Epilogue
EPILOGUE
One Week Later
JUNIPER
“So here’s what you’re spending on rent and moving costs. It’s really the biggest area where we could reduce the amount you spend.”
I shuffled uncomfortably on my chair. He was correct—most of our money was eaten up by changing locations. I often had to overpay as landlords didn’t want a renter that was only staying for three months.
“That’s a really important part of the Safe House, though. The streets around the heat clinics are notorious for not being safe for omegas. I wanted to prevent that. Plus, we’re not exactly protected. I can’t risk anyone finding out where we are and targeting us.”
Jhin nodded.
“I’ve been thinking of other ways we can offer the same secrecy and protection but not have to move as much. Have you considered switching completely to a pick-up service for omegas as well as alphas? That would remove the risk of threats to them in the surrounding areas. You would also be able to respond to omegas in heat while in public, and not have to share the address, which would keep it more secure. Then, perhaps, you could justify staying at one location for a longer period of time.”
I tapped my pencil on the table, peering through the various numbers.
“What’s this?” I asked, pointing at one of the bigger values.
“You’d need to hire additional drivers and vehicles,” he said, and scrolled down. “But it would free up a lot of money. You’d even be able to hire someone official to do what I’m doing with you.”
He hesitated, and his cheeks flushed a little.
“I would, um, apply if you did that.”
“Really?” I said, surprised. “But what about your paramedic job?”
He sighed.
“I think it’s time I—and I would recommend my pack, too—move away from our current work.”
His eyes met mine.
“I’ve enjoyed this with you. It’s important work. As a paramedic, I helped people, but I can still do that at the Safe House. Just with a lot less death.”
He gave me a small smile, and I smiled back.
It would be amazing to work with Jhin.
“Okay. This might work. I’ll have to ask the others. Kit, Luna, and Daisy. If they agree that they think it’s safe to change, then we can do it.”
“Is it enough?” I asked, looking at him. “That we can keep running?”
He sighed.
“Honestly, Juniper, I’m not sure. These are just predictions, and it will still be quite tight. We won’t know if it’s feasible to be self-sustaining for a long time. And we have no way to respond to any unexpected costs, save paying for it ourselves.”
“Right,” I said. It hurt to hear, but I was glad he was being honest.
The doorbell rang and I hesitated, frowning at it. I wasn’t expecting visitors.
Shit.
Ez, Kit and Vander were very high right now. It was legal, but still not a great look. I rushed to open a window.
“Put it away!” I told Kit, who blinked at me. Adrian sighed and stood, plucking the vape from Kit’s hand.
Kit squeaked sadly.
“Get them to clean up!” I said, as I pulled out my phone to check the door cam. If it was the fucking GPRE, they were only coming in this time if they had a warrant. With a judge’s signature.
I peered at the camera and saw a woman outside, wearing a hood and large sunglasses. Four large figures were behind her. Strangers.
I dragged Jhin down the stairs with me to answer.
I opened the door, keeping the chain latched.
“Hello?” I asked cautiously.
“Are you Juniper Anders?” The woman asked. Her voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. She was wearing an old, faded-looking hoodie with words embroidered on the sleeves. That style was very fashionable right now.
“Yes?” I replied, narrowing my eyes.
The woman lowered her sunglasses, showing a pair of golden eyes. A lock of peach-colored hair fell out of her hood.
“I’m Vex Eden,” she said. “Can I talk to you?”
I slammed the door shut in panic. There was a moment of silence.
“Shit,” I said, yanking it open again, but forgetting to unlatch the chain. My face was bright red.
“Um, yes, sorry! Just a second—” I closed the door again and shot a panicked look at Jhin, who calmly undid the latch and opened it for me.
Vex fucking Eden was here. The princess-bonded gold pack of the famous Crimson Fury Pack.
“Please, come inside,” Jhin said, holding the door open for them.
Shit.
Everyone was fucking high.
“If you want to! We can talk here,” I said, and then hesitated, because that was weird. “If you want. Or inside. That’s fine. Just a second!”
I ran up the stairs and skidded into the living room. The pack stared at me.
Adrian, bless him, had managed to get everyone to clean up, which apparently had meant shoving all the mess into the spare room.
“Faster!” I hissed frantically and swept the entire contents of the countertop into Adrian’s hands. I could hear voices, and footsteps coming up the stairs.
“What’s going on?” asked Vander.
“Sober up. They’re here,” I said, sitting down on a bar stool and then standing up again.
“What?" he asked again, his voice languid. The door opened and I sat down, crossing my legs.
“Just act normal,” I said desperately.
Vex was smiling as she came through the door, and Jhin stepped up, about to take her coat. I almost tackled him as I stopped him from doing that, wincing as Ebony Starless shot him a death glare. Kit was staring, his mouth hanging open, and his hand shot out to grip Vander’s arm.
“Dude,” he said slowly. “Are you seeing this?”
I gave him my coldest gaze, but he was too high to notice.
