Retribution (Moonstruck Genesis #4)

Epilogue - Home

BLAIDD’S GAP – ONE YEAR AFTER RIO

THE SNOWBALL caught Joy in the back of the neck. The cold stuff shattered, part of it dribbling down between her skin and coat.

“ Oooh , just you wait, Silas Bivens!” She stamped her booted foot and pasted her best glower on her face.

“Whatcha gonna do, Joy? You throw like a girl!” The much older boy laughed and ran away.

That did it. She was going to learn to throw. And hit. She marched down the sidewalk and burst through the front doors of the County Sheriff’s office. She slid to a halt when she realized Nate wasn’t there. In the years since her rescue, she’d finally gained enough confidence to talk to grownups and call them by name—well, with the honorifics Jacey insisted she use. All the adults here were deputies for Sheriff Mac.

Deputy DJ sat at a desk talking on the phone. Since the woman had once been a federal marshal maybe, since Miz DJ was a lady and all, Joy should talk to her. Nope. She really wanted Nate. Deputy Rudy walked in from the back and smiled at her. “Looking for your dad?”

Joy nodded, suddenly unable to speak around the lump in her throat. Everyone in town called Nate and Jacey her mom and dad. But they weren’t. She didn’t know who her parents had been. Nate had rescued her from that place and it was like she’d imprinted on him or something. She learned about that in school—baby animals latching onto the first thing they saw as a mother or father. She’d called him “Dad” a few times. It felt both weird but good at the same time.

“He’s out in the sally port. You can go back there if you want.”

She didn’t wait for further permission. When she got to the enclosed space used to off-load prisoners, she found Nate stripped down to his T-shirt and uniform pants. He was working out with the heavy punching bag hanging in the corner. His fists slammed into the leather bag with loud slapping noises.

“What?” Nate asked, not stopping or looking at her.

“I throw like a girl.”

“So?”

“I want to throw like a boy.”

“Nothing wrong with throwing like a girl.”

“There is if that girl can’t hit anything.”

“Good point.”

“Will you teach me?”

The bag stilled as Nate caught it in his arms. He tilted his head around it to look at her. “Who do you want to hit?”

“Silas Bivens.”

Nate’s face hardened and Joy locked her muscles so she wouldn’t retreat. Nate could be really scary when he got that look on his face. “He giving you trouble?”

“He throws snowballs at me.”

“You need to learn to duck.”

“No, I need to learn to throw one back and hit him in the face before he can run away.”

“Another good point.”

“So? Will you?”

“I’ll see you tonight after my shift.”

“Okay.”

The next morning at school, Joy saw a knot of kids gathered at the far edge of the playground. Then she heard the yelling. Running over, she slid to a stop just in time to see Liam McIntire pop the older and slightly bigger Silas in the nose. Silas howled and his fisted hands sprouted fur and claws. So did Liam’s—and everyone knew Liam’s control over his wolf was amazing. This was bad…very, VERY bad.

“Stop it!” she yelled. Both boys froze. Slowly, they both turned their heads, their eyes flashing red as they stared at her. Silas growled, deep in his chest. She whacked him on the nose with a rolled-up notebook. “Bad Wolf.” Startled, he stepped backwards and his hands returned to human. “And you too, Liam.” She held up the notebook. “I don’t need you to fight my battles. I can fight my own.”

Liam bit down on his lips but laughter escaped despite his best efforts. “I can see that, Joy-joy.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Oh, right.” Liam laughed again and wrapped his arm around her neck. “C’mon, we’re gonna be late for class.”

Hannah had watched the scene unfold and now stepped back into the shadows of the school’s entrance, pulling Annie with her. “You were right.”

“Yup. Cody’s been telling me for weeks that Liam wasn’t acting right. Even Micah’s noticed and to get that kid to see anything that doesn’t have to do with animals or the woods is major.”

“I’ll need to talk to Mac.”

“Will there be a problem with him punching Silas?”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Dominance displays are to be expected. I just didn’t expect it from Joy.”

“Bad wolf.” Annie pressed her hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter.

Hannah wasn’t laughing. In fact, a wave of sadness washed over her. Liam would be a strong alpha, just like his father. And he was already staking claims. Yeah, she definitely needed to talk to Mac—Jacey and Nate as well.

The old man in the red flannel shirt tsked as he watched through the bars of the wrought iron fence surrounding the school. He’d had such hopes but sometimes the best laid plans failed to materialize. He obviously had more work to do.

