Epilogue - Jet

"Is everyone accounted for? Sound off for your packs." My voice boomed in the meeting chambers, filling the cool stone-walled room.

"Kaiden Edwards, Alpha of the Collins pack, present."

I smiled at him, so glad to see him that it nearly made this grown wolf weep. It had only been a few weeks since his last visit, but I was used to the asshole living in the compound.

"Alder, Alpha of the MacKay pack, present."

Alder nodded, his red hair falling into his face as he stepped forward. He'd been one of the longest-standing members of our little group of rule-breakers, his pack having come over from Scotland a century ago.

Next up to speak was another younger alpha.

"Brooks, Alpha of the Dickson pack, present."

He bowed his head respectfully before ruining it with that permanent smirk of his. Brooks"s light blue eyes sparkled as he nodded up at Kaiden. They'd raised hell when they were younger, and it was their unkillable friendship that started to bring us together that much more.

When Brooks"s father, Mace, had died suddenly, he had proven himself a capable leader, if also an endless flirt—and a bit of a manwhore if I was being honest.

"Rowan, Alpha of the Nicholson pack, present."

The wolf's voice boomed, a hair deeper than even my own, and that usual mismatched stare of his gleamed as he nodded. The green and blue irises were just one of his alpha gifts. The bastard also had the blackest hair possible and fair skin that looked almost pearlescent in the sunlight.

If you didn't know any better, you'd swear he was a vampire—not that those had existed for at least ten centuries.

Last to speak, and only by virtue of his waiting not so patiently, was Cade.

"Cade, Alpha of the Wilder pack, present."

I nodded back as Cade continued to watch the events with a somewhat bored expression. He wasn't one for politics and much preferred to go for a run. He'd even renamed his pack to Wilder when he'd taken over for his father because he felt like they needed to honor their predatory nature a bit more.

Still, he was loyal and empathetic to the other wolves. Sure, he was brash, a bit closed off, and less expressive than a rock, but he wasn't cruel.

"Any sign of Eli Williams?" I looked down at Kaiden.

"No. He hasn't returned any of the messages we've sent by either wolf or letter. I have a feeling we should give up on that one."

I sighed. I'd thought as much for a while now, but we needed all available wolves to band together. The time of mass separation and divided resources was over. Still, I knew there'd be outliers. If anything, dealing with Terrance and his fucking minions had taught me that.

"Very well. Let's get started then." I met eyes with each of the alphas present, folding my arms. "We have a unanimous problem among the wolves. Reginald, formerly of the Collins pack, and Leon, formerly of the Edwards pack, have banded together to enact violence and death against their fellow wolves. They have so far escaped justice, fleeing into the surrounding territories. I've called you each here because we have an accord. I cannot go into every territory like I can with yours."

I gestured toward the assembled men, who each held my stare intently.

"Nor can you. But together we can cover more ground. Create a united front. We need to pool our resources, and I'm hopeful that we'll be able to do just that while you're each here, staying as guests of the Edwards pack."

There was a beat of silence, during which I could see Kaiden do his best to hold his tongue. Everyone here, and likely all those in the surrounding packs, too, knew that he'd been in my pack until recently and only left to become the alpha of his own.

Brooks stepped forward. "I can speak for my entire pack when I say that we'll gladly help you find and end those fucks. Allies to the end, old friend."

Rolling my eyes a bit, I smiled at Brooks, coming down from the platform to clap him on the shoulder as we shook hands.

Then Cade cleared his throat. "You know we're each with you, Jet. Did you really call us all here because you wanted more babysitters? Because absolutely the fuck not."

We all laughed, and Cade walked over to me. He met my stare again, holding it intensely as he squeezed my shoulder.

"I mean it. We're with you." He nodded, and I returned the gesture. "But I will not go anywhere near those kids."

Laughter rang out through the room, and the tension that had filled it to the brim eased off. We were all tired, the alphas from their journey and me from endlessly scrambling after pups. It was so damn good to have them here.

"Thank you. It's good to know that each of you will work with me, with each other, to change things. It's the only way forward. We need things to get better soon, too, and not just because I'm worried about my pups. Things are shifting with our magic, with our abilities, with our damn numbers. Division isn't going to solve any of that shit."

"We've got the issue of hunters to think of during all this mess, too. They've been getting nosier around my territory, and I don't like it. I'm not going to be able to keep sending them away after a good scare. If one of them sees something they shouldn't…well, let's just say the pack will have dinner that night."

