I knew then what it truly was to be an alpha. To protect my family and those I loved, and make sure they were happy and healthy above all else, even at the cost of my own desires.
We found Animus waiting patiently for us outside. At the sight of our daughter, the corner of his mouth twitched into what I thought resembled a real smile. I realized then how much Animus reminded me of Farley. Animus was a spirit and Farley was a tiny finch shifter – but in some ways, their similarities outweighed their differences.
I noticed immediately that Animus looked more tired than he had when he originally knocked at the door, though he was doing his best to hide it. His cape had stopped billowing. There was a slight slump in his shoulders and tightness in his face. The sudden fatigue all but confirmed my suspicion that he had something to do with our daughter’s wings.
"There she is," he said. "What is her name?"
Farley smiled proudly, beaming down at her. "We had a few in mind, but we were waiting to meet her before deciding." He looked over at me. "I think the choice is clear now. Right, Quinn?"
I nodded. The choice was also my favourite name out of our whole list.
"Celeste," I said.
Animus gazed at her with a look in his eyes that was almost fond. I wondered what was going on in his head.
"Animus," I said softly, "her wings. That's because of you, isn't it?"
"Yes." His next words were strained, as if with guilt. "And now, Quinn, I must force you to make a choice."
"What is it?" I asked.
"You already know I'm not like the other spirits," Animus said with a hint of bitterness. "I was only able to do this because you two are fated mates. I harnessed the spike of magical energy to create one pair of shadow wings.Onlyone. I cannot do another."
The wings on Celeste's back faded and flickered as Animus spoke.
"What's happening to them?" Farley asked.
"They're not disappearing," Animus assured him. "Shadow wings are not like real, physical appendages. They will vanish when not in use. Right now they are out of Celeste's control, since she's too young to control them. Don't worry, they'll come back." Animus looked directly at me. "Here is the choice you must make, Quinn. I only have enough strength for one pair of wings. Decide now if you want them, or if you want to give them to your daughter instead."
Farley's eyes widened. He looked down at her daughter, then at me, waiting.
But he knew me better than that. We both knew it wasn't a choice at all.
I let out a laugh. "That's it? That's the big decision you want me to make? Give them to Celeste."
"Are you sure?" Animus asked slowly. "I cannot do this a second time."
I smiled. "I'm positive. If given the choice to bless my daughter with better opportunities than I had, I'll give it to her every time."
Animus's eyes flashed with understanding. "Then it is done."
He turned around to vanish once again, but this time we weren't going to let him leave without expressing our gratitude.
"Thank you," Farley and I said at the same time.
Animus had his back turned to us, but I could've sworn he hesitated for one moment longer before disappearing into a dark mix of smoke and mist.
21
Epilogue: Farley
The roofof the cabin was where Celeste learned to fly.
In the months since she'd hatched, Quinn and I had fallen into a steady, fulfilling routine. We snuggled in bed together every night and woke up to each other every morning.
And of course, we dealt with problems every new parents faced, like a shrieking fox cub with needles for teeth.
Quinn was an amazing dad, just as I expected him to be. He adored Celeste more than life itself. Every time I looked over to where the two of them were hanging, there was an over-the-moon look in his eyes that always made me smile. It was no wonder he'd chosen to bless our daughter with wings instead of himself. It was what any good parent would do.
