Epilogue

Six months later

J aryn sat at his desk in his home office, looking at the calendar for the newly dubbed Phantom River Conference Center. Two months ago, when construction had been in full swing on the chalet, he'd hired Alec Rogers to be the manager of the chalet. The human had come with impressive references and a degree in hotel management. Alec's ability to communicate with the shifter construction crew and coordinate marketing with a human based marketing firm had equally impressed Jaryn. Because of Alec's efforts, the conference center now had events booked solid all the way through to the end of the season, well into the fall.

He pulled up his mail system and shot a quick note off to Shaun, asking for an update on the last of the adoptions of the super-shifters they'd rescued from Broyles' compound. His Beta had worked tirelessly to find them all homes with shifters of their same species. The Phantom River pack had always been open to inter-shifter relations, but rarely sought them out. To place the super-shifters, his Beta had to build bridges that hadn't previously existed, and as a result, their quiet little pack became extremely well known throughout the nation. Fortunately, no one had ever made the public aware of the activities that occurred in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Jaryn marveled at how the ASC and COP had kept everything under wraps, despite the world's hunger for salacious news.

He thought of the additions to his home as a result of their discoveries that night. Kaden and Gavin were now eight months old, and both boys were little crawling machines. He spent half his time at home chasing them around, and the other half waiting to hear their little voices babble out ‘da-da', instead of the ever popular ‘ba-ba'.

Of the multitude of memories he'd built with his family over the last several months, the most cherished was the first time Jaryn had shifted in front of the boys. He and Nicole wanted the boys to be comfortable around their parents' wolf forms and had taken turns showcasing for their children. Their little eyes had widened in almost comical proportions. Gavin had laughed hysterically as Jaryn nuzzled his tummy, and Kaden had curled his little body around one of Nicole's paws, then promptly tried to stick it in his mouth.

He lifted his head as his mate's scent drifted towards him. Nicole stuck her head in the office and Jaryn smiled, as her presence never failed to make the room seem brighter. He pushed back from the desk and held open his arms. "Did they finally go down?"

Nicole sighed as she sank onto Jaryn's lap. "Yes. I think Gavin may be teething. The only thing that seems to calm him is the rocking chair and a cool cloth to gnaw on."

Jaryn encouraged Nicole to rest her head against his shoulder. "How's Kaden handling it?"

"I can tell he's upset. He doesn't understand what's wrong with his brother. As soon as I put Gavin in their crib, Kaden reached out for him."

The boys were so close, so aware of each other. They relied on Nicole and himself for daily care, but for companionship, everyone realized all they needed was each other. Sometimes Jaryn's heart ached a little when he'd be holding one of his sons, and they made it clear to him they'd rather be in the playpen with the other. But there were other times Kaden or Gavin would sit on the floor playing and he'd come into the room to see one of them lift their arms, asking silently for their father. His heart would fill with such love he feared the muscle would explode from his chest.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Nicole asked softly.

Jaryn's arms tightened around his mate. "How much I love my family. It's amazing how quickly those boys have wrapped me around their tiny fingers completely."

Nicole murmured her assent and placed a little kiss at the corner of Jaryn's neck. Her tongue came out to sample a taste of his skin, and just like that, Jaryn's mind shifted from innocent babies to the feel of his mate's body writhing beneath him in ecstasy.

He buried his hand in Nicole's long hair and lifted her head for his kiss. Jaryn locked his mouth onto hers, kissing her deeply. So much of the time they'd spent together over the last few months had been caring for their sons. Pleasurable duties in their own way, but with his mate's taste upon his tongue, Jaryn ached to claim his wife in the most base and primal way. They needed to lose themselves in each other. To share a mating, where neither of them thought for one second about the next bottle of formula to heat or dirty diaper to change. He felt compelled to remind his mate of the love and lust that flowed through their bodies and souls, physically leaving them both panting and sweating, as they tried to process the intensity of their coming together.

With images of writhing, united bodies swirling in his mind, he nibbled and tasted his way to her ear. He ran his tongue delicately around the rim of her ear, then nibbled on it before sucking on her earlobe. Nicole's neck arched back, granting him access as she shivered with pleasure.

"More," she moaned.

