Hello Again

No Regrets

Four months later.

Today we are having a celebration. To celebrate Stephan's win, the joining of both packs, and a baby shower for this little boy I'll be having in a few short months. The pack's new name is Hybrid-Phoenix pack, and we're hoping this will be a yearly festival; the bears love any excuse to throw a party.

A lot has changed over the past few months. I've decided to step down from alpha and let Stephan take over. Even though I'm still Mayor of Spring River, I have a lot more time to spend with Amelia.

Both Jack and Nickili share the beta position. Max and David share the lead enforcer position with Max focused on training. Garth and Maz finally admitted to being true mates. Al and Aki are building a home on the ridge not far away and are thinking of adopting a child from our boarding school. Aden will be leaving soon to backpack through Europe.

It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. The band sounds great. The food is delicious, I can't get enough. Amelia and I are wearing a matching pink sundress. I don't think the day can get any more perfect.

The band is playing A Thousand years, and everyone is slow dancing.

I can't help but smile when I see Con and Willow's little boy dancing with Amelia. She's giggling as he spins her. I wonder if they will have a future together.

"Feel! The baby is kicking"

Stephan places a hand on my growing stomach. "I think he's ready to come out."

"I wish; I'm tired of being fat and hungry all the time," I grumbled.

"You are perfect, although- it will be nice when you stop stealing my food," Stephan smiles.

As Stephan and I are slow dancing. I start thinking about everything that has happened to me over the years that has gotten me to this point in life.

If it wasn't for being captured by the E. I would have never met the twins, Max, and Aden who I consider brothers.

If Stephan never rejected me, I would have never traveled the world or met Con.

If I never met Con, my best friend, I would have never learned about investing, which has made me very well off.

And all that led me to the diner that freezing night I saved Amelia. That is what I'm most grateful for; she's been a blessing.

"What are you thinking?" Stephan asked as he tucked a hair behind my ear.

"O, just everything that has happened to me so far." I smiled at him. "I wouldn't change a thing,"

"I can think of a few things I would like to change," he says with a faraway look.

"And what might that be?"

" First, I would have never rejected you. I don't know If I've said it yet, but I'm sorry for that, by the way. Second, I would have never let Steve fight that night." Stephan says regretfully.

"But if you never rejected me, I would have never found Amelia. And we'll, as for Steve- I like to think things happen for a reason pulse someone told me you can't run from fate." I say as I look over at Olivia and Jack dancing, with a laughing Stevie on Jack's shoulders. "Steve would have died another way if he didn't fight that night and there's nothing you could have done to prevent it,"

"As always, you're right."

Stephan pulls me in for a toe-curling kiss.

(Bang! Bang)

Stephan jumps in front of me when we hear a gunshot. I see Amelia with Con and release the breath I didn't know I was holding in. She's safe.

"I thought I killed that bastard!" Stephan snarls.

I look around Stephan to see who he's talking about. It's Finn with a gun in his only hand. How could I forget to tell anyone about him?

He's looking at me. "Snow, how could you make me do this? Now everyone is gonna think, I'm the bad guy now!" Finn shouted.

"Put the gun down, Finn, and we can talk about this," I said calmly. I don't want anyone to get shot by this lunatic.

"You will not be going anywhere near him," Stephan growled low.

"No, this is the only way. I've tried everything I can think of to help you see the truth. I tried killing that imposter who thinks he's your true mate, but he just won't die. First, I burned down his packhouse, then I convinced Councilman Black that he would be the strongest alpha if he had you and your pack."

Finn abruptly stops talking in the middle of his speech.

His eyes roll back, and he collapses lifelessly face down. There's a gaping hole the size of a fist in his back.

Max is standing there with Finn's heart dripping in his hand. He casually tosses it to Stephan and me.

"I forgot to get a gift. I hope this will do." Max said like he didn't just remove Finn's heart.

The crowd cheers. The music starts up after a few minutes, and everyone is back to celebrating.

                                                                                 The End.