“Oh, is this your place? It’s cute,” said Vex. Love— Love fucking Hightower— took her coat and hung it on our hooks.
“Yes,” I said, as the rest of the Crimson Fury pack stepped into our apartment, which suddenly felt very, very small. Drake Jaccard was shifting on his feet, settling back against the wall and blinking at the window. Ebony and Love were looming behind Vex, and holy shit, they were so tall, and yes, their hair really did look that smooth in real life. The last one, Rook Harrison looked the most normal, and was giving us a friendly smile, hands casually in his pockets.
What was I supposed to do now? I tried to kick my brain into gear.
“Um, this is my pack. You’ve met Jhin.” I tugged him away from the coat hooks. “And this is Adrian, Ez, Kit, and Vander. Guys, this is Vex Eden, and, um, Love, Ebony, Rook, and Drake.”
Adrian was pale, and Jhin had suddenly stiffened by my side.
“Huh,” said Ez, eyes narrowing. “Y’know, Kit said you guys weren’t real.” He threw a displeased look at Kit, who was still just gawking.
“Please have a seat!” I said waving at the couches. “Do you want tea, or coffee?”
I gave the others a frantic look, and Ez beamed, stepping forward. “Yeah, we also have some pop, crackers, Cheetos, and Oreos—no, shit, sorry I think me and Kit just finished those. Actually—I don’t remember, hold on—” He turned and walked toward the spare room.
“Take them in there!” I mouthed at Adrian, pointing to Vander and Kit and then the spare room. He grabbed them and followed Ez inside. I could have cried with relief.
“Just some water, please.” Vex took Drake’s hand and they made their way over to the couches. Drake sat down heavily, leaning forward on his knees. He just blinked as I placed the cups of water in front of them.
Jhin sat on the love seat, and as I got close he smoothly moved over and tugged me onto his lap.
Uh. What?
I looked at him, but his expression was neutral. Too neutral. Well, I didn’t want to make a scene, so I guess I was sitting here.
Ebony sat down next to Vex on the couch and tugged her onto his lap, too. She rolled her eyes.
“How can we help you today?” I asked, and then I blanched.
Shit. This must be about the meeting with the foundation.
“Oh god,” I said. “I am so sorry I left that meeting like that. It had been a really stressful day, and Jhin was supposed to be with me, but I was on my own and I’d never been anywhere like that before…” I trailed off, biting my lip.
“Yes, sorry. That’s actually why I came today,” Vex said gently. “I didn’t realize they’d invite you topside or I would have said something. I actually can’t believe you were brave enough to come on your own.”
“Really?” I asked, blinking at her, the roaring anxiety in my chest dying down, replaced by a hesitant pride. She thought I was brave. She nodded.
“I’d like to extend the offer to help again, personally. What does the Safe House need?”
“Oh. Well…” I gave a nervous laugh. “We’re about a month away from going broke. When Kit’s aunt was here, she found a way to make it work, but I was never good at that.”
“So, funds. And a bookkeeper,” Jhin said.
I glanced at Jhin, nervous, and he gave me a reassuring smile.
“And it‘s always so stressful finding the right place. And all our pick up driving and security is done by Daisy’s dads, but they can’t do it all the time. And I’d like to get the hosts properly trained for weapons and stuff.”
“That’s a great start,” Vex said.
“Found it!” came a triumphant call from the back room. Vander was snickering and holding a furious Adrian back, while Ez struggled out with an Oreos packet in his hands. Kit trotted out after him, trying to unstick his hand from a Pringles can, eventually succeeding with a loud pop.
“M’lady,” Ez said, setting the Oreos packet down on the table in front of Vex with a bow. She leaned forward and opened it. There was one half-eaten Oreo left inside.
“Thanks,” she managed, leaving it. Love’s eyes narrowed at the pitiful offering.
“I just wanted to say…” Kit slid next to me and Jhin, his face very serious. Jhin shifted, moving as if he might try to tug me and Kit onto his lap; I grabbed his arm, stopping him.
Kit folded his hands and looked up at Vex with his most sincere face. The kind where his eyes shone with a soft, eager earnestness.
“If Juniper is in trouble for being late to your meeting, that was all my fault. See, we were both in the car beforehand, and I took way too long to agree to fuck her.”
I heard Vander cackle from the back room as I stared at Kit in horror. He wasn’t stopping.
“It was our first time, so?—”
I leaped at him, my cheeks scorching, shoving my hand over his mouth.
“It was a heat spike,” I said, mortified.
“Oh, shit. That’s not enough Oreos,” Ez said, reaching down and picking up the packet, peering inside. The half eaten Oreo fell onto the floor. Ez paused, then picked it up and started eating it.
“Better add that to the shopping list, Daddy Jhin,” he added, spraying crumbs everywhere. Jhin stiffened behind me.
“I am so sorry,” I managed. “We weren’t expecting guests—they’re really high?—”
“Oh yeah, me too,” said Drake, nodding slowly. I blinked at him.