His ears picked up the sound of her rapid breaths and his eyes watched the pulse in his mate's neck pound with excitement. His mouth descended and sucked up a mark over the same tender skin he'd marked the night they consummated their union. There was no physical trace of his mating bite, or for that matter the one Nicole had subsequently given him, but Jaryn knew their souls would forever carry each other's mark. Any preternatural being would instantly recognize that Jaryn and Nicole belonged to each other, and every morning he awoke with Nicole in his arms, he was thankful for the day she drifted into his hometown.

He stood with Nicole in his arms and walked around the desk. The sofa in his office wasn't wide enough to make love to his mate on. They'd discovered that the hard way a couple of months ago when they landed on the floor with a loud crash that'd woken the boys in the playpen in the living room, calling a halt to the enjoyable adult activities. Jaryn bent and picked up the pillows that rested against the armrest and the blanket folded over the back. He tossed them both to the floor on top of the thick area rug.

Nicole giggled against Jaryn's chest. "Put me down so we can do this right." Jaryn shook his head. "Keep your arms around my neck."

Jaryn kneeled on the floor on one knee and rested Nicole's weight on the other. He spread out the blanket then gave their made up little nest a proud glance. His arms slipped beneath Nicole's knees, and he eased her down onto the cozy blanket with utmost care. Jaryn quickly stripped the T-shirt over the top of his head and unbuttoned his jeans. His mate was just as busy removing her clothes, causing Jaryn's fingers to pause as Nicole gradual exposed her creamy skin. The scent of her arousal floated up at him as she kicked her pants away, and he closed his eyes to savor the blend of honey and musk.

"Hey stud, you going to join me down here?"

Jaryn's eyes flashed open, and he licked his lips at the sight of Nicole's nude body spread out and waiting for him. His wife laughed softly and held her arms out to him. Jaryn stood in order to lower his jeans and underwear to the floor. He wrapped his hand around his cock and gave it a stroke. A bead of pre-cum escaped from the slit and this time it was Nicole who licked her lips as her green eyes focused in on the drop of clear fluid.

He captured the fluid with his thumb, then kneeled between his mate's legs. Jaryn braced his weight on one hand and offered Nicole his thumb. Her lips quickly sucked the digit inside her hot mouth and her tongue wrapped around it, capturing every trace of Jaryn's offering. Her teeth scraped over his skin and a low groan rumbled deep in his chest. He lowered his body till they were skin to skin, his head tilted down and Nicole's lifted till their mouths met in another explosive kiss. His mate's arms came around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist. Jaryn's hands caressed the curve of Nicole's torso and he released her mouth, only to trace his lips down her neck. He scooted down her body till he faced the full round mounds of her breasts.

He stroked one nipple with his tongue, licking it back and forth as Nicole whimpered and arched her back.

"Harder."

He smiled to himself. Since their mating, his woman had blossomed into a sensual being. Jaryn loved giving into her quiet pleas and demands as they moved together towards the pinnacle of shared pleasure.

"Is this what you want?" His lips surrounded one tight nipple and drew it into his mouth using deep suction. He captured the other one between his fingers, tugging on its taut peak.

Nicole's need and thoughts flooded him through their link. His mate hadn't learned complete control over their mental connection yet, and it was at times like this that Jaryn was immensely glad of the fact. He let down some walls inside his own mind and let Nicole experience his pleasure at her response to his every touch.

He smiled as a soft keening cry lifted into the air, and she shook in his arms as the dual perceptions of pleasure took over her mind. Nicole's legs locked tighter around him and she rubbed her mound against his stomach, the damp heat searing his skin as she tried to ease the building ache. His nostrils flared as the scent of her body permeated the room. He wanted to taste her.

He worked his way down her torso until he reached her mound. Her hips lifted, silently telling him what she needed. Fluid glistened on her thighs, and his mate's pubic hair was slick with dew. He spread her legs wide and held them open. His tongue came out and sliced through her swollen slit. Nicole's hands speared through his hair and tried to push him down, but he refused to move till the pressure relaxed and she started petting him instead. He rewarded her with another lick. As her taste flooded his mouth, Jaryn couldn't stop the need for more rising in his system. It built and built until he was devouring his mate's pussy. He pierced her channel as deeply as possible with his tongue, his lips sucking at her clit and folds. Nicole's hips rose to meet him, and the cries above his head only encouraged him to take her deeper.

He released one of her thighs and drew a finger through her now engorged and dripping wet vulva. He eased the finger inside and Nicole moaned, arching her hips while simultaneously clamping down on the digit. She was so hot inside and still tight. No matter how many times they made love, Jaryn always felt astounded by the snugness of Nicole's body as it held him within its depths.

