It is who we choose to be that determines who we are going to become in the future, maybe if we accepted ourselves more often, the world would be a little bit better.

the Saint Drake Dante.

~|•

Saint Drake Dante.

The arrival of Alihan was a big deal, not just for me but for the family, it turns out Deniz didn't know about his long lost brother, even Lani who I assumed would have an idea because she had known the Dante's even before she was mated to Lincoln, but slowly the family accepted him and he's slowly become part of us, even though there was tension between them at times, Senior hadn't handled having Alihan all that well, but they were father and son, they could bond again.

As I breathed in the cold morning air it felt refreshing just being in my wolf form and running wild, as I stepped out of the woods to the lake that was hidden from a lot of the humans in Louisville I flopped down with a wolfy sigh, Rouge was enjoying being out and free. As I looked to the lake my mind wandered to my family, we had gotten close considering all that had happened in our past and the time in the bay, it had brought us together in a way that made life better, and in the past months of being back home with my baby bump growing considerable large, this was one of the last times I could shift, then wait until after birthing.

Jonathan was doing great as a medical doctor, Deniz had graduated and was considering his options for varsity, the pack had grown and Alihan with the help of Meredith along with Lani had opened a jewellery store and a small antique store next to it for Lani, I helped from time to time but I was banned from doing anything strenuous and I had to be watched all the time in case I needed something, it made me angry being treated like glass but if I complained it got worse so I just let the family do whatever they wanted, it was peaceful that way.

I turned slowly from where I was sitting to face a large wolf stalking toward me silently, I would know it, know it intimatelyat at that. "So this is where you're hiding mate." Kyro speaks narrowing his eyes on me. "If I were hiding, would you have found me." I retorted in his mind making him scoff. "You shouldn't be alone —" He says worriedly and I look at him then sigh dramatically. "I know but Rouge would protect us from all and any danger plus I'm not too deep in pack territory, so you would find me." I argue as he sat down next to me, his wolf didn't dwarf mine but there was definitely a difference. "I know, I just can't stand not having you in arms reach, I'm a possessive alpha after all." He muses and I snuggle into his warmth. "That's one of the many things I love about you." I mumbled enjoying his heat.

"I was thinking about renewing our vows, we've changed these past months and I feel as if our vows were deeply rooted in our defiance to be with each other and no one else." He exclaims and I did understand where he was coming from but I didn't want to change them, they were who we are, even though they were rooted in burning emotion to be with each other, each day is a new day to show that our vows were perfect and that the obstacles we face, we easily go past them because of how we wanted to be with each other, that's why we sacrificed everything, to be with each other. "I don't want to change them, we accepted each other with those vows, who we are right now was who we were back then and will be in the future because we accepted ourselves and the love we have for each other, and that will never change." I put my answer across firmly and somehow he hums in response which was surprising because he was in wolf form. "Then alright Mister Dante, we won't change them, but I do apologize for my naughty nature, I'm feeling frisky." He accepts whilst moving and positioning himself on top of me, ah the pleasures of life.

After our escapades in the woods Kyro and I made our way home, safe to say I was worn out but I was positively satisfied, pregnancy cravings applied to carnal pleasure too and with Kyro he knew how to quench my thirst. "Hot coco?" My man asks as we descend the stairs from our bedroom, the house seemed a little empty since Lincoln left along with our parents, they occasionally pop up so does Deniz since Jonathan still lives with us but because of his job we barely see him in the house, today was one of his busy days.

"When are the kids coming back?" Kyro asks as he offers me the warm coco. "Lani said next week, then we only see them for about three days because Senior is taking them on a trip somewhere in England, which Alihan is tagging along on." I reply kissing him and he moans. "So we have the house to ourselves yet again, great." He chortles as the kiss depends. "I'm home!" Deniz yells as he walks into the lounge. "Fuck it, let me go get another cup." Kyro grumbles making me chuckle as he ruffles Deniz's hair when he passes him. "So I have great news, Jonathan asked me to marry him." He asserts.

"Poor thing, better luck next time." I reply and he glares at me. "I said yes." He argues. "No." Kyro reaffirms. "Yes, and I wasn't asking." He asserts with more force. "Nor were we, you're about to go to college, do you really think marriage is a great idea right now, have you even figured out what you want to study." Kyro questions and Deniz remains silent. "Exactly, you don't, its only been a few months with Jonathan, you don't know him well enough yet, you're mated I get that but you must accept the fact that you don't even know which hand he jerks off with yet, marriage is a big step little brother and I want that for you but I also want you to be the best person you can be before committing, know yourself then when you're ready I will even kiss Jonathan yes for you." Kyro explains as he sits down to explain and comfort his baby brother, I had decided to remain silent and let Kyro deal with Deniz, I would talk to Jonathan, and anyway, they were already mated, that was marriage in itself, your souls were bound together till death.

"I'm sorry." Kyro whispers as he embraces Deniz who cries silently but I knew he understood where his older brother was coming from, they would get married just not now, marriage wasn't just built on love, it was built on truly knowing who the person you were marrying was, so that you didn't regret anything once you were in it. "I know, and I should've thought better, I was just so excited." He confesses and somehow that's how it happens, it was better to consider it before diving head first into the shallow end.

"Go freshen up and I will make brunch." I offer and he nods going off to his room. "Tell me I just didn't break his heart." Kyro worries as he sets his head down on my lap. "No my love, Deniz is a smart young—almost adult, who knows that all you do is for his own good, he will get past this, and when he's ready he'll get married and don't worry, I will talk to Jonathan and fix this." I assured and comforted my mate who rumbled as he lay on my lap. "I wanted to name the twins after you and my mother." He asserts surprising me, Kyro had always been thoughtful, and its a characteristic I've always loved and wanted for our kids aswell. "Why me?" I ask and he places kisses on my hands.

"You are the best thing that the goddess blessed me with, we have had a rough road to get where we are now and each day that I get to be with you I'm reminded of how you came back from death and was mine to care and to love for, you're my Saint come true, our family, our lives, it all revolves around you, because without you, I don't know who I would be, you're my everything, my love and life come true,the man I would die for, so why not name our child after you."

His response made me shed tears, never of pain but of joy, I loved Kyro with my whole being, he chose me over another, he gave me a life I never thought I would have, my confidant, my support, my best friend and the wolf I would run to when the world fell around me, its why I take each day as a blessing to love him, and our family, we had more obstacles to face in our lives but I knew we could get through them because he would be there,

"Alright then my love, have I told you that I love you lately, and that you just told your little brother he doesn't know which hand his mate jerks off with." Que the laughter.

The End

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lmj.