Wolf Sprite
FORTY-THREE. Epilogue

Approximately a year later…

POV- Lillia

The wheel wobbles in front of me as I push down on the pedals, trying not to fall off. We started first on the concrete in the carpark but moved to the grass when I kept falling over.

“Just push the pedal down; keep pedalling!” Elijah calls from somewhere behind me. My foot slips off the pedal, scraping the skin off my ankle, and the sudden pain moves my focus away from keeping the front wheel straight. Looking down at my hurt leg, I fall over with the metal contraption between my legs.

I hear Kevin laugh in the background as Elijah runs over to help me.

“You can do this; just keep moving the pedals, keep the wheel straight,” Elijah tells me for the tenth time today. I sigh. For my birthday, Elijah bought me a bicycle. A brand-new silver thing with a huge seat and gears. The gear thing just stumps me. Why make a bike with gears? Why not just have one speed: go? Elijah told me not to worry about the gears yet, just concentrate on keeping the bike upright and moving. But it’s overwhelming. I want to learn how to ride a bike and everything that riding a bicycle means, and I want to be able to do it now.

When Elijah and Kevin discovered I didn’t know how to ride a bike, they looked at each other with mischief in their eyes, and guess what I got for my birthday? They had been dropping hints all week, and I was really looking forward to bike riding with them, thinking they would take me on a ride on their motorbikes. Until I opened my present with the bike helmet.

“Happy birthday!” Kevin grinned when the shiny blue helmet was revealed. They led me to the garage, where my bike stood with a big gold bow.

“Why is the seat so big?” I ask, making Kevin snort.

“For comfort. Most girls like a bigger seat….” Elijah says.

“Come on, let’s see how you go,” Otelia smiled. Yeah, Otelia is here too to witness my incompetence in this whole bike-riding thing. She was the one, however, to suggest me practising on the grass. I admit it’s a softer surface to fall on, but there is more friction against the wheels, making it harder to push the pedals along.

“I can do this,” I say out loud, but mainly for myself. I put my bicycle upright again and put one leg over the side, sliding my butt on the comfortable seat. I put my left foot on the pedal, using my right foot to keep my balance on the ground. Quickly I adjust my gate and put my right foot on its pedal. The bike wobbles underneath me, but I push down with my right foot. The bike lurches forward, but I push my left foot down. Right foot, left foot. I keep my feet moving steadily, concentrating on moving my bike forward.

The cheers behind me make me smile, and I turn the handles so the bike also turns. Looping the bike around, I head back towards my mate and friends, who wait for me on the other side of the field.

“Well done!” Otelia cheers, making me smile. I squeeze the brake on the handlebar and put my feet down, coming to a stop in front of them.

“Okay, this is fun. Can we go for a bike ride somewhere?” I ask, grinning.

“Actually, I have something else for you,” Elijah says, turning towards Kevin, who rolls his eyes and walks off.

“Here, let me help you,” Otelia says as she sees me struggling with the buckle on my bike helmet.

“Thanks,” I reply, swinging my helmet in my hand as we walk back to the garage. I watch Elijah place my bike on the rack and chain it on for safety. Not that it would get stolen, but to keep it safe.

Kevin walks towards us with two large bags.

“Happy birthday, Princess,” Kevin teases, passing me one of the bags.

“Open the flat one first,” Otelia instructs. I look at her and open the flat present first. It’s a leather vest, like the one Kevin is wearing on his back, with the words ‘Redclaw’ on the top, a picture of five claws dripping with blood and the word ‘Princess’ on the bottom.

“For me?” I ask Elijah, smiling.

“Do you like it?” he asks, grinning back.

“Yes! But why the word princess?” I ask.

“Because you’re a princess, duh,” Kevin grins. Otelia whacks her, and I smile at her.

“Well, thank you, all. For doing this for me. Does this mean you’re taking me on your bike?” I ask.

“Yup. Your other present is a helmet,” Elijah says, taking it out of the bag for me. I grin as I rip the paper off the bike to reveal my sleek black helmet.

“All I need now is my own motorbike,” I state. Kevin snorts.