He eased his finger in and out, spreading her juices and feeding her arousal. As he pressed another digit inside, he relished the sounds of her whimpering and pleading. He looked up the smooth expanse of his mate's body to see her fiery head thrashing back and forth on the blue pillow. Her channel tightened around his fingers and a soft growl rumbled in her chest. Nicole's wolf was hungry, as desperate for a climax as the woman who held its spirit. Jaryn and his wolf thought it sounded like a pretty good idea as well. His cock was so hard he thought it might explode.

"Jaryn," she pleaded. "Need more… deeper… harder."

"You need my cock, sweetheart? You need to feel me filling you?"

"Yes! Now, Jaryn!"

He gave her what she demanded, adding a third finger and thrusting as deep as his fingers would go. Nicole shattered around him. He braced himself on one elbow and sucked deeply on a nipple. Nicole's howl filled his office, and it was the sweetest song he'd ever heard.

He withdrew his fingers and lined up his throbbing cock with her entrance. With one forceful thrust, he penetrated her until seated deeply inside. He planted his hands on the blanket beneath them, elbows locked into place as he threw his head back and gave up a howl of his own. Nicole's pussy milked his cock, demanding his seed, and Jaryn fought for control to contain the beast raging inside him for him to pummel his mate's soft smaller body.

With his beast reined in, Jaryn withdrew until he poised only the head of his cock at her entrance. He held himself still. Waited till Nicole's nails scraped down his biceps and her eyes flashed up at him with animalistic hunger. Then he slid his way back home, this time not stopping until he hit the opening to her womb. He wished she was fertile, so he could feel the contractions of her body around his knot. He quickly found his rhythm as he moved in and out of his mate.

Nicole's cry of pleasure rang in his ears as he picked up the pace. He hammered into her over and over. The force of his thrusts made her breasts bounce. Nicole's hips rose to meet every drive of his hips. Her legs hitched higher around his back, tilting her pelvis so he could achieve deeper penetration. If he'd had another set of hands, he would have grabbed the cheeks of her ass as he rode her, maybe played with her tiny clenched ring. They hadn't explored that area of sexual play yet, but Jaryn vowed then and there that someday soon he'd know how it'd feel to sink deep into Nicole's tight ass.

His walls dropped, and he fed every ounce of pleasure currently raging through his body into his mate. Nicole screamed, and her body convulsed in climax. The muscles of her pussy rippled and contracted around his cock, and Jaryn lost his tightly held control. Seed erupted from his cock and flooded Nicole's waiting womb. Every muscle in his body clenched, his ears rang and his heart thundered in his chest. His wolf howled in pleasure deep inside him at the claiming of their mate.

"Mate! I love you!"

Jaryn collapsed on top of Nicole—his breathing ragged and his mind splintered from the echoes of pleasure still reverberating through this system. After several minutes, he realized he was probably crushing her and attempted to roll over, but Nicole's arms and legs tightened around him and her hands soothed the back of his head.

"Stay."

"Don't want to hurt you."

"You could never hurt me. I cherish your weight pressed against me, the feel of our hearts beating against one another."

Jaryn stayed in place and nuzzled Nicole's neck. He did, however, brace some of his mass on his elbows. His hips rocked as his cock, which had never completely softened, filled once again inside his mate's body. The silence of the room exploded with the sound of a call coming through the communication software.

He tried to ignore it. He really did, but the damn thing wouldn't stop, which is what finally cut through his lust-fogged brain. That tone wasn't their home line. They dedicated it to pack emergencies.

"I have to—"

Nicole kissed Jaryn. "Go. Find out what's wrong."

He groaned as he slid free of Nicole's pussy and got to his feet. A few stumbling steps and he reached the desk. He pushed the button to accept the link… making certain that he selected audio only.

"Yes?"

"Jaryn?"

He stiffened at the sound of the stressed voice. "What's wrong, Mom?"

"Charlie's missing."

He let out a relieved sigh. "I'm sure he just went off with friends and forgot to tell you. You know him."

"No, I called them all. Nobody's seen him all day. His comm-unit isn't responding. Charlie's young and impetuous, but he's never been irresponsible. You know that."

"Yeah, I know," he whispered.

"Jaryn? Jaryn are you there?"

He cleared his throat. "I'm here. I'll contact Shaun and Cooper. They'll send out a pack instant message. Every available wolf in town will be on the lookout. We'll call together a search team to meet at the lodge so we can section off areas of the pack lands. We'll find him, Mom, I promise."

