“I hope so,” Buck said. “I’m not sure he’ll be happy to see me though.”
“He’s your father, of course he will be, and even if he’s not, you’ll feel better for making the attempt.”
“I know, it’s just going to be difficult at first, but I’ve been putting it off for long enough,” Buck said with a long sigh. “No, it’ll be okay. It’ll be good to tell him that things have gotten better and that the Hunters aren’t a problem anymore. I’m looking forward to telling him that we’ve rebuilt this place and that we’re raising a strong generation of new wolves.”
“Do you think he’ll come back?”
“Probably not. He has his life and his career, but maybe one day he’ll visit. I’m sure he’ll want to see his grandchildren.”
“I hope so. It’ll be good to meet him.”
“I’ll be seeing you Trish, and once I’m back maybe I’ll have someone new to meet,” he said, patting my stomach. I laughed as he kissed me goodbye. It was going to be a strain to live without Buck for a little while, but it was important for him to see his father. I hoped that Buck’s dad would come back and live with us because it was important for the community to grow. We had done well at getting word out to other wolves, and there were already other women who had helped me bring forth a new generation. As I watched the children run through the streets of the city I thought about the future and felt blessed that I could watch a new world grow before my eyes. I was certain that mom and dad would be looking down on me with pride. Before I had encountered the wolves I had been struggling to find the place in the world where I belonged, but with them I had found my purpose, I had found my happiness.
I picked up Tanya and walked down the porch after I finished my lemonade. “Come on, let’s go and see your fathers,” I said, with a smile on my face and tranquility in my heart. It had been a long journey getting to this point, but it had all been worth it.
*****
THE END