Epilogue

Six Months later

O f course it wasn't over, the Butcher was still on the loose, along with the witches that worked for Hunter. We've been working with Director Thomas and what's left of ASP to try and track them down, but the whole system has collapsed. Shifters are demanding more say in the election of the new governing body after what happened last time, and it's causing a rift between the other races. But mostly, things have settled down. There haven't been any attacks, the witches are helping to find the rogues, and a tentative peace has fallen over us.

After the attack, many of the pack buildings needed repairing, including the medical building I'd called home. Killian had been the one to suggest we build a new house at the edge of the pack property, one big enough for all of us, including the bear and demon who make up part of my family. They couldn't keep being pack guests, no matter how welcoming the alpha is. Ryan and Aiden are also staying with us, since they couldn't return to ASP after they ignored direct orders. So we bought some land from Mortlock, and we are making our own pack. It's a ragtag group, but it's home .

Tori has her own room and will for as long as she needs it. She's still rejecting the bond with the twins and Max, but I suspect they are wearing her down, she's just not ready yet.

"You need to lift it more on the left," Seb calls out, bringing my attention back to the task at hand. Raising the picture frame higher on my side, I smile as Alex lets out a bored sigh.

"That's perfect!" Jessica shouts, jumping up and down with excitement on her bed, clapping her hands together. "I love it."

Stepping away from the picture now successfully hanging on the wall, I admire the photo which was taken last month at the last pack meeting. Everyone was there, including Tori and her bears, Ryan, and Aiden. I grin as I watch Seb spin his little sister around, her giggles following me out of the room as I head into a quieter part of the house. My gut twists slightly as I look at Seb. We still don't know what caused his power to…change, but it's settled down since ASP disbanded. Alpha Philips told me that something similar happened to another bear pack, so I'm sure it's going to come back to bite us on the ass. However, for now, we're happy.

I can hear Garett talking with Eric somewhere in one of the rooms, probably the library, where my demon likes to spend most of his time. One thing is for sure, it's busy living with this many people.

Following the hallway, I walk into the large room that takes up the whole upper back side of the house, with a large bed taking centre place. The whole end wall is made of glass, which opens up onto a wooden balcony. This is my favourite room in the house, and seeing Killian on the balcony outside brings a smile to my face.

Brooding as usual , I think to myself, and I know he senses my thoughts down the bond since the corner of his mouth twitches up, but otherwise, he doesn't move. I push the double doors open, and he finally breaks his statue impression and holds his arms open for me as soon as I step onto the decking. Smiling, I walk over to him, enjoying the feeling of having him wrapped around me. I stare out at the view of the forest, and a feeling of contentment fills me .

"Everything's going to be okay, isn't it?" He phrases it as a question, but I get the feeling he's just realised this for himself, that we can finally live our lives together. As he places his hands on my stomach, I feel a flutter of nerves, but can't stop my smile as I think of the little life growing inside me. Tilting my head up, I smile as the door to the balcony opens, and as if called by my happiness, the others join us.

"Yes, it is."

Seb

Seeing her smile settles something within me, that strange, twisting anger that makes me feel like something other . I've seen their worried looks, but I paste on my smile and don't let them see that it bothers me. Sure, there have been no more…episodes with my power since ASP disbanded, but something has been awoken within me, and I'm not sure how much longer I can keep it hidden.

But for Ari and our family, I'll work my ass off to make sure they are safe and happy, even if it means hiding that part of myself from her.

Somewhere deep in the cit y

Sliding into the dark booth in the dingy pub that was chosen for this meeting, the hooded figure grimaces as her hands land on the grimy faux leather seats. However, she understands the importance of choosing somewhere discreet, so she bites back her seething comment. Since ASP fell apart, they couldn't be seen together, so they had been forced to skulk around in places like this. Three other hooded figures are already waiting for her, with untouched drinks before them on the sticky table.

"You're late," a deep male voice states from beneath his dark hood. Scowling, she merely dips her head in his direction. She never did learn the name of the powerful witch who'd pledged his coven's help with their mission, but she'd seen his power in action and didn't want to be at the receiving end of that .

"I was being followed," she replies simply, not bothering to explain her suspicions or how she lost her follower. "We have a problem. There is no way we can get to Ari, she's too closely guarded with those mates of hers. Especially now that she's pregnant, they won't let her out of their sight." Her voice is bitter as she remembers the scene she'd witnessed from her hiding spot, of them all huddled together on the balcony. It made her feel sick with jealousy.

"Forget target number one," the witch growls, the two hooded figures on either side of him straightening in their seats as his power seems to pulse out of him with his anger. "This is so much bigger than her. I never understood Hunter's obsession with her, and in the end, it got him killed. We move on to the others." He pauses and lifts his head, his glowing, silver eyes boring into hers as his mouth pulls up into a predatory grin. "We move on to the next phase."

The End

Tori and her bears will be returning in

Demons Do It Better, coming Spring 2021.