Alley Cat
Epilogue

Now that I’m human, life has accelerated to the point where I can’t keep up.

Maria gave birth to a little girl the same week I came back to life. Because she couldn’t decide on a name, she let everyone decide for her. Todd threw out the name, ‘Kolache’ which earned him a few glares (myself included). Shirisha chastised him for suggesting Maria name her beloved child after a cheap breakfast item and proposed the girl be named ‘Diamond’ instead. To which Kaya pointed out that ‘Diamond’ sounded like a stripper name and recommended ‘Malaria’ because what could be more powerful and renown than a viral disease that’s responsible for killing millions?

After a brief debate, I brought up the name ‘Parvina’ and Maria settled for it immediately. She was grateful to name her child after anything that wasn’t breakfast, a stripper, or a disease.

Little Parvina was brought into the world at three p.m in the midst of August. She would grow up to resemble her mother with her delicate looks and jumble her words like her father. Raphael was there to guide her every step of the way. He took his responsibility as an older brother very seriously. So much so that little Parvina learned how to skateboard at the age of three and learned how to sing before she could speak.

As for Todd, he eventually quit his job at Taco Cantina after saving enough money to enroll in culinary school (not like he needed to). After continuously one-upping his teacher, the poor man threw his hat down, which Todd immediately picked up from the floor and took over as head chef. Todd renewed the motto of his school, promising to teach desperate teens and hopeless mothers to not only cook but to maximize the potential of food. According to Todd, cooking, when done right, can enchant, seduce, murder, and heal like magic. Needless to say, I think Mr. Liu would be proud.

Shirisha got a job working for the FBI. Her skills at martial arts and feline stealth lead her to the top of the chain within five years. It also meant that I didn’t get to see much of her anymore. She’s always bragging about how many sex-trafficking rings she’s busted and that she’s confiscated enough cocaine to start an overdose inducing avalanche.

I really do miss her and her crazy antics. That’s why whenever she’s back in the city, we always make plans to scout the area for trouble. It’s easier than you’d think. There’s always something happening in New York like a serial killer on the loose or a waging turf war. Whatever it is, Shirisha knows how to make the most of things. It’s always a party whenever she’s around.

Kaya’s life, on the other hand, has also changed drastically since we’ve shut down Aeternum. Out of all of us, Kaya received most of the credit for putting an end to the pharmaceutical fiasco. She was deemed a hero across the nation and won the hearts of biotechnical investors everywhere. Not only did she use her fame to invest in life-saving medical research, but she’s also branching out into environmental conservation. She’s currently working on revolutionizing the modern process of sewage treatment, waste disposal, and river clean-up. Just like Shirisha, she’s been so busy that I’ve seen her more often on Twitter and magazine covers than I do in real life.

Daphne received the treatment she needed and was discharged from New York City’s mental facility two years ago. I think her transformation was the most shocking of all. Ever since she received half of my soul, she’s become a totally different person. She still hates me, of course. But she’s developed a fondness for gardening.

Hoping to expand her horizons beyond indoor potted plants and succulents, she moved down south to Texas and bought herself a huge patch of land to start a botanic nursery. Daphne claims that she likes plants more than people. And so far, she’s proved herself true. All she’s done is care for her plants and threatened to dissect anyone who disrespects her leafy babies. Luka thinks she’s happy (if you could consider anyone who shouts obscenities at weeds and pests happy).

Now that only leaves me. Shortly after I came back to life, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I certainly didn’t expect to be resurrected, and I certainly didn’t expect my life to improve. But despite my lack of expectations, my life changed tremendously and rapidly whether I wanted it to or not.

I rekindled my relationship with Luka again, although I was wary of Jessie’s warning. And Jessie was right. Luka changed after becoming alpha. He had to give up his dreams of performing in concert halls across the ocean to lead his pack in New York. But Luka was determined to do things right. He became protective of his wolves and made sure to secure an alliance with neighboring packs across the city. He also enforced a peace policy which encouraged his wolves to maintain the peace within their own territory. Violence was to be avoided if possible and territory was meant to be shared.

Luka ended up tearing down his family restaurant and built a hotel in its place. It became THE place for supernaturals to congregate. Initiation rituals, birthday parties, funerals (including Viking funerals) , weddings, mating balls, were just a few of the things hosted at Hotel di Luka.

I ended up working as management and security at the hotel, and it’s kept me on my toes. There’s not a week that goes by that I haven’t had to beat up a couple of vampires and witches for starting trouble. My job makes every day interesting and it pays well too. That, and I get to hook up with my boss in a spare room during lunch breaks. It’s been a blast.

And...I guess that’s it for now. The fates have decided to give me a break for once in my long, long, lives.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the ride. I certainly have.

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