Rowan's words sent a shiver down my spine. We didn't eat humans, but we weren't incapable of it either. And I knew the gorgeous fucker was as ruthless as he was charming.

"I know, old friend. We'll see about redefining the territory lines, using some human tricks to deter them."

Stretching, Brooks broke our little huddle. "All right, all right. We've got all week for this shit. I'm hungry. Let's get the fuck out of this stuffy old room."

Brooks sauntered over to Cade, throwing his arm over his shoulder and dragging the guy out of the room, even as Cade growled at him.

"I am not your mate. Get off," Cade snapped, but Brooks just smirked.

"Aside from good old Jet here, none of us have mates. Or dates that I'm aware of. Though I definitely have something cooking with this wolf back home. Oof ass for days, son!"

The others laughed, Rowan following Brooks and Cade out of the room. But I walked up behind Kaiden and tugged on his arm to halt him.

"Hey, Jet. What is it?"

Putting a hand on each of his shoulders, I smirked at him. "How is alpha life, son?"

"Jet," he smiled, putting a hand on top of my left arm, "it's going fine. I'm not going to lie and say I'm perfect at it. But things are as good as they can be. We've got some stuff going on with that drug thing I was telling you about, but I'm sure it'll resolve itself."

I nodded, pulling him along after the other alphas. "You know it can be a lot easier if you have someone there alongside you. I can't be there to help anymore, and your sister is a bit busy with endless medical needs. And dating Grayson."

Kaiden blanched, his eyebrows meeting his hairline. "She's doing what now? Well, there's something that just slipped her mind, I guess. Little shit."

Laughing, I nodded. "Oh yeah, I'm sure Kenzie was chomping at the bit to tell her brother that she's seeing one of his oldest friends. Besides, maybe it's your own dating life that you should be thinking about."

I didn't think it was possible for Kaiden's brows to get higher, and yet…

"Are you kidding me? With all the alpha stuff? I don't have time for that."

"Whatever happened to that girl you used to bully? Kim, Chloe—"

"Kit."

"Yes, that's it. You were so hung up on her. I mean, you taunted her endlessly, but I always assumed it was because you liked her and didn't know how to interact with her any other way."

"I was a dumb teenager, Jet. You hadn't driven home the point of how to be compassionate and respectful yet. I have my regrets, but that shit is so in the past. Besides, I think I heard that she's staying with the Williams pack now. And in case I need to remind you, Eli is not an alpha I want to be dealing with."

Kaiden shook his head, breaking free of my gentle hold and walking off down the hall. It was a clear end to the conversation. Still, I knew the seed had been planted, and I also knew that Senna could get off my back about helping him to find some "happiness" now.

Leave it to my little omega to be all into matchmaking.

"Speaking of…"

I let the others go to the kitchen for snacks ahead of me. I had a date with a patch of grass, and I wasn't going to miss it.

***

The sun shone down on the new grass in the backyard, and the warmth of it on my skin felt so damn good after such a long winter. It was still only early spring, the temperature maybe around seventy-two degrees, but I was still thrilled for any chance to be outside with the pack.

In fact, the crew was out running, taking in a hunt to prepare dinner for the alphas tonight, and Senna lay in the grass, babbling adorably at Glade.

"Who's Momma's little pup? You are!" She snuggled him down over her face, blowing against his tummy and making the little guy squeal with laughter. "Yes, you are. Yes, you are! You gonna crawl for me today? You know you want to."

The twins were only six months old, and Senna was trying to get them to start running. I needed a few more months before I had to run after them everywhere, thank you very much.

"Don't even think about it, stinker. I like being able to plop you down in the baby cage and take a piss," I said, scooping up Sky and sitting next to Senna.

Laughing, Senna scooped up Glade and set him down next to her. His little hands went straight for the grass.

"I do like that part. I will agree. Still"—Senna tickled under Sky's chin, and she squirmed, delighted, in my arms—"it would be so amazing to see them walking around, all wobbly and uncoordinated."

The mental image did spark something inside me, but I was not one to rush things. And they were already growing so quickly.

"I'm just grateful that they won't shift until they're past puberty. The idea of chasing after two-year-olds in wolf form does not appeal to me."

I buzzed against Sky's cheek, and she giggled for me, pulling at my beard.

"If they do. We still don't know if we've got shifters or V?lva on our hands." Senna took Sky into her arms, laying her in her lap and dangling her necklace for the baby to play with.

