My Eternal Mate

*Five years later...

LYRA

"Arla Theresa Rathborne," I shouted from the top of my lungs, as I clung to Ares tightly, to ensure the pup in my hands didn't fall.

Five years on, and we had birthed our son— Ares Thames Rathborne. The pup had bright emerald green eyes, similar to mine, with beautiful chocolate brown locks of hair that hung over his eyes. He was adorable and growing fast at only four months. He could walk, but we were rushing and I didn't need him to wonder off right now.

Alexander chuckled, as he rushed to take our boy from my arms, pecking my head in the process. "Baby, breathe," he told me, a smirk on his lips. "It might be easier to mind-link her than to exert yourself."

I put my hand on my waist and gave him a bored look. "I am scarier when I shout," I replied. "And why does a five year old need so much time to get ready anyway?"

Alexander shrugged, his attention on our baby boy in his arms. "Women," he told Ares, faking a shudder. "You will see what I mean one day, young Alpha."

I rolled my eyes, but before I could say anything, my not so sweet, darling, five year old pup came strutting down the stairs, holding on to her dress to ensure she didn't trip.

"Sorry, momma," she apologised quickly as she reached us. "But at least I look presentable."

She twirled quickly, her dress following suit, making her appear like the little princess that she was. She was spoiled and it was all thanks to her daddy.

'Hey, do not blame me. She definitely takes after my Luna,' Alexander accused, in our mind-link.

I sighed, realising that my walls had been down and he had heard everything that I had thought. One thing I had seemed to miss out after I had read up on marking your Alpha, was that with that meant we were both one. As in, we could hear each others thoughts amongst many other things that now made us connected as one.

It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just annoying at times. When I noticed Alexander's arched brow, I realised he could still hear my thoughts.

I grabbed hold of Arla's hand before I rushed us out of the house and headed for Jaxon's house. Him and Evan were hosting a barbecue, to celebrate their fourth year wedding anniversary.

When we finally reached the party, as expected, everyone were already there. Ava embraced us as she greeted us, taking my pups in to her arms, as she muttered words of endearment to them. My pups loved her, mainly because she fed them all the chocolates and sweets in the world whenever they slept over at her house with her own pup.

"Where is Nyra?" I asked her, glancing around to see if Ava's daughter was around.

"Please, she is getting naughtier by the day," Ava complained, giving me a frustrated look. "She's chasing butterflies with Kai and Luca somewhere," she elaborated before she turned to Arla. "Why don't you go join them, sweetie?"

Arla glanced at me, as if she was waiting for permission before I nodded. "Stay close to the party, okay? And remember to call me or daddy if anything happens."

"Yes, momma," she replied before she disappeared to where the other pups were playing.

Ava smiled after her, before she played with Ares. "Your pups are well mannered," she said, giving me a side look.

"Of course," I said, nonchalantly. "They are the future Alphas amongst everything."

Ava smiled, nodding before Zynthéa approached us. She embraced us quickly before her own focus turned on my pup. I rolled my eyes and dumped Ares on them as I wondered off to greet my two favourite men.

After we had settled at the party, I was sat down by a table far out from the rest, eyeing my pups as they played with the rest of the pups that were here. Ares was struggling to keep up with everyone else, and my heart almost dropped when Arla would wait up on him and help him.

"Just like her mother," I heard Alexander mutter, coming up behind me as he settled his head beside mine. "Hey, baby," he said, kissing my temple.

I chuckled, surprised to have him so close to me without realising that he was behind me. My eyes remained on our pups, as Alexander wrapped his arm around my torso.

"Who would have thought," I commented, already feeling my eyes well up with tears. "After all the hardships we faced, the drama, the craziness, that we would end up here, with two gorgeous and well mannered pups?"

Alexander eyed me for a second, before he came around to take a seat beside me. Without warning, he tugged on my hand and pulled me over his lap. His arms laced around my waist and held me firmly to him.

"It was our hard work, baby," he told me, his voice stern. "We did not wake up to this reality, we worked hard for it. We lost a lot along the way, but we gained so much more."

By this point, tears were trailing down my cheek, and I leaned my head in the crook of his neck. I couldn't have imagined this life, but Alexander had made the impossible, possible for me. To think that I had given him such a tough time to begin with, that made me feel slightly frustrated.

"You went through a lot," he told me, in response to my thoughts, making me realise that once again, my walls were down and he had an insight to my thoughts. "You are my mate; I would have never given up on you, but the way you acted was a result of your upbringing, and I never thought any less of you because of it."

I closed my eyes and inhaled his musky scent, feeling so at peace with how everything had turned out. We were good leaders, surrounded by amazing family and friends, and had the most amazing pack that we had maintained and kept safe without drama or the possibility of rogues in the last five years.

We had adjusted to this life, adjusted to each other and had found our rhythm. Before we had been too young, too new, lost in chaos with people around us who didn't want the best for us. And now that we had people who were genuinely happy for us, we seemed to be doing more than fine. We were happy, our pack were safe and sound.

"Thank you, Alexander," I murmured, lowly, in to his neck. "For choosing to be with me and loving me despite my flaws. In hindsight, I now know not many would have stuck around with me, but you did. Where I am now, and my happiness that I could have only dreamed of, is because of you."

Alexander tightened his hold on me, his lips grazing my hair as he inhaled. "My baby," he murmured against my head. "You have no idea what finding you did for me and my pack. I will find you in every life time and love you harder in each."

I giggled at his corny words, but pulled my head back to glance up at those gorgeous ocean blue eyes. "I love you so much, Alexander. You are my entire life."

The corner of his mouth tugged up in a smile, and he dipped his head down to press his lips against mine, before he murmured, "You are mine."

In that moment; the quote 'what comes easy won't last, and what lasts won't come easy' sprung to my mind, as I sat there at Jaxon's wedding anniversary barbecue, surrounded by our loved ones with our pups playing, immersed in my mate's arms, that I realised just how perfect our lives had turned.

How, I wouldn't change this fate for anything else in the universe. Alexander was my best friend, my mate, my husband, my companion, but mostly the father to my pups.

I kissed him harder as the thought of spending the rest of our lives together echoed in my mind, exciting me for what was in store for us.

"I think we should have more pups," Alexander blurted, pulling away enough to search my eyes, as I panted in response, with a frown on my face.

"It's hardly been a year since Ares," I reminded him, pouting.

Alexander smiled adoringly, before he pecked at my pouted lips. "Not now, baby. I mean in the future. I want our own little pack."

I bit my lip, as I turned my head to glance at our pups in the distance. Arla was still taking care of her little brother, causing for a knot to tie in my stomach at how precious my babies were.

Tears sprung to my eyes and I turned back to my mate, as I nodded. "Yes, yes. Let's create our own little pack."

Alexander chuckled, his hands around me, bringing me flush to him as his lips settled back on mine and he pecked me hard. "The dream team," he murmured against my lips, as the kiss intensified.

I rolled my eyes when he lifted me from the chair and began walking us inside, away from the crowd. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was doing, and I didn't stop him. This was what life with him was like; fun, exciting and unexpected.

The End