I only love Arlo so deeply because Leif and Bjorn and Father taught me how.
So long as I have breath in my lungs and love in my heart, they will never be gone.
One day, when I finally see them again, I can thank them properly.
Until then, it’s time to finally live again. With Arlo at my side and the support of our family, that will not be a challenge at all.
Epilogue
Arlo
Five years later
“Welcome, come in!” Aunt Helga wears a big smile on her face as she holds the door for us.
“Great to see you, Auntie,” I say, folding her into a tight squeeze.
“You too, dear. And there he is, my nephew!”
She rushes past me, and I’m all but forgotten as she gives Gunnar a quick kiss on the cheek, then devotes all her attention to our son Riley, nestled against Gunnar’s chest. When she coos over him, Riley gives her an adorably gummy baby smile that never fails to make my heart melt from the cuteness.
“Such a sweet little lad,” Aunt Helga says.
“Ugh, isn’t he? Oh, look. You have to see this. He got vaccinated last week and we took him out dressed in this.” I show her the picture on my phone of Riley in his little rabbit onesie.
Helga covers her mouth. “By the gods, that is simply precious.”
Gunnar chuckles and guides me into the longhouse. “Wait until you see him in his walker.”
“A what?”
Before Gunnar can reply, we’re greeted by the whole Erikson pack. Kieran rushes up to us and hugs us both. “OMG, hi, little sweetheart!” He waves at Riley, who smiles. “He remembers me!”
“Of course he does. You’re his favorite uncle,” I say.
Anders happens to overhear that as he marches by with a bag full of pastries from his and Jamie’s shop. “His what, now? I thought I was the favorite uncle!” He dumps the bag on the table and rounds on Gunnar. He covers his face. “Where’s the baby? There he is!” He splays his hands and grins goofily at Riley. Anders’s little game never fails to make Riley erupt into cute little baby sounds of delight.
Kieran clears his throat. “Gunnar, Arlo, this is my friend Amanda!”
The woman beside him waves so hard her body shakes, her grin impossibly wide. “Hi! I can’t believe I’m finally meeting the whole family—pack, sorry!”
“A pleasure. Just warning you, they’re all a bit much, and Gunnar is the best Erikson.”
Gunnar blushes and shakes Amanda’s hand when it’s offered.
Just then a small gray wolf goes stampeding by. He’s being chased around by five-year-old Ed, Kieran and Wulfric’s son, who is laughing like a little villain.
Kieran sighs. “Just a moment. Ed! Don’t pull Jace’s tail!” He rushes after the toddler.
Amanda laughs. “I still can’t believe he’s a dad. Coming here really changed his life for the better.”
“We’re happy to have him with us,” Gunnar says. “Drinks, Amanda?”
She lifts her eyebrows. “Sure. What have we got?”
“Mead, mead, and mead!” Gunnar thrusts a tankard into her hand.
Amanda takes a sip, smacking her lips. “Oh my gosh. I can’t believe I’m having actual Viking mead… Wow. Sorry. This is a lot!”
