CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EPILOGUE
CAILYN
Cailyn padded down the corridor following the unsteady patter of tiny feet ahead, just out of view.
“I wonder where Naya could be?” she pondered out loud.
A hearty little giggle came from the tiny Omega ahead of her, and Cailyn stifled her own laugh. She heard the pattering feet turn into the room she knew she had been heading to all along, and Cailyn slowed down and gave her time to hide.
When arriving at the room, she made a big gesture of knocking. Her Beta mother sat at the desk, a stack of parchment before her as though she had been doing some of the farm’s paperwork. A complete farce, of course.
“Ma, have you seen Naya?” Cailyn asked loudly. “She’s become so good at hiding, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find her this time.”
A tiny giggle and shuffling came from under her desk.
“You know,” Ma said, feigning thoughtfulness, “I have been so busy with work, I wouldn’t have even noticed if she came into my room. Let’s look for her together.”
Of course, they looked over every inch of the room except around the desk, and just as they gave up, Naya presented herself with glee.
Cailyn lifted her daughter and swung her around, laughing with her and Ma at the joy of winning the game.
“Play again,” Naya demanded, as soon as the spinning stopped. She was so cute and so chubby that Cailyn couldn’t stop squeezing and kissing her. Her curly black hair was as thick as her father’s and contrasted her honey skin. Cailyn knew she was going to be an utter beauty when she reached of age. She was already gorgeous and curious and determined. Cailyn loved her with every inch of her being.
Cailyn settled her on her hip and bounced her. “Soon, Naya.” She turned to her Beta mother, whom she had become much closer to. She actually felt like a real mother, so different to any other relationship she’d had. Her Beta mother cared about her; she helped her and expected nothing in return. She told her stories of her childhood, of the things that made her laugh and the things she missed after Cailyn went missing. She’d kept all of her clothes and her favorite toys, and had so much wisdom about babies and young children—Cailyn had no idea how she would raise Naya without her. There was no doubt that her Beta mother still had a lot of love for her. The first time Cailyn called her Ma, the woman cried for a whole afternoon. And that cemented Cailyn’s feelings for her. “When are you going back to the farm?” she asked her.
Her mother sighed, shooting Cailyn a wry look. “Tonight.” She hesitated. “I don’t want to go.”
Cailyn almost laughed. Her mother had her own room in the private wing of the palace simply because she visited so often and helped out looking after Naya, that it made sense. She knew her father, who was a stern Alpha, wanted her to be home more. “You’ve been here all week.”
Ma sighed. “I know. I have to go. Your father will be furious if I’m not there for the turn of the season.”
“But you will come back afterward?” Cailyn asked.
“Of course.” Ma smiled. She began to tickle Naya. “I can’t leave this one for too long. She’ll get into too much mischief.”
Cailyn laughed, watching them play, and then felt a presence behind her.
“Papa!” Naya exclaimed, her face widening with delight as she kicked her legs.
Drocco grinned at her and then plucked her from Cailyn’s arms and swung her around as high as he could. She squealed and giggled and whooped, crying for more when Drocco slowed to a stop. “The carriage is here for you,” he said to Ma.
Ma’s brows rose. “I’m going back tonight, not now.”
Drocco glanced at Cailyn. “It seems your husband is eager to have you home.”
Ma resisted rolling her eyes, but her shoulders dropped. “I will prepare my things,” she muttered.
Cailyn placed a hand on her arm. “Make sure you see me before you go,” she said gently.
Ma nodded and headed out of the room. As she passed Drocco and Naya, she slowed. “Do you think I might take her with me,” she asked Drocco nervously. “To help me get ready?”
“Of course,” Drocco said, placing her in Ma arms.
Ma headed out of the room quickly before Naya could protest. She loved being held by Drocco, probably because of his height, or more likely because she’d become a papa’s girl.
