EPILOGUE

Noah

As I slide my fingers along Rhyan's arm, I lean over, pressing my lips to hers. She giggles lazily, still coming down from her high as I pull back and look into her eyes. "I fucking love you."

She grins up at me, her hand gently caressing my face, her thumb brushing my scar. "You too. I'm so proud of you. For getting your patch. For letting my dad do all that shit to you." She smiles. "You took it all, and I know how hard that must have been, Montana."

Shaking my head, I let out a small laugh. "It's gonna take me a bit to get used to being called that."

"It suits you. I love it." She leans in, pressing her lips to mine again as I hear everyone in the main clubroom becoming rowdier.

Laughing against her lips, I pull back, glancing at the bedroom door with a heavy exhale. "I guess, seeing as it is my party, we should try to make an appearance. We've been in here for hours."

Rhyan groans, flopping back on the bed. "I was hoping you'd fuck me again, but I guess we should go out there—" I spin back, pressing my lips to hers, cutting her off.

She giggles against me, her hands pressing my chest, slowly pushing me back. Regretfully, I pull away. "You're right, Montana. We need to go out to the party. We have the rest of our lives to be with each other. Tonight is also about you being with your brothers. It's important."

"You had to go and tempt me before bringing me back down to earth with a thud, didn't you?"

Rhyan chuckles, shoving me harder, and I have to slide out of bed before she pushes me out. "That's my job as an Old Lady. To remind you when the club comes first."

She stands and steps up to me, plants a chaste kiss on my lips, and then reaches for her clothes, pulling them on. Shaking my head, I tap her ass and follow her lead, moving about the bedroom and retrieving my clothes.

Once dressed, we make our way out into the clubroom, my hand in Rhyan's. The club is alive, and everyone is drinking and having a great time. South and Ingrid have put baby Louis down for the night and are enjoying themselves. Even Livvy has dropped by, and she's sitting with Haven, Alpha, and Poppy, laughing and enjoying herself.

Spotting a spare couple of seats, I pull Rhyan with me to a table where Loki, Ink, Wes, and Rip are sitting. Rhyan and I sit while Rip continues his story without missing a beat.

"… and so the wave was curling, right? I totally thought I was going to wipe out, but then… this chick on a fucking jet ski comes crashing over the gnarly crest, almost barreling right into my melon. I swear she was gonna knock me the hell out."

Rhyan sits forward, completely invested. "So… what happened?"

Rip chuckles, sitting back, raising his beer in the air. "Oh, man, it was a fucking buzz kill. The chick was smokin', one hundred percent a ten. I was hoping that was the start of something, you know? Maybe her taking me out on a wave could be fate or some shit… I dunno." Rip takes a long sip of his beer, and Rhyan slaps Rip on the back, causing him to choke on the liquid beverage.

"Don't stop there, what happened? I need to know what happened!" Rhyan urges.

Rip shrugs like he's confused by Rhyan's investment in his story. "Chill, Betty… I woke up."

I burst out laughing, along with Loki, Wes, and Ink, as Rhyan furrows her brows in confusion. "Huh?"

"It was a dream, baby." I smile at her.

Rhyan scowls at Rip, letting out a huff. "Rip… you need to get out more and meet a real woman."

The guys all laugh, nodding in agreement as Rip widens his eyes at my Old Lady. "I meet plenty of chicks."

Rhyan folds her arms over her chest. "When was the last time you went on a date, Rip? A real date?"

We all chuckle as Rip continues to drink his beer, ignoring Rhyan, but she takes this on and rolls with it. "Okay… I am setting you up with my friend Autumn. She's a fucking catch, and she'll be right up your alley."

Rip chokes on his beer again. " What? Nah, man. I'm no fucking good on blind dates. And besides, does she even know how to surf?"

Rhyan waggles her brows. "Her dad was a pro-surfer."

Rip suddenly grins, sitting taller. "Autumn, you said?"

Rhyan giggles. "Want me to invite her around now?"

I exhale. "Rhy, ease up—"

"Yeah… the more the merrier, right?" Rip states, and Rhyan grins at me.

I laugh, shrugging my shoulders as Rhyan jumps from her chair. "I'll just go make a phone call." She rushes off as Rip sits back, sipping his beer with a big shit-eating grin.

Shaking my head, I turn to Loki, lifting my chin. "Hey, VP?" He glances up at me. "Thanks for the patch. I know I didn't make it easy on you and Alpha, especially in the last few weeks, but this," I tap my patch on my left chest, "… means fucking everything to me."

Loki inhales deeply, placing his cell on the table, focusing his attention fully on me. "The thing is, Montana, you earned that patch. You worked for it. You put your life on the line for your brothers and their families. That's what being a member of Defiance is all about. So that patch is right where it is meant to be."

Pride floods me when I sit back in my chair with a bright smile.

Navy brings a beer over for me and slides it across the table. "Here you go, Montana. Enjoy."

Dipping my head at her, I smile. "Thanks, Navy."

She grips my shoulder, then walks off as Loki glances at his cell again, furrowing his brows. I lift my drink to my lips but hesitate. "Everything okay, VP?"

He scrubs at his bearded chin. "My buddy, Theo, says he's popping by. Tried to tell him it's not a good time, the club is celebrating, but he's being rather insistent… and it's not like him. He's generally a chilled kinda guy. It feels like something's up."

"Has Theo been your friend for a long time?"

Loki nods, his eyes still glued to his cell. "All my life. We lived next door, and our families spent all our time together."

Furrowing my brows, I exhale. "Why didn't Theo join the club?"