Nicole brought over his jeans, and Jaryn quickly slipped them on. "I gotta go, Mom, if you want me to get the ball rolling. Why don't you and Dad come over here and stay with Nicole and the boys?"

"We'll be there as soon as we can."

He disconnected the call then opened up his mail system. He noticed he had a new message waiting, but clicked compose before opening the link. With a few taps to the laser keyboard, an emergency message went out to all pack members comm-units and their home lines would ring with an automated message telling them the details of the situation.

Where could Charlie have gone? Stonepass was a relatively small town, but the surrounding countryside and mountains stretched for hundreds of miles. What if he'd gone for a run and got lost? Or what if he was lying in the forest, hurt?

He looked up at his mate. "Tell me we're going to find him."

Nicole wrapped her arms around Jaryn's shoulders. "You'll find him. Charlie may seem flighty, but he's very intelligent and stronger than I think you all give him credit for."

Jaryn rubbed his eyes. "If he's goofing off and forgot to check in, I'll kill him."

"If that is the case, I have a feeling you'll have to get in line, but if it's not…"

"If it's not?"

"Then I know he has faith that his big brother will be there to save him. And I know that his big brother will move heaven and earth till the job is done."

Jaryn nodded. His eyes drifted back towards the wall where his E-sphere's projector showed the communications program running. The new message was from an unknown contact. He sighed and clicked the link. There was no message, but there was a video file. Jaryn ran a scan on the file for any viruses using the specialized tracer he had access to within the defense department. When it came up clean, he opened the file.

The white background disappeared and Jaryn tilted his head as the image of a bare concrete wall came into focus. For several seconds, nothing happened, and he sighed. He didn't have time for this crap; he had to find his brother. His hand moved to stop the video when a familiar deep voice rumbled from the speakers installed in the walls of the room.

"You stole everything from me. First you took my woman, then you took my home, but you couldn't take me. And now, I shall do the same to you. I will kill every man, woman, and child you hold dear. Starting with—"

The image moved and Jaryn sucked in a breath at the sight of Charlie tied to a chair and beaten. His head hung low against his chest and already bruises mottled his body.

"Lift your head, pup, and say goodbye to your big brother. This will be your last chance to do so."

Charlie's head lifted and the camera zoomed in on his face. Charlie's silver eyes, identical to all the Chaunterel men, shone with pain and sadness. His little brother looked so lost and scared. Jaryn's fists clenched as a rage boiled in his blood.

"I love you, Jaryn. Tell Mom, Dad, Nic, Kaden and Gavin the same."

"Very good, pup. Don't be expecting a ransom note, Chaunterel. I don't need or want your money. I'm simply out for blood."

The camera hadn't moved off Charlie's face, and Jaryn saw his eyes fill with hatred. "Listen up, Jaryn. Whatever happens to me…" Charlie swallowed hard. "I fully expect you to kill this son-of-a-bitch."

Broyles' laughter echoed from the walls, and Jaryn felt Nicole trembling next to him. He pulled her into his lap and held her as memories of her time under this psycho's control no doubt raced through her.

"I like the runt, Jaryn. He's got spunk. Should make this so much more enjoyable. Unlike that bitch, you're undoubtedly coddling right now. She just rolled over and took it."

Nicole's spine stiffened under his palm, and she growled.

The camera zoomed out, and Broyles stepped into view. He walked over to Charlie and positioned himself behind him. He held up a syringe and petted Charlie's head.

"This is a little something I came up with down in my labs. One of my little pet projects, if you will. I'm sure you remember what CRS-264 felt like coursing through your veins. It's too bad the runt doesn't have access to the antidote like you found. It should only take a few seconds before little Chaunterel will know exactly what it feels like to have his wolf ripped from his soul. I've improved the formula, so before it's all over, he'll be begging me to die."

Charlie struggled. His thin body twisted and turned to get away from his captor. Broyles' fingers clenched in Charlie's hair and pulled his head back at an acute angle. Charlie hissed, but stopped moving.

The needle plunged into Charlie's neck, and both Jaryn and Nicole cried out. Broyles pressed down on the plunger, and Charlie screamed. The sound was so filled with agony that Jaryn's wolf howled. Charlie's head lolled and Broyles shoved his chair over, making Charlie fall out of sight.

"One down, seven to go. Who do you think I'm coming after next?"