, and he nods, ruflling his hair.

"Zowi!" He exclaims when he sees her, and she runs to him, kissing his and her father's cheek and cuddling him, the love she has for him, the love I have for them is unending.

"Addie." Alex says, as he walks to me. I smile at my beautiful husband, he gave me a family, somewhere I belong, where I never doubted my place, he gave me a home.

"Alexandru." I drawl, as places his hand on my waist, drawing me closer.

"My love." He murmurs, as his hand get lost in my hair, and I glance at the kids, to see Zoe roll her eyes at us, but smile, a subtle promise to keep her eyes on her brother, sometimes I think she's not just five, with how perceptive she is.

I tug Alex's hand as we walk to the bedroom, away from the kids. The minute we are away from sight, he slams me against the door, pressing every part of his body against mine.

"Alexxx." I moan, as he kisses my neckline, down to the valley between my breast, swirling his tongue over the tattoo I got when I had Noah. He carries me, and places me at the edge of the bed, where he presses a palm on my stomach to keep me in place as he tugs my pants down, and buries his face between my leg, making me scream, and thankful for the silence spell I placed in our bedroom.

____

I nod my head as I pack up Noah and Zoe's snack pack, making sure to put in Noahfavorite gummy, and Zoe's preferred chocolate cookie.

"Zoe, Noah, let's go." I call, as I pick the umbrella, in case it rains, which is unlikely, but better safe than sorry.

I catch my reflection in the mirror, and pause, my blonde hair is packed in a messy bun, my eyes are unbelievable bright, and my boobs are bigger. I am very diffrent to who I was five years ago, because now, I have two children, and a husband, well, fuck me.

I do look raggered, wearing Alex's old Black Panther Top, with a faded sweatpants.

"Mommy." Noah runs to me, clinging to my leg.

"Shall we, Mom?" Zoe says, looking at me, with her book in her hand. I wouldn't have it other way, because no matter what, this is my happy ending.

I nod, handing her the lunch pack, and taking Noah's hand as we head to their Grandparents'.

"What you reading, baby?" I ask Zoe, handing Noah a gummy bear, and he gives me a wide smile that makes my heart skip in joy.

"What are you reading, Mom, not what you reading." She says, and I smile, smartass.

"It is a comic, the latest Iron Man's."

I nod, blowing her a kiss, as we see Lily's place. It has been six years since Lily and Rafeal returned into Alex's life, which meant mine, and everyone else's, and with Rafeal came his pack of Lycans, who bow to Alex. I don't mind, it puts me at ease because they are a constant protection to my children, and every kid in the Pack.

However sometimes, I just want to take a walk without seeing a Lycan, it has been five years, the Romania Pack has ceased to exist, I made sure of that, and now, I will like to move on with my life, not haunted by the past, by the best friend I lost.

Hence the reason I always have Alex drop off the kids at hs parents', because seeing Lily reminds me of the person I am, someone I hide, and the person Zoe might be, but God I hope not, she doesn't deserve to go through everything I have, history will not repeat itself on my watch.

"Meemaw!" Noah drops my hand when he sees Lily, runs to her, and she picks him up, laughing, kissing him everywhere.

"I see you are reading, young lady." Rafeal says, as we walk to him.

"Does that mean you do not want the new books I ordered, I could return i -- "

"I want it, GrandPa." She cuts him off, laughing as he carries her in the air with his good arm. One of the things the war took was Refeal's arm, amongst other, seeing it makes me feel guilty.

"Aurora." Dad walks out, holding a juice box.

"Dad." I smile, hugging him, as we walk inside.

New Orleans is my home, and has been all my life even though I left for almost ten years, but now, it's a place I never want to leave.

"Lydia!" Noah claps when Catalina twins runs to him - Lydia and Oliver. I smile when Faye's son - Cavill and Ashley's daughter - Cornelia walk to Zoe.

"I sincerely do not know what Alina and Zayd are waiting for." Adora says, and I laugh.

"They just started dating." I say, and Lily waves it off.

"They've been dancing around each other for five years, it is long over due." Mom says, and I smile, looking at the kids play, knowing that a lot has changed within five years.

____

I place the last plate of Jambalaya before Cornelia, kissing her cheek, as I let them eat, and take my seat with their Grandparents.

"How are you, Adaline?" Lily says, as Rafeal, Tony and Dad get up, and walk towards the backyard, probably to get a smoke, far away from the kids.

I stare at my Mom, Alex's birth Mom - Lily, and the woman who raised him - Adora, and smile "I am fine, a little tired, and sleep deprived, but I love being a mother."

"It's the best thing ever." Mom says, filling my glass with wine, and I smile.

"Luc had to go to New Jersey?" Adora says, and I nod.

"Getting a branch in NOLA, won't be as easy as we thought." I say, and they nod, looking at their grandkids.

"You weren't at the coven last week, Adaline." Lily says, and I glance at her.

"I was at school, a class got drawn late." I lie.

"As much as this is amazing, you have to unite all parts of you, including the one that is a Flower." She frowns, and I stiffen.

"I am fine, like this, thank you." I say, giving her a look, thankfully she drops it.

"Mommy look, Zoe, red hair." Noah shouts and I freeze, because he is holding a lower patch of his sisters hair which is red, like her grandmother's.