Loki snorts out a laugh. "Theo? No, he's more suited to being a suit. He went to Silicon Valley, I came to Defiance."

"And yet, you're still best friends, even though you're the complete opposites of each other?" I ask.

Loki shrugs. "Life takes people down different paths for various reasons. But I guess if friendships can stand the test of time, then that can only be a good thing, right?"

Reaching out, I slap his shoulder with a nod. "If Theo needs to see you tonight, don't hold him off on my account, brother. Let him come in and celebrate the night with us."

Loki inhales, typing a message on his cell, then places his phone on the table. "Appreciate that brother. I'll feel better once I know what's going on with him."

"Any friend of yours is a friend to us all," I tell him, and Loki chuckles.

"Now you're really talking like a Defiance brother, Montana," Loki states.

I laugh, tilting my head. "Just no more of that woo-woo wellness app shit, yeah?" I tell him, making Loki chuckle.

Bringing my glass to my lips, Wes and Ink raise their beers to celebrate when, out of the corner of my eye, someone steps up to the side of the table. I glance up at Theo, his suit disheveled, his tie hanging loosely when he glances down at Loki. I widen my eyes as I gently kick Loki under the table.

Loki glances up from his cell, and immediately, his brows pull together in a frown. "Fuck, brother. What the hell happened to you? Sit down, for fuck's sake!"

Theo relaxes his shoulders and slides in, sitting where Rhyan was, then runs his fingers through his hair. "I was already outside the clubhouse. I waited for you to say it was okay to come inside."

Loki throws his hands to the side in confusion. "Since when do you ever ask for permission?"

Theo scrubs at his face like he is losing control and doesn't know what to do. "Alexander… please, everything is going to shit."

Loki scratches his head, a serious expression crossing his face. "You know I don't like being called my real name here, Theo."

Theo clenches his eyes tight, puffing out a long wisp of air. "Loki, please … we need your help."

Loki tenses, a serious look crossing his face. "We?"

Theo sighs. "It's our wellness app… there's been a breach."

Loki groans, dropping his chin to his chest. "How fucking bad are we talking here?"

A visible shudder trails down Theo's back, and he swallows heavily. "Bad-bad, Loki."

Suddenly, Loki's cell rings, making us all jump from the shock of the noise. Loki snaps his head to the caller ID and furrows his brows. "The fuck?" he mumbles under his breath.

"Who is it?" Theo snaps.

"It's Bea."

Theo widens his eyes. "As in my sister… Bea? She never calls you."

Loki stares at his cell, a look of disbelief crossing his face. "I know," he says, slowly swiping the answer call button and moving the cell to his ear.

"Bea? Is that you?" he asks, immediately followed by his face scrunching in anger.

"Are you fucking drunk?" He growls out the words.

Theo sinks his head into his hands, and I shift my eyes to Wes, who grimaces. Loki stands and begins pacing around the table, then suddenly, Loki kicks the edge of his chair in anger. It goes flying across the room, making an almighty scraping noise. "Where the fuck are you? I'm coming to get you!"

Theo stands, clear shock registering on his face as Loki nods like he is taking in the information being relayed to him, and then he grunts. "Stay there. Do not move, so help me God, Beatrice!" He ends the call, sliding his cell into his pocket, and starts walking for the exit.

Theo chases after him. "You haven't seen each other in years, Loki, and she calls you out of the fucking blue?"

Loki continues to walk. "Exactly. It's weird. Let's go!"

The two of them storm out of the clubhouse, the rest of us hanging back, staring at each other, wondering what the fuck just happened.

Rip raises his beer in the air and chuckles. "Here's to another Defiance drama."

We all burst out laughing as Rhyan runs back and slides onto my lap.

I smile, edging my hand onto her thigh. "Hey, you," I whisper against her ear.

"Hey…" But then she snaps her head around, glancing at Rip. "So, Autumn will be here in about thirty. Do not get drunk in the meantime, okay?" she warns, her voice stern.

"Are you kidding?" Rip declares.

Rhyan giggles, shrugging. "I'm officially your wingman, Rip. You're welcome."

Rip places his beer down, standing dramatically. "Fuck… I need to go prepare some killer pickup lines and shit."

Rhyan exhales, reaching out for Rip. "Be yourself. You're perfect the way you are."

I smile, but Rip shakes his head. "I better go change." He nods as if agreeing with himself and turns, running for his bedroom.

The rest of us chuckle, and I grin at Rhyan. "You've created a monster," I tell her.

She spins back, cuddling into me on my lap, and she shrugs. "Hey, even if they don't hit it off, at least Rip is making an effort. He needs to get out more."

Bringing my hand to her face, I caress her cheek. "You're so fucking good to everyone."

She smiles up at me. "Because everyone here is my family, and I want to see them happy."

"No, baby. You're good to everyone. No matter who they are. You're a fucking amazing person. It's why I love you. And why, one day, in the future, when I have given your dad enough time to get used to us, I'm going to ask him if I can marry you."

The smile lights her face, shining like the brightest diamond I've ever seen. She's so fucking stunning that it takes my breath away. "And when you do ask, I will happily and blissfully say yes."

My heart leaps in my chest before I press my lips to hers.

I don't care that the clubhouse is packed.

I don't care that they are watching me make out with the woman I am desperately in love with.

Right now, I only want to be here with my girl, my brothers, and my family—together.

Because my life hasn't always been about togetherness.

It's been about separation.

About being torn from the people I love.

But not anymore.

Because right here, I couldn't be any fucking happier.

And even though I have had rebellious days, I have come through it all with everything I could have ever wanted.

And that—is true defiance.