Bonus Epilogue

10 Years Later…

"But mom, you and dad always told us to protect those who can't defend themselves. That's what I did. I don't understand why I'm in trouble now."

Maya stared down at the golden brown eyes of the earnest eight-year-old who looked so much like her mate that it tugged at her heartstrings every time. But that didn't mean she went easier on him. She couldn't afford to, not with the dominance he was already showing as a young male. He hadn't even shifted yet, and wouldn't until he entered puberty like other young wolves, but her own wolf sensed the strength of his wolf and knew he would be a strong dominant in the pack, an enforcer high in the ranks of the pack. But he needed to learn control and how to channel his instincts even now, as a human, so he could control the wolf when it came time, or there was a risk his wolf would take over.

After all, that was her duty on the borders of the Chesapeake pack territory. When she and Garrett had asked for sanctuary from the young Alpha, Maddox Hawkridge, they had barely hoped for anything other than a quiet cabin in the middle of nowhere, a place to heal and carve out a place for themselves. Then, one day, he'd shown up with a couple of wolves who needed training. He'd asked them to work with them for a few months.

Every few months after that, he'd rotate new wolves in and out for more training until one day, when he'd brought a wounded female wolf from another pack. He'd asked them to protect her, train her, and heal her. Isa Sinclair was not from Saranac but she could have been, judging by the scars that littered her and the haunted look in her eyes.

Maya was not too much older than her, but she tucked Isa under her wing, as did Garrett, and they became the parents the young wolf no longer had. Now Isa flew high and proud as the third in their pack, strong and defiant, though there was still something wounded about her.

Maya and Garrett headed up the western den, and completed the final training for most of the pack enforcers. It wasn't the life they had planned so many years ago, but it suited them. It allowed them to raise their three pups in relative secrecy, and still serve a pack in a way that fed their wolves' needs. But Maya missed her family. Maddox fed her information casually, ensuring she knew how her siblings and cousins were doing, along with keeping them abreast of the actions of the Saranac pack. Things were devolving badly there and Maya worried it would come to their doorstep sooner rather than later.

But first, she had a problem with a pup to manage.

She planted her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face. "We also told you that fighting was the last option. Violence is never the answer unless you have no other choice."

Isaac rolled his eyes, reminding her of his namesake, her mentor from Dirigo. "Corey is a bully and mean to everyone, even the girls. He pinned Carly to the ground behind the school and scared her. When I told him to stop, he pushed me. So he started it. I just finished it."

She suppressed a smile at the last statement. He sounded so much like his father at that moment. Then his words registered and anger burned in her, her wolf snarling at the words, pinning Carly. "He pinned a girl to the ground?"

Isaac nodded, his eyes wide. "She's younger than him and he told her that she was his and she would learn her place." He cocked his head to the side, looking like the wolf he would one day be. "I didn't understand it, but she was scared and cried."

She fisted her hands at her side in an effort to control her own wolf. "Did anyone else see this?"

"Only Alex. Corey said no one would believe us because Alex was my brother. Then he ran and cried to the teacher." His tone of disgust told her exactly what he thought of Corey and his weak-assed move.

She thought the same thing. First picking on a female, then starting a fight, then crying to a teacher. This behavior needed to be addressed immediately. Fortunately, Maya and Garrett were in the position to do exactly that, being representatives of their Alpha in that den. Corey and his parents reported to them. They'd had issues with Corey's father, skirting the line of insubordination, so it wasn't hard to figure out where his pup got the attitude from. Good thing their Alpha wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior.

"We'll speak with Corey and his parents, but remember what we've told you. Violence is always a last resort."

His shoulders slumped. "I'm still in trouble?"

"Yep. No outdoor time for a week." He sighed and turned to the house. But she laid a hand on his shoulder. "But I'm proud of you for sticking up for Carly. That's what a true male of worth does. You're a good boy, Isaac. Now run inside and have a snack."

He beamed at her and raced inside to join his brother and sister, who were peering out of the windows, watching the interaction.