Sky reached up, her tiny fingers working hard. I smiled at how similar she was to her mother, blonde hair and light eyes—not that she had much hair to speak of. Thinking of her in wolf form made me laugh. Would she be a yellow wolf?

"No, we don't." I smoothed my hand up and down Senna's arm, still looking down at my daughter with a smile. "But it will be amazing regardless."

Senna laughed as Sky grabbed onto the thick beads and waved them around.

"Well, duh. They're ours. Of course it will be."

A gentle breeze blew by, and I just grinned. Imagining myself lying here with my children and mate, it hadn't been something I'd given any time to. This was the happiest I'd been in my entire life, and grateful didn't cut it.

I looked behind Senna to where Glade was still trying to pull up the yard blade by blade and shook my head. He was such a handful. Sky would sit and happily look at toys or a book. Glade was always trying his damnedest to pull himself across the floor however he could and getting into everything.

When he noticed I was there, he looked up at me and squeaked happily, his deep brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Hey, buddy." I ruffled his white hair, the alpha blood in him giving him that, if nothing else.

After a moment, a shadow passed over us, and I looked up to see Kaiden and Kenzie grinning down.

"Hello, babies." Kenzie stooped down and stole Sky from Senna's lap. "Oh, Gods, how are you so damn cute?! I could smush those fat little cheeks all day."

I shook my head with a laugh, grabbing Glade and standing up to hand him to Kaiden.

"Are you sure you're both still all right with watching them for the afternoon? You absolutely don't have to."

Kaiden settled Glade in his arm, and then offered a hand to help Senna up from the grass. "Of course. You two need some non-parent time. Besides, Kenzie roped Grayson into helping, too, so we've got the twins outnumbered."

Kenzie laughed, looking over her shoulder at Grayson, who waited at the back door. They'd been around each other a lot as of late, and I was still interested to see where that was going.

I loved Grayson. He'd been doing incredibly well at tracking the remaining members of the Collins pack, but knowing he was pursuing Kenzie was somehow different. My paternal instincts kicked in, I guess.

"They should want to nap soon anyway, so you'll have an easy time," Senna offered.

She moved up onto her tiptoes to kiss Glade's cheek, patting Kaiden on the shoulder. Trying for nonchalant, Senna whispered at Kaiden, but I could obviously still hear her.

"So, tell the alpha here that you'll use the free time to go over leads about Reginald and Leon so he relaxes."

Doing everything he could to hide the snicker, Kaiden nodded politely and then situated Glade at his chest.

"I'm on it, Alpha. I assure you. Grayson and I are doing everything we can. And you should really let yourself enjoy the time with your mate, yes?"

I cocked my head, playfully glaring at him.

"Using my son as a shield. Clever. All right, off with all of you." I turned to Senna. "I have a mate to deal with."

Her eyes lit up as I said the words, and the rest of the gang around me happily returned to the house. It was nice to have some alone time with Senna, to be sure, but I was unlikely to forget about the Leon situation any time soon.

"Bye, sweeties. Have a good nap!" Senna called over at the twins, and as soon as my packmates were out of sight, I yanked her into my arms.

She yelped lightly, looking up at me as she grinned.

"You are such a troublemaker." Senna just giggled. "I think I should punish you for being such a naughty little omega."

The smell of rose and almond bloomed around me, heady and strong. My nerves sang as Senna's scent flared with arousal, and I practically basked in the way it felt coming through our bond. We'd been intimate several times once she was able, but it had been gentle, simple, rushed.

Today was meant to be different.

I smoothed her body tight against mine, rubbing my erection against her.

"Fuck, I'm ravenous for you, sweetness."

Senna chewed on her lip, her eyes rolling closed as she moaned low. "Jet, I…oh, damn. I've been really looking forward to this."

Running my fingers through her hair at the nape of her neck, I pulled her closer, hovering my mouth above hers. Senna whined beautifully as I teased, just dusting my lips against her.

Our scents swirled, and I could feel the rebounding arousal strengthen between us. My cock throbbed, and I nipped at that full bottom lip. Senna melted in my arms, her breaths shaky and shallow.

"Oh, my sweet little Omega." Finally touching my lips to hers, I swept my tongue through the seam of her lips, tasting her before grinning against her mouth. "What about a run? We're outside. I want to see that tight little ass of yours trying to get away."

