Alpha Maximus：The last lycan

　　Hope

　　My father returns as Alpha of the Dark Moon pack after staying with us a few months. All the peace treaties are signed by the remaining packs, and new laws allow any species to mate.

　　Dad returns just in time, when I’m giving birth to my first child. Everyone is in the house, excited, waiting around for the doctor and Maximus to give them good news. I spend hours screaming, in labour, and then go quiet. Maximus leaves me to announce the birth of our new little boy; the future Alpha and Prince of Blood Moon.

　　Everyone cheers and roars, delighted by the news, and then goes quiet when I start screaming again, clearly needing to push out a second baby. Max runs back to me, worried, and shuts the door behind him.

　　I continue to scream and push for a few more minutes, before the doctor catches our second baby boy. Max wipes his tears away with the back of his hand, and leaves me, to give everyone the good news again. I can hear everything through the door.

　　‘There’s another one. We have twins! A boy!’ Max announces, overjoyed.

　　‘Seriously? Twin boys? I have two grandsons!’ Dad declares, delighted.

　　‘Hope did so well. She is exhausted, but she will be fine,’ Maximus says. Everyone celebrates the births of the twin alphas.

　　Maximus comes back to me, sits in the chair next to me, and accepts the second baby boy the doctor hands to him to hold. I’m holding our first son on my chest.

　　We look at each other, smiling, in disbelief, at our perfect little twin boys.

　　‘I never thought I'd have the chance to be a father. She-wolves didn't want to go near me,’ Maximus confesses, and I scoff.

　　‘I’m glad they didn't, because you’re mine and mine only!’ I say, smirking. Maximus chuckles.

　　‘So, what are we going to name our sons?’ Maximus asks.

　　'Well, I’m thinking we could name one after your father,’ I say.

　　‘Theo?’ Maximus asks and I nod. ‘And the other?’ He asks.

　　‘I’m thinking Leo. It rhymes with Theo, and I like the sound of Leo the Lycan,’ I say, chuckling, and Maximus smiles.

　　‘I like it too. Theo and Leo, it is!’ He says, proudly.

　　The next day I’m well enough to leave the room with the twins. Everyone loves their names, especially Dad.

to keep back. He hogs the babies. And if other pack members have held

birth to another baby. Little Lyla. Theo and Leo look exactly like Max, but little Lyla has my white hair

few days old, we receive an unexpected visitor. Her name is Lea. She has travelled from

with your father. It's about the

arrived here last week, so he could be here for the birth of his granddaughter,’ I tell her. ‘Please come in. I’ll

much you look like your mother,’ Lea

I'm regularly told,’

take her to Dad, where they both smile and hug each other; happy to see each

again Lea. It’s so good to

sleep at night. For years, now. The guilt has been eating me up. And I was too afraid to

the laws have changed. So, I’ve come back here straight away to make

a mother of three and a Luna. What more could I ask for?’ He

looks into

says, and Dad

is dead. Alpha Cal burned her twenty-one years ago,’

　　‘That's why I’m here, Alpha Levi. There is something I need to tell

are you talking about?’ Dad

do you still have it?’ She

　‘This?’ I

it. Will you let

a step back,

　　‘No, you can't just have it. It

soul; her essence is inside. With this pendant, I

can bring Anna

her soul and essence is in this heart, to be whole again. I know the spell to

over

my mother back,’ I cry, my eyes welling up.

　　‘Come,’ Lea says, leaving the room

　‘It has to be done on a full moon. Tomorrow night,’ Lea explains. I tell Maximus about Lea and the necklace. He wants to be there with Dad and

and the moon is full. Lea places the ruby heart on the ground in a circle of rocks. She tells us all to stand in a circle and hold hands. She starts chanting and the heart sounds

yells, pulling