“We might wait, see how you go riding a bicycle first,” Elijah replies. Kevin hands Elijah his helmet and vest and gives Otelia the other helmet from the bag. Otelia and I follow the men to their bikes, and I wait for Elijah to get on first before I join him.

“Wrap your arms around my waist. Move when I move. Relax,” Elijah tells me before placing his visor down. I nod and place my leg over the bike, wrapping my arms around Elijah’s waist and holding on tight with my thighs. Elijah starts the engine, and I feel it vibrate underneath me. I squeeze Elijah as his bike moves out of the garage, enjoying the feel of the wind against me as he drives out onto the street.

“That was amazing!” Otelia cries when she takes her helmet off her head after returning to the garage.

“Yes. Thank you for taking us out on your bikes,” I tell Elijah and Kevin.

“No worries,” Kevin replies, taking Otelia’s helmet off her and walking into the storeroom to put it away.

- Dam, he’s a fine piece of meat – Otelia links me as we watch him walk away. I smile. My cheeks are beginning to hurt after smiling so much today.

“Thank you for taking me out on your bike today,” I say to Elijah as we walk out of the garage together.

“Anything for you, Lillia,” Elijah smiles at me.

We walk to the dining hall, and I smile when I see all my favourite people sitting together at a table.

“Lillia!” Josie yells when she sees me, “Sit here, next to me!” she says, patting the empty seat next to her. I look at Elijah, who nods. Josie grins when I choose to sit down next to her.

“Guess what they’ve made today?” Josie asks, looking at me earnestly.

“I don’t know. What?”

“Spaghetti and meatballs! And mummy says I can even have seconds if I want! And thirds! And fourths!” she tells me excitedly.

“Do you want me to get you spaghetti and meatballs?” Elijah asks, making Josie blush and go all quiet.

“What do you say?” Nubia, her mother, asks.

“Yes, please, Alpha” Josie replies quietly. Cute! Elijah leaves and returns with two plates of spaghetti and meatballs, one for her and one for me.

“Thank you,” we both say to Elijah simultaneously.

“You’re welcome,” he replies, leaving to get himself his own plate of food.

Josie kept me busy updating me about what she was learning in school, and she kept Elijah occupied by finishing her bowls of spaghetti and meatballs and asking for more.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Grandad says, standing up from his place at the table. The dining hall quiets and heads turn to look at my grandfather.

“Today is a very special day. As you know, my daughter returned a year ago with my granddaughter. And today is my granddaughter's birthday. I would like you all to join me in singing her happy birthday,” my grandfather states, smiling.

I feel my cheeks heat up as the room begins to sing me happy birthday, Josie and her sister Bella singing the loudest. If I could hide under the table right now, I would. I’m so embarrassed! After everyone cheers, people come to our table, as I knew they would.

“Thank you,” I say to George and Evie, two pack members who have come up to speak to me.

“Luna,” they say to me as they leave. I’m still getting used to being called that, even though Elijah had his Alpha ceremony months ago.

“Have you had a good day?” Elijah asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Hmm, could be better,” I reply, kissing Elijah.

“What do you suggest?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I shrug, grinning.

“Well… I do have another surprise for you…” Elijah grins.

“Really?” I ask. Elijah nods.

“Where are we going?” I ask as Elijah leads me down corridors.

“Okay, you can take it off,” Elijah instructs when we stop. I untie the blindfold and lift it off my eyes, gasping at what I see. The roof above us is open, letting in the lights of the night sky. Around the room of the observatory, candles are lit, and thick blankets with pillows have been laid down on the floor. On an ottoman beside the blankets, a tray of cheese and crackers sit, with two empty wine glasses. Bottles of wine lean against the ottoman.

“I arranged to have us spend the night here, under the stars, for your birthday,” Elijah whispers.

“I love it, Elijah. I love it. Thank you!” I cry, turning around and jumping on him. He holds me tight and leans down to kiss me on the lips.

“I’m glad you like it,” he says when we pull apart.

“I do, thank you so much,” I reply, melting into him.

The End

~

Edited with Grammarly