The delicious aroma of Senna's arousal flared, and I reached for her taut nipple, pinching as I nuzzled into her neck.

"Ugh!" She arched, grinding her pelvis against my shaft. "Oh, please, Jet. Hunt me."

A low growl rumbled up from my chest, and my fangs lengthened into my mouth. There was no fighting the shift right now, so I thankfully accepted the partial change that still allowed me to speak.

"Run, Omega. Run." I stepped back, my vision changing as my claws lengthened. "And I'll catch you."

Senna spun around and took off into the forest. I counted to fifty in my head, giving her a head start as I pulled off my clothes. It took everything in me to keep myself from running off early, but when I took off after her, I noticed Senna's trail of clothes leading into the trees.

She'd pulled that shit on me once, however, so this time I closed my eyes, searching out her scent, yes, but also the hushed sounds of her breathing—her hiding.

The scent pool near her clothes was strong, but there, off to the east and up ahead near where the creek cut through the property, a faint trickle of her heavenly fragrance and the labored rush of her breaths.

I took off at full speed, drawing on the internal well of strength and skill that my wolf gifted me. I'd be faster in fully shifted form, but this provided its own entertainment. I could call out to her like this.

"Sweetness!" My voice was sing-song pleasant as I howled into the glade up ahead. "I can hear you, pet. Gods, love, that scent of yours."

Growling low, I dashed forward, tracking a change in the ripples at the creek's edge. Instead of heading straight there, though, I maneuvered around the right of a large bush obscuring Senna from view.

Keeping my voice low, I whispered. "I'm going to bathe in it, Omega."

Slinking up behind her as Senna stood calf-deep in the water, I snatched her around the waist, hauling us around until we landed solidly on the bank. Senna yelped, the water splashing, and then a throaty moan slipped free as my erection brushed at her slick folds.

"There you are, precious."

She hummed hungrily. "Jet, ugh, oh yes, please. Please fuck me."

I shook my head, raining kisses down her neck and chest. "Oh, I'm going to do far more than just fuck you, little Omega."

My lips danced over her skin, and I worked my way down until I reached her hardened nipples. Goosebumps skittered across her flesh as I licked over one of the buds, teasing it with my fangs. The spring breeze was cool, and it whisked over her flesh, hardening it all the more.

"Ugh," she moaned, tangling her fingers through my hair.

I nibbled at her breast, sucking and teasing as she flooded the air around us with her intoxicating smell. She tasted divine, sweet and clean. This incredible woman, the mother of my children, my mate, and I continued to fall more and more in love with her.

"Jet, fuck! They're so sensitive." Senna squirmed beneath me, but there was no way I was backing off.

"Oh, is that so? Hmm…" I nibbled harder, squeezing her other nipple as I did.

Senna mewled beneath me, arching up off the pillowy grass and further into my mouth. The buds wept for me, and I continued to play until Senna was moaning in ragged gasps.

"Such a good, good little Omega." I kissed further down her body, seating myself between her legs. "Is the rest of you so dripping?"

Looking up from between her thighs, I saw the wonderful blush coloring Senna's cheeks, and I smirked. Pressing her legs further open, I lowered my mouth to her slit, and yes, indeed, my mate was so very wet for me.

Her legs were slick as she draped them over my shoulders, chilly water having made the skin cold and slippery.

My lips were just over her, and I growled, the vibration rumbling through my entire body. "Cry out for me, Senna. Let me hear those gorgeous moans filling the forest."

With that, I lowered my mouth to her and sucked Senna's clit between my lips. She bucked, crying out beautifully. I pressed down on her thighs, keeping her open for me as she fought to squeeze her legs together. Her fingers were back in my hair in seconds, gripping the roots tightly as she rode my face.

Tart, delicious arousal coated my tongue, and I darted it inside her, swirling it around her entrance before dragging the flat of it across her and up to her clit again. Senna's pussy fluttered against me, her legs trembling, and I purred against her skin.

"Oh, fuck," she mewed. "That. Do that."

"Whatever you need, love."

Purring all the harder, I reached a hand to her folds, slipping inside and hooking my fingers up into her G-spot. The vibrations continued to buzz against her clit as I tongued it, and wetness swelled around my fingers.

She was close.

"That's it, sweetness. Come for me. Come for me like a good girl, and then I'll rut that tight pussy of yours."

Sucking her clit back into my mouth, I pumped my fingers as I purred harder and harder. Senna's body tensed up, her walls clamping down around my strokes.

