Epilogue

Ibury my toes in the sand. Our little beach vacation had to wait a few days, but we're finally all here. We look like a ridiculous group of tourists, all bunched together on the beach with our giant umbrella that Jeff bought us. Martin refused to put on proper beach attire so he's sitting in his chair with his combat boots, jeans, and black tee. He looks like he could murder someone with that scowl if he tried hard enough.

Hopefully after this tiny break, we'll finally get some sort of proper lead for this case. I know it's really weighing on him, being unable to figure this out. He's always felt like he was all muscle and no brains but we all know that's not true. Once Martin puts his mind to something he will figure it out sooner or later.

Cooper on the other hand is laying on a towel in a pair of swimming trunks that are probably one size too small. His skin is turning a pink shade as he reads. I don't miss the way Martin keeps glancing over there but I pretend not to notice.

"Baby time," Zander says, handing Jordan over to me. I take her happily, plopping myself down under the umbrella to keep our baby out of the sun.

"Are you heading into the water with JJ?"

"Yes! He's been itching to get tossed around in the water," Zander says with a wide smile.

"Please be careful. You just had a baby and I don't want you exhausting yourself, okay?"

Zander gets a soft look in his eyes. He ducks down under the umbrella, pulling the brim of my hat so we're face to face. "I love you, you know that, right?"

"I do," I say back, kissing his lips softly. "And I love you, too. Have fun with JJ. I'll miss you."

Zander rolls his eyes. "I'll literally be right over there."

"But that's just so far away. However will I manage without you," I say dramatically, really laying it on thick. He flicks the tip of my hat and runs away giggling. My heart feels near bursting.

"Good lord you two are gross," Carlos murmurs, taking a soda from the cooler and cracking it open. "True mates are also so fucking sappy. You're gonna give me cavities if I don't regularly brush when I'm around you guys."

Jeff and Axel just chuckle. "I think someone doth protest too much," Jeff says with a shrug.

Axel sits in the sand with Lily between his legs. She digs in the sand and lets out an adorable giggle. "One of these days it'll be your turn and then you won't be wrinkling your nose."

Carlos sighs. "I don't know if it's in the cards for me, but if Lady Fate deems me fit for such an honor as a true mate, I'm sure you'll be right."

"That wasn't dramatic at all," I murmur, running my fingers through the soft hair at the back of Jordan's head. "You act like you're some villain. You're a great man, Carlos."

"I'll leave that up to Lady Fate," he whispers, standing up and making his way over to Martin.

It's strange. It wasn't that long ago I wouldn't have taken any merit in the idea of Lady Fate. Sure, I'd read about her and knew she was the mother of the supernatural, but I didn't know how hands on she was. Now though? Now I'm a believer. She gave me Zander. She brought me JJ. She truly is guiding her children as best as she can, tying their soul strings together when they're ready.

I know Carlos is a good man and if he has a true mate out there, I know without a doubt that Lady Fate will tie them together at some point.

I look around at my family and smile. We're growing little by little. Part of me wonders if it's smart to keep hunting. We have children now. But at the same time I know I can't stop, not while there's still evil out in the world. I want to make this world as positive and good as I can for JJ and Jordan and Lily. I want them to feel safe.

My eyes dart over to the water, watching as my mate tosses our son into the air. He lets out the most beautiful chorus of giggles before he's splashing into the water.

That's my reason for hunting and I'll hold onto that as I research and find whatever is hunting along the coast. We'll continue our work. We'll continue to hunt. We'll continue to do our best to right some wrongs.

But for today, we rest and marvel at the gifts and the love we've been given that makes this life of hunting worth living.

The End