Chapter 160

Emily

The moment we step out of the Pack’s office, I feel the tension in my shoulders begin to loosen, like a river finally allowed to flow after being dammed for years. The air outside feels lighter, fresher, almost like it’s been waiting for me to exhale. I do, letting out a long, shaky breath, my chest rising and falling as if I’ve been holding my very soul inside for far too long.

Logan follows closely behind me, his presence steady, grounding, like a protective shield against whatever remnants of fear and doubt still cling to me. We reach the car, and I pause for a moment before opening the door.

The city noises feel muted compared to the intensity of the boardroom, the echoes of my own voice still lingering in my ears. I sink into the seat, feeling the leather beneath me, the warmth of the sun filtering through the windshield. For the first time in a long while, I feel a measure of peace — it’s small, fragile, but undeniable.

Logan climbs in beside me, adjusting his tie and brushing a hand over his face in that familiar way he does when he’s both relieved and exhilarated. His eyes meet mine, curious and gentle.

“What was that speech about?” he asks, his tone light but edged with the care he always carries for me.

“It was about my Pack,” I begin, fingers idly tracing the edge of the car door. I let out a small laugh, soft and almost incredulous. “About taking responsibility, about accountability, about making sure people like my father and stepmother can’t ruin it anymore.”

Logan’s eyes widen slightly, the weight of understanding settling in.

“And…you did it,” he says, awe and pride mingling in his voice. “You faced them. You stood in front of them and confronted everything your family’s legacy has been holding back.”

“Yes. But there’s more. There’s something I’ve discovered…something I didn’t fully understand until today.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the small locket I carry, running a finger over its smooth surface. “My wolf…my power, it’s awakened in a way I never expected. When I touch something, I can see into the past. I can witness moments I couldn’t have imagined, secrets that have been hidden for years.”

“And when you touch me?” he asks quietly, almost reverently. Logan leans slightly closer, curiosity and awe evident in his posture. I take a deep breath, thinking carefully about the truth, about the overwhelming clarity I feel when I’m near him.

“I only see our future,” I tell him, voice soft but certain, “it’s bright, Logan. Brighter than I’ve ever dared imagine. With my father and stepmother behind bars, their influence gone, the path ahead is clear. The mistakes, the corruption, the shadows — they won’t touch us again. Not our family. Not our Pack. Not Peter.”

“I can’t wait,” he says, his voice low but filled with conviction. Logan’s hand finds mine in the seat beside him, warm and steady, grounding me even further. “I can’t wait to change this country for the better. With you as my Luna Queen…we’ll be unstoppable. We’ll be a force for good, a force for change.”

A soft warmth fills my chest at his words, a mixture of love, admiration, and absolute certainty. I turn slightly to face him, letting my free hand rest gently over my baby bump, and the corners of my mouth lift in a quiet smile.

“Together,” I whisper, letting the word carry all the hope and promise it holds.

Peter stirs slightly in his carrier on the seat between us, tiny arms stretching and a faint coo escaping his lips. I glance down at him, the soft rise and fall of his chest, the innocence and potential in every small movement. My heart swells with a protective, overwhelming love.

“We’ll do great things,” I murmur, brushing a lock of hair from my forehead as I look between Logan and our son. “The three of us. Just imagine what we can accomplish, the people we can help, the changes we can make. All of it starts here, with us, together.”

“I believe that,” he says, voice steady, certain. He presses a kiss to my temple, soft, grounding, a promise in the quiet morning light filtering through the car window. “I believe in us. Always.”

I lean against him for a moment, letting the warmth of his presence settle into my bones, the security of our bond wrapping around me like a shield. I think about all we’ve faced.

The fear, the danger, the shadows of the past. I feel a wave of triumph. Not arrogance, not pride in the way others might flaunt victory, but a quiet, unshakable confidence.

We’ve faced our past. We’ve fought for justice. And now, finally, we can step forward into a future of our own making.

The city moves around us, the sounds of life muted behind the glass of the car, but it feels as though the world itself has shifted just for us. The burdens of yesterday have been lifted, and in their place is a clarity I’ve never known. I glance at Logan again, feeling the depth of our connection, the shared strength, the promise that whatever comes next, we will face it side by side.

Peter coos again, his tiny hands curling around the blanket. I smile down at him, thinking of the life we’ve created, the family we’ve built against the odds, and the legacy we will protect. I feel a gentle stirring in my wolf, a warmth that pulses beneath my skin, a reminder that our connection, our family, is stronger than any challenge the world could throw at us.

“This is only the beginning,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else, though Logan hears me and nods in agreement.

Logan squeezes my hand, and I feel the simple, powerful truth of it. Nothing in the past, no betrayal, no fear, can diminish the future we’ve carved out for ourselves. The path is bright, illuminated not just by power or duty, but by love, trust, and the promise of family.

I look at our son once more, his tiny eyes fluttering sleepily, and feel a quiet determination settle over me. He will grow up in a world shaped by integrity and compassion. He will know the strength of family, the security of love, and the reassurance that no shadow from the past can touch the life we’re building together.

“We’ll do great things,” I repeat, softer this time, letting the words linger in the warm morning air. “I’ll keep you safe no matter what, Peter.”

“Me too,” Logan chimes in. He smiles down at Peter, who opens his eyes and blinks at us. We give him tiny waves, our lips curled into bright smiles.

I close my eyes briefly, feeling the peace, the hope, and the unshakable certainty of our family’s future. The city hums around us, the world moving forward in its chaotic rhythm, but in this small space, in this perfect, quiet moment, I know that we are ready. Ready to face whatever comes next. Ready to protect, to lead, and to love.

Our hands remain intertwined, Peter’s soft coos punctuating the quiet, and I let myself breathe fully, completely, without fear. The weight of the past has lifted, and in its place is a bright horizon, filled with possibility, love, and the promise of the life we will share.

I open my eyes, looking at Logan, at our son, and at the road ahead, and I feel an unshakable certainty. We are a family, united, strong, and unstoppable. And together, we will do great things.

The car hums gently as we drive, the sunlight warm on my face, the future wide and bright before us. For the first time in a long while, I allow myself to simply feel hope.

And I know, without a doubt, that our family will thrive, flourish, and leave a mark on the world that is as enduring as our love.

[END.]