"Fuck!"

A massive wave of heat swelled around us as Senna orgasmed hard. I thrust into her through each intoxicating pulse of her pussy, milking her climax until her legs were jelly.

Senna was sagging, desperate for breath as I climbed up her body. My cock ached to claim my mate completely, and I pressed a kiss to her gasping mouth before spinning her around and hoisting her hips into the air.

She was so gloriously wet for me, and I admired how her curves had filled in since she'd come to the pack. I took care of my mate in every way. She wanted for nothing, and I was so damn thrilled to be making her fall apart for me.

I lined my erection up with her entrance, stroking it through her folds. She whimpered, and that bubble of heat around us swelled again. In fact, it had yet to recede after the orgasm. Lowering my nose to the skin of her back, I breathed deeply.

That rose and almond scent was barreling higher and higher, and her skin got warmer and warmer beneath my hands.

"Oh, precious little Omega. Are you going into heat right now?"

The needy cry she let out was music to my ears, and I felt that incredible draw to her—the mate bond glowing red-hot as the heat suddenly hit. Senna whined, clawing at the grass as I toyed with her slit, the head of my cock throbbing as the warmth of her pussy skyrocketed.

"I thought I had—" Her words were cut off as a massive surge ripped through her. "Ugh! The orgasm just now…I think…"

Her words died as she rubbed herself against me, and my entire body hummed. My mind was scrambling, and the powerful urge to rut into her for hours took over.

"My sweet Omega," I inched the head of my cock inside her, "going into heat because I made you fucking come so hard? That's the sexiest thing I've ever known."

"Jet," she whined, "please!"

I gripped her hips, steadying her as I slid deeper and deeper, so damn slowly. "Don't you worry, love. I'm going to rut you and breed you all fucking day."

Thrusting home, I bottomed out inside her tight pussy. Senna clamped down around me, squeezing me tight and falling apart as another surge roared out. I pumped hard and fast, holding her hips as I pistoned my hips. The searing warmth of her pussy was almost painful but so damn good.

My mind blanked as the pleasure overwhelmed me, and the entire world became just the two of us. Just me and my mate and the incredible way her body demanded everything it wanted from mine.

"Fucking hell, Senna. Oh, sweetness, you feel so fucking good."

Her hand reached around to squeeze over the top of mine, and she slammed herself back.

"Ugh! Jet!" She trembled, her eyes screwed up tight. "Please, I need it. I need you to fill me."

"Anything, precious."

I let the rut take over me, giving myself over to the desperate need to breed my mate. Sinking deeper, I thrust in as far as possible, making Senna yelp and tighten around me even more. She fluttered around me again, crying out as she came. A hot surge of energy rushed forward, the heat hungry for what it needed so badly.

It was more than enough to have me tumbling off the edge.

Grunting, I fucked my dear omega with everything I had, emptying myself into her womb. The release was tremendous, lasting and lasting until I'd filled her completely with my seed.

The surge backed off, and I sagged against Senna's back. I twitched inside her, and Senna shifted, reaching back to stroke my face. We collapsed to the earth, still entangled with each other, and I could already feel the swelling of the next phase of the heat start up inside her.

My body stirred, instinctually reacting to hers, and I chuckled slightly as I tried to catch my breath.

"You're so very needy, aren't you, sweetness." I nuzzled into her neck from behind her. "I'm going to be useless after this."

She circled her hips, drawing out a reaction from me.

"I should hope so," Senna hummed, continuing to toy with my cock as it slowly hardened again inside her. "Mmm, you feel so damn good."

My breathing slowed, and I was starting to feel like I could go again when that sense of an impending surge increased just a hair. I squeezed Senna to my chest, drinking in her scent and the feeling of her pussy surrounding me.

There was still so much to do to keep the pack safe, to keep our children safe. Every day was filled with more questions than answers. Senna had been doing so well at perfecting her gifts, and we were rebuilding after the loss.

But Leon was still in the wind, and something…something told me that the massive event connected to a V?lva awakening was still lurking in the shadows.

Senna's hips circled once more, pulling me out of my thoughts. No, there would be time for that later. For now, I was going to enjoy every second with my mate, my children, and my beloved pack.

With her hand reaching back and pulling me closer, driving my growing erection deeper, Senna moaned low, and I echoed her with a groan.

"Come on, Alpha. Breed your omega."

"As you wish, sweetness."

*****

THE END