THE CONVERSATION at the Full Moon Diner was lively. The old timers sitting at the counter swiveled on their stools, tossed in the occasional comment from the peanut gallery, and generally enjoyed themselves. The bell over the entrance jangled as the door banged open and three very large men, all wearing uniforms, walked in. A tall woman, also in uniform, followed, a West Virginia state trooper hard on her heels.

Dave Cardiff glanced around the crowded diner, every hair on his body prickling. Any time this many alphas shoved into a confined space, trouble was quick to follow. His wife, Gerri who worked as the county’s dispatcher and default town clerk, had texted him an SOS and he’d come roaring into town with lights and siren. He darn sure didn’t expect an impromptu town meeting here at the Full Moon. He nodded to Sheriff McIntire, who was also the pack Alpha.

Josiah Cadogan, the mayor, cleared his throat and held up both hands in a silent request for order.

“It’s come to my attention,” Josiah said, “that blood is running a little hot around these parts.” He glanced at his grandson, Silas. The boy’s black eye was fading. The kid needed to learn not to poach on another Wolf’s property, even if that other Wolf was a couple of years younger and the property had a temper she wasn’t afraid to unleash.

“It’s also been pointed out to me that Christmas is a month away and there’s nary a Christmas light to be found in town. As a result, an anonymous donor has offered a prize of five hundred dollars for the best Christmas light display on the mountain. The town council will recruit a panel of unbiased judges to decide the winner.”

No one spoke for a space of several heartbeats. Josiah stepped back and waited for the fireworks. He knew the alphas who’d moved to town were highly competitive. The softball, bowling, and flag football leagues hadn’t been the same since their arrival. The men were all former SpecOps soldiers and while they’d each found a place within the community of Blaidd’s Gap, restless energy followed them everywhere. They were men of action. Josiah could only hope Blaidd’s Gap survived this latest competition.

Nate Connor, the closest thing to a lone wolf Josiah had ever met, stood with shoulders braced against the wall. Everyone gave the somber deputy space—everyone but Joy, the little girl who was technically at the center of this whole situation. The child stood next to him and with a furtive movement, she slipped her hand into Nate’s. She gazed up at the solemn deputy. Nate gazed back at her. Something unspoken passed between them, then the bell jingled above the door as they slipped out, still hand-in-hand.

That seemed to pull the plug on the silence. Conversations, good-natured taunts, and vocal bets flew back and forth as everyone spilled through the door into the snowy evening. The noisy crowd covered up the sounds of a soft ho-ho-ho and sleigh bells. Except for one Wolf. Nate tilted his head, listening, then lifted his nose to sample the wind.

JACEY WATCHED from the living room window, a mug of steaming coffee held forgotten in her hand. Outside, little Grace shook a finger at Nate. Who stood on a ladder. Putting up Christmas lights. Joy, a too-smart twelve-year-old, fed a long string of lights up to the man she’d claimed as her surrogate father, though she never called him by anything but his given name. At the moment, their judgment was questionable because Jacey was quite certain they’d lost their minds. Both of them. The snow had to be a foot deep and continued to fall.

Nate had bundled up the girls then they’d followed him out onto the porch. A real porch. A porch reminiscent of the one that once adorned her home on the ranch in Oklahoma. So many years ago. So many changes in their lives. Life. Death. Family. Old friends lost, new friends found. Love.

Yet no matter what, they’d always managed Christmas. All the Wolves. Mated or not. Parents or not. She remembered that rescue mission in New Mexico, and waking up to a tree, presents, and the sound of sleigh bells, while she was wrapped in Nate’s arms. He was her Christmas present. And more. He was her heart. Soul. Her life. And while he couldn’t give her children of their own, he’d given her two little girls who were theirs.

Grace didn’t remember her parents, was still too young to know her mother’s sacrifice, her father’s bravery. They’d tell her one day, when she could understand. She was quiet, a little shy, but full of love. Joy, who’d come to them with no name, a broken spirit but fiercely and defiantly protecting herself from everyone. Everyone but Nate. The girl brought joy into their lives every day. She was bright and funny, her giggle echoing through the night as clear as any bell.

Nate fell off the ladder and she put down her cup to rush out, only to watch the girls fall on him. He tickled them until they were both breathless then set them on their feet. Joy nodded at something he said, pivoted and clamored through the snow up onto the porch. She didn’t stop on the doormat to stomp off the snow but charged into the house yelling at the top of her lungs.

“Mom! MOM! Dad needs the rest of the lights. And that coil of extension cords. He said you put them up!”

