Epilogue

Two weeks had passed since they had left their respective packs. They had spent the time with Alex and the remaining Tri-State pack members but the clock was ticking on their presence. When Isaac had shown up with another enforcer and Maya's clothes, they knew it was game over. He gave them an ultimatum. Maya could return to the pack but Garrett had to leave. Maya took her possessions and walked away without a backwards glance.

Garrett held her while she cried late into the night. She swore she didn't regret her decision, but was mostly pissed off at how close-minded her pack was acting. Garrett could understand it, though. There was too much hatred and animosity between the packs to ever accept him, even if he had nothing to do with the past offenses. His name, his pack affiliation, would be enough to create tension and anger for years to come. And the one who would be damaged would be their pup, the one Maya even now carried. They had to think of their young.

It was Alex who offered a potential solution, one several of his pack were considering. Garrett offered to be the first to test the waters. And that was how they came to be at the isolated rest area on the border of New York and Pennsylvania, facing four angry enforcers and a very young alpha.

The Alpha of the Chesapeake pack looked barely out of his teen years, but when Garrett looked past his body and into eyes, the man had seen some shit. He was haunted by things that most males couldn't imagine. Part of that was probably the war, since Chesapeake had been involved in the Tri-State pack war too, but rumor told of an alpha who went moon mad, killed his mate and attacked several members of the pack.

This Alpha's father.

Yeah, he might be young, but he'd seen some shit. And he didn't tolerate bullshit, either.

"Why is a Saranac wolf and a Dirigo wolf on my territory without permission?"

Garrett stepped in front of Maya. "We are no longer a Saranac wolf or Dirigo wolf. We are mates, packless, and seeking asylum."

The enforcers looked startled, but the Alpha didn't react. "You're a Colvin from Saranac, related to the Beta and one of their den leaders, the one accused of murdering pups and females."

Garrett steeled himself against the pain the accusations brought. "That was my father. I killed him two weeks ago for his crimes."

The Alpha nodded. "Will your Beta come after you here?"

"He is no longer my Beta or my family, but yes, he might come looking for us," Garrett acknowledged. Word had reached him that his uncle had put out a bounty on both him and Maya, dead or alive. Preferably dead. You have to love family.

"Why her?"

Maya stepped forward. "I'm Garrett's mate and I slashed Linc Colvin's face to shit during the attack. Too bad the Council didn't see fit to agree with us on charges."

Her bitterness was still present, like a wound that wouldn't heal. She resented her pack and the Council for not doing more to hold Saranac responsible, but Garrett had more important things to worry about, namely her and their pup.

A ghost of a smile crossed the Alpha's face. "I would have liked to see that. Must have pissed him off real good."

Maya gave her first genuine smile in weeks. "Sure did. And I'd do it again if given the chance."

The Alpha nodded. "So why come here?"

Garrett put an arm around Maya. "We need sanctuary and a place to hide. We can offer our services as training for your enforcers, but we prefer to stay off the radar."

The younger male assessed them both for a long moment, then his nostrils flared. "You're pregnant."

Maya pressed a hand to her belly. "I am."

"Dirigo won't take you in?"

"They'll take me, but not my mate," Maya confirmed.

The Alpha studied them for another long minute and Garrett felt like the other male was peering inside his very soul. Both he and Maya stood still and waited. This was their best chance for protection and safety, for themselves and their unborn pup.

"I hate Saranac. They've caused nothing but grief for me and my pack. But Dirigo and I are allies. Will taking you in cause problems for me with them?"

Maya lifted her chin. "I was the second to the western den leader, poised to take over. I left of my own choice, was not kicked out. While they do not approve of my choice, I am not an enemy of Dirigo."

"But your mate is."

"Not for his part," she countered.

"Can we trust you?"

Garrett slashed a cut in his palm and held it out, letting blood drip onto the soil. "I will make a blood oath to you and your pack. I will never betray you and will fight for you, by your side, until the Goddess takes me."

Maya did the same, slashing an identical cut in her palm and holding it out for the alpha.

Without hesitation, he cut his own palm and sealed it over Garrett's, then Maya's, repeating the oath. Garrett felt pack bonds settle over his mate bond like a familiar coat, comforting and soothing. Once it was repeated with Maya, he saw her shoulders relax and knew she felt the same.

"I'm Maddox Hawkridge, Alpha of Chesapeake. We could use experienced enforcers here. You are safe now. Welcome to Chesapeake."