by Moira Byrne
His roving lips soon found mine, taking them in a soft, loving kiss. So simple, yet it could knock the pants off any heated kiss we shared because it held the promise of a future I didn't realize we could have. A future that I didn't realize I wanted. Now, though? It seemed so obvious. I couldn't imagine life without Ana or Ben in it.
We would stay here in Fayoak. Maybe buy a house with a picket fence someday. Who knew? I was a work in progress. I might end up liking suburban fare more than I thought. As I looked into Ben's eyes and the silver of his wolf looked out, I thought, as long as it's with him.
16
Epilogue
Ben
As I walked back from the bathroom to our table at The Honeyed Peach, I could see the love of my life and my daughter tucked away in a booth. Aly was making faces at Ana and our daughter was eating it up. I could see so much of Aly in her and it thrilled me to no end.
I knew my daughter would be strong like her mother. I would be there to see her grow into that strength, too. Each day was a new surprise with a little one and I loved it.
It wasn't just Ana that made my new life so amazing. My dark-haired fireball of a mate always made things interesting in the best of ways. Some mornings when I woke up with Aly curled up next to me, her sleeping face soft and content, I pinched my arm to make sure it was all real and not a dream.
As I drew closer, I heard Ana growl at Aly. My mate threw her head back and laughed. My smile—which felt like it was permanent these days—grew at the sight. Her shoulders suddenly tensed somewhat, and my smile faltered. She snapped her head to look at me. A sheepish smile crossed her face as I slid into the booth across from her.
"Everything alright?" I asked.
"Yeah. Sorry. It's weird." Aly shrugged. "Sometimes, when I feel someone watching me, I think about Seth and Robby. The way they acted toward me, it was so . . . disturbing."
I reached across the table and placed my hand over hers. "Hey, c'mon, they're locked up. You don't need to worry about them."
"Yeah, I know. But, it's just . . . I don't know."
Something in her expression worried me. "Tell me."
"I know most of the old pack was under some sort of spell. Well, the guys anyway." She paused and gnawed on her lower lip. "But some of them did some pretty bad things. They were doing something with those witches. I mean, blood magic? That's some serious shi—" she glanced at Ana's wide-eyed, innocent face, "uhh . . . stuff."
"Yeah, but everyone involved was locked up."
"I know. But sometimes I wonder if they caught all the bad ones, y'know? I mean, some of them seemed to really enjoy exerting control over us."
"Like Robby and Seth?"
"Yeah," she said with a frown. "In retrospect, there were a couple of others, too."
I gently brushed my thumb over her knuckles. She gave me a small smile, the kind that warmed my heart.
"You've done all you could," I said. "I mean, you're the one who got Jack to agree to accept anyone who wanted to leave that pack. The sheriff screened those who went back; I don't think he let any bad seeds leave. He's pretty sharp."
"I suppose you're right."
"Besides, if by some chance they do come back to Fayoak looking for trouble, we've got a team in place to knock them on their . . ." I glanced at Ana, "butts."
She gave a small snort and her eyes were bright with amusement. "You wolves and your 'teamwork.'"
"I had no idea teamwork was such a foreign concept to cats. I think I finally understand the phrase 'herding cats.'"
"If only Jack knew what he was getting into when he let you join the pack."
"What else was he going to do? My mate and child are in the pack. He knew better than to try to keep me out."
"Yeah, but you didn't have to offer your 'teamwork' training.'"
I grinned. "Sure I did. But, really, I didn't expect him to accept."
Aly had told me all about that battle they were in. My cousins filled in any blanks. It turned out Jack had been impressed by the teamwork fighting he'd seen from my cousins. When I'd jokingly offered to do some of my pack drills with his cats, he had surprised us all by eagerly accepting.
"How does it feel to be part of the Fayoak kitty-cat brigade?" Aly asked with a cheeky smile.
"Yeah, yeah," I grinned back, "I get enough of that from my cousins."
"Does it bother you that they joined the Fayoak wolf-pack instead?"
"Nah. I had a feeling that they would join the wolves when they moved here. Nothing against cats, but they don't think like wolves. Without having a cat as a mate, I think it'd be too hard to figure them out."
