Dash's POV

I hugged Cage before pulling away and patting his shoulder.

"You don't have to go all emotional on me." He teased making me chuckle.

"I'm letting my son go." I defended myself. "It's a big deal."

"It's just alpha training and only for a year." Adira rolled her eyes.

"You're just jealous I'm getting all the attention." He removed his tongue and made a face at her.

"Can he leave already?" She huffed crossing her arms over her chest.

"Baby be nice to your brother, he's leaving and you'll have no one to fight with anymore." Rosalie pointed out.

"I'll have daddy, right." She turned to me with a bright smile.

"Yeah I don't think so." I shook my head making her glare at me.

"But why don't you want us to take you." Rosalie frowned looking at our son.

"Because I'm old enough to take myself mum." He groaned.

"But baby-"

"Mum we've been over this already." He sighed. "Dad." He turned to me for support.

We had spent an entire month convincing her to let him go on his own. He was my son and as much as I wanted to take him I knew how much of an impression it would make if he went on his own.

"Rose we talked about this, it's just a year." I told her and she sighed.

"I'll miss you, make sure you call me every single day." She reminded.

"I will."

"And don't forget to brush your teeth before-"

"Mama quite babying him." Adira huffed. "His 18 and a big boy, he can take care of himself just fine."

"Yeah, I can take care of myself don't worry." Cage concurred with his sister.

"Alright fine." She raised her arms in surrender.

"You ready?" Cooper his best friend and the person he had chosen to be his beta asked after walking to us.

Cooper was Ackerly's grandson, after I made his grandfather my personal advisor his family moved here and he became friends with Cage, at first they detested each other but over the years they evolved from friends to best friends.

"Yeah, you?"

"All set." He smirked setting his black duffle bag on the ground.

"You two boys should be safe and-"

"Mama!" Adira and Cage groaned not wanting to hear her lecture on safety for the hundredth time.

"I'm sure they've gotten it by now." I stifled a chuckle.

"Ok." She sighed hugging the boys. "I love you both and go make us proud."

"You got it queen mother." Cooper saluted making her laugh. She had grown a soft spot for the boy so much so you couldn't tell who her son was between him and Cage because she treated them equally.

"I love you too mum." Cage gave ahis mother another hug.

He was a mummy's boy to some extent.

"Bye A." Cooper moved to Adira and gave her a quick hug before moving over to me.

"Go show those pups who the boss is, yeah." I gave him a hug and patted his back.

"For sure." He nodded with a smile. "I'll put my bags in the trunk."

"Cooper." I called.

"Yes uncle D." He turned to face me.

"Think fast." I tossed him something and like we had practiced when he was younger he caught it. "Consider it a farewell gift." I pointed to the brand new shiny black ford truck.

"No fudging way!" He looked at it then me.

He had heard him talk about it with Cage a few times and I thought I would surprise him the day they were leaving.

"Thank you." He hugged me.

"Anytime son." I smiled and patted his back.

He picked his bags he went to the car and opened it still in disbelief.

"Tell all those little boys to stay away from you because I'll come and break their necks if they ever mess with you." Cage told Adira. "Especially

Leon stay the hell away from that good for nothing trouble maker."

"You're not my father." She rolled her eyes.

"Adira I mean it." He warned. "I'll know if you get in contact with him."

"Will you stop treating me like a baby, I'm a grown woman and can defend myself after all I will be queen one day." She pointed out.

"Fine but be safe and take care of Gwen."

"Don't worry I'll take care of your crush for you." She teased making his glare at her. "Relax I'm joking." She laughed.

"I hate you."

"Right back at you." She smiled.

He shook his head and gave her a hug.

The relationship these two shared was weird but beautiful and I couldn't help but gush at it.

"Call me if anything-"

"Not you too dad." He groaned and I laughed.

"Be safe, I'm very proud of you and I love you." I told him.

"More than Adi?" He smirked making her glare at me.

"I love you both equally." I stated. "Here, it's a gift from your mother and me."

I gave him a set of keys to a red mustang.

"Sweet!" He did a victory jump.

"I chose the color." Adira pointed out.

"Of course you did." He smiled and they did their secret handshake that somehow we all had failed to learn no matter how many times we saw them do it.

We said goodbye to each other and he left.

"I'm off to see Harley." Adira stated quickly and tried to sneak away.

"Not so fast young lady, this is the third time you're missing your lessons." I frowned.

"Dash give the girl a break she needs it, she's been working really hard of late." Rosalie chipped in.

"Yeah daddy, it's just a few hours at the mall, I'll be back before you know it." She made her puppy face.

"Fine." I sighed.

"Thank you." She hugged me. "I'll need your credit card too."

"You enjoy spending my money don't you?" I glared playfully.

"That's exactly why you work hard, so I can spend it." She shrugged with a grin. "It's simple really you earn I spend."

She reached into my pocket, took out my wallet and got the credit cards.

"Don't use it to buy unnecessary things." I warned.

"I'm a girl everything is necessary." She smiled putting back my wallet.

"Have Gregory escort you." Rosalie told her.

"Sure thing mother dearest." She pecked her mother's cheeks then mine and before long she was gone.

"I can't believe she'll be a queen one day." I sighed staring at my daughters retreating figure. "It seems like it was only yesterday when I held her in my arms."

"She's growing way too fast." Rosalie agreed.

Adira was only 3 when we discovered she had inherited her mother's witch abilities and had the same lycan mark I had on the back of her right ear, it meant that she was going to be queen and succeed after me where as Cage would retain his title as alpha of our pack because Penelope was only filling in for him till he became of age which was going to be soon.

We still had a few more years before Adira ascension to the throne but her grandparents and Ackerly had decided to start training her in advance, she protested of course but over time she grew to understand how important her role was and that she needed to be fully prepared when the time came. I of course with persuasion from her mother let her do whatever she wanted from time to time because she was still a child and the bright smile on her face whenever she did something she loved made me happy.

Rosalie had been a great help with the kingdom and the kids, everyone adored her and I did too, despite our relationship not going back to the way it was, we still got along and ruled side by side respecting one another and that was all I needed to be satisfied with life. Being King had proved to be challenging but I loved every day of it because I got to see the werewolf species thrive and become one of the most powerful and respected among other species.

The relationship between my mother and I remained the same as neither of us ever tried to talk and fix things, Ericson still hated me especially after learning I was King and made Penelope alpha. I didn't try to mend things with him either and we never spoke and I even after he died I didn't feel guilty for it. My relationship with my mother's family on the other hand had become better and better over the years, they had accepted me and I them.

"If you had a chance to go back in time would you do it?" Rosalie asked as we sat at the edge of the waterfall.

Yes we had found a waterfall near the castle and it became our spot, we often went there to talk and figure out things when they became difficult or overwhelming.

"I would go back if I could." I stated with a sigh. "Life has been bitter sweet and I could change a few of my mistakes."

"Would you?" I looked at her.

"Yes and no." She smiled. "But I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything in the world." She told me.

"Me either." I smiled.

Smiling we sat in silence and stared at the sun as it set while the tranquil sound of water falling serenaded our ears.

THE END

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