“So are you staying,” he asked as they watched Caden and Abella.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Cato said his white eyes shining with happiness.
Caden glanced down at Abella unaware of the two men who were watching them and he said, “I love you, Abella.”
Abella smiled before she said, “So it was meant to be, huh?”
Caden laughed before he said in a low tone, “There was no other choice in my opinion.”
Abella laughed shaking her head as he leaned down and kissed her as the pack around them whistled and cheered in happiness.
Chapter 59
“You are joking, right, Jessa,” Abella said looking down at the white dress she wore that hugged her body before ending a few inches above her ankles.
Jessa laughed as Natalee and Asilynn walked in the room and Asilynn said, “You look beautiful, Abella.”
Natalee didn’t say anything but she whistled and everyone laughed before Abella admitted in a soft voice, “I feel ridiculous.”
She turned to the mirror that was mounted to the dresser looking at her reflection from the grey eyes that were bright to her brown hair that was glossy and rippling over her shoulders. Jessa had done her makeup using a very light touch which helped to emphasize Abella’s features before she looked over the sleeveless dress that was simple and beautiful.
“You really don’t like dresses, do you?” Natalee asked with a laugh.
Abella glared at her through the mirror although they all saw a hint of nervousness in her eyes as she twisted her hands in her dress.
“Abella, why are so nervous?” Jessa asked.
Abella looked over at her before she sighed and revealed, “I feel overwhelmed, Jessa. I’m pregnant and about to go through a ceremony that I don’t exactly know what it entitles.”
She smiled suddenly as her hand went down to her stomach and her eyes shined before she stated confidently, “But I will be okay.”
They all laughed before Jessa said, “The marking ceremony is similar to a wedding that normal humans have to show their love for one another.”
Abella frowned as a thought came to her and she asked, “Before with Leana, I heard about the wedding but nothing was ever mentioned about a marking ceremony from that time.”
Jessa bit her lip before she admitted, “Caden knew that Leana had wanted a wedding so he decided to do the wedding first so she would know how much he cared about her and then later, they were to do the marking ceremony.”
Abella tilted her to the side before she said, “So he really did want to make her understand that she was a special person to him.”
“Yeah,” Jessa murmured softly not wanting to get her upset on this important day.
Abella smiled and nodded her head as Caden’s voice filtered through her head, do you want a wedding?
She thought about it before she said with a touch of humor in her voice, no but does that mean I can ask for something else in return?
She laughed when she heard his groan and the other women glanced at her questioningly as Abella told them, “I’m negotiating with Caden since there isn’t going to be a wedding.”
They all laughed as Abella gave them an impish smile before she said, “I will be reasonable in my request” causing them to laugh harder as someone knocked on the door.
“Are you ready?” Jed asked as he came in his eyes smiling. “I think your mom and dad are really proud of you, Abella.”
Abella’s eyes filled with tears as she glanced over at her dresser where her mother’s repaired box sat and she nodded her head before saying, “Let’s get going then, but one question. Am I supposed to go barefoot?”
They all laughed and said as one, “Yes!”
Abella sighed before she asked, “But why at night? I mean, it’s a beautiful night, but why this late? I thought it was planned for this morning.”
Jessa shrugged her shoulders as Asilynn said, “We don’t know, but Caden suddenly decided to change it after he learned that there was a full moon tonight.”
Abella shook her head at this but she walked to the door only to hesitate as she asked, “So what exactly do I need to do?”
“Nothing,” Jed told as he took her arm winking at her. “You just follow Caden’s lead.”
Abella scowled a little at this but she nodded her head although as they walked out they heard her mutter, “I hope he doesn’t expect me to follow his lead every time.”
They were still laughing as they walked out to the backyard and Caden immediately stepped to Abella’s side leaning down to whisper, “Not every time, no.”
Abella tilted her head back hair floating down her back as she glared at him but a smile played around her mouth. “I will remember that,” she said softly.
Caden kissed her lips lightly before he whispered at her temple, “I bet you will.”
She laughed at his words and everyone around them could see how relaxed Caden was and the laughter that was openly shown on his face.
“It is time,” Cato said waving them forward. “As per the council’s request, you have chosen your mate and Alpha Female although it is beyond the deadline that was agreed upon.”
Caden merely smiled as his arm curved around Abella’s waist and she interlaced their hands on her stomach.
“The council has agreed with your choice,” Cato said getting applause from the pack before he held out his hand quieting them down. “Now we will commence with the marking ceremony so if you two will please step forward.”
Caden gave Abella’s waist a squeeze as they stepped forward and Cato remarked as they stopped before him, “Normally, I don’t participate in Alpha markings simple because I rarely have the time, but since I was already here I figure it would be a waste if I didn’t attend one.”
