Shadows Of Passing Time – Carter Hughes 99
< Epilogue Part Two
Beside Daddy, Da-my biological father, Kyle-stands with a smile that splits his face, a joyous
mirror reflecting my own happiness.
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Each paternal figure in my life offers me something unique: a blend of wisdom, love, and a
different sort of paternal pride. In their eyes, I find pieces of myself, fragments of my identity that they’ve each helped to shape. I also spot Danielle, my blood mother. Her eyes, deep pools of emotion, glisten as though she’s living our years apart and years together, all in this one moment. My blood aunt, Michelle, is a tableau of enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling like the most dazzling of gems. And Rose, my adoptive mom, radiates tranquility and love so profound I can almost feel it wrap around me like a warm blanket.
As we walk, I’m hyper-aware of my mates at my side, their energies melding together in a harmonious blend that amplifies my own. Their love is both my armor and my reward, hard-won through trials, separations, life-threatening risks, and moments of soul-crushing vulnerability. Yet, here we are a united front, an unbreakable circle. We’ve fought for each other, bled for each other, and now, we’d vowed to love and honor one another until the end of time.
This sacred forest, this mystical sanctuary bathed in ethereal light, has been a witness to our promises. Promises that feel as ancient as the towering trees surrounding us and as eternal as the stars overhead. And soon, very soon, four more stars will brighten our universe-four miraculous lives born of our love, waiting just a few months more to grace us with their presence.
Ezekiel leans closer, his breath warm on my ear, his voice a deep, melodic timbre that sends
shivers down my spine.
“Natala, my Luna, this is only the prologue to our epic,” he murmurs.
In that instant, as we take our final steps out of this enchanted circle, embarking on an adventure that transcends lifetimes, I realize something: our story doesn’t just have a happy ending. No, our story is a happy ending, one that we’ll live every single day. Whether in moments of sheer ecstasy or in the quiet, comfortable silences, whether facing trials or joys, we’re a team-a family-bound by promises, love, and a quartet of unborn souls eager to join us.
The sky seems to acknowledge this realization. The heavens above churn into a mesmerizing dance of colors and light, as though painting a portrait of our love against the canvas of the universe. It’s a scene of unparalleled beauty, but it pales in comparison to the realization that settles within me: we are complete, we are united, and we are, in every sense, eternally in love.
Our shared life stretches out before us, as endless and as promising as the sky above. And as we move forward, greeted by our waiting families, their cheers resounding in our ears like a harmonious melody, I know we are stepping into a forever that starts now, today, in this sacred, miraculous moment. It’s the most beautiful happy ending I could have ever imagined-and it’s only just the beginning.
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< Epilogue Part Three
Epilogue Part Three
Epilogue Part Three
Natala (Emerald) POV:
Clar
I was lounging on the cozy loveseat, mindlessly flipping through some fairy-tale inspired magazine,
totally engrossed in an article about the ten best spells for love. Ezekiel and Sam were having one
of their intense debates about who the greatest sports team in history was. Zeke and Azrael were
in the kitchen trying to one-up each other with a cooking challenge, each insisting their dish would
be the “dish of the gods.”
Hannah and Luca sat across from me, so wrapped up in their world that they communicated with
just a glance or a smile. Luca was attempting to draw something, and from the way he was
furrowing his brows, it was obviously not going well.
The serenity of this lazy weekend afternoon broke with a sudden ‘splash.’ I looked down. Yep, that’s definitely not lemonade.
“Um, you guys, we have a little situation here,” I blurted out. My heart kicked up a notch. “Like, a really big, tiny human sort of situation. My water just broke.”
The room froze. Ezekiel’s mouth hung open, midway through defending his favorite quarterback.
Sam’s eyes went wide, his hands pausing in mid-air. The sounds of culinary banter from the kitchen died abruptly. Hannah’s eyes widened, and Luca’s sketchpad fell to the floor.
Then, as if someone hit the play button, chaos erupted.
“Oh
my goddess, it’s happening!” Hannah squealed immediately switching from ‘loving mate’ to
‘mission control mode.’
“Grab the go-bags! Where are the go-bags?” Azrael shouted, dashing out of the kitchen, almost tripping over a chair in his haste.
Sam scrambled for his phone. “Calling the hospital No wait-should I call a taxi first?”
“We’re not taking a taxi, you i***t, we have cars!” Zeke snapped, practically sliding into the room in
his socks.
Ezekiel finally snapped out of his trance and was at my side in an instant, helping me up.
“Luna, how are you feeling? Are you okay? Do you want water? No, you’re water, I mean-”
“I’m fine, Ez,” I chuckled. “But we gotta move.”
Luca grabbed his car keys.
