Epilogue

John

*Nine Months Later*

“Gentrification. That’s what this is,” Tim muttered into his mug of locally brewed IPA under the dim, recessed lights on the exposed metal beams of the ceiling. “All these tourists are nothing but trouble.”

I passed by his stool, stopping to remove the red and green battery-operated lightbulb necklace Fallon insisted I wear, and hung my guitar on the shelf behind the bar. “I didn’t hear you complaining when Colleen met her fated mate after a group of tourists came to visit.”

“That’s different,” Tim grumbled.

“Is it, though?” I laughed as I cracked a bottle of beer and downed half. I was thirsty after playing on stage. But my Luna had me working like a dog and for some reason, I couldn’t tell her no.

“Things are changing.” Tim sighed his troubles into the bottom of his glass. He wasn’t complaining about the quality of the beer, so I ignored the rest of his rant.

Besides, a pretty girl just walked in.

The place was popping for a Thursday night, but the crowd fell away into a dull roar as my raven-haired goddess came through the front doors. Shifters parted like a rushing tide, either aware their Luna was in the building or unsure of what to do with the dominant push of power she was throwing their way.

My beast thumped his tail as she smiled at me.

“Are you ready to go?”

I finished off my beer and tossed it into the trashcan, moving around Andrea as she tended the bar. Crossing the hardwood floors, I met the owner of the bar halfway, then scooped her up into my arms. “You missed my show.”

I didn’t care if I sounded pathetic; Fallon was the one who insisted I put on a festive performance each Thursday night for the month of December. “We need more fun in this territory,” she’d said. “Make them want to stick around.”

Fallon was a tough Luna, but she had a vision. It was something beautiful to watch it come alive. Because that’s what she’d done. Slowly but surely, she’d brought more life into this pack.

A public playground sat by the new elementary school. She’d recruited some small businesses and created a boutique shopping center right outside the resort. Shifters were coming back and bringing their families with them. Especially now that Chase and Kimberly Williams were running the Detroit territory and sending the younger wolves up here to learn to hunt. It’d been less than a year, and everywhere you looked there was a new change from the Luna’s hands. She was born for this role. And you either learned to accept it or got out of her way.

Thankfully, she liked me.

“I did not and I would never miss you playing.” Fallon swatted me away after she’d stolen a chaste kiss. “Just the last set. Amber and Colton swung by before heading to the lodge.”

“Guess that means it’s a full house.” I sighed as I tucked Fallon by my side, opening the door of the warm bar and meeting the blustery winter wind.

“It’s not too late to run away.” She laughed as she burrowed into my warmth.

I held her close, making sure she didn’t slip on the ice in those damned heeled boots, and got us to my truck. “I think we’re far past running,” I told her as I buckled her in, smiling when she let me without fuss. “And you were the one who sent the invitations, my domestic goddess.”

“I guess you’re right.” Fallon rolled her eyes. She was even pretty when she was mean. “Let’s go host Christmas.”

*

A twenty-foot tree decked out in gold and white ribbons took up a huge part of the sitting room in the lodge, forcing the rest of us to get comfortable closer together around the roaring fire. Fallon’s touches were everywhere. A little more black in the décor. Some new paint here and there. A bigger couch. Softer blankets. Less flannel. More knit. She was making this her home.

And I couldn’t be happier.

Bryant stood at the bar counter near the dining room, shaking the mixer and pouring drinks. I sat near him, watching the Hallmark holiday scene spread out before me.

“That’s for Uncle John,” Amber said, taking a gift from Colton and arranging it under the tree.

“You didn’t have to get me anything.”

Amber smiled and I couldn’t help but see the buck-toothed pup she’d once been. “You’re going to love it. It’s from Maine. I got Momma some stuff, too. But we’ll drop it off on our way back home.”

“I’m sure I will. And so will she,” I said as Bryant handed me a drink. Rachel wasn’t here this year, choosing to stay with Danielle in upstate New York for the first winter holiday with the new pup. I couldn’t believe she was old enough to be a grandmother already. Having my own pups around was still a dream for me.

I eyed Fallon’s smooth belly as I sipped the glass of peppermint bullshit Bryant mixed up.

One day. My wolf grinned, happy with the warmth and laughter in the room.

Fallon caught my eyes and cocked her head to the side as if she’d heard my beast.

Not yet, I told my wolf. We’d had this conversation a few times. I was content to practice for now while Fallon wanted to wait.

The knock at the front door had my mate wanting to bounce on the balls of her feet, but she didn’t show it as she made her way across the room with a sultry grace fit for a queen. I met her there, getting one last moment alone to sneak in a kiss, before we opened the door to welcome our visitors from the west coast.

Ranger and Aspen McCaw stood on the front stoop as snow whirled around the pair. Behind them was the coyote Clara and the cheetah Jesse. I had no clue why they insisted on traveling with a whole zoo, but one look at their thin clothes and the blue tint to Aspen’s lips had me opening the door wider and ushering them inside.

Aren’t they shifters? My wolf shook his head.

It’s the humans who don’t know how to dress their skin. I slung my arm around Ranger’s shoulders, prying him away from his mate as Fallon pulled her close to the fire. “Welcome up north, bud. What’re ya drinking tonight?”