Everyone laughed as Abella and Caden shook their heads at his words.
Cato smiled before he said, “I wish you two the best, but I believe that you two will make it as it has been foreseen.”
Abella smiled as Caden chuckled looking down at her and he said, “I think you are right, Cato, as I told Abella there was no other choice in my opinion.”
Cato nodded his head as he tilted his head back and said, “It is time.”
The moon shone down exactly at that time and Abella gasped as the moon highlighted on them.
“I do believe this is the right time,” Caden told her as he turned her in his arms. He saw her nervousness although she stood still looking up at him.
“Speaking is never really a part of the ceremony from what I understand, but I’m going to break that before I mark and claim you as my mate and Alpha Female.”
Abella nodded her head watching him intently her eyes shining reflecting the moon and he whispered, “You made me change from the frozen Alpha I had become to the laughing and playful one I am now. That is all because you came in my life and accepted me for who I am without question although I think it is because you understand the concept of being different. You accepted the members of the pack from the werewolf to the humans without question, and I thank you for that. I love you, Abella Deans, and I’m very glad that you came in my life.”
There were tears reflected in her eyes but they didn’t fall as she looked up at him and said, “You gave me a family again, Caden, without even realizing you were doing it. You worried about me even when I was right there next to you. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I moved to this town or,” she smiled before she continued, “I decided to trust you with my heart.”
Almost as if she knew what to do, she swept her hair from her neck and tilted her head to the side her eyes still focused on Caden. She watched his black eyes flare as his wolf howled in anticipation and Caden’s teeth elongated before he leaned down and eased his teeth in her neck.
Abella’s gasp filled the air as her eyes widened and suddenly her eyes started to glimmer as Caden lifted his head licking the wounds on her neck before his eyes met her eyes.
“I can hear…” she began, and he nodded his head.
“You can hear the thoughts of all the pack members,” he told her leaning his forehead against her. “Within in time, you will learn how to close it off but for now can you handle it?”
Abella’s eyes were large but she nodded her head as Caden smiled and kissed her as Cato’s voice echoed around the yard
“To your new Alpha Female,” he shouted as the pack laughed and cheered with happiness.
Caden and Abella turned to face the pack and Abella smiled as she spotted Cicely and Oden at the edge of the crowd.
Thank you Aunt Cicely, Abella said emphasizing ‘aunt’ and Cicely nodded her head violet eyes filled with tears.
Caden picked her up and swung her around as he laughed and Abella felt light as air as she laughed exchanging smiles with Jessa, Natalee, and Asilynn before her eyes went back to the man who made her feel whole again.
A Year Later
“Abella,” Natalee said rushing in the room as Abella looked up from the stove her grey eyes intent.
“What’s wrong, Natalee?” She asked although she knew what the problem was as Asilynn came flying in the room followed by Jessa who was laughing.
“We are pregnant,” they said together looking at each before turning back to Abella and Jessa.
“We know,” Abella said scrunching her nose at them as Jessa started laughing. Abella put down the spoon she was using to stir her sauce before she rushed over to them. “But we are so happy for you.”
The four young women hugged as Abella laughed and said pulling back, “Do you think you two will be up for my spaghetti tonight?”
“Yes,” all three said as she laughed again going back to the stove and waving or them to take a seat.
It has been a year since Caden marked her officially welcoming her in the pack as his mate and Alpha Female, and her hand automatically moved over her mate mark that ordained the left side of her neck as a beautiful tattoo. She smiled softy as she continued stirring making sure there was enough for the whole pack which she was finally getting used to making for.
Caden walked in at that time with two children in his arms as Timothy followed with his own son sleeping peacefully in his arms.
“We wore them out,” Timothy said as he walked over handing Jessa there four month old daughter, Eliza.
Caden chuckled as he walked over to Abella who put down her spoon as her twins reached out to her and she cooed, “Did daddy wear out my darlings?”
Caden smiled as Abella accepted both babies in her arms kissing the top of each head and they opened their eyes at her, one pair grey and the other black before they yawned closing their eyes and bringing their little fists to their mouths.
“It’s amazing, huh,” Caden said stepping closer to her as he stared down at his family.
“What is?” Abella said lifting her bright grey eyes to him.
“That Leal, our son, has your grey eyes and Cara, our daughter, has my black eyes,” Caden said with wink, and Abella laughed softly.
“So I hear congratulations are in order,” Caden said after giving Abella a kiss that hinted at more followed by the look that said it would be continued later that night before turning to the others.
More pack members came in the room with words of congratulations before asking their Alpha Female when dinner will be ready.
