Epilogue

EPILOGUE

AJAX

T he door to the pack house burst open with a crash that echoed through the timbered hall like a gunshot. I sucked in a sharp breath, my heart pounding against my ribs as if trying to keep pace with my thundering thoughts. My cousin Eva was framed in the doorway, her wild curls more untamed than usual, and her eyes—a vibrant green that always seemed to hold a spark of laughter—now blazed with an alarm that sent a chill skittering down my spine.

"The hunters are back, Ajax," she gasped, chest heaving as if she'd run miles without rest. "Hunters are targeting shifters... exclusively."

Every muscle in my body tensed. I felt guilty for not attending the Lycan Shifter Leadership Council, which comprised the Umbra alpha, the Lion alpha, and the Werewolf Alpha. The weight of leadership, always present, now felt as heavy as the mountains surrounding our territory. My gaze instantly flickered to the corner where Mazie sat, cradling our newborn, Lilly. The vulnerability etched into the scene before me twisted something fierce inside my chest.

"Did they send any suggestions, Eva?" My voice came out gruff, emotion threading through the question. "What did the lion pride say? The wolf liaison? "

Her breathing slowed but remained labored. "They're scrambling just like us. The pride has lost even more than we have. There's talk of putting in safe houses, maybe some joint patrols..."

I barely heard her beyond the word 'safe.' That was what mattered most. Keeping Mazie and Lilly secure was a need that roared within me, louder than any umbra's growl. The thought of anyone laying a finger on them ignited a primal fury, a protective instinct that demanded I do whatever it took to shield my family.

"Alright," I said, nodding, though my mind was already racing through strategies and contingencies. "We'll discuss this with the pack leadership."

Eva nodded back, her expression softening as she caught sight of Mazie smiling tenderly at our daughter. We both knew what was at stake. Every decision we made from here on out had to be for our pack's safety and our kind's future. As their leader, every choice rested heavily on my shoulders.

"Lincoln Cade has offered for me to stay at his place as a sanctuary while I am representing the umbra shifters," Eva finally spilled out, the words tumbling in a rush. She avoided my gaze, her fingers twisting a stray curl around her knuckle. There was a telling blush creeping up her neck, betraying her unease. "But it's... complicated."

"Complicated how?" I prodded gently, though my mind was already guessing the myriad of reasons she might find living with the pride king unsettling. "Perhaps I should just go?"

"No, your mate just had a cub. I'm a grown-ass woman. I can handle this. It's just..." She hesitated, her eyes darting to mine before flitting away. "Being under the same roof with him, that's stepping into his domain. His pride can be overwhelming. He can be overwhelming. He's... a lot." The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears and the vulnerability of being close to someone as imposing as Lincoln McCoy.

I nodded slowly. "He can be very intimidating. Just remember that you're one of our best fighters. I know you could hold your own with him, and only a fool would try to take you on while you were offered sanctuary. You don't think Lincoln would hurt you. Do you? "

Eva's face flamed with embarrassment, and my eyes widened. "Eva?" I prodded.

"No," she said emphatically. "Nothing like that. I promise you."

The more she tried to deny her feelings, the more embarrassed she became. I knew the situation was delicate and didn't want to place her in a precarious position. Somehow, I doubted my other betas would be offered the same accommodations in Lincoln's home. Something was going on between them. Besides, this wasn't about comfort. It was about the survival of our pack and all the shifters. I'd endured my run-in with the hunters, but it had only been because my mate had been granted special powers by the moon goddess. That wasn't something that happened often.

Yet, I couldn't ignore the discomfort etched into Eva's features.

"Look, Eva," I started, watching her fiddle with the hem of her shirt, a telltale sign of her anxiety. "I can ask Maverick or Devon to step in, but you... You've got a way with words and with people. You make them see reason when their stubbornness blinds them."

Eva glanced up, her green eyes filled with determination. "Ajax, I'd do anything for our pack, you know that, but living in town, with Lincoln Cade breathing down my neck? I can do it. I just worry that I might kill him by the end of it. "

I laughed, knowing that Eva wouldn't put up with any of Lincoln's nonsense. He believed he was God's gift to women. This was exacerbated by the females of his pride, who had indulged and pampered the man from the cradle. Living among the humans wasn't an easy feat either. I was asking Eva a great deal, and I knew it. The city was a concrete jungle teeming with unknowns, far removed from the familiar forests we roamed free. And Lincoln Cade, with his regal presence and piercing gaze, wasn't someone you could easily dismiss.

