h4Chapter 324: A Happy Life/h4

    strongEaster~/strong

    Two months had slipped past almost without me realizing it—two months since my heat had burned itself out, two months since Natalie and Zane’s coronation had filled the air with music, firelight, and a kind of joy that still clung to me like perfume. When we returned to Paris, the city seemed to wee us like an old friend. The cobblestones beneath our shoes felt alive, whispering old secrets as we strolled. The Seine shimmered at night, catching the glow of the bridges until it looked like someone had poured a trail of melted stars across the water.

    Jacob’s beautiful private estate became more than just walls and windows—it felt like a promise. Sunlight spilled through the beautiful ss windows each morning, warming the polished wooden floors. Laughter lived in every corner, bouncing from room to room, carrying with it the scent of butter and sugar drifting up from the kitchen as Jacob had be an unstoppable chef just for me and the kids. Sometimes I caught myself pausing in the middle of it all—Rose’s giggles, Diane’s little coos, Jacob’s rich voice reading aloud in some ridiculous ent—and wondered how on earth this had be my life. It felt like stepping into a fairytale I had never dared to dream was mine.

    Jacob was... everything. Gentle without ever being weak, fierce without ever being cruel. He had this way of noticing things—the way my hands lingered at the window, the way my shoulders slumped when I was tired. He made breakfast with a teasing grin, flipping crepes like he was auditioning for some Parisian café, then kissing powdered sugar off my lips as if it were a ritual. He changed Diane’s diapers withoutint, humming soft lubies in that low voice that made even my own heart settle. At night, he would tuck Rose in and bring her stories to life with such animated voices that she ended up in hupyughter, begging for just one more tale.

    But even with this new life, pieces of my past still clung to me. Jacob had shielded me from much of it, wiping away memories that would have broken me, but thankfully, I recovered some. One presence lingered brightest—Tiger. My best and and once upon a time my only friend, my silent guardian, the one who had always been a steady anchor when the world tilted. I remembered our talks in the forest beneath the old trees, the way he listened without judgment, how his quiet strength had carried me through storms I couldn’t face alone.

    I invited him often, not out of duty but because his presence calmed me. Rose was wild about him. She adored all of Jacob’s siblings—Eagle with his gusty stories that sent her hair flying, Bubble with his mischievous water games that left the kitchen soaked, Fox with his fiery tricks that earned squeals of delight, and Natalie with her warm, regal glow. But Tiger was different. He wasn’t shy; he was grounding. Rose would mber into hisp without hesitation, curling against him like she had found her ce, and demand, "Tell me about the forest again." And he would, his voice as deep as roots, spinning tales that made her eyes go wide. Even baby Diane seemed to recognize him. She waved her tiny fists and babbled extra loud whenever he was near, as if she too sensed the calm, steady pulse of the earth within him.

    Jacob had named her Diane. I still remember the night he whispered it into my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "She’s heavenly," he had said softly. "A child of the moon. A gift from the stars themselves." And in that moment, as I held our newborn close, I believed him.

    Every day, Jacob and I were rediscovering each other. We had known one another even before we became mates, yet now, with a family, we were learning each other all over againyer byyer, like peeling back petals on a flower to see the heart. Some nights, when the children were asleep, we would sit out on the balcony, wine sses in hand, the Eiffel Tower burning gold against the evening sky. I remember one night especially. The sky stretched above us, lights flickering like a sea of fireflies, and Jacob reached over, taking my hand in his. His eyes—those warm, steady brown eyes—locked onto mine, and I felt every wall inside me crumble just a little more.

    "Easter," he said softly, his voice like a caress, "I love you more than words can hold. Everything that lights up your world lights up mine—your smile, yourughter, these beautiful children we’ve been blessed with. Rose and Diane... they’re mine, in every way that matters. I’ll shout it from the rooftops if anyone asks. But I want us to take this slow, let you catch up, get to know me without the rush. No intimacy beyond what feels right. I’m courting you properly, like you deserve."

    Tears welled in my eyes, my heart swelling. "Jacob, that’s... that’s perfect. I feel the same. Let’s build this step by step."

    A few dayster, as I bounced Diane on my hip and watched Rose color pictures of wolves, Jacob leaned against the kitchen doorframe, his ck hair tousled, looking every bit the ancient wolf spirit in jeans and a simple shirt.

    "Easter, my love," he said, his eyes twinkling with that yful mischief, "would you do me the honor of going on a date with me? A real one—dinner, romance, the works."

    I nearly dropped the baby bottle I was holding. "A date? With you? Oh, Jacob, yes! I’d love that."

    He grinned, pulling me into a gentle hug, mindful of Diane. "Tomorrow night, then. I’ll make it unforgettable."