The first time Drocco had taken her to visit the warrior’s training grounds she had created a shield around them—like the one she created before being born—as soon as any warrior tried to greet them. Drocco had been so proud, he boasted to anyone that listened, which was everyone, and then told Cailyn he wanted her trained as she grew up. It surprised Cailyn that he was so willing to encourage Nayara to learn the Talent—she thought she would have to take more steps to persuade him—but he was adamant that she be able to protect herself in any way needed. He concluded that if it was already an innate part of her that it should not be ignored. She suspected that he had considered how things may have been different if his mother had been trained in the Talent.
As Ma left, Drocco pulled Cailyn to him. He kissed her neck as his hands palmed her stomach. “Did you tell her?”
“No,” Cailyn murmured, enjoying the feel of him. “If I tell her now that I’m pregnant, she won’t leave. And that will cause problems between her and my father.”
Drocco wrapped his arms around her. “They could all just come to live here.”
“My father is too proud for that,” Cailyn said. “He grew up on that farm and won’t abandon it.”
Drocco nodded. “I appreciate that. But his wife wants to be here more than she wants to be with him. He will have to come to terms with that.”
Cailyn murmured her agreement, desire rising in her as he cupped her ass in his big hands and squeezed.
“When do you go back to the compound?” Drocco asked.
Cailyn sighed. Her recent visit to the compound had not been pleasant. The atmosphere there had changed dramatically. The Mothers were not the same since Naysa’s death and the Omegas were not happy. Although that was good for Drocco and the Lox, it saddened her. “In a month,” she replied. “The next five hundred will be ready to come then.” Nearly all of the initial five hundred had found mates, and much to Drocco and Cailyn’s surprise at least quarter of them were true mate pairings. Since the success of this, the remaining Lox warriors had respectfully declared their desire for more Omegas.
Cailyn glanced at him. “We need to find an easier way of getting the next set of Alphas and Omegas together quicker.”
Drocco smirked. “It seems to work for them to watch us mate or about to mate.”
Cailyn swatted his arm in horror and then laughed. “You want your Alphas watching me naked under you?”
The man actually growled. “No,” he huffed. “Bad idea.”
Cailyn laughed again. “I’ll question the Omegas about what was difficult last time, you do the same with the Alphas.”
Drocco sat on the chair by the desk and pulled her sideways onto his lap. He leaned her back, securing her with a wide hand between her shoulder blades, and pushed her legs apart before sliding his hands between her thighs.
“Drocco,” Cailyn murmured. “Not here.” She spoke half-heartedly, knowing he didn’t actually care. They had fucked all over their private wing and had probably been caught many times, which she would know if she’d been able to focus on anything outside of him during their mating. Once she had gone to see him as he trained, and the sight him sweaty and violent had turned her on so much, he hadn’t been able to resist her scent. He fucked her against the wall of the weapons room, her bare breasts on the cold stone wall, his hands gripping her hips and yanking her back on his hot, hard, cock. She was sure some warriors must have entered and caught them, but Drocco said nothing to confirm or deny it. He thought it amusing that she cared—he felt it was his responsibility to be concerned about making sure she was not exposed that way.
As his expert fingers stroked her pussy, she shuddered and rotated her hips into his lap. He grunted as her ass rubbed on his hard cock, and the desire in the bond told her they were not leaving the room for now.
DROCCO
Drocco stared out over Ashens. The Empire had taken shape greatly over the last year and he was immensely pleased with how it had turned out.
Of course, much of it was to do with Cailyn. She had proven to be the one smart enough to unite all of the territories without the need for his warriors to be in each one. Her existence alone was enough for many to praise and respect him, but it was her they loved. Not only did they love the idea of her, and the idea of an Alpha and Omega ruling couple, but they actually loved her. She visited them, talked to them, remember a lot of their names. She had in-depth knowledge of the Eastern Lands from her missions and used it to try to find solutions to problems she knew they cared about. She helped solve conflicts between territories and sent gifts to each territory that probably made them think she loved them the most. It made citizens passionately loyal and almost infatuated with her.
Drocco never would have thought of any of that shit. Both he and Torin were stunned by the reactions to her, but grateful that it made things easier for them. It amused Drocco that being Empress suited her meddlesome personality, but he loved seeing her so fulfilled and passionate about the Empire he cared about. Since then, Drocco permanently canceled the loyalty pledge, which Cailyn was ecstatic about, and he located the real Miss Lefroy and her sister and returned them to their home.
