Epilogue - Astrid

I sat curled up on the couch with my laptop. The windows were open, letting in a cool fall breeze and noises from the woods. My raven loved it here. Living at Dean's place in the woods suited her more than our old apartment ever had.

It suited me better, too.

I'd much rather listen to the soothing sounds of the forest than the sounds of my neighbors arguing in the apartment complex. It was quiet here.

The type of quiet my soul craved.

While I had only officially moved in a few days ago, this place had felt like home the first time I walked through the door.

My cell buzzed with a new text, capturing my attention. I glanced at the screen and smiled.

I'll be home soon. Almost finished with inventory here.

My smile widened. There was something different about him saying I'll be home soon versus I'll be over soon . That one-word change made me feel giddy.

I tapped out a reply.

I'll be waiting.

A new text came through from him half a second later.

Naked, I hope.

I skimmed my teeth over my bottom lip, suppressing a grin.

That can be arranged.

I closed my laptop and stood, ready to refill my tea, but my phone buzzed again.

Keep talking like that and I'll leave the rest of the inventory to Chris.

I sent a laughing emoji.

This had become our routine, and I loved it. While Dean worked the dinner shift at the diner, I worked on the book I'd been hired to ghostwrite and also one I'd written for myself years ago. When he came home, we spent our nights making love and letting our animals roam freely through the woods.

It was paradise living here with him.

However, despite the peacefulness of our current life together, a shadow still loomed over us.

My brother.

While we hadn't seen Xander since the night he tried to kill me, I knew it was only a matter of time before he showed up again. The spirit of Lucius wouldn't let him stay gone for too long. In the meantime, all we could do was try to find the elderly shaman woman from the woods, Maribel, and hope she could help us get Lucius's spirit out of him.

I headed to the kitchen and made myself a mug of peppermint tea. Making my way back to the couch in the living room, I grabbed the throw blanket I'd been using and headed to the front porch to wait for Dean to get home. My raven loved it when I sat on the front porch.

She felt free there.

My cell buzzed with a text. I glanced at the screen, a smile pulling at my lips, expecting to see another text from Dean. Instead, it was from Waylen in our Misfit Shifters group thread.

Everyone head to Dean and Astrid's (btw Dean and Astrid, we're all heading over to your place tonight) for a celebratory bonfire.

I chuckled, imagining the frown that was most likely pulling at Dean's lips.

What are we celebrating?

I asked half a second before Dean replied.

Thanks for running that by me and Astrid first.

Sienna and Ellis responded, both saying they'd be over shortly before Waylen answered my question. I loved how down for anything they all were. They all lived so freely.

I might have a lead on where that old shaman lady is.

My heart galloped inside my chest as excitement buzzed through my veins. This was good news! A lead on finding her meant we were one more step closer to saving Xander.

My cell buzzed with another text. It was from Dean.

Put your clothes back on. Guess we aren't having sexy time when I get home now.

I laughed, nearly choking on my tea, and then sent him a reply.

There's always later.

He responded quickly.

I'm holding you to it.

An SUV pulled into the driveway, their headlights blinding me. It took me a moment to realize who it was.

Sienna.

I watched as she climbed out of her SUV and grabbed a grocery bag from the passenger seat. She flashed me a smile when she noticed me on the porch.

"Hey. I'm sure you weren't expecting anyone to swing by so soon, but I was already out when Waylen sent that text. I figured I'd just head on over," she said. "Which do you want—wine or hot cocoa?" She held up a grocery bag, another smile working its way across her face.

"That's a tough one. Both sound good."

"I know, right? I couldn't decide either." She made her way up the front steps. "Care if I put the ice cream I bought in your freezer?"

I stood and headed inside. "Not at all. Sounds like you bought all the necessities."

"All that's missing is a romcom and a scented candle, I believe," she joked, following me into the kitchen. "I'm calling it my single lady self-care essentials kit."

She placed her cookies and cream ice cream in the freezer as another vehicle pulled up out front. We both made our way to the windows to see Waylen climbing out of his truck. He reached into the passenger seat floorboard and grabbed two cases of beer.

"Hey, Astrid," he called out without even looking at the house. "Where's Dean's cooler?"

"So, wine or hot cocoa?" Sienna asked again. "Looks like it's going to be a long night."

"Wine," I answered, before heading to the back of the house for the cooler I'd spotted on the back porch.

Ellis showed up a few minutes after Dean got home, and we all made our way into the backyard where Waylen had taken it upon himself to start a bonfire on his own. We gathered around the fire, using a few big logs, a cooler, and two bag chairs as our seats and waited for him to tell us his news.

"So?" Dean pressed when he seemed to be taking his time. "What's the lead?"

"Oh, she lives in the woods," Waylen said, popping open another beer and taking a big swig.

"We already knew that," Sienna chimed in. "How is that a lead?"

"Because I have a location," he said.

Sienna narrowed her eyes at him. "Again, we already knew that."

"I know which woods now," Waylen insisted, looking smug with himself. "She supposedly has a cabin in the woods at the north end of town."

"Is there a street name?" Ellis asked.

Waylen took another swig from his beer. "Somewhere off Lyle Street is what I was told."

"Maybe she'll be there," I said, sounding hopeful to even my own ears.

Dean draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me close. "It's possible."

"Then all we have to do is find Xander," I muttered.

He was just as elusive as Maribel, it seemed.

At least for the time being.

"We'll find him." Dean placed a gentle kiss to my temple. "We have to."

I rested my head on his shoulder, drawing strength from his presence like always. "I hope we find both of them soon, before all of this gets too out of hand."

He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. No one did. We all knew that if we didn't find Xander before someone else figured out what he could do, or if Maribel didn't agree to help us once we found her, then Xander was screwed.

There would be no choice besides ending his life.

No matter how much I hated the thought, I knew deep down it was true.

The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks dancing into the night sky. Sienna, Waylen, and Ellis fell into conversation as Dean continued to hold me close. I watched the flames dance, while remaining snuggled into his side.

My mind drifted.

We'd all survived Lucius once, and we could do it again. We weren't just a ragtag bunch—we were strong.

We were the Misfit Shifters.

I shifted to glance up at Dean, his expression was calm as the firelight cast shadows across his face. There was a quiet resilience I saw in him, one that was mirrored in us all. We'd fought our way through the darkest of times, and we were still here.

Still standing.

Whatever came next with my brother and the spirit of Lucius, we were ready for it. I knew this because we'd already faced the unthinkable once.

Dean met my stare, his eyes warm and welcoming. A surge of love and gratitude flowed through me as he leaned in and kissed me. I realized then that I hadn't just found a place to land when he became my mate—I'd found a reason to live.

We weren't just surviving anymore—we were living.