Epilogue

The scent of woodsmoke and savory food lured me forward as Orion and I stepped into the clearing. Strands of twinkling lights were strung between the trees, casting a warm glow over the space. Blankets and plush pillows were scattered across the ground, creating inviting spots for lounging and conversation.

I blinked in surprise and turned to find Orion smirking down at my reaction. "Welcome to Hollow Haven," he teased, his hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"When you said ‘restaurant in the woods', this is not what I expected." I shook my head, still marveling at the scene.

Members of both the Dusk Valley and Crescent Hollow packs mingled together, their laughter and chatter filling the air with a palpable sense of camaraderie. It was a far cry from the tense, distrustful interactions I'd witnessed when I first arrived in town and nowhere close to the open hostility of wolves fighting a dangerous enemy.

A familiar stone of discomfort sank into my gut. I brought that danger. Not intentionally, but Barrett Simmons went for Round Two because I conveniently waltzed into town.

I worried at my lower lip with my teeth. "Everyone seems so... happy."

"They are," Orion confirmed, pride evident in his voice. "This is what pack life is all about. Community, connection." He bumped my shoulder with his own. "Celebration."

As I looked around at the smiling faces and easy interactions, I let a sense of belonging wash over me. This was my new family, my new home. And standing there, hand in hand with my mate, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Orion pressed a hand to the small of my back and urged me forward through the crowd. I leaned into his touch, drawing strength from the simple contact. It was as if his very presence had the power to chase away the lingering shadows of my past, replacing them with a warmth I'd never known before.

My mate. Just thinking of him soothed my soul.

Tara, the gentle healer from Dusk Valley, waved as we passed. I was ninety-percent certain Orion purposefully started fights to see how many stitches she had in her before snapping.

Elise gave me a cool nod from where she sat with Jude and Asher, then focused a daggered glare on Rafe's back. Rafe didn't seem to notice apart from the roll of his shoulders before he leaned in closer for a quiet argument with his Crescent Hollow alpha counterpart, Declan.

Everywhere I glanced were smiling, happy faces. These weren't the polite, superficial greetings I was accustomed to in my old life. No, these were the earnest acknowledgments of a community welcoming one of their own.

Orion's hand tightened around mine, and I glanced up to find him watching me with a soft, knowing smile. No words were needed. The love and contentment shining in his eyes mirrored the emotions swelling in my own heart. We were home.

Lost in the joy of the moment, I almost didn't notice Cassidy approaching until she was right in front of me. Her eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement as she reached for my free hand.

"Can I steal you away for a minute?" she asked, her voice pitched low as if sharing a secret.

Curious, I nodded and allowed her to lead me away from the main celebration. We walked a short distance to her pillow base shared with Max, the twinkling lights romantic in the branches overhead.

"I've been waiting for the right moment to give you this," Cass began, a hint of nerves creeping into her tone. She knelt down and rummaged through her bag. "And tonight, seeing as it's your coming out with the pack, I knew it was time."

With reverent hands, she held out a leather-bound book. I took it gingerly, my fingers tracing over the debossed spine and polished cover. As I opened it, the scent of paper and faint traces of spices wafted up, triggering a rush of nostalgia for a time I'd never known.

The pages were filled with copies of handwritten recipes. Tucked between the pages were old photographs and pressed flowers, each one a tiny window into a life lived long ago.

"I copied Grandma's big book," Cassidy explained softly, her eyes misty with emotion. "She started it when she was a young bride and added to it throughout her life. Grandma would have wanted me to share this with you. To add your own stories to its pages."

I looked up at her, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "Cass, I can't take this. It should stay with you, with the family."

But Cassidy shook her head, a gentle smile on her lips. "You are family, Brielle. You always have been, even when life tried to pull us apart. Even when you didn't know someone paid attention." She reached out and closed my hands more firmly around the book. "I know you paid her medical bills at the end. I can't tell you how appreciative I am that she was comfortable in her final days because of you."

I clutched the book to my chest, the weight of Cassidy's words settling deep in my heart. For so long, I had felt adrift, cut off from my roots by my father's choices and my own mistakes. But here, in this moment, I realized that my history had never been lost. It had been waiting for me, all along, in the love of my cousin and the acceptance of my new pack.

As I gingerly turned the pages of the recipe book, each one felt like a treasure, a piece of my family's legacy that I had been missing for so long. The sheer number and variety spoke of countless hours spent in the kitchen, of love poured into every dish.

Cassidy leaned in, her finger pointing to a particular recipe. "This one was Grandma's special treat for Max. Anytime he gets mad, these do the trick to calm him right down. Maybe you can find an Orion-tamer."

A soft laugh escaped my lips, the image of Max devouring Grandma's cooking bringing a warmth to my chest. And I would absolutely test out the reactions with my own mate.

I pulled Cassidy into a fierce hug. "Thank you for being you, Cass. You're truly one of a kind."

Cassidy smiled, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. "Welcome to the pack, Bri."

My pack. My home. One glance, and my eyes landed on Orion. My mate.

He stood amidst the laughter and joy, his eyes never leaving mine. As if sensing my thoughts, he excused himself and strode to my side, his strong arms wrapping me in a comforting embrace. I melted into him, breathing in the intoxicating scent of pine and him.

I looked around again, and the sights and sounds no longer felt unfamiliar or strange.

They felt like family.

* * *