Epilogue

Iduck through my back door, stepping out and smiling as I feel the grass against my bare feet. I was prepared to live out the rest of my life in the back of an RV, traveling across the country. I accepted that.

I turn around and look at the home I live in. One without wheels. One filled with Jude and our son, where people come and go freely. I never expected this. Never even thought to dream for such a thing but Lady Fate apparently had other plans for me. One of these days it'll finally stick that she knows what she's doing.

I turn to the right, walking over to my neighbor's house. Everyone is already gathered around the fire pit Martin installed in his backyard. Being so close to everyone makes me so happy. The idea of being separated from this crew fills me with dread and I'm so fucking thankful that Ronny was able to find a place for us all to settle down together.

Not only does my mate get to be close to his spark, someone who makes him feel complete, but I also get my hunting family all within walking distance. Jeff even has a basement where we can keep any and all fucked up magical items any hunter might come across whether that's us or a different hunting group. Our little hunting hub is really starting to take off.

Every day Cooper gets better at using his magic. He's already made boxes to fill Jeff's basement with. We're incredibly prepared for any type of magical item that might need to be securely stored away.

"Finally joining the party?"

I smile at everyone as I join the circle, sitting in my usual spot by the fire. Cooper passes me a soda. I don't think they'll ever let me upgrade to beer no matter how old I get. "I'm here. I'm here. I was helping Jude put CJ to bed," I tell them, getting comfortable, sitting back in my chair and resting my bare feet against a large stone, letting my toes warm by the fire.

"Ah," Ronny says with a nod. "The infant stage is hard. I'm happy to be over it for a while."

"Not forever?" Martin asks, titling his head. "You guys thinking of having some more?"

Ronny shrugs, his cheeks turning bright red. "Who knows really? Only Lady Fate."

Jeff snorts. "I mean, there are certainly ways to prevent it if you really wanted."

"No, no. It's all in Lady Fate's hands," Ronny says, the tiniest smile forming across his lips, nodding his head in fake seriousness.

"Gotcha. So you guys totally want more but are pretending you don't. Got it," Cooper says with an amused chuckle.

"Alright, I don't think we're here to talk about me," Ronny says, picking up his beer and taking a long drink from it.

"We have a team incoming," Jeff says, turning the conversation back to something a bit more serious. "Nothing dangerous thankfully, but it's a good thing Cooper's been working on making more storage boxes because apparently they've found themselves with a cursed pair of boxing gloves."

I can't help but snort. "Will they all be arriving with black eyes?"

"Yes, actually," Jeff says and I can't help but laugh, the rest of the guys joining in.

"Gods, I'm not mad that we weren't the ones who found them. Can you imagine if we accidentally let Martin get his hands on them?" Ronny says, wiping at his eyes. "Cooper and I don't have healing powers like you two," he says, pointing at me and Jeff.

Cooper reaches over, squeezing Martin's arm. "I don't think my libido would have been able to handle that, babe."

"Jesus Christ, Cooper," Martin murmurs, his cheeks pinkening with a blush as he looks away.

"Will we have to tackle the guy? Like how attached are the gloves when someone holds them?"

Jeff shrugs. "I think we should be ready for anything. Maybe Cooper will be able to do some of his hobojobo on the gloves so we can get them into the box."

"I can certainly try," Cooper says, looking nervously around at the group. "As long as Jude is there to help, of course."

"You're gonna do great," I tell him seriously, "and Jude wouldn't want to miss that. He loves seeing you in action, Cooper."

"And if that doesn't work, I'm happy to step in," Martin says, flexing his arms for Cooper who bites his bottom lip.

"Alright, alright," I say, breaking up their eye fucking. They both look away from each other, both doing their best to hide their smirks. Ever since Dorian was mixed into their lives, they have more fun and it makes me thankful that they found their third.

As I look around at our group, I'm genuinely happy for each and every one of them. During the hardest part of Jeff's life, when he crossed from living to undead, he found Axel. While Zander was on the run, Lady Fate dropped him quite literally into Ronny's arms.

I think I'm the only one who met my mate in good circumstances, as long as I don't think about the fact that I ran away from home as a teenager. Even that has improved greatly. My parents are scheduled to come visit next month. They're over the moon about their grandbaby, excited that he's a hellhound like the three of us. They love him so much. How could they not? He's literally perfect.

I take a long drink of my soda, my chest feeling more content than I knew was possible. Once upon a time, the trees around us would have filled me with panic and longing together, wishing I could shift but worrying that there are eyes just waiting for me to make the wrong move. Now I don't feel either. I can shift whenever I want, knowing Cooper and Jude have lined our entire neighborhood with wards that keep us safe. Anyone with ill intentions simply cannot come into our area. We're safe. More importantly, our kids are safe.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us. It's not like the supernatural has stopped fucking around with humans just because we're mated, but we have each other, we have networks of hunters around us. It's not just us against the world anymore. We're a web of hunters that grows every day and with each of our specialties at the ready to help, I know we'll be unstoppable.

I sit back in my seat, listening as Jeff talks about another group of hunters who've joined our network and I can't help but smile, thinking about the time Jeff argued with us about being our leader. Look at him now, filling those leader shoes without even trying.

Later tonight, after spending time with my found family who's been with me through thick and thin, I'll crawl into bed next to my loving mate who makes me feel confident to be myself. Jude taught me it was okay to embrace my inner animal because my hellhound might look evil but he's still me. Our son will be sleeping in the room next to us, blissfully and at peace. This is as close to a happily ever after as I ever imagined and the best part? This is only the beginning for all of us.