"Being under his roof, it's like walking into the lion's den with a steak tied around my neck," she said, half-joking, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her dread.

"Hey," I said kindly. "You won't be alone. We'll all be a call away. We're always ready to help. Besides," I added, trying to lighten the mood, "you're more than capable of outsmarting any lion, king or not—you're Umbra."

"Alright then," she murmured, squaring her shoulders as if bracing against an invisible force. "Let's show them what the umbrae are made of."

"Umbrae, don't back down," I confirmed with a nod.

I clasped Eva's hand, the roughness of my calluses against her smooth skin grounding me. "Thank you for being willing to protect our pack," I said, my voice low but firm. "Your courage is a testament to our pack and hasn't gone unnoticed, Eva. I trust you—you're one of our best, and that's why you're perfect for this job."

Her green eyes held mine, resolve flickering within them like the first spark of a wildfire. "I won't let you down, Ajax. Pack is family, home, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe."

"Thank you." The words were simple, yet they carried the total weight of my gratitude. Moments like these reminded me of when we were younger and raced through the forest as umbrae cubs. I hadn't had brothers or sisters, but I'd had my cousin Eva. We were as close as siblings, and I trusted her with my life. I trusted her with the lives of my wife, my child, and our pack members. I was very much aware of the pressure I'd placed on her.

I squeezed her hand once more before releasing it, allowing space for the unspoken understanding between us to breathe. With a nod, she turned and left. As I watched her go, the soft cooing drew my attention. I turned toward the source, finding Mazie in the room's corner, cradling baby Lilly close to her chest. The sight starkly contrasted with the storm of concerns raging inside me—here was an oasis of peace amidst the chaos.

Mazie's long, wavy brown hair cascaded over her shoulder, partially veiling the tender scene. Her hazel eyes were fixed on Lilly, filled with a fierce love that could challenge the moon for dominion over the tides. Our baby's tiny hand clutched at Mazie's blouse, her little mouth moving rhythmically as she nursed.

"Hey there," I murmured, approaching them with careful steps.

"Hey." Mazie glanced up, her smile warm but lined with fatigue .

"Everything alright?" I asked, though the question felt trivial given the weight of the world outside our walls.

"Perfect," she replied, her gaze returning to Lilly. "It's just... when I look at her, I see everything I want to protect her from. What was the report from the Tri-Umbra Leadership Counsel?"

"There is much to tell you."

I knelt beside them, taking a moment to tell my mate about the meeting Eva attended at my place.

"It's for the best that she goes," Mazie said, surprising me with her insight. I should have known she would know more about Eva's love life than I did. "Ever since she caught Faith and Devon together in the forest, she's been down. A change of scene is just what she needs."

I smiled ruefully. "Lincoln is a good guy, despite his pride's determination to turn him into a spoiled brat. I think they will get along like oil and water."

"Should I be worried?" Mazie asked with a tired sigh.

"Not in the slightest," I replied, taking Lilly, who had fallen asleep breastfeeding and putting her over my shoulder. "The lion shifter king isn't used to having his authority questioned. Eva and I were raised together by an alpha. She's a damn good beta and could be an alpha herself someday if she wanted to. Lincoln's got his hands full with this one."

"I'm sure you're right," she said tiredly. "You look so sweet holding her."

Mazie looked up at us, all the love and affection in the world shining in her beautiful hazel eyes. I felt my umbra's roar of approval. Tracing the curve of my daughter's cheek, my protective instincts flared. "I love my girls so much. I promise you, Mazie. Lilly will never know a day without your love or a night without our protection." The promise spilled from me, as natural as breathing. "I love you both so damn much it hurts. I will always be right by your side."

"I love you," Mazie whispered. Despite her exhaustion, I could see the strength beneath the surface. She was a warrior, a mother, an umbra, and she was mine .

I turned and placed our sleeping daughter on the blanket Mazie had laid out for her. Then, without waking Lilly, I leaned down and stole a kiss. "My sweet mate, I will always love you."