They might be crazy felines, but I loved these two cats in front of me with every breath of my body, but that just gave me more permission to admit they were weird.
I could see Ana and Aly getting up to all sorts of cat-like mischief in the future. I had no doubt my poor wolfy self was going to be forever trying to catch up with them. Even though I enjoyed our time now to the fullest, I still couldn't wait for all the laughs to come.
I flashed Aly a grin from across the table and she gave me one back. I could see the faint flicker of nerves in her eyes, though. I knew it was because my parents were finally planning a visit in a few days. She had it in her head that they weren't going to love her to death and she was so, so wrong.
I didn't think she was even kind of prepared for all the wolf hugs coming her way. It was going to be great having my family here. My job was working out great, too, and I had my mate and my daughter by my side each day.
I didn't think things could get any better. Of course, one day I'd like to give Ana a little brother or sister. But, for now, I was learning to be a dad and a mate. We had plenty of time.
Ana gurgled and gnawed on one of her bunched-up fists. I may have missed seeing her first smile, but I was here to witness her first laugh and it warmed my heart. I still had so much to look forward to. I'd get to chase after her when she began to crawl. If she was anything like me, she would skip walking and go straight to running.
"I can't believe how fast she's growing," I said as I dug into the diaper bag for one of Ana's crackers. I figured she would prefer it to her fist.
Aly shook her head. "You're going spoil her with those crackers."
I grinned. "Nah, my mom fed them to me and my brother and sister all the time. Ask her about it when she gets here. She'll tell you anything you want to know."
Alysse
He just had to bring up his family's visit, didn't he? I grimaced slightly. I was so worried that I was going to screw it up. I wasn't exactly a social ballerina. I was more of a . . . social juggernaut—just plowed right through things without a care. I was working on it, but still.
"Your mother is going to hate me," I said with a sigh. "I'm going to open my big, dumb mouth and—"
"She'll love you for it. If there's anything my mom likes, it's honesty. You're kind of similar like that." Ben paused. "Does that make me sound creepy?"
I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips in thought. "Maybe a little."
"You'll be fine." Ben leaned across the table to give Ana her cracker. "I still can't believe she stayed away this long. She's been dying to meet Ana."
"Yeah, well, your cousin's first baby had great timing. Gave us a chance to settle in." I tilted my head to the side. "Um, it was your cousin, right? You have so many family members that I can't keep track."
Ben shook his head. "Well, I think she's my cousin."
"You don't know?"
"You said it yourself. I've got a lot of family. After a while, everybody is your cousin."
"Are David and Eric your real cousins? 'Cause they look a lot like you."
"Yeah, they're my real cousins. First cousins, in fact. My mom's sister's kids."
"How do you keep everyone straight?"
He grinned and shrugged, then handed Ana another one of those wafer-cracker things that she went bonkers over. Her response was to smash it against her mouth. She blinked in su
rprise when it crumbled all over her lips and down onto the high chair tray. My daughter. Mashing food into her face already. I couldn't be prouder.
In the corner of my mind, I was still having a tiny fit over meeting Ben's family. I didn't really think they would outright hate me, but I had a feeling there might be some silent judging. After all, we were a young, unmarried couple with an unplanned daughter. Although, I think I'm supposed to call her a blessing, or anything but unplanned, really.
I looked over at my little girl, staring at her daddy with wide eyes as he tempted her with another cracker and my heart got all squishy. She was a blessing. Her and Ben were the best things that had ever happened to me.
I had such a big family now. It wasn't just me and Sophie anymore. It was me, Ben, Ana, Sophie, Alex, and the Greenhavens. One weird, magical little family that would protect each other no matter what. And I freaking loved it.
Catching a sudden, familiar scent, I looked toward the door in surprise. I watched as Sam shuffled inside wearing the lamest attempt at a disguise I'd ever seen. He had on a thick coat—much too thick for late fall—and a big green baseball cap tugged low over his brown eyes.