Now that the people of the Empire were amenable, the Lox had no further major battles in sight. They continued to train regularly and Torin began setting up training centers in some of the territories for any Alpha or Beta interested in learning combat. But it turned out that the citizens wanted to learn more about Lox culture, so that they could understand their Emperor and Empress and be further united. Now that most of the warriors would be getting their Omegas, Drocco expected a surge of Alpha and Omega children, which would be a new challenge for both him and Cailyn to tackle.
True to his word, Drocco and Malloron remained allies, encouraging trade between their Lands. Drocco had to admit that trade with Malloron was worth it, but he was glad that they had limited contact.
For Drocco, the main part of his existence revolved around Cailyn and Nayara. There was nothing better than being with them. He couldn’t even explain how he could have lived any kind of satisfactory existence before they came into his life. His warriors felt the same too. Many stopped him to thank him or brag about their Omegas or to express admiration of his care of his family, and he was eager for every single warrior to experience that elation—they deserved it.
The door to his office opened and he turned to see Cailyn waddling in, heavy with their second child. He couldn’t help but grin at the sight and his cock responded, hardening immediately.
“No, Drocco,” Cailyn warned. “No. That’s how I got like this again in the first place.”
As she neared, he scooped her into him and kissed her until she was breathless. “I think, you are the reason you got like this,” he muttered, smirking.
She scowled at him and he laughed at the memory. He would never forget it as long as he lived.
They had been hosting the rulers of Raydelmore, a Beta couple—a good-humored older man and his younger wife. The wife had been friendly during the meeting, but Drocco could tell through the bond that Cailyn did not like it any time she spoke to Drocco directly. At the end of the meeting, the wife invited Drocco to the ball they were having the following month. The woman’s invitation caused such a surge of rage and possession in the bond that Drocco had turned to Cailyn confused. It was only then he realized that the woman had practically ignored Cailyn, and even her own husband for most of the meeting.
Cailyn had risen from her chair and strutted past him; her scent was absolutely incredible. He immediately rose mid-sentence and followed her to their bedroom where she pushed him onto the floor, released his cock, and rode him until he saw stars. After he’d knotted her, they remained locked in a heated gaze, panting, her passionate ownership of him still strong in the bond. But as much as it was a turn-on for him, he knew she needed reassurance.
Grabbing her neck, he squeezed and rubbed until she relaxed, though her eyes still burned. He lifted himself up. “I have told you plenty of times you are my Omega and I am your Alpha,” he said. He leaned forward until their foreheads touched. “I am only yours. Forever.”
After that, they began ripping each others’ clothes off before his knot had even shrunk. They didn’t see the rulers from Raydelmore again. In fact, they didn’t leave their bedroom for over a week. It was during that time she conceived again and Drocco was ecstatic that it happened without her being in her Haze, which hadn’t yet arrived.
“You will be giving birth soon,” he muttered to her, turning her so they both looked over the Empire together.
“I know,” she said, miserably. “I’m not looking forward to it.”
“You’ll do well,” Drocco assured her, his arms snuggling her back into his chest. “You’ll always do well.”
They both gazed out over their Empire in a comfortable silence.
Drocco never tired of looking at the city. Although it had been ruined and ravaged and broken, it was still standing—strong as sturdy under the glare of the harsh sun.
He lowered to Cailyn’s ear, his voice low. “I love you, kitten.”
She laughed at the use of the nickname she hated, filling the room with that beautiful melodic laugh he adored so much, and the flower in his chest bloomed with delight. She turned to look up at him, her eyes shining. “I love you too, Drocco.”
He kissed her, squeezing her closer to him, and then turned back to his window, contentment and joy filling the bond between them.
He marveled that the Omega he had once so desperately wanted to own had also been almost ruined and broken by him, but she was still standing too—even more stunningly beautiful than the first time he saw her—strong and powerful at his side.
And just like his Empire, she was finally his.
THE END
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