    That afternoon, Tiger arrived for his usual visit, his golden-brown hair catching the light as he ducked through the door, his green eyes warm and steady. He scooped Rose up effortlessly, tossing her in the air to her delighted squeals, while Diane gurgled from her ymat, reaching for him.

    "Tiger!" I eximed, hugging him tightly. "You won’t believe it—Jacob asked me out on a date! Our first official one. I’m so excited I could burst."

    He set Rose down gently, his rare smile breaking through like sunlight on leaves. "That’s wonderful, Easter. You deserve every happiness. Jacob’s a good man—spirit, whatever. He’ll treat you right."

    "I know," I said, blushing like a schoolgirl. "But the kids... I don’t want to leave them with just anyone."

    Tiger knelt by Diane, letting her grab his finger. "I’ll watch them. Go, enjoy. They’ve got their Uncle Tiger."

    I squealed, throwing my arms around his neck. "Thank you, thank you! You’re the best friend anyone could have."

    He chuckled softly—a deep, rumbling sound like distant thunder. "Anything for you."

    The next day dawned bright, and Tiger arrived early to help me prepare. We rummaged through my closet, him holding up dresses with a critical eye, transforming into a tiger briefly to "test" if the fabric was soft enough, which had Rose in stitches.

    "This one," he said finally, holding up a flowing emerald gown that matched my eyes, cinched at the waist with delicatece. "It suits you—like a forest spritee to life."

    I twirled in it, the fabric whispering against my skin, my hair dancing wildly. "You think? It’s not too much?"

    "Perfect," he affirmed, his voice firm. "Jacob won’t know what hit him."

    When Jacob walked in, dressed in a sharp ck suit that entuated his athletic build, his eyes widened, that ageless depth filling with pure adoration. He froze, then stepped forward, taking my hands.

    "Easter... you look... ethereal. Like the moon herself dressed in green. I’m the luckiest wolf alive."

    My cheeks flushed that natural pink, my heart dancing under his gaze. "You clean up pretty nicely yourself, Mist." Jacobughed so hard at the name.

    We left the apartment hand in hand, the kids waving goodbye—Rose yelling, "Have fun, Mommy! Uncle Tiger’s turning into a bear next!"—while Tiger nodded approvingly from the door.

    Our date began at a quaint bistro overlooking the Seine, candles flickering like stars on the table. But Jacob had promised a supernatural twist, and as the sun dipped low, he whispered, "Close your eyes, love."

    When I opened them, the world had shifted. The river glowed with an otherworldly light, fireflies—no, tiny spirit orbs—dancing above the water, summoned by his wolf essence. Fox must have lent a hand or it was just all Jacob’s doing—I couldn’t tell—because mes flickered harmlessly along the railings, shaping into hearts that pulsed with warmth.

    "Jacob, this is magical," I breathed, leaning into him.

    He kissed my forehead softly. "Only the best for you."

    We dined on exquisite French cuisine—escargot dripping in garlic butter, coq au vin that melted on the tongue—but it was the conversation that fed my soul. We talked for hours, his hand never leaving mine.

    "Tell me about your favorite memory from before," he urged, his thumb tracing circles on my palm.

    I smiled, sipping wine. "With Tiger? We once spent a whole day in the woods—hemanded the trees to form a canopy just for us, and the animals gathered like an audience. It felt... free."

    He nodded, eyes softening. "I’m d you remember that. He’s family."

    As night deepened, we strolled along the riverbank, the spirit orbs following us like loyal pups. Every few steps, he’d pull me close for a sweet kiss—soft at first, then deeper, his lips tasting of wine and eternity. One kiss under amppost had me giggling as a breeze lifted my hair yfully.

    "You’re incorrigible," I teased, kissing him back.

    "Can’t help it," he murmured against my lips. "You’re addictive."

    We found a quiet bench in a secluded garden, hidden by blooming jasmine vines that Tiger might have encouraged to grow thicker. The moon hung full overhead, bathing us in silver. Jacob pulled me onto hisp, our kisses lingering, emotional waves crashing over us—his hands gentle on my waist, mine tangled in his hair.

    But then he pulled back slightly, his expression turning serious, depth etching his features like ancient runes. "Easter," he said, his voice low and resonant, carrying the weight of centuries, "there’s something I need to tell you. Something from our past, before the wipe. It’s time you knew the full truth about us—about why I chose to protect you this way, and the love that’s bound us across lifetimes."

    My heart pounded, eyes wide with a mix of fear and anticipation, my skin flushed so hard I thought I’ll literally be a tomato. The air thickened with drama, the supernatural glow around us intensifying as if the spirits themselves held their breath.

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