Epilogue
Tristan
It’s been two months since the ordeal with Carson.
I’ve stayed in Valor Springs with Lily. Today we’re finally packing up the rest of her things and we’re headed back to Lake Renegade.
First we need to go to the Ranch and say goodbye to Grayson and Mae.
When we get to the ranch, Mae comes out to greet us.
“I’m so glad you’re both okay.” She says as she hugs us.
“Me too.” Lily smiles at Mae.
Grayson comes out and gives us a hug as well.
“I hear you’re leaving Valor Springs.” He says to both of us.
“Yeah, I need to get back to Lake Renegade and start my job. I’ve been lucky because they’ve held my position all this time.”
“Well, come back and visit sometime.” He chuckles.
“If you need help, you know where I’ll be. And you know I’ll come back and help if you need it.”
“I appreciate that. And I just might take you up on it.”
When we get back to Lily’s place, Paisley and Cora are waiting.
“Okay, let’s get going! We need to start our new adventure.” Paisley says as she helps Lily lock up.
Paisley and Cora decided to move to Lake Renegade too. I know that made Lily really happy to know that she’ll have them both with her. I can’t wait to be back home with my girl.
Salvatore held my deputy position until I was ready to come back. Lily and I are finally ready to go home. We’re also planning our wedding. In three months, I’ll be married to the most incredible woman I know.
Lily
We’re finally in Lake Renegade. We’ve been here for two weeks now and I love it so much. Cora’s been spending time with Presley Peligue and she’s over the moon. Paisley said this was the best decision we’ve all made. I couldn’t agree with her more.
I’ve also decided to stop ghost writing. I’m working on my own books now. After what Carson did, I don’t feel like hiding behind an author. I want my words to be out there. I just need to decide on a pen name. I’m leaning towards L.T. Langford. L.T. stands for Lily and Tristan. Everyone loves it.
Tristan and I decided to take a hike in the campgrounds.
We headed to one of the ponds and jumped in.
All of a sudden there was a huge splash near us and I looked over and there’s a fucking polar bear in the pond with us.
I scramble to the edge of the pond and I hear a wheezing sound.
The polar bear’s floating on it’s back and the wheezing sound is coming from it.
When I looked over at Tristan, he’s laughing.
“Why are you laughing? Help me out! What if that polar bear eats me?” I yell as I keep trying to get out of the pond.
“I promise you’re okay.” Tristan says as the polar bear is staring at us.
I feel like if it could, it would make faces at us.
“That polar bear is kind of fat.” I say as I stare at it.
The look it gives me makes me laugh. It’s like it understands me. We watch the polar bear get out of the pond and stomp off into the forest.
“Are there a lot of wild animals here? I think we need to go home. It might come back and eat us.” I say to Tristan.
“Polar bears don’t eat humans. Well the ones here don’t.” I hear someone say.
I turn and see Eros, Apollo and Ares coming over to us.
“How would you know? Polar bears are carnivores. They hunt humans.”
“Gross. I would never…” Apollo starts to say.
“What do you mean you would never?” I frown at him.
“Shit. Big mouth.” Eros punches his brother in the arm.
“Ow.”
“Okay. Well, we should probably tell you something. But you have to realize that it stays here in the family.” Ares says.
“Um. Okay.”
“We’re shifters.”
“Grifters?”
“Why does everyone say that? No. Shifters. We shift into polar bears.”
I start laughing. “Okay, I know I’m gullible but come on.”
All three of them sigh.
“We’ll be right back.”
I look at Tristan. “They’re too funny.”
“They’re not lying.” He laughs. “Just wait.”
About ten minutes later, three polar bears come back over to us. They all sit in front of me and I start screaming. I turn to run but Tristan stops me.
“It’s okay, baby. I promise. That’s Eros, Ares and Apollo.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? Those are fucking polar bears and they’re going to eat us!”
All three of them make a noise that sounds like they’re vomiting. I stare at them and realize Tristan’s not lying. I get closer to them and poke one of them in the nose. He promptly falls over and looks like he’s died.
“That’s got to be Apollo.” I say as the other two start wheezing.
“Yep. That’s Apollo.” Tristan laughs.
We spend the rest of the day at the pond with the brothers. They tell me about their lives and how they ended up here in Lake Renegade. It’s a story that I never would’ve believed if I hadn’t seen this for myself.
“Thank you for loving me. And thank you for this new life. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Lily. From now until forever.”