Jacey stopped breathing. Her heart had swelled so huge in her chest there was no room for air. The coffee mug in her hand slipped from her fingers. Joy had called her Mom . Had called Nate Dad . She blinked away sudden tears and focused on other things to keep her emotions in check.

Sean. This was all Sean’s fault. And Hannah’s. The mayor’s. They’d started this war. And infected every blasted Wolf. Retired warriors, the men were now bored with small-town life. What better way to work out their aggression than by installing more Christmas lights, building bigger displays, and generally trying to one-up the others.

Knowing she was beaten, she slogged to the basement and dragged the plastic tub to the top of the stairs. Helping Joy carry it to the door and out, she returned to the warmth of the house, ostensibly to supervise from the window. They were incorrigible. All of them. And Joy had called her Mom . She brushed at the happy tear trickling down her cheek.

Later, when the phone rang, she wasn’t surprised to hear Hannah’s voice.

“They’re crazy. Liam’s up in the very top of the tree. That boy is going to fall and die. I will then be forced to kill his father.”

Jacey didn’t laugh. She understood, having ordered Joy off the roof not ten minutes ago despite the girl's insistence that a few more hooks and they’d be done hanging. As she listened to Hannah rant, she watched Nate leap to the ground—foregoing the ladder to get off the roof. The man was grinning like a loon. He grabbed Grace and settled her on his hip. He nodded and Joy plugged the cord into the outlet. Lights blazed. Flickered. Died. The house went dark. Along with the neighborhood. Then the whole town.

Hannah hung up. Outside, Joy and Nate high-fived. There was more than one way to win.

“Merry Christmas,” Jacey muttered as the phone rang again.

“DAD?”

Nate stiffened, reminded himself that his body needed oxygen to survive so he inhaled. She’d called him Dad one time to avert the attention of a cop. She never called him anything but Nate and it had been almost a year after her rescue that she’d felt comfortable enough to call him that.

“Yeah?” He and Joy were walking down the sidewalk toward the school. She’d slipped her hand into his and he’d managed to suppress the panic that also surged whenever she did that. The child’s trust in him was a gift that he never wanted to take for granted but at the same time, he was terrified of hurting her.

“Why are boys so stupid?”

Her matter-of-fact question startled a laugh out of him. “Hey, I resemble that remark. I’m a boy.”

“No, you aren’t. You’re a dad. There’s a big difference.”

Not as much as Joy seemed to think, Nate decided. “Maybe you should be talking to Jacey about this. She’s female. She probably has better advice.”

“Do boys ever get smart?”

Nate laughed again. “You definitely need to ask Jacey that question.”

“I’m not sure Mom knows the answer.”

“She lives with me. Trust me, she knows the answer.”

They approached the gate to the school. Liam was slouched against one pillar, Silas against the other. If the two boys had been in wolf form, their ruffs would have been standing straight up. Liam caught Joy’s scent a second before Silas and loped out to meet her and Nate. Silas froze, recognizing Nate as a far more powerful alpha. Liam had the advantage of familiarity.

“Hey, Joy-joy.”

Joy’s lips curled into a snarl. Nate made to step away but she still clung to his hand. He stood very still. Silas continued to hang back but Liam stopped right in front of her and towered over Joy. When had the kid gotten so tall?

“Nate.” Liam’s tone was deferential.

“Liam.” Nate was impressed by his control. He hadn’t quite growled.

“I’ll walk you into school, Joy.”

She snarled again. “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself inside.”

“Of course you are but then I wouldn’t get to hold your hand.” Dimples appeared as Liam grinned.

Nate’s wolf paced just under his skin and that contained growl clawed its way out of his chest. Liam didn’t step back, though Silas did. Instead, the kid stared up at Nate, met his gaze for a long moment before dropping his eyes. “She’s safe with me, Nate. Always.”

The truth of those words hit Nate in the gut. Liam still had to convince Joy of that. Nate decided this particular dance was going to be fun to watch. His daughter was a force to be reckoned with.

“DAD!” JOY stood on the sidewalk across the street, hands on her hips as she surveyed their yard.

Nate still hadn’t gotten used to her calling him that. “What?” he called back.

“We need something more.”

The Christmas light wars had basically devolved into a race between the McIntires, the Lightfoots, the Donaldsons, and the Connors. Even the Bivens had dropped out, though Silas hadn’t quite given up his attempts to impress Joy.

“Not sure the grid will take anymore, sugar.” All the Wolves, after the last blackout, had worked on the town’s electrical grid. It was due an upgrade so they’d done one.

“Still needs something,” she sighed, crossing the street and trudging up onto the front porch to join him. “Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“How did you know Mom was the one?”