Ranger took a long look at Aspen before turning my way. “That’s right. You owe me a beer.”

*

Ranger ended up with a glass of scotch and we stood on the back porch of the lodge, watching the snow drift from the crystalized night sky as the warmth of the house glowed in the window behind us.

“Fallon’s doing okay,” he said. It was more of an observation than a question. My beast puffed up with pride as I sipped my beer.

“Yup. How’s mated life for you?”

Ranger got that gleam in his eyes I’d seen a few times myself in the mirror. “It’s alright.”

I smiled as I took another sip of my beer. “Probably should have you guys come out in the summer. Better fishing then.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll ask the mate.” Ranger twirled scotch around his glass, looking back over his shoulder to the window where there was warmth and life.

I didn’t blame him.

“Uncle John, come see this.” My niece beat her fist against the glass. Ranger and I shared a look as our wolves tensed, confused by the urgency in Amber’s tone.

The instant warmth had us shaking melted snow from our hair as we marched over to the living room where the TV volume was cranked up.

“Is that…”

The screen showed a reporter covering the scene as a woman was pulled out of an elevator in handcuffs, “Molly Roberts, former employee of Mating Season, pled guilty today to tampering with evidence in a federal investigation. Allegations also include illegal gambling–”

“I told you!” the cheetah shifter growled.

There was an uproar of emotion that set my beast on edge as I moved to Fallon’s side while the females sitting on the couch rushed to talk over each other and simultaneously raised the volume on the TV so no one could hear anything.

“Finally!”

“So she was placing bets.”

“That’s not what I heard–”

I reached up and turned the TV off manually, scratching the back of my head as the room quieted and eight pairs of eyes looked my way. “Can someone tell me what’s going on?”

“Wasn’t he on the show?” The coyote shifter looked at Aspen. “I swear I saw him there.”

“You can be on the show and not have a clue what’s going on. Ask me how I know.” Aspen giggled, leaning back so her head rested against Ranger.

He affectionately squeezed her shoulder as he pulled out his phone and scrolled. “It’s true. They finally got enough dirt to bring her in. Took them long enough. It’s been almost three months since our settlement against the network.”

“Thank the Goddess.” Aspen sighed. “Wait, this doesn’t mean we have to go back to court, does it?”

Ranger pocketed his phone. “No. They have her on a technicality and the feds are involved with the interstate gambling. Jesse’s testimony should be all they need. It’s bigger than us now.”

We all glanced at the cheetah shifter. Jesse laid back on the leather recliner practically licking himself with how smug he looked.

“Told you not to mess with your stylists.”

*

“Everyone seems happy.” I snuggled under the down comforter on our bed in the master suite of the lodge, tucking Fallon’s perfect ass against my front.

Fallon pulled my arm over her and buried herself in the warmth. “It’s been a crazy few days. I’m excited for Christmas tomorrow and then to send everyone home.”

“You were the one who planned this,” I laughed.

“Don’t remind me.” She sighed. “Oh, did you hear Aspen about watching the show? She might’ve been drunk, but she said we should all stream it together when it comes out.”

“Do you want to go back to McCaw Pack for that?” I held her tighter as a yawn stretched my face. She hadn’t asked to visit her hometown yet, but I wasn’t against going anywhere she wanted to go.

“No. I’ve got too much work to do before this next season. Maybe after.”

“Mmm,” I mumbled into her hair, breathing her scent. Something was a tad different. It took me a second to realize she was talking about mating season here in the spring. “What work do you have to do before next season?”

My beast perked his ears up.

Something was…

“Nothing. Go to sleep.” Fallon went rigid as a board under my arms.

“What are you not telling me?” I growled, pulling myself from the brink of sleep as my hands trailed down her body, ready to tickle her if I had to.

She hated that.

“It’s…” Fallon blew out a breath. “Damn it. Whatever. It’s almost after midnight.”

“You’re speaking in riddles, darling.”

“Do you remember when Alice screamed for me after Janice Williams showed up in our territory?” she asked.

I figured she was trying to change the subject, but the memory still made me smile. “Yeah. Why?”

“I asked her after why she called me specifically and not you,” Fallon explained. “And Alice said it’s because I was the only one strong enough to protect you from the lady with nails.”

I chuckled at that. “Smart pup. Maybe she’s got some seer abilities.”

“She told me I make her feel safe.”

I gathered Fallon closer, knowing this was a sore spot in her past. “The pack adores you. You’ve won them all over.”

“It’s not that.” She relaxed against me. “It’s just that I’ve been thinking all year that I liked the way that sounded. Of being needed and taking care of one of those little things.”

“Little things like a… pup?”

My heart beat a bit faster as my wolf’s tail started to thump.

“Maybe.” There was a little smile in the darkness and I sensed Fallon closing her eyes. “I stopped my birth control in anticipation of this coming season. We’ll see what happens. Merry Christmas, babe.”

“Merry Christmas,” I whispered back, shocked nearly silent by what she’d said.

Not my wolf though.

I’d never heard him howl so loud.