Epilogue - Kit

The room was absolutely stunning, with flowers and ivy and ribbons dripping from every table and chair and archway. I didn't know how the wolves managed to pull it off, but this place did not look like the meeting room we'd been using for all the council briefings.

Everyone was there, too. The alphas, Kenzie, Jet's mate Senna and their kids, Grayson, and all of the Collins pack that was now ruled by my incredible mate.

Sunny stood with her mate, River, in the front row holding little Asher, and the way he looked in the tiny jacket made my heart squeeze with joy. He was just as much of a stinker as his father, and getting him here had been some real work.

I'd been on bed rest for the last month of my pregnancy, which had lasted a touch longer than your typical human nine months. Willow and Sunny had been checking on him every day, however, and it looked like our little hybrid had just needed a bit longer to cook.

Willow was still trying to figure out what it meant for Ash to be the result of a human and wolf, and she and Sunny had become his official babysitters since they were so good with him. Even Willow, which had been a surprise, frankly, but the little squirt had a way of warming up the snarky scientist.

Standing at the back of the room behind a small screen, I waited for my cue to enter. When the music changed, I knew it was time, and I stepped forward into the aisle that had been created by rows of chairs brought in from every room of the house.

"Holy shit," I whispered, the sight before me literally breathtaking.

Kaiden stood at the head of the aisle beneath an arch covered in my favorite flowers—lilacs. Jet was officiating, or something akin to that, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so big.

My family was here, as complicated and unorthodox as they were, and my heart felt so damn full that I couldn't hope to stop the tears in a million years.

Kaiden had even found me a white dress to wear when we took a rare trip into the human city at the base of the mountain for supplies.

"Hello there," I said as I reached Kaiden.

"Hello, little fox."

We smiled at each other, gazing into each other's eyes, and I guess, after that, we got married. It was all a blur of tears and joy and looking at my incredibly handsome husband. I would remember the day forever, even as it seemed to fly by at the speed of light.

"Wolves of the Collins Pack. Wolves connected through blood and bond. You know what time it is?!" Jet called out, his deep voice booming with pride.

The entire room answered his call.

"Party!"

I laughed, Kaiden laughed, and then party we did. Love and drinks were overflowing, the bounty of my wolven family on full display.

As Kaiden danced with me near the front of the room, a set of new speakers playing my favorite songs from growing up, Jet slipped up alongside him.

"Alpha, I'm only going to interrupt with business for a moment."

Kaiden rolled his eyes, still holding me close. "Make it quick."

Jet smirked and gestured with his head over at Grayson, who stood with the other alphas, laughing and chatting. "The Williams pack has agreed with us to hold a trial for the new alpha. They want us to offer up a candidate along with their own. I was thinking…"

He let the suggestion linger, and both Kaiden and I looked at Gray again. My brother as the alpha of his own pack? That was definitely one hell of an idea. I looked up at Kaiden.

"Do you think he'd make a good alpha?"

Kaiden considered it for a moment, then looked at Jet. "I do. After everything that happened with Eli, he's more than proven himself."

I could tell how happy Jet felt about it, and the truth was I was excited to see my brother really go for something. He was a good man, and he had demonstrated how much he'd grown as a person throughout my entire pregnancy.

Gray had been a loving and devoted uncle to Ash since before he was born, and if he could do that for a pack, he'd make an excellent alpha.

"Go on then. Go tell Gray. I want to check on Ash." I smiled up at Kaiden, giving him a quick kiss.

He grinned against my lips, holding my arms briefly as he enjoyed the feeling of our kiss. When he leaned back, he offered a quick nod, and then he and Jet were off to deliver the news to Gray.

Grayson

Seeing my adoptive sister get "married" today had been one of the weirdest and best experiences of my life. I had no idea what a human wedding was supposed to be like. Still, I was damn impressed with Jet's ability to officiate, or whatever they called it. It was so different from wolf culture, and I'd been oddly affected by all the mushy romance talk.

That stuff was a no-go for me, and I didn't love the idea of having to think about it because it was just everywhere I looked.

Yeah, too much…baggage there. God, I need another drink at this rate.

"I'm hitting the bar," I said to Alder, who'd been deep in conversation with me about something I had not paid attention to. "Need one?"

"Aye. Thanks, lad. But I have a feeling it may be a wait."

"What? I don't see a line?" I glanced behind Alder at the bar in the corner, but then he was gripping my shoulder and turning me around.

"Nay because of that. Because of them."

Heading in my direction were Jet and Kaiden, and they looked like men on a fucking mission. Oh, hell. What now?

"Grayson," Jet clapped me on the shoulder as he reached me, and Alder slowly drifted away as Kaiden took up the spot on my other side. "We've got some news."

I nodded. "Okay. What is it?"

Kaiden laughed lightly, putting his hand on my other shoulder. I felt boxed in by them, ready to run the fuck out of there from how their presence pressed down on me.

"The Williams pack is holding a trial for alpha. They want the council to volunteer someone. Jet and I have chosen you."

My mouth fell open, nausea crawling through me like I'd been kicked in the nuts.

"Excuse me?"

"You're an excellent choice, Gray. And while I don't love the idea of having to find a new beta again, you're the perfect person for the job. You demonstrated your skills with the Eli situation, and you're not tied down by a mate. It's got to be you, son."

Kaiden squeezed my shoulder encouragingly. "I know you can do it, Gray. You're an amazing fighter and leader. You've been incredible with Ash and Jet's twins. If you can be half as understanding with a pack as you are with them, you'll do your pack proud."

The world spun around me, and I couldn't blame it on the alcohol. The idea of being Alpha of the Williams pack wasn't a horrible one by any means. I'd been looking to prove myself my entire life, and this was the ultimate win for me.

But my mind settled on the word Jet had used—"mate."

Looking past my two best friends, my eyes scanned the room and instinctively landed on MacKenzie. She sat at a table alone with a thin glass of champagne in her hand. As if pulled by my own gaze, her eyes flicked up from her lap and met mine across the room.

My gut clamped down, and as soon as she realized what she was looking at—what she'd been compelled to look at—Kenzie's entire body went rigid. She stared wide-eyed as the tears she wouldn't shed made them glassy. After a moment, she got up from her chair and fled the room.

No, I didn't have a mate right now, but not because I hadn't found her. Because I'd rejected her.

*****

THE END