“You’re a little young to be worried about finding the one.”

“I know, but still…” Her voice trailed off wistfully.

“I was stuck in wolf form when I met her.” He leaned a shoulder against one of the posts and stared out at the carnival of lights filling the front yard. “I wanted to hurt her.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I caused her to get hurt.”

“But she loves you anyway.”

“She does.”

“Do you love her?”

“With everything I am.” The words slipped out as a whispered vow.

“Is there any love left over for someone else?”

Joy sounded small and unsure and Nate didn’t like it. He glanced down and his hand instinctively moved to stroke her hair. “Yes. There’s plenty left over for you. And for Grace.” A year ago, he wouldn’t have been able to admit that even to himself. Tonight, he knew it for absolute truth.

In the distance, sleigh bells jingled.

JOY DIDN’T want to go to the town Christmas party but… She heaved a sigh. Grace was so excited about seeing Santa, and Joy really didn’t want to be Grinch. Or Scrooge. Or any of those downer people who hated on the season. Besides, if she had to corral Gracie, she had every excuse to stay away from Liam and Silas. Stupid boys. She zipped up Gracie’s coat, shoved mittens on the little girl’s hands, and made sure her knitted beanie was pulled down securely.

“We’ll see you there shortly, sweetie,” Jacey hollered from the kitchen. “Nate’s gonna help me load up the food and then we’ll head out.”

“Whatever,” Joy muttered. She turned to lead Gracie to the front door and pulled up short. Nate blocked the way.

“Lose the attitude, kid.”

Joy pressed her lips together while Grace jerked her hand loose and raised her arms for Nate to pick her up. He did without really thinking about it and rubbed his cheek against Gracie’s baby-fine hair almost instinctively. Nate knew as little about being a father as Joy did about being a big sister. Or a daughter. Heck, even being a kid was hard for her. Still, she and Nate managed to stumble through. She even called them Mom and Dad now, though the words still tasted sort of weird on her tongue.

“Okay, Dad,” she finally allowed, knowing she’d never get out of the house without acknowledging his order.

He tickled Grace, making her giggle, as he set her back on the floor. “Watch out for her until Jace and I get there, okay?”

Joy nodded, grabbed Grace’s hand and made it outside this time. They only had to walk a couple of blocks to the fire station, where the party was being held. It wasn’t like Blaidd’s Gap was a big city. The place was barely a town but the Wolves were safe here. The door opened just as they walked up, spilling light, noise, and lots of scents—pine and cinnamon the most prevalent.

Gracie froze just inside the entrance, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “Santa,” she breathed. She didn’t even stop long enough for Joy to get her coat off before she was flying across the room, dodging around people to get to the old guy sitting in a big chair set next to the Christmas tree. The little girl hurtled into the dude’s lap, talking a mile a minute.

Rolling her eyes, Joy stripped out of her winter gear and hung everything on an empty peg on the wall. Silas stood in a knot of his buddies studiously ignoring her. Good. She wandered over to the table laden with baked goods of every description and a huge bowl of green punch. Ugh. As she moved along the table, she located one lone tray of carrots, celery, and other veggie type things. She snatched a couple of carrots and munched as she settled onto a stool shoved into a corner. She could watch the whole room from this vantage point.

The door burst open and three laughing boys entered—Liam, Cody, and Micah. Great. Just what she needed, the Three Wolfkateers. Cody and Micah waved. Liam, like Silas, ignored her. Even better.

Jacey and Nate arrived, loading the table up with even more stuff. Nate’s restless gaze located Gracie, playing with a group of littles in the designated play area, then those piercing eyes settled on her. His expression didn’t change but Joy was suddenly filled with sadness.

She was sunk deep in her thoughts when a low voice said her name. Joy almost fell off her stool in the scramble to get away.

“You still don’t believe, baby girl,” the big man dressed in the red suit said. She couldn’t even see his mouth through the cloud of white whiskers on his face.

Joy tensed, ready to fight or run, but the man didn’t touch her.

“They love you.” He nodded toward Nate. “ He loves you.”

She shrugged and studied the toes of her snow boots. Love never did any good.

The man playing Santa offered a sad smile. “He loves you too.”

Looking up, she followed his gaze only to collide with Liam’s amber brown eyes. He looked very much like an alpha wolf at the moment. “No he doesn’t.”

Santa chuckled, and his belly shook a little. “You’re a bit young yet. The time will come.”

Joy rolled her eyes and repeated her current mantra. “Boys are stupid.”