“Jus’ came from a signing,” he told me as if that explained anything. Vex took his hand and squeezed, shooting me a smile.
“Please don’t be sorry, we’re the ones who surprised you,” she said, and I could have cried with relief.
“It’s a Tuesday morning,” said Love.
“And?” asked Jhin, looking at him. I swear electricity crackled in the air as his piercing black eyes met Love’s blue ones and they just stared at each other. I double checked to make sure no one’s aura was actually out.
Love didn’t reply, just kept his intense gaze on Jhin’s.
“All we meant was, no judgement here,” said Vex, patting Love’s knee and giving me a reassuring smile.
I nodded, glancing between her and Drake. He’d grown up in the Gritch too, I remembered, and he definitely made me feel a lot more comfortable than the others.
“Would I be able to come see it?” Vex asked, looking at me hopefully. “The Safe House?”
I frowned.
“Yes, but,” I hesitated. “We can’t bring your whole pack. People get uncomfortable if there are too many unneeded alphas there.”
“If you think we’re letting her go to a random heat house in the Gritch by herself, you’re insane,” Ebony cut in. I straightened my back, trying to keep my face polite.
“It’s safe. All the staff know how to defend themselves.”
“Omegas?” he replied.
I couldn’t help it. I glared at him.
“Yes,” I snapped. “Both Kit and I have actually killed an alpha before. How many alphas have you killed?”
I mean, Kit’s was an accident. And mine… I think that alpha in the park would have died if he hadn’t been patched up after. He was bleeding pretty bad.
“Fifteen,” Ebony replied without blinking.
Vex gave a little laugh.
“In movies ,” she said pointedly, giving him a look . He scowled, and Vex turned back to me.
“Pretty sure it’s more than that,” said Kit, looking confused. “You’re usually the villain?—”
“What I was going to say was, you can bring one of them along,” I continued, my eyes flashing to Ebony again.
“Great!” Vex said. “We can’t today, but why don’t I get your number and we can arrange something?”
“Of course,” I said, relief washing over me as they stood to leave.
Vex held out her hand and I realised she wanted my phone. I handed it over and watched as she made a contact that said ‘ Vex 3’.
“Do not share that number with anyone,” Ebony warned. He wasn’t quite glaring, but there was still something unnerving in his eyes as he looked at me.
“I won’t,” I promised, taking half a step back.
Thankfully, Jhin didn’t try to touch Vex’s coat again, and I was sending a silent prayer of thanks as Vex stepped onto the landing
“Oh. Sorry about your tattoo, by the way,” Kit said to Rook, trying to wave at his chest but only managing to get as high as Rook’s waist.
“What?” Rook asked, looking a bit nervous for some reason.
Kit put in the effort to get his hand to indicate Rook’s chest, looking sad. “I mean, I was really bummed to see that it was gone when I watched Daggershot. Must have hurt a lot, removing a tattoo that big.”
“That was makeup, Kit,” I said, shooting Rook an apologetic look.
“Oh, thank god,” Kit laughed, sounding relieved. “I was thinking I should get one just like that for you, Juni.”
“Nope,” I said, shaking my head.
“Aw, but it looks so cool. Can I see it?” he asked.
“Uh—” Rook started.
“No!” I shouted, covering Jhin’s snarl. I could feel him in the bond, seconds away from letting his aura split the air. I shoved Kit toward him in a desperate ploy to divert the explosion. Kit let out a squeak as he stumbled into Jhin’s arms, and I didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the diversion.
“Such a lovely visit,” I said, frantically shepherding the Crimson Fury pack down the stairs. “Come back anytime. I’ll contact you about the Safe House visit. Thanks! Bye!”
I sighed with relief and let my smile drop as I shut the door. I stalked back up the stairs.
“All of you are so. Fucking. Dead,” I hissed at the morons staring at me.
“But—” started Adrian.
“Dead!” I shouted, and ran to my room before I did something I regretted. I flung myself onto the bed and screamed into a pillow.
* * *
After they’d all sobered up, Kit eventually coaxed me out of the nest with the promise of a trip to the best food truck in town—BetaButter’s waffles.
Despite the terrible first impression my pack had given Vex, she’d sent some emails re-connecting me with Phoebe and starting the official sponsorship of the Safe House.
I settled on a bench, next to the only currently forgiven pack members, Jhin and Adrian. I’d picked the Mint Chocolate Explosion Waffle Supreme, and it was impressive; the waffles perfectly crisp and the toppings extremely generous.
I put down my phone and leaned against Adrian’s shoulder, a lump forming in my throat.
“You alright, Juni?” he asked, putting his arm around my shoulder. I nodded.
“I am now,” I replied, my voice thick. “Fuck. I can’t believe we’re going to be okay. The Safe House. We’ll get to make it so much better.”
I hadn’t realized how scared I’d been that I’d lose the Safe House. That I’d break all the promises I made and abandon all the omegas who relied on us.
Knowing the Safe House was secure was like the last puzzle piece falling into place, revealing a picture of a bright future.