Epilogue - Lena

My eyes take in the sight of the group of shifters and humans gathered in my yard with a satisfied smile. They've come together and are all helping with clearing out various areas on the property to build additional small cabins. Several of the neighbors have brought over equipment to help clear the snow and help with cutting down trees.

All the ladies from my book club have shown up in full force to help. Merl and his sons and their cousins, Julie's brothers all work in construction and are offering a ton of help. Tommy and Bobby from the diner were pulled along with the guys to help. Georgia even roped several of the other gym coaches into coming to help out today.

Bernadette has Evander cornered and blushing awkwardly as he makes excuses to be anywhere other than near her. Kaius and Roscoe are tormenting Rufus, as usual. Orion is off to the side, pouring over the designs for the cabins with Milo, Georgia and the rest of the crew. I wouldn't have guessed that he was so interested in architecture, but then again, I was still surprised he was able to string more than a sentence together.

Peyton, Julie, and Sarah have joined me on the porch, sipping Irish coffee while I have my tea, and are admiring the view with the occasional fit of giggles slipping from the girls. Amelie is on the porch swing with Rosie discussing some band that they both seemed to be fans of.

The town is welcoming the newcomers and being amazingly helpful. We went with Sarah's idea of telling everyone they were displaced by a fire. Once she told Mrs. Susan, there wasn't much needed to get the story spread through town.

I'm laying out the sandwiches and snacks the bridge ladies had brought on the table as Mrs. Susan mutters behind me.

"At least it's warming up a bit. I will never understand though, Lena, why you kept this young man such a secret. You and him sneaking off to elope and not letting us give you a proper wedding and reception. It's just cruel."

"Oh, now, Mrs. Susan," I sigh as Cyrus catches my eye from across the yard after I was staring a little too long at his ass, "Can you really blame me wanting to keep him to myself?"

The flush that creeps up Mrs. Susan's face tells me she's just as susceptible to his charms as the rest of us when he gives her a wink too, for good measure.

"Lord, I'm a happily married woman," she mutters, "But even I'd climb that one like a tree."

"Mom!" Julie groans in disgust as we all dissolve in a fit of laughter. "Those are inside thoughts."

I try to focus on the words coming from the bridge ladies, but there's a familiar haze rolling into my vision. The crisp, mountain air fades to a cloying, thick fog only I can see and my eyes scan the area around me.

"It's good that you're getting ready. Have everyone close," Gram offers with a sad smile, "Be prepared. The other clans are moving in the shadows, and the snake still claws at his new prison. This peace won't last forever but enjoy it while it does."

Milo is helping me with interpreting the less straight forward visions that seemed to creep in at night. This one seemed pretty easy to follow though.

Cyrus bounds up the steps of the deck with a bright smile as the fog recedes and pulls me into a kiss that sets all the ladies to giggling again and clears the chill that settled in my body from the vision.

"Hi," he offers with a light laugh, as he pauses to touch his forehead to mine with a knowing look. "I have something to run by you if you're done talking about climbing me like a tree."

I laugh and smack lightly at his arm, pushing him away from me with an exaggerated roll of my eyes.

"What's up?"

He's got something rolled up in his hand, and Rosie has bounded over to join us with an excited smile lighting up her face.

"What do you think of these," he asks as he rolls the floor plan out on the table, grabbing a sandwich as I lean down and look at it.

"This looks like the cabin, but there's another room here on the bottom floor, and a bathroom," I mutter as I look up at him. "You want to change the house?"

"Well," Rosie offers with a laugh as she leans over grabbing her own sandwich and announces, "Where's my little brother going to sleep if you don't?"

The bridge ladies all start to descend on me with glee in their eyes, as Cyrus and Rosie laugh and step away with a little high-five.

"Very funny, you two," I call after them, "Hilarious."

*****

THE END