Caden watched as Abella told them with a smile “About another forty minutes” and he chuckled as Gregory said next to him, “Different from before, huh, when pack members made excuses to leave when dinner was being served.”
Briac came with a weary sigh as he said, “We are almost done with the last house, Caden.”
Caden nodded his head as he said, “Now, pack members can have their own houses and still be close to the pack house for protection.”
The members smiled nodding their heads as they drifted out of the kitchen but not too far away so they would be near when dinner was called.
“Natalee, can you keep an eye on the sauce while I feed and bathe Leal and Cara before putting them to bed?” Abella asked nodding her head to the stove. “The sauce is done but I said forty minutes so I can get my little pups ready for bed.”
They all laughed before they nodded their heads and Jessa got up about to do the same thing as Caden said taking Cara from Abella, “I will help you so that my pack doesn’t get mad at me for making them wait for their dinner.”
“After dinner,” Abella said before they walked out, “we will celebrate the new additions that will be joining our pack.”
Natalee and Asilynn smiled as their mates grinned with male satisfaction, and Caden slipped an arm around her waist thinking of how Abella made a habit to celebrate every time a she-wolf was pregnant, and he asked her about it one time.
Her exact words as she told him that day were, “They are going to be the next generation, the ones who will take on from us so why don’t we celebrate that they are being born to our pack.”
Timothy and Jessa followed behind Caden and Abella as they went up the stairs, and Jessa stopped briefly watching them as Timothy asked, “Why did you stop, sweetheart?”
She nodded her head as she said, “Did you think we would ever see my brother like that” indicating Caden who was talking with Abella his arm around her waist as they walked up the stairs
“No,” Timothy said truthfully, “I didn’t.”
Jessa smiled as they followed them, and Abella glanced over at Caden seeing the laughter in his eyes at their words.
They gave their babies baths and fed them before they put them down, and Abella sighed as she glanced down in their cribs.
“They are right, you know,” Caden said wrapping his arms around her from behind. “If you hadn’t come in my life, I don’t think I would’ve been as happy as I told you on that day.”
Abella laughed as she leaned her head back to look at him and she teased, “Well, I’m glad that I bought a little happiness into life.”
“Not just a little, honey, not just a little,” Caden told her kissing her softly before they turned to look down at their precious miracles.
“Hopefully their lives won’t be so hard,” Caden murmured resting his chin on her shoulder.
Abella staring down at them said lovingly, “It’s not going to be easy as we both know, but something tells me that they will be fine and they won’t have such a hard time with their mates as you did.”
Caden chuckled quietly kissing their mark before he said, “Let’s go feed the pack and celebrate our new additions so I can have you all to myself once it is over.”
Abella giggled as he gave her a wicked look, but after another glance down at their children they turned walked out of the room.
As the door closed, a soft purple light wove around the cribs and the babies within slept peaceful knowing that they were loved and protected.
Epilogue
The Fates looked down at the scene before them as they smiled with relief.
“So he was the first to go with his heart,” they murmured.
“They shall have children with their mother’s powers and their father’s werewolf blood, and they will make sure that the pack continues for generations to come,” one stated as they nodded their heads.
“And finding their mates won’t be so hard,” they all uttered with laughter.
They glanced down one last time before they drifted away chatting among themselves when suddenly one said, “We have another prophecy that looks like it could be fulfilled.”
The other two looked at her when she smiled and said, “Ruthenia.”
“Oh, I remember that one,” one said as she gracefully floated over to a small table that suddenly appeared. “You remember, sister, you acted as a seer and told a young shape-shifter that he will meet a woman that he couldn’t read who will become his mate.”
The one they were talking to frowned before her eyes lit up and she smiled. “That’s right but I didn’t think it would be so soon especially after what happened with the last woman.”
She shook her head as she muttered, “He wanted it to happen so much that he mistook the fact he was blocking his own thoughts of her for not being able to read her, and he suffered greatly for it.”
“Well shall we see if this time will be different,” they said to each other before they nodded.
They waved their hands and a screen unfolded before them, and one muttered, “Kiran” as the screen changed to show a young woman her face scarred and her eyes blank.
“Now this is going to be interesting because I’m not getting anything,” one said glancing at her sisters.
“We see what we must, but some things are left to those below as it did with Caden and Abella,” her sister said. “We can only watch and see how they shape it so we can see what is to come afterwards.”
They each nodded their heads as they focused on their new prophecy coming to light as each wondered separately if it would turn out as it was foreseen of a shape-shifter wizard who would meet a woman he couldn’t read and she would be the woman he was waiting for.
“Let’s not intervene unless we have to,” one muttered as the others nodded their head in agreement watching the scene began to unfold before them in Ruthenia.
The Witch Prophecy Page 59