Mr. Cadogan, the mayor, walked up to a podium that had appeared near the Christmas tree. He tapped the microphone and squelch filled the air. Humans and Wolves alike winced.

“Sorry. Live mike. No need to test.” Everyone laughed. “Y’all know who I am and I’m sure most of you are here to find out who won the first annual Blaidd’s Gap Light War.”

After a burst of good natured ribbing, a hush fell over the room. The mayor cleared his throat. “The judges have several winners to be named before the grand prize winner is revealed.” This was met with some grumbling but Josiah continued, undeterred. “The winner of the Woodland Award is…Micah Lightfoot!”

Joy rolled her eyes. Micah’s dad, Michael, hadn’t gone all nutzoid over the contest. He’d let Micah design their decorations—which consisted of Micah’s log cabin playhouse strung with lights and a little Christmas tree and a family scene made from paper cutouts set inside. All sorts of woodland critters gathered around the cabin to look inside. Micah got applause and a certificate.

“The winner of the Blazing Lights Award is…Liam McIntire.”

That figured. Liam had wrapped the tallest tree in town—which just happened to be in his front yard, in lights. Along with every other tree in their yard which was like a hundred.

“The winner of the Musical Award is…Cody Donaldson.”

Yeah, yeah. So Sean had helped Cody set up a computerized light show programmed to a continuous loop of Christmas music. The neighbors probably hated the noise—and all the people driving and walking by to watch.

The mayor droned on and on until almost every kid who’d put up a string of lights got a certificate. This was stupid. She sidled toward the door, grabbed her coat, hat, and scarf and slipped outside into the frigid air. The full moon cast a white glow across the snow, which was also reflecting all the Christmas lights. She trudged toward home, hands shoved in her pockets, her chin ducked into her muffler.

She didn’t want to be around people just then. She didn’t want the noise and lights and laughter. When she got home, Joy didn’t go in. She headed around back and climbed the slope behind the house. Unerringly, she found her spot—the place she always went to hide when the world got to be too much.

Joy brushed snow off the log that served as her bench and sat. A few minutes later, a shadow drifted out of the trees. A huge wolf, cream fur tipped with brown and black, padded toward her. Eyes of dark gold held her gaze as an ear rimmed in black tipped her way.

“I’m okay.”

The wolf sat beside her and without realizing what she was doing, she stripped off one glove and buried her fingers in his fur. The big animal leaned against her legs and he was so warm she forgot how cold it was. They sat together, watching the lights flick off down below in the valley as midnight crept closer. The wolf licked her cheek and she realized she’d been crying. “So I’m not okay. No big deal.”

The wolf nosed her, then padded into the forest. A few minutes later, Nate walked out.

“But you will be, baby girl. You’ll be more than okay.”

“I’m not a baby. That’s Gracie.”

“You’ll always be my baby girl. And Jacey’s.”

“Why?”

Nate put his arm around her and pulled her close to his side. He was almost as warm in human form as in wolf. She burrowed in, surprised he was cuddling her. Nate didn’t touch much. Not even Jacey. At least not when anyone was around.

“Because. That’s the way it works in families.”

Something jangled softly and Nate’s head came up. A deer with fuzzy antlers stepped into the moonlight. It wore a red bow tied around its neck and a silver bell chimed sweetly with each step. A moment later, the Santa Claus impersonator appeared.

“You left the party early, Joy.” He sounded sad.

She shrugged and glanced at Nate. “What lame prize did we win?”

Nate’s eyes glinted gold in the moonlight. “The Power Ranger Award.”

She laughed. He sounded so proud of that.

The Santa guy moved closer and Joy felt Nate stiffen. The deer followed the old guy like a well-trained dog. “You left too, Nate.”

“Had to check on my girl.”

“Of course you did.” The old guy turned to face the valley. “It’s lovely up here. I see why you come, Joy.” He spread his hands and all the Christmas lights came on.

Joy forgot to breathe for a minute.

“I told you once, baby girl, what the secret is that makes Christmas a time of magic. Do you remember?” And just like he had on that long-ago night, he disappeared.

“Let’s go home, baby girl.” Nate tucked her bare hand into his big, rough, warm one, acting like it was no big deal the guy had just poofed into thin air. They started walking toward the lights.

“Love, Joy. That’s the secret.” A voice whispered on the wind. “Merry Christmas and welcome home to you all.”

She said the only thing that came to mind. “Merry Christmas, Santa.”

Home. She looked up at the man standing beside her. “Home,” she whispered.

“Home,” he agreed.

Thank you for reading this book!