"Nice job, mate. I would have ripped that kid's arms out and beat him with them, then high-fived our son," a voice drawled from the side of the house.

Her heart leapt in her chest, and she slowly turned, a smile growing on her face. Damn it. Her mate grew more handsome every time she saw him. The little laugh lines around his eyes. The hint of gray just starting to dust his temples. He was still the same irresistible wolf she remembered from all those years ago.

He winked and crooked his finger to lure her behind the house where the kids wouldn't see them. She went all too eagerly. She deserved a break after that exchange. Time with her mate was just the reward she'd earned.

* * *

Garrett's blood boiled the longer his son talked about his fight at school. He had already heard about it from Corey's father, who stormed into the training ring to confront Garrett about Isaac being a bully. He had gravely miscalculated there since Garrett was on the phone with their Alpha and overheard the start of the conversation and demanded to hear the story. Despite everything going on with his own mate and the rising issues with Saranac, Maddox had had no problem issuing a major putdown to the other male in a way that had the male slinking away with his belly on the ground and his tail between his legs.

Maddox ordered him and his family to the main compound for a discussion. When that discussion would occur was anyone's guess, since Chesapeake was going to war.

But first, Garrett needed his mate, needed the soothing only she could provide.

He pinned her to the wall of the house and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent until all he knew was her. She relaxed, the only time she was ever at ease was with him, and stroked his back, as if sensing something was wrong. They stayed for several long minutes, just garnering comfort from each other.

Finally, he lifted his head. "Maddox called."

Maya studied him for a long moment. "I take it he wasn't calling about the training program or den politics."

Garrett quirked a grin. "Not exactly, though he read Randall the riot act for Corey's actions and called them to den home to account for it."

Maya winced. "Well, that's one problem solved, though I don't like that it looks like we can't manage our wolves."

"Randall has been an issue for every den he has been assigned to for years. It's about time he is called to task, especially now that he has a pup to raise. Maddox won't blame us for this."

She gave a ghost of a grin. "I wouldn't want to be Randall. Maddox isn't known for compassion."

Garrett tried to smile, but sighed instead. "He's recalled us to battle."

She froze, going still under his arms. "With Saranac? I thought we agreed we wouldn't fight our old packs. We agreed to stay hidden to protect our pups."

"We're not fighting against Dirigo, but rather with them, possibly. But we will fight Saranac. It's time to take Treadway down. We have to finish what we started ten years ago, Maya."

She rested her head on his chest. "I know, but the pups. We always said if we were recalled, only one of us would go. We'd never leave our pups orphaned."

He tilted her head up. "Our pups will be safe with Chesapeake. They have a solid foundation here with the den and are part of the pack. They will never be alone. Besides, I'm not planning on letting a Saranac wolf take me out. Are you?"

Her lips quirked upwards once, but settled back into a frown. "I want to take him down, take down that whole rotten pack. But it's not just us anymore, Garrett."

He pulled her close, resting his chin on her head. "I know, Maya. But I need to see this through. I need to know the monsters are truly gone this time. I'm tired of hiding. Aren't you?"

She growled against his chest. "I want to see my family again. Sloane is the third in Dirigo now. Did you know that? I've missed so much."

He leaned back. "We can have it back again. We can have our family again. Well, your family. Mine is a clusterfuck, assuming your family doesn't gut me where I stand."

She grinned. "I'll protect you, baby. Haven't I always?"

He kissed her, a long, deep kiss that had her panting for more. "So we go?"

She sighed. "Do we have time for a quickie?"

"Fighting always got your blood racing, baby. Let's take Saranac down and then we fuck. I have big plans for you, baby. "

"Then don't die, Garrett."

He hugged her. "That's not the plan, Maya. We've earned our reward. We just need to finish this. It's been ten years. Let's close the book."

* * *

Garrett and Maya's story ends in the epilogue ten years before Alpha's Moon, Book 1 in the Dirigo Pack series, while the Bonus Epilogue picks up at the end of Feral Moon, Book 3 in the Dirigo Pack series. Check out the first chapter from Alpha's Moon, the first full-length book in the Dirigo Pack series.