A loud, sputtering laugh fell from my lips, drawing Rhonda's attention to me as she bussed a nearby table. She rose her brow in question and I pointed toward the door. Sam saw my pointing finger and his eyes widened. He looked around with a panicked expression, then froze like he was willing himself invisible. Rhonda shook her head, sighing in disbelief all the while.
"Lord have mercy, I swear—Sam, what do you think you're doing here?" Rhonda asked in a firm tone.
Sam was such a huge man, but one look from Rhonda and he shrank down like a little boy who had gotten in trouble. She drew herself up to stand straight and tall, then strode over to him.
"You and I both know," Rhonda clipped out, "the only reason why your arm isn't better yet is because you won't rest."
It had been a month since the battle with my old pack. Sam had a rough break in his arm from the whole ordeal. Shifters had slightly accelerated healing, but a break like his would still take a lot of time and rest to heal. He didn't seem so keen on the rest part.
"I was just coming in to check up on things," he replied, chagrined.
Rhonda placed her hands on her hips. Uh-oh. That was her I mean business pose. I motioned for Ben to watch, too. This was going to be good.
"Sam, if I have to take you home and watch you like one of my rotten children, I will."
Ben and I exchanged a look. We had both picked up on the way Sam's eyes lit up and how his heartbeat quickened slightly.
I leaned over the table with mischief in my eyes. "Hey, wanna make a bet?"
"Is it really a bet if we're both thinking the same thing?" Ben replied with a chuckle.
"I give it . . . three months until they're sucking face."
Ben shot me a sly smile. "Two."
"Winner gets to pick dinner for a month?" I asked.
"It's always about food with you, isn't it?"
I shrugged. "Pretty much."
"Fine." Ben laughed. "You're on."
A moment later Rhonda stepped up to our booth with an irritated sigh. "I made him go sit in the back. Can you believe he drove here with a broken arm?"
"Why is that so bad?" Ben asked with confusion.
Rhonda frowned. "Because no matter how hard you try, you need two hands to drive. Honestly. If I had a bigger place, I'd make him stay with me. He just keeps on aggravating that damn break."
Drat. I shot a narrow-eyed glance at Ben. He might just win this bet.
"Oh," Rhonda suddenly exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you that the little girl who Heather plays witch with—Paige—came to me asking for help."
"She's got some nerve," I said with a derisive snort.
Rhonda nodded in disbelief before she continued, "Apparently, Heather was approached by someone from out of town. Someone who offered to teach her blood magic. Paige is worried this person will come after her because she, and I quote, 'knows too much.'"
The winds are changing, a voice in my head whispered to me.
"Did Paige say who?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Heather wouldn't let her in on it because she didn't trust her. Only person she trusted was Rachael, who's cooling her heels with Heather in jail. They aren't talking, that's for sure."
We all fell silent for a moment mulling it over, when Ana suddenly shrieked with laughter. We all shared a look and broke into laughter ourselves.
"Sorry to bog down your sweet little afternoon," Rhonda said. "I just thought you might wanna know."
"I'll pass it along to Sheriff Kobayashi the next time I see him," Ben replied. "Heather and Rachael's court dates are coming up soon, so, y'know . . . I'll be testifying."
I bit the inside of my cheek and shook my head. "I wish we could tell people the extent of what she did, for real. She didn't just kidnap and drug you. She killed someone for some crappy blood spell. She tried to alter your mind with magic."
Rhonda reached across the table to place her hand atop Ben's. "I'm sorry she did that to you. It's not right. That's why I hate witches so much. Power hungry little tyrants, all of 'em."
"Thanks, Rhonda, but I'm holding up fine. The cavalry," Ben shot me a grin, "got there faster than Heather expected."
I grinned back at him. "I'm a regular hero, aren't I?"
"My hero," Ben replied with a hand to his heart as he batted his eyelashes at me.
Rhonda looked between the two of us with raised brows. "Do you two try to be this cheesy or does it come naturally?"
Ben and I burst into laughter.
It was all natural, baby.
Want more from Moira Byrne?
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get all the insider news on upcoming releases, sneak peeks, and more. No spam, no selling of your information, just news about our fun Paranormal Romances straight to your inbox.