“I’ll drive. My car’s the fastest. Everyone else, just… follow me!”
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Epilogue Part Three
“Okay, people, let’s go, go, go!” Hannah orchestrated, pushing us all toward the door
The drive to the hospital was a blur of speed limits being not-so-subtly ignored, intermittent contractions that had me gripping the seat, and a cacophony of horns, shouts, and well-wishes When we finally skidded into the emergency bay, I felt like the star of some dramatic movie scene, complete with an ensemble cast of frantic, yet lovable characters.
As they wheeled me into the maternity ward, I glanced back at the commotion we’d left in our wake-my mates running after me, shedding their jackets and anxieties, Hannah and Luca, hand in hand, bringing up the rear with our bags. And all I could think was how crazy, chaotic, and absolutely perfect my life had become.
The challenges we’d weathered, the love we’d fought for, all the nonsense and the fairy-tale moments alike-they had all led us to this surreal, incredible instant. It was as if each event, each choice, each sacrifice had been a stepping stone to right now. To this room, where in just a few hours or maybe less, four new lives would make their grand entrance into our messed-up, magical
world.
I looked up, meeting Ezekiel’s worried gaze first, then Sam’s, Azrael’s, and Zeke’s. Their eyes held the same mix of dread, hope, and limitless love that I felt coursing through me. And I knew, as surely as I knew anything, that we were ready for whatever came next.
Even if ‘next’ involved less sleep, more diapers, and a lifetime supply of new, unpredictable chaos. But hey, we’d handled crazier things. After all, we were us. And so, with our hands entwined and our hearts pounding in unified anticipation, we waited for our next great adventure to begin.
As the nurses scurried around, preparing the room and me for the monumental event that was rapidly approaching, I felt like I was stuck in the center of a storm. A whirlwind of activity circled around me, but all I could focus on were the waves of contractions that seemed to grow more intense with every passing minute. Azrael, poor guy was clutching my hand as if he was the one in
pain.
“Do you need another pillow? Or maybe some ice chips?”
“Are you planning on building an ice castle, Az? I think we’re good,” I replied, squeezing his hand back to assure him more than myself.
Zeke seemed to be locked in a heated debate with the doctor, who looked like she’d rather be
anywhere else.
“So you’re saying there’s absolutely no way to expedite this process? Maybe a special chant or a dash of pixie dust?”
The doctor sighed.
‘Alpha Zeke, I assure you, if pixie dust could safely speed up labor, I’d have a stash of it. Now, I
Epilogue Part Three
suggest you let me and my team do our job.”
Sam was pacing near the foot of the bed, muttering numbers under his breath.
“Okay, so we’re at five-minute intervals now, which according to the book means-”
“You read a book?” Ezekiel interrupted, incredulous. “You never read books!”
“It’s an audiobook, alright? ‘Pregnancy for Dummies or something. I’ve been preparing for this
moment!”
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Ezekiel shook his head in disbelief and turned to me, his eyes filled with a blend of awe and slight
terror.
“How are you holding up, Luna?”
“I’m just peachy,” I said, flashing a half-smile. “Never better. But you guys seriously need to get a grip. You’re more nervous than a bunch of witches at a water park.”
Luca chuckled from where he stood beside Hannah, who was taking on the role of chief moral
supporter like a pro.
“Well, I, for one, am excited to be Uncle Luca. And Hannah here can’t wait to spoil them rotten.”
“Absolutely,” Hannah beamed. “They’ll have the best wardrobe in all the realms!”
At that moment, another contraction hit, and it was all I could do not to scream. Instead, I tightened my grip on Azrael’s hand, which seemed to snap everyone back to attention. The doctor, regaining her professional composure, addressed the room. “Alright, everyone, it’s getting close. I need you all to give Luna Natala some space and let us do our job. The real work is about to
begin.”
My mates nodded, their eyes meeting mine with a mixture of adrenaline and the kind of love that only impending parenthood can induce. We were on the precipice of a life-altering moment, and as much as they teased, argued, and overthought every detail, I knew they’d stand by me through whatever came next. Together, we would welcome our new lives into this chaotic, enchanting
world.
And then, there was silence-a pause that hung heavily in the room, like the world holding its breath. We were all waiting, our hopes and fears suspended in that single instant, waiting for the cry that would usher in the next chapter of our fantastical, love-filled story.
I took a deep breath, gathering every last bit of energy I had left. The room, which had been buzzing with anticipation, hushed as if the walls themselves were waiting for this moment. The
doctor looked at me, her eyes locking onto mine.
“Alright, Luna Natala, on the next contraction, give me the strongest push you can manage,” she
instructed, her tone steady but encouraging.
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