Anaki was sweeping up glass by the bar, and my parents eyed me and gave me a solemn smile. They continued to help Anaki behind the bar.
What the hell happened?
Lightning flashed in the distance. The storm was now passing, but I feared something terrible was left in its wake.
When I came down the spiral stairs, I found Switch staring out with his black hoodie, his hands balled into fists. “What happened?” I asked.
He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “It was Alpha Locke.”
My heart stopped beating in my chest. The rest of the bar stopped their cleaning and gazed over at us.
“He’s gone rogue,” Switch all but muttered.
The glass tinkled across the floor as someone continued to sweep, and Bear stormed over. “No, he didn’t go rogue,” he announced to the crowd. “He didn’t. He will come back.”
“Well then, where did he go?” A fae asked behind him. “He was a wolf, the biggest one I’ve ever seen. And his eyes they—”
Bear held up his hand to silence them and clenched his jaw. I stepped toward him and grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. “He’s gone hunting. For his mate. That is all you need to know. He will return.”
Epilogue
Bear
Springwaswarmerthisyear inside the forest, thanks to the fae. Luckily, with Tajah’s glamor, it was hidden from the humans of the nearby town.
Cabins continued to be built by my sleuth, and they were more than excited to see my mate, Nadia. They even wished for us to return to be closer to my old cabin, but of course, we refused. That was my past and the Iron Fang was our future.
The cabins continued to be made with sturdy yet delicate wood, built with curved limbs and branches that fit the flow of the land. The Fae buildings were whimsical and mysterious by fae hands, made of an unknown shimmering material that glinted whenever the sun shone in its direction. The forest, which had once been barren and cold, was blooming with new life; wildflowers painted the ground in vibrant colors, birds sang in the trees, and the light making its way through the canopy created a peaceful atmosphere. Everything seemed to get better as the sun warmed the land, growing ever closer to resembling Elysian, or so I was told.
Darkness still beheld the territory in its shadows, and it was because of our former alpha that was still hiding within them.
Locke, or his wolf, was lost within its depths. Locke was rabid, and those who held a mate and an animal were now required to scout the territory in search of him. A rabid animal was a danger to not just supernaturals but humans as well. If Locke ventured into human territory, he could very well kill them with just a bite with his venom.
No one was to venture into the forest alone at night, and they were to remain in their homes in the confines of the bar apartments until further notice. The fae refused to leave the forest and stayed in the little town they had created. They had their own wards to keep themselves protected from wild animals.
“Look, I caught another!” Nadia linked as she pawed another trout from the stream. We were working on fishing today, then we would bring them back to the cabin for an MC fish fry.
“I think three more should do it,” I replied and swatted another large trout onto the shore.
Nadia had embraced her bear, Nikita. Nadia now also confided in me when she felt incompetent or afraid. She had expressed her wish to study with Bones and train under him in his clinic while I continued to work in the inner circle.
Whatever my mate wished, I could not deny. However, if Bones touched her, I would break his fingers.
“Got them!”She swatted her paw and threw the last two onto the pile.
I puffed out my chest in pride, happy that I could teach my mate the ways of her bear. The one thing I had left to train her on was how to defend herself. In that, I did not know if I had the heart to do so.
She wished it, though, and I would not let her feel defenseless. Not when that was her greatest fear since her dream.
In the late afternoon, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, a lively gathering took place at our cabin. The Iron Fang, clad in their rugged attire, arrived one by one, their laughter mingling with the gentle rustling of leaves. The air was filled with the fresh aroma of sizzling fish as the pot luck fish fry began. Amidst the joyful chatter, the fae gracefully joined the festivities, the sparkles in their cheeks reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. With them, they brought an exquisite array of fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers, their vibrant colors adding a touch of natural beauty to the scene. The sight of this bountiful feast filled the air with a sense of abundance of smiles as everyone eagerly indulged in the delectable treats.
Delilah hummed, dipping hers into a large batch of tartar sauce and taking a big bite.
“I’ve never been a big fan of fish, but this is super good!” She licked away a stray piece of sauce from the side of her mouth.
Hawke bounced their baby in his arms and watched her hungrily. “Yeah, it’s delicious.”
Nadia snickered, stuffing her own portion into her mouth.
