Goodbye Alpha, I'm Done - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Three years had passed and my life had changed in ways I never could have imagined.
I had birthed a beautiful baby girl, my Eve, who was the most precious gift. Eve was the spitting image of her father, Ryker, with his piercing blue eyes and soft tufts of dark hair. But she had my round cheeks and small rosy lips. And her smile...oh, her smile could melt even the coldest of hearts. She was the most perfect, most precious little being I had ever laid eyes on, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
That night, when I left baby Eve to be babysitted by the kind neighbors, Ryker took me out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. While I was sipping my drink, I noticed he kept fidgeting with something in his pocket, his brow scrunched together in concentration.
"Ryker?" I asked, my voice soft and gentle. "Is everything alright?"
He blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and offered me a reassuring smile. "Everything's perfect, Selena. I, uh...I actually have something I want to ask you."
I felt my heart skip a beat. Was he...?
Before I could finish the thought, he was suddenly sliding out of his chair and down onto one knee, his hand emerging from his pocket to reveal a sparkling diamond ring.
"Selena, from the moment my wolf knew you were my mate, I fell for you. I am completely in love with you and you are the only person I want to do this life with. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and the official Luna of our pack?"
By now the tears were pooling at my eyes and I was completely speechless.
"Yes…Yes, Ryker, I'll marry you! I love you so much too!"
The restaurant broke out into loud cheers and applause as he slipped the ring into my finger.
He rose to his feet and pulled me into a passionate embrace and then a gentle kiss. The news of our engagement spread like wildfire across the internet and
everyone seemed so excited about it. We had the most beautiful grand wedding a few months after and it was the best day of my life.
One month after our wedding and honeymoon, we took a trip back to our country.
Our daughter Eve was wide awake, her bright blue eyes eagerly taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. At just two years old, she was already a bundle of energy and curiosity, always eager to explore I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her little hands pressed against the car window, while Ryker supported her.
"We're here, baby girl," I cooed, reaching back to gently stroke her soft cheek. "This is where Mommy grew up."
Eve responded with a delighted squeal, her chubby little hands clapping together in excitement. Ryker chuckled beside me.
When we stepped out of the plane, Macey was waiting for us with her husband to be. We traveled back not only for my Mom’s remembrance ceremony but for her wedding in a few days time. When it was my wedding I flew her to Singapore to be my bridesmaid and now I was going to be hers. She had also found her wolf and also her fated mate she was about to marry and I couldn’t be happier.
She enveloped me in a tight hug that threatened to squeeze the breath from my lungs the moment she saw me. I laughed happily as I squeezed her back.
At my mom’s remembrance ceremony, I suddenly found Kieran in the midst of the crowd at the doorstep.
For a moment, I was frozen and taken back to the past. But then years had already passed and all my anger and hurt had faded. Now I just looked at him with pity. He looked so lost and broken. I also heard from Macey that he lost his Alpha powers. Macey said maybe the moon goddess took it away from him to punish him.
I walked over to him asking what he was doing there.
He blinked and offered me a wistful smile.
"Selena. I...came to pay my respects to your mother. I know it's been a long time, but she was always kind to me, and I wanted to honor her memory."
"Kieran, I.." I paused, struggling to find the right words.
"I'm grateful that you came to honor my mother, but what are you really doing here? After all this time, why now?"
He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
"I..I missed you, Selena. I've missed you every single day since you left. And when I heard you were coming back, I just had to see you. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I... I still love you."
I reached out, tentatively placing a hand on his arm.
"Kieran, I do forgive you. I've made my peace with the past, and I hope you can do the same. But you have to understand - my heart belongs to Ryker now. I’m married to him."
Ryker stepped forward at that moment with Eve in his arms. "Kieran," he said in a steady voice and I could see the protective instincts in his eyes.
Kieran's gaze shifted to Ryker, and he was shocked as he saw Eve. "Who is this?"
"This is our daughter," I answered.
Kieran was speechless. "Your... your daughter?"
I nodded and told him it was time for him to leave.
He sighed deeply, looking very regretful. "Selena, I want you to know that I've accepted the fact that you've chosen Ryker, and I won't bother you or your family again. The bond between us as mates is finally broken, and I hope you can find the happiness you deserve."
As I watched him go, and felt Ryker's arm sliding around my waist, pulling me close, I knew that I had finally found the